ARISING EMPIRE MEDIA ALERT: New Release from Lionheart

California's metallic hardcore titans Lionheart are back and hitting harder than ever with their brand-new single "Bulletproof" — a ferocious statement track that marks the beginning of the next chapter for the band. Groove-heavy, razor-sharp, and fueled by the Oakland outfit's trademark intensity, "Bulletproof" captures everything that has made Lionheart one of the most dominant forces in modern hardcore: Pure aggression, anthemic gang-shouts, and a swagger that could only come from the West Coast.
 

The release of "Bulletproof" also kicks off the official pre-orders for Lionheart's new album Valley of Death II, set for release on January 9 via Arising Empire.


Serving as the sequel to their 2019 record Valley of Death, the new album promises to be heavier, darker, and even more unrelenting.

Now, after officially re-signing with Arising Empire, Lionheart are charging into their next era with renewed force. Their return to Europe in January 2026 for a massive headline tour — joined by Madball, Gideon, and Slope — will showcase exactly why this new chapter with Arising Empire marks a decisive and powerful step forward.


Catch the band live in Europe.

Watch the "Bulletproof" music video Below.

SYLOSIS - Announce 2026 Studio Album 'The New Flesh' + Drop Crushing-As-Hell Title Track

Today, SYLOSIS have revealed the first details of their seventh studio album, titled The New Flesh, slated to drop on February 20th 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The collosal tetrad featuring Josh Middleton (guitar/lead vocals), Ali Richardson(drums), Conor Marshall (guitar) and Ben Thomas (bass), have also unleashed a god-tier single, the album title track 'The New Flesh'.

SYLOSIS stated,
"Introducing The New Flesh. This is us solidifying the line up of the band and moving forward with a new sense of purpose and aggression. After having spent so much of the last 2 years on the road, The New Flesh, and the songs that will follow from the album, have been written with the live environment in mind. There is an energy running through these songs that we’ve never felt on a Sylosis album, until now. We'll see you all in 2026 - Josh, Ali, Ben, Conor"

Pre-order album The New Flesh here: https://sylosis.os.fan/
Watch 'The New Flesh' video Below:
Stream 'The New Flesh' track here: https://sylosis.os.fan/

Across January and February 2026, SYLOSIS will be tearing across the UK and Europe for their biggest ever tour.

Tickets on-sale now via https://sylosis-band.com

SYLOSIS will also be touring North America across April and May 2026 with BLEED FROM WITHIN, GREAT AMERICAN GHOST & LIFE CYCLES Full dates are here:

NORTH AMERICA 2026
w/ BLEED FROM WITHIN, GREAT AMERICAN GHOST & LIFE CYCLES

02.04 - Worcester MA, The Palladium
03.04 - Montreal QC, Theatre Beanfield
04.04 - Toronto ON, Opera House
06.04 - Philadelphia PA, Theatre of the Living Arts
07.04 - Lakewood OH, The Roxy
08.04 - Millville PA, Mr Smalls
10.04 - Detroit MI, St Andrew’s Hall
11.04 - Grand Rapids MI, Elevation
12.04 - Chicago IL, House of Blues
14.04 - Minneapolis MN, Varsity Theatre
15.04 - Lincoln NE, Bourbon Theatre
17.04 - Englewood CO, Gothic Theatre
19.04 - Boise ID, Shrine Social Club
20.04 - Seattle WA, The Crocodile
21.04 - Portland OR, Hawthorne Theatre
22.04 - Roseville CA, Goldfield Trading Post
24.04 - Los Angeles CA, The Regent Theatre 
25.04 - Pomona CA, The Glass House
26.04 - Phenoix AZ, Crescent Ballroom
28.04 - Austin TX, Come and Take It Live
29.04 - Dallas TX, Granada Theater 
01.05 - Tampa FL, The Orpheum
02.05 - Atlanta GA, The Masquerade (Hell)
03.05 - Greensboro NC, Hangar 1819
05.05 - Richmond VA, Canal Club
06.05 - Baltimore MD, Nevermore Hall
07.05 - New York NY, Gramercy Theatre

Tickets on-sale now via https://sylosis-band.com

When the going gets tough, metal gets heavier. SYLOSIS have always been devoted to the fine art of breaking necks, but in recent times, the urgency of their mission has grown exponentially. Still surfing on a wave of acclaim and the effusive fan response to their last album, 2023’s A Sign Of Things To Come, Josh Middleton’s virtuoso wrecking crew are poised to release their latest and best album, The New Flesh. A towering testament to destructive riffing, incisive melody and refined brute force, the band’s seventh full-length offering is a powerful showcase for the state of SYLOSIS in 2025: lethal, uncompromising, and avowedly metal as all hell.  

The New Flesh is a fearsome statement of renewed intent. Harder, heavier and more ruthless than its predecessor, it is full of the kind of explosive, riff-driven anthems that guarantee carnage in the pit. But this is no exercise in mindless bludgeon: instead, Josh Middleton has penned his most evocative and thought-provoking songs to date. From the punishing grooves and breakneck viciousness of the opening 'Beneath The Surface', to the epic conflagration of album closer 'Seeds In The River', The New Flesh is an artful and nuanced take on the pure metal that SYLOSIS hold close to their hearts. This is brutality and catchiness in perfect symbiosis.   

Dark and destructive, but dynamic and diligent, SYLOSIS are on blistering, career-best form on The New Flesh. The purposeful reset that began with The Sign Of Things To Come has evolved into something unstoppable, and the band’s latest work brims with confidence and authority. If it’s skull-shattering, 21st century heavy metal you want, The New Flesh brings it like never before.  

MICHAEL MONROE New Video/ Single ‘DISCONNECTED’ OUT NOW New Album – OUTERSTELLAR – OUT FEBRUARY 20

Michael Monroe releases the irresistibly anthemic second single ‘Disconnected’ from forthcoming new studio album Outerstellar, set for release on February 20th via Silver Lining Music. For pre-orders go to this location.

‘Disconnected’ speaks of something that Michael Monroefeels passionately about: that live music is a rare and vital space for people to find each other in the moment.

“Technology was supposed to bring people closer together, when, in fact, people are more disconnected than ever. They're looking at their phones and their computers and downloading stuff” comments Michael Monroe. “And, you know, the Internet can't take away the experience of being at a live show. You're on stage, and you communicate with the audience who are there, in that moment. That's where the magic really happens, and absolutely no program or device or computer can reproduce that!”

Watch/Listen to ‘Disconnected’ Below;

The new album Outerstellar, is an experience as much as a collection of great songs, a sweet smelling, leathery, glitter-shimmered, sweat-soaked raunch and punch wrapped in one of the great voices in rock ‘n’ roll. The harmonies and vibes roll effortlessly in silk scarves, lounging in leather pants with liquor and a smile on a beat-up sofa in those small AM hours. And the sheer attitude, which screams carefree (not careless!) confidence (not arrogance!), a cocksure sense of self-bathed in the sheer joy of playing real rock ‘n’ roll the right way.

The recently released first video and single, ‘Rockin’ Horse’, is a defiant blast against critics and judges and comes with one of the craziest Michael Monroe videos you’ve ever seen. “I am who I am and I'm not going to edit myself for your benefit,”Michael says unequivocally for anyone who might doubt that fact.

Watch/Listen to ‘Rockin’ Horse’ here – video by Leigh Brooks.

From loud crashing guitars to harmonicas, to gorgeous acoustic moments, you’ll sing, you’ll dance, you’ll shiver, you’ll shake, and you’ll smell this wonderful exhilarating record in all its weathered biker jacket incense-coated glory and you’ll also realize that whatever the hell is going on in the world right now, when you put this album on, it’s an instant escape to carefree days and an emancipation from worries, fears and woes.  

Outerstellar will see a whole burst of life onstage when Michael Monroe and the band bring it to stages internationally over the next year. It is EXACTLY what rock ‘n’ roll in its truest sense is meant to be, in fact, just stop reading this, get off your ‘Rockin’ Horse’ and go see Michael Monroe on tour at your first opportunity! In support of the release of Outerstellar, Michael Monroe and band will embark on a UK co-headline tour with Buckcherry, kicking off in Southampton on February 24th. For a full list of upcoming shows and tickets visit: michaelmonroe.com – more dates to be announced.

Outerstellar will be available on Limited Edition 12” White Vinyl, 12” Turquoise Vinyl, 12” Black Vinyl, CD Digipak, Digital Download, Streaming and special D2C bundles. Available to pre-order now at this location 

Band Line-Up:

Michael Monroe - Lead vocals, Harmonica

Steve Conte - Guitars, Vocals

Rich Jones - Guitars, Vocals

Karl Rockfist - Drums

Sami Yaffa - Bass, Vocals

Follow Michael Monroe:

www.facebook.com/michaelmonroeofficial 

www.x.com/michaelmonroe 

www.instagram.com/michaelmonroeofficial

www.michaelmonroe.com/web/

www.tiktok.com/@officialmichaelmonroe 

RYAN AND RORY TURN EMPTY ROOMS INTO COUNTRY GOLD WITH "LAWN CHAIR IN THE LIVING ROOM"

BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s rising duo Ryan and Rory cap off a milestone year with “Lawn Chair In The Living Room,” available everywhere this Friday, November 28. Pre-add/Pre-save HERE.

Written by Ryan Follesé, Rory John Zak, Andy Albert, Trannie Anderson, and Kevin Bard, the song paints a vivid picture of what life looks like before finding that person who turns a house into a home. With easy charm and a dose of self-deprecating humor, the duo reflects on bachelor-life décor – a cable box on the floor, a lawn chair in the living room – and how love changes everything from the furniture to the feeling of belonging.

“Rory had a difficult breakup early this year,” says Ryan Follesé. “And then he came home to an empty house… a circumstance that, to songwriters, inspires a great song title: 'Lawn Chair In The Living Room.'"

“I decided to turn heartbreak into interior design, at least that’s what a guy would call it,” laughs Rory John Zak. “Ryan and I, along with our co-writers, thought this was the perfect time to turn lemons into lemonade.”

Following standout releases including “Together Again (feat. Jamey Johnson)” and “Girls Are Pretty,” the new release marks the final chapter in Ryan and Rory’s 2025 run, a year defined by breakout momentum and a packed tour schedule. Their chemistry, storytelling, and humor continue to shine through as they close the year sharing the stage with John Morgan and the James Barker Band across the U.S. and Canada.

2025 TOUR DATES | Tickets HERE
Nov 24—Lethbridge, Canada*
Nov 26—Medicine Hat, Canada*
Nov 27—Calgary, Canada*
Nov 28—Denver, CO~
Nov 29—Colorado Springs, CO~
Nov 30—Grand Junction, CO~
Dec 4—Great Falls, MT~
Dec 5—Spokane, WA~
Dec 6—Tacoma, WA~
Dec 7—Portland, OR~
Dec 9—Roseville, CA~
Dec 10—San Diego, CA~
* - James Barker Band dates
~ - John Morgan’s Friends Like That Tour

KEEP UP WITH RYAN AND RORY

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK

VRSTY to Celebrate 5-Year Anniversary of "Cloud City" EP With New Acoustic EP + Band Shares "Shameless (Acoustic)"

Genre-blending and bending New York City-based collective VRSTY (pronounced "Varsity") are celebrating the five-year anniversary of their Cloud City EP with a twist.

The band will drop the four-song Cloud City (Archives) EP on December 12. It features acoustic renditions of three of the EP's original tracks ("Dig," "Pathos," and "Shameless"), giving these classic songs a fresh, reimagined flavor. 
 

The new EP also features an acoustic version of "YOU & I." While this song was does not appear on the original Cloud City EP that dropped via Spinefarm in 2020, it was written during that period of the band's history and is, well, from the VRSTY archive.


Pre-order the Cloud City (Archives) EP here.

Today, the band has shared "Shameless" (Acoustic). Listen Below. 

"I've always loved the kinda 'heavy softness that 'Shameless' had and always thought it would be cool to explore that more," says singer Joey Tyler. "I think I went into it with that mentality at first but then also just wanted to do this as a thank you for everyone who has supported 'Shameless' and Cloud City for so many years. After all, that song was the very FIRST time anyone ever listened to us and gave us a chance."

VRSTY will hit the road, supporting Fire From the Gods this coming winter. All dates are below.


VRSTY ON TOUR:
1/22 — Austin, TX — Come and Take It Live
1/23 — Haltom City, TX — Haltom Theater
1/24 — Oklahoma City, OK — 89th Street
1/25 — Tulsa, OK — The Shrine
1/28 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade (Purgatory)
1/29 — Winter Park, FL — Conduit
1/30 — Jacksonville, FL — Jack Rabbits
1/31 — Columbia, SC — New Brookland Tavern
2/01 — Richmond, VA — Canal Club (Downstairs)
2/03 — Philadelphia, PA — The Foundry at The Fillmore
2/04 — Clifton, NJ — Dingbatz
2/05 — Brooklyn, NY — The Meadows
2/06 — Lowell, MA — Taffeta Music Hall
2/07 — Syracuse, NY — The Song & Dance
2/10 — Pittsburgh, PA — Crafthouse
2/11 — Columbus, OH — King of Clubs
2/12 — Cadillac, MI — Venue Event Center
2/13 — West Chicago, IL — WC Social Club
2/14 — Madison, WI — The Annex
2/15 — Minneapolis, MN — Underground Music Venue
2/17 — Denver, CO — HQ
2/19 — Los Angeles, CA — The Whisky A Go-Go
2/20 — Anaheim, CA — The Parish at House of Blues
2/21 — Las Vegas, NV — The Wall at Area 15

1349 Streams Full Performance Video for 'Winter Mass' Concert via Black Metal Promotion

True Norwegian black metal horde 1349 is now streaming the full performance of their 'Winter Mass' concert via Black Metal Promotion! The concert was captured on November 20, 2021 in the band's hometown of Oslo (NO) at the venue Parkteatret. Fans can now watch the entire set below.

'Winter Mass' will be released on November 28, 2025 via Season of Mist on vinyl, CD, and audio downloads; pre-orders can be found HERE.

1349 has also recently been announced among the first wave of bands to take the stage at next year's edition of Beyond the Gates Festival. The epic four-day metal event will take place once again in the heart of Bergen (NO) from July 29 - August 1, 2026. Tickets are available HERE.

The cover artwork and layouts for 'Winter Mass' were created by Kim Diaz Holm. The Norwegian artist has captured more than 2,000 concerts, often while standing to the side of the stage. Holm has worked with larger-than-life artists like Abbath but developed a special connection with 1349 after drawing them at both Inferno Festival and Hulen in 2012. Over the past 13 years, he has continued to document the band's incendiary live shows and even designed their merch. What he's created for Winter Mass draws fans even closer to fire. Sketched while he was headbanging in the pit, these drawings leap off the page with the same raw, dark spirit as their muse.

With their signature aural hellfire, 1349 embodies the original spirit of black metal.  

Unhappy with the direction the genre took during the mid-90s, in 1997, vocalist Ravn formed the 1349 with like-minded bassist Seidemann. The band’s current lineup – which is bolstered by guitarist Archaon and Frost (who also drums for Satyricon) – has been in place since 2001. Over the past two decades, they have ignited major European festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Hellfest with their fiery performances and toured internationally with the likes of Cannibal Corpse and Carcass. Each of their eight studio albums have been inspired by the same guiding principal: to bring back the grimness, the eeriness and the primal emotions of Norwegian black metal.

Now, fresh from the ashes of their eighth album, The Wolf & The King, 1349 are releasing a new live album. Though recorded shortly after pandemic lockdown was lifted, 'Winter Mass' explodes out the gates with the band’s signature aural hellfire. This hour-plus set, recorded at Oslo's Parkteatret, enraptured their home crowd with apocalyptic spells from across their discography’s massive cauldron of chaos. Early classics like “Sculptor of Flesh” thrash with unchained madness. Recent favorite "Striding the Chasm" whips by at a blistering pace that could only be captured by cover artist Kim Diaz Holm, who drew the album’s artwork while headbanging in the pit.   

"I will always be here / In all ways in all times", snarls Ravn on hellacious cut "I Am Abomination". After three decades and counting, what was once a proclamation is now a testament to 1349's enduring firepower. 

Experience aural hellfire live in the flesh back where it all began with 'Winter Mass.'

Live Line-up

Archaon - Guitars

Destructhor - Guitars

Frost - Drums

Ravn - Vocals

Seidemann - Bass

Recording:

Parkteatret, Oslo on November 20, 2021

Production Credits

Producer & Sound Engineer - Hugo Alvarstein

Mixing Studio - Alvarstein Mix & Mastering Studio Oslo Norway

Mixing Engineer - Hugo Alvarstein

Mastering Studio - Alvarstein Mix & Mastering Studio Oslo Norway

Mastering Engineer - Huge Alvarstein

Cover + Layout Artist:

Kim Holm

Pre-Order // Pre-Save: https://orcd.co/1349wintermass

Links:

Official Website

Facebook

Instagram

X

Apple Music

Spotify

Rotten Sound Blast the Alarm on "Idealist"

Few grindcore bands have enjoyed the shelf life of Rotten Sound. After outrunning the apocalypse on their last long-player, the Finnish grindcore vets are back with another politically-charged EP. The latest single from Mass Extinction is slightly more optimistic about our future than its initial discharge, but "Idealist" gets its message across with such blunt force, that it's impossible not to heed the band's charge. 

"'Idealist' is a cynical D-beat anthem about our fight for a better future", says the band's vocalist Keijo Niinimaa. "I do believe that better times are ahead, but it feels impossible to find a new level in humanity. The transition seems to take forever. That frustration led me to write the lyrics to this song. Mika's riffs and Sami's grooves open the circle into a mosh pit".        

Listen to "Idealist" Below.
 

Mass Extinction comes out December 12 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order
https://orcd.co/rottensoundmassextinction


Pre-save on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/4GjDqqrZi7TTEjCmvvXq5f?si=maLSpuYJTP-Vqs4RmsTaUA

All of the songs on Mass Extinction mutated out of the same radioactive Petri dish that spawned Rotting Sound's prior LP Apocalypse. But even though it clocks in at a freakishly fast nine minutes, the band's new EP is no half-life mutation. As they recently demonstrated while touring Latin America with Crypta, Baixo Calao and Season of Mist labelmates DVRK, their time-tested blend of D-beat punk and Swedish death metal has only grown more dangerous after two decades. "Idealist" marches at a spirited pace toward a new state of light and glory before Niinimaa's screaming commands launch the song into a downright hostile groove.   

"Wake up!" At this earth-shaking volume, ignore Rotting Sound if you dare.  

Next year, Rotting Sound will return to the grind with a fresh set of European headline dates in support of Mass Extinction. Following this blistering ride with Repulsive Feast and Teething, the band will return to the U.S. for a special set at Maryland Death Fest celebrating their classic albums Murderworks and Exit.      

Rotten Sound know how to get their message across. In just under 10 minutes, Mass Extinction chews through toxic consumerism, labor exploitation and other plagues on society. Lead single “Brave New World” pushes for unity over divisive politicking behind a barrage of blast beats. But while our leaders certainly need to clean up their act, there’s nothing stale about this band’s filthy brand of grindcore. Even the slightly optimistic “Idealist” gives way to a downright hostile groove upon Niinimaa’s screaming command.   

“Wake up!” With so much atomic force, it’s impossible not to heed Rotten Sound’s warning on Mass Extinction.


Recording lineup
Keijo Niinimaa - Vocals
Mika Aalto - Guitars
Sami Latva - Drums
Matti Raappana - Bass, Backing vocals

All music written by Mika Aalto

All lyrics written by Keijo Niinimaa

Producer
Rotten Sound

Recording & Sound Engineer
Janne Saksa

Recording Studio
Sound Supreme for drums and vocals, Nordic Audio Labs for guitar and bass

Mixing
Jesse Gander at Rain City Studios

Mastering
Brad Boatright at Audio Siege

Cover art
Error Design

Photos
Mika Aalto

Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/rottensoundmassextinction

Available formats

Digital Download
CD Digipack
12" Vinyl (Black with B-side etching)
12" Colored Vinyl (Dark Green with B-side etching)
12" Colored Vinyl (Half Copper, Half Black with B-site etching)

Follow Rotten Sound
​​​​​https://music.apple.com/artist/rotten-sound/71466405
http://rottensound.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RottenSoundOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/rottensoundgrind/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4aglyvdJ7ApTfDC6aQ2LFf

Long Distance Calling Share "Hazard" Video From Upcoming Live Album "Live at Lichtburg"

With "Hazard," LONG DISTANCE CALLING release the third single from their upcoming live album Live At Lichtburg, set for release on December 5. Originally featured on the band's acclaimed 2020 album How Do We Want To Live?, the track is one of their most atmospheric and emotionally gripping compositions. It now returns in a powerful live rendition, recorded during the sold-out February 2024 show at the Lichtburg in Essen — a historic cinema where more than 1,200 fans shared an unforgettable evening with the band.

Following the singles "Kamilah" and "Out There," "Hazard" once again highlights the unique energy of this performance: intense, tension-filled, and driven by the distinctive textures that define the song. In its live version, the track gains additional organic force — a blend of precise musicianship, pulsating grooves, and the unmistakable cinematic sound LONG DISTANCE CALLING are known for.

The accompanying live video captures the special atmosphere of the night: the monumental stage of the Lichtburg, the close connection between band and audience, and the dynamic presence of a song that feels even more immersive live than on the studio recording.

Watch the "Hazard" video below.

Listen to "Hazard" here. 

Live At Lichtburg not only documents the biggest headline concert in LONG DISTANCE CALLING’s career so far, but also marks a new artistic chapter. With reimagined arrangements, orchestral textures, and a commanding live presence, the album captures why the band remains one of Europe’s most compelling forces in progressive and instrumental rock.

The album will be released via earMUSIC on December 5th, 2025, in multiple formats: 2LP Gatefold Heavyweight 180g + Blu-ray and CD + Blu-ray Digipak, combining the full audio and visual experience of this unforgettable night.

PRE-ORDER THE NEW ALBUM HERE.

ALL IRELAND METAL PROJECT To Release 'Aiséirí' And Ozzy Osbourne Tribute

THE ALL IRELAND METAL PROJECT was founded in 2021 to bring together musicians from across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Now, in 2025, the project has been revived to deliver its official conclusion in the form of the Aiséirí Documentary, edited by CosmoPalace, and set to release on December 6th, 2025. In addition, on December 3rd, 2025, Ozzy Osbourne's birthday, A Tribute to Ozzy will be unleashed raising funds for Parkinson’s Ireland.

THE ALL IRELAND METAL PROJECT is one of the most ambitious collaborative efforts in the history of Irish heavy music. Founded in 2021 by Irish musicians Darragh O’Connor(Horrenda/Outis) and Shannon Bowman(Studio 23/Outis), the initiative was created during the COVID era to unite metal artists across all four provinces. More than 140 musicians have participated across multiple releases under the title Aiséirí, meaning "Resurrection" in Irish. The project was built to revive the Irish metal community following the pandemic, promote cross-genre collaboration, and raise funds for meaningful causes. Previous releases supported Barnardos Ireland and Women’s Aid, and the final charity focus is Parkinson’s Ireland.

The upcoming tribute is the final musical release of the project, celebrating the influence of Ozzy Osbourne while also highlighting the strength and unity of the Irish metal scene. The documentary that follows on December 6th will showcase the recording process, participating bands and studios, and the community effort that sustained the project for more than four years.

About The All Ireland Metal Project:
Launched post-COVID in 2021 as a charitable collaboration, it was inspired by Roadrunner United: The All-Star Sessions (2005). The nationwide collaboration has brought together over 140 musicians and artists from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with 100% of profits from all releases donated to charity. This same year saw the arrival of the first release Aiséirí: Volume I and Aiséirí: Volume II. The third offering Aiséirí: Volume III was released in 2022. Bands involved in the project include, HORRENDA, ABORTED EARTH, RESTIVE NATION, ZHORA, TWO TALES OF WOE, WORDS THAT BURN, WAR OF ATTRITION, and dozens more across Ireland’s metal scene.

Volumes Share Video for "Bad Habit" Ahead of "Mirror Touch" Release

15 years into their career, Volumes have weathered ups, downs, time, trends, and everything else life could throw at them only to come out stronger on the other side. Against all odds, a devout audience has ridden shotgun and grown with them every step of the way, waiting for this moment.

The Los Angeles quartet — Michael Barr [vocals], Raad Soudani [bass], Myke Terry [vocals], and Nick Ursich [drums] —recently announced their fifth album, titled Mirror Touch. It will be released digitally on December 12 via longtime label Fearless Records. The physical album will arrive on February 27 of next year. Pre-order it here. 

Volumes have shared the video for "Bad Habit."

Watch it Below.

Here, Volumes ake a stunning sonic left turn. While the track has the guitar girth and grit that is familiar to loyal Volumes fans, the band leans into its melodic sensibilities and synths, trading its usual heavy dose of screams for fully clean verses and choruses. The result is a gorgeous and unexpected alt metal song that will turn heads  — both new and old.

"'Bad Habit' is a song about identifying that habits that are deemed bad for you or unhealthy are sometimes the only thing getting you through life," shares Barr. "Is there a balance that can be achieved? Typically, no."

Through a decade-and-a-half, Volumes' quiet impact has been felt, with over 167 million streams in the U.S. alone, widespread acclaim, and sold-out shows. They've carved out their own corner of heavy music with an inimitable hybrid of head-crushing polyrhythmic prog-spiked metal, hardcore spirit, and unbridled attitude. They have assuredly leveled up over the course of albums such as Via [2011], No Sleep [2014], Different Animals [2017], and Happier? [2021]. KERRANG! hailed the latter as "an album that gives a nod to the band's past while still bringing in new ideas." Meanwhile, the group shared stages on tour with everyone from Ice Nine Kills and Born of Osiris to Dance Gavin Dance and Counterparts. The Los Angeles group continues to fortify a full-on sensory assault with thick riffing, chilling soundscapes, and the venomous bite of its incomparable two-headed vocal hydra.

ROB ZOMBIE USHERS IN 'HEATHEN DAYS' ON NEW SINGLE OUT NOW!

Rock/metal icon ROB ZOMBIE has revealed the latest single, ‘Heathen Days,’ from his highly-anticipated upcoming album, The Great Satan, due out February 27th from Nuclear Blast Records.

Accompanied by a video directed by Zombie, ‘Heathen Days’ is a callback to his earlier sound of furious, groove laden guitar riffs as he lyrically invokes the ungodly days when chaos and war were constantly at your back.

Stream ‘Heathen Days’: https://robzombie.bfan.link/heathen-days

Pre-Order The Great Satan: https://robzombie.bfan.link/the-great-satan

‘HEATHEN DAYS’ MUSIC VIDEO BELOW

Following the success of his Top 10 charting record The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy(2021), Zombie is back with his 8th album, The Great Satan, revisiting his early Hellbilly roots for a slaughterhouse of anthemic punk infused heavy rock/metal.

The Great Satan is available now for pre-order in a variety of formats including a limited box set and accompanying apparel at https://robzombie.bfan.link/the-great-satan.

‘PUNKS AND DEMONS’ MUSIC VIDEO:

https://youtu.be/J0mfcGLaPqI

About ROB ZOMBIE:

As a rock icon and filmmaker with a unique vision, Rob Zombie has continuously challenged audiences as he stretches the boundaries of both music and film. He has sold more than fifteen million albums worldwide, and is the only artist to experience unprecedented success in both music and film as the writer/director of nine feature films including “HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES,” “THE DEVIL’S REJECTS,” “THE MUNSTERS” and the number one smash “HALLOWEEN.”

After four years, Rob Zombie is back with new music as he announces his latest record, THE GREAT SATAN, out on Nuclear Blast in 2026. The new music brings Zombie back to his Hellbilly roots with frenetic cuts such as ‘Punks And Demons,’ ‘Heathen Days,’ ‘(I’m a) Rock ‘N’ Roller’ and ‘Tarantula.’

Rob Zombie has achieved great success in the music industry, first as a member of the multi-platinum band White Zombie and later as a solo artist with even greater results collecting numerous multi-platinum and gold albums along the way including Hellbilly Deluxe, The Sinister Urge and Educated Horses. Rob Zombie’s most recent record, The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy (2021), debuted at #9 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, making it his 7th consecutive solo album to debut in the top 10.

Follow ROB ZOMBIE:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | X | TikTok | Spotify | Apple Music

KARLY HARTZMAN AND MJ LENDERMAN LIVE AT THIRD MAN RECORDS OUT NOVEMBER 28th

Third Man Records is excited to announce “Karly Hartzman and MJ Lenderman – Live at Third Man Records”, a previously unreleased collection recorded direct-to-acetate during the duo’s 2024 performance at the Blue Room In Nashville, TN.

 

Limited to just 2,000 copies worldwide, the 12-song LP will be available on standard opaque blue vinyl at Third Man Records storefronts, select indie record stores, and the TMR online store on November 28 Black Friday 2025.

Rap-Metal Pioneers CLAWFINGER unleash new Video Single “Big Brother” ahead of long-awaited Comeback Album "Before We All Die"!

Swedish-Norwegian rap-metal trailblazers CLAWFINGER are back with another explosive taste of their long-awaited comeback album Before We All Die, their first studio offering in 18 long years! The new single "Big Brother" arrives with a razor-edged video clip and all the pent-up fury you’d expect from a band that helped define the crossover sound of the ’90s.
 
The first album appetizer "Scum" (listen here) followed by "Ball & Chain" (stream here) have already racked up thousands of plays and reactions across digital platforms, hitting with the force of a small online detonation and proving that CLAWFINGER’s return is striking a nerve and Zeitgeist. Even with a recent live performance of their hit 'Biggest & Best' going viral on Instagram, or Zak performing 'The Truth' in a hilarious karaoke video, CLAWFINGER are being rediscovered by a new generation of metal fans, showing that their music remains as powerful and relevant as ever, nearly two decades after their last album. 

The new track "Big Brother" hits like a steel-toed boot to the chest. Mechanical, grinding riffs, an industrial undercurrent that pulses like a surveillance camera’s hum, and Zak Tell delivering one of his most acerbic vocal performances to date: half-rapped, half-snarled, always unmistakably CLAWFINGER. Sonically, "Big Brother" feels like a bridge between the band’s classic Use Your Brain ferocity and a darker, more claustrophobic modern edge. 

Lyrically, Tell digs deep into the rot of attention-driven culture:
"Big Brother is an idea I wrote back in 2007 but it never turned into a finished song. It’s about how we trade authenticity and privacy for approval. Fake lives lived on camera, zero substance, 15 seconds of fame and nothing good to say. We binge mindless content, go numb, and don’t even question constant surveillance. We’ve learned to love being tracked, controlled, and fed nonsense 24/7, we don't think even think about it. Who the fuck are we?" 

Stream / Download "Big Brother": https://clawfinger.rpm.link/bigbrotherPR
Watch the video Below;

Known for their pioneering fusion of metal, rap, and unflinching social commentary, 2026 will see CLAWFINGER return with their brand new record Before We All Die, that will rekindle the fire which made them one of Europe’s most groundbreaking crossover acts. This hotly-anticipated comeback marks not just a return, but a reinvention, proof that true intensity never fades.
 
Before We All Die arrives February 20, 2026 on PERCEPTION - A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music. Pre-save/pre-order the album now at: https://clawfinger.rpm.link/beforewealldiePR

From environmental collapse to political hypocrisy, personal disillusionment to collective denial, Before We All Die is CLAWFINGER at full volume - still pissed off, still sharp as ever, still sprinkled with a touch of self-irony, and still refusing to shut up while the world pretends it’s all fine.

“This album is part protest, part therapy, and part middle finger,” the band says. “We’re not offering solutions. We’re screaming because silence is surrender.”

CLAWFINGER are:
Zak Tell | vocals
Jocke Skog | guitar, keyboards
Bård Torstensen | guitars
André Skaug | bass
Micke Dahlén | drums
 

More on CLAWFINGER:
clawfinger.net | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music

Bullet Release "Keep Rolling" Video

Swedish powerhouse Bullet have released the video for their new single "Keep Rolling" . The song is featured on their upcoming studio album Kickstarter.


 "There was this song idea for the album that had that steady, ongoing, slow and heavy beat to it," the band shares about the song. "It kinda reminded us of 'Rolling Home' that we wrote many years ago, yet with a dark and stormy gloom to it. So, what better choice than to make it the 'Rolling Home 2.0' and make the lyrics tell the story of how the Bullet-bus went from being a wreck at the side of the road into a metal monster with a new engine pounding stronger than ever. The song has a special place in all of us and was one of the most challenging to record. It's a natural second single!"


Watch the "Keep Rolling" video below. 

Kickstarter will be released on January 9 through Steamhammer as CD digipak (incl. poster), LP gatefold version, and digital, and can be pre-ordered here.

Kickstarter will be released on January 9 through Steamhammer as CD digipak (incl. poster), LP gatefold version, and digital, and can be pre-ordered here.

More info about Bullet's upcoming live shows here.

Melodic Death Metal CARRION VAEL Unleashes New Single, "19(fucking)78" and Announces Ferocious Fifth Album, "Slay Utterly"

Melodic death metal force of nature CARRION VAEL returns with a vengeance on their fifth album, Slay Utterly, to be released through Unique Leader Records on January 16 2026. Slay Utterly opens with its lead single, "19(fucking)78", which instantly sets the tone for the album's intensity and nuance. Featuring layers of technical guitar parts, slam riffs, and clean vocals, the band leaves no skill in their toolbox unused. Lyrically, the song is set in 1970s California; a particularly violent time in history, given the presence of the Hillside Stranglers. The lyrics contemplate issues of nature versus nurture, as well as an obsession with control by any means possible.

CARRION VAEL's technical prowess may take the spotlight on this album, but they are storytellers at their core. Each song on Slay Utterly explores the story of a different serial killer. The perspective jumps between the killer themselves, and the experiences of the victims. On the whole, the album presents a collection of stories delving into the psyches of famous axe murderers, slashers, and other uniquely violent killers throughout history. 

Though raw and ferocious at their core, the band weaves intricate technical nuances throughout the album. Punchy riffs and rhythms drive the intensity home, while memorable lead guitar lines and powerful vocal performances leave a lasting impact. Lyrically, Slay Utterly goes above and beyond to immerse the listener in CARRION VAEL's fascination for history and true crime.

Watch the video for "19(fucking)78" below:

About CARRION VALE:
In 2017, brutal melodic death metal storytellers CARRION VAEL set out on a mission to understand disturbing events that may baffle the sane. Each album and each song explores an aspect of true crime history, often focusing on the stories of individual serial killers and their victims. Though this conceptual focus underpins CARRION VAEL's songwriting, they seek to fully utilize all of their skills and talents to ensure that each song develops the sound it needs to tell its story. The band released their first album, Resurrection of the Doomed, independently in 2017, then signed with HPGD Records and released their 2020 follow-up, God Killer. Subsequently, the band signed with Unique Leader Records and released Abhorrent Obsessions (2022) and Cannibals Anonymous (2024). 

With their fifth album, Slay Utterly, on the horizon, CARRION VAEL are set to continue this journey into the monstrous side of the human psyche. Vicious, but surprisingly poignant in just the right dose, Slay Utterly presents an anthology of serial killer stories from significant points in history. The album is certain to enthrall fans of horror, history, and true crime with its vivid portrayals of the minds of both murderers and victims. 

CARRION VALE is:
Travis Lawson Purcell - Vocals
Alex Arford - Bass
Trenton Limburg - Guitar
Ryan Kurder - Guitar
Matt Behner - Drums

MØL - share new single & video "Young"

Danish alt-metal visionaries MØL return with 'Young', the second single from their eagerly awaited new album Dreamcrush, due on 30th January 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records. Now available on all streaming platforms, 'Young' follows lead single 'Garland'. 

Where 'Garland' ascended into majestic shoegaze territory, its shimmering guitars and brooding baritone vocals hinting at an impending rupture of blackened force, 'Young' wastes no time. It erupts in classic MØL fashion with searing fury from its very first moments, before plunging listeners into the band's signature haze of glittering guitar lines, towering crescendos and cathartic melodicism that blurs the line between beauty and brutality.

Check out the video for ‘Young’ below:

Listen to 'Young' here: https://moel.bfan.link/young.yde

Pre-order and listen to Dreamcrush here: https://moel.bfan.link/dreamcrush

With their third studio album now just weeks away, MØL continue to push the boundaries of their creative expression. Dreamcrush tempers the band’s sharpest, most jagged edges with soaring alt-rock hooks, delving into the tension between dreams and reality, and the ways aspiration can both sustain and consume us. By steeping even their most aggressive moments in melody, MØL deliver their most explosive and affecting work to date.

Following on from the critically acclaimed Jord (2019) and Diorama (2021), MØL’s latest opus sees their sound continue to evolve as they embrace new horizons - as a band and as individuals. Drawing on influences including My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins and Smashing Pumpkins, the album explores recurring themes of belonging, resilience and finding home within oneself. Dreamcrush arrives with a renewed sense of confidence, acceptance and vigour.

Recording took place over several months in Frederik Uglebjerg’s Aarhus studio, allowing the band to shape the album gradually. Vocalist Kim Song Sternkopf explores his baritone register, delivering lyrics in Danish and English that reflect personal introspection and a revisitation of past events. Guitar solos by Nicolai Busse elevate the emotional journey, while abstract, Emil Nolde-inspired artwork by Daniel Owen at Nemesis Design (Sleep Token, Architects, BFMV, TesseracT) and photography by Rolf Meldgaard visually complement the album’s exploration of dreams, reality and emotional reconciliation.

Fans can experience the album live as MØL embark on a headline tour across Europe and the UK throughout February 2026 with support from Tayne and Cold Night For Alligators, promising shows that translate the album’s intensity into a visceral, unforgettable performance.

Comments vocalist Kim Song Sternkopf, "It feels incredible to bring DREAMCRUSH out into the world, not just through the record, but by stepping back onto stages across Europe and the UK. This will be our second headline run and it honestly feels like a new and thrilling chapter for us in MØL.

"The songs on DREAMCRUSH explore how our hopes and ideals can both lift us up and break us apart. Performing them live will be like tearing up that dream to the crowd, fragile, heavy and luminous all at once. 

"We’ve also been lucky to bring along two incredibly solid acts who embody that same spirit in their own ways: TAYNE, with their raw, industrial noise-pop energy and Cold Night for Alligators, who channel this beautifully intricate and emotional strain of alternative metal from Copenhagen. Together, we plan to bring you dynamic and compelling sets each night across Europe and the UK. We can’t wait to see everyone again!"

Tickets are available here: https://ffm.live/moeldk-tour

MØL are:

Ken Lund Klejs - drums
Holger Rumph Frost - bass
Kim Song Sternkopf - vocals 
Sigurd Kehlet - guitars 
Nicolai Busse - guitars

MØL online: 
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/moeldk

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BktfiUsPL/?mibextid=wwXIfr

X: https://x.com/moeldk?s=11&t=7GbDMk0_-ITDlUkOmBx7_Q

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/moeldk

British Metalcore Act Shields Share New Single "Parasites"

British metalcore band Shields have released their new single "Parasites."

The song is taken from their upcoming studio album Death & Connection, to be released on January 30 via Long Branch Records. 

Stream "Parasites" and pre-order the album here. 

"'Parasites' is about the experience of sinking into depression and the warped internal relationship that develops within that state," comments singer Joe Edwards. "Originally a rock song from a previous project, 'Parasites' was repurposed for our album. As the original track already had dark undertones, it was easy to re-frame it in moody industrial arrangements, allowing for a wide range of dynamic shifts between sections."

The band shares, "Our new album Death & Connection is a body of work born from the absence of the people who no longer hold space in our lives. This record was created from a necessity to express and soothe our deepest losses; however, that was never the intention — we simply set out to make an album we wanted to hear."

Founded in 2012 by primary songwriters Joe Edwards (vocals) and Samuel Kubrick Finney (guitar/vocals), Shields quickly made an impact in the heavy music scene with their viral single "I Just Feel Hate" — a track they re-released in a newly reimagined version in April 2025. Their EP GUILT cemented their refined sound, blending brutal instrumentation with poignant, emotionally driven lyrics. With this release, they demonstrated an aggressive adaptability to the ever-evolving alternative music landscape, winning over fans from across adjacent genres. The momentum of their powerful breakthrough led to tour cycles alongside acts such as Loathe, Ice Nine Kills, and Escape the Fate.

Shields' debut full-length album Life in Exile (2018) received critical acclaim for its raw honesty and musical maturity. However, the album cycle was tragically cut short by the sudden passing of guitarist George Christie — an event that ultimately led to the band's untimely and abrupt disbandment.

Their return marks a bold decision, given the tragic circumstances surrounding their 2018 split. Yet, Shields re-emerge with powerful new tracks, inviting audiences to witness the next evolution of their sound - matured, refined, and fearless. This new chapter is supported by a fortified lineup, featuring founding members Edwards andl Kubrick Finney, now joined by Alastair Wain (drums) and Krishan Pujara (bass).

If Shields' discography is any indication of what lies ahead, audiences can expect a torrent of unrelentingly bold strides into new sonic territories.

SHIELDS ARE:
Joe Edwards — Vocals
Samuel Kubrick Finney — Guitar + Vocals
Alastair Wain — Drums
Krishan Pujara — Bass

VESSELES Reveal New Single "Perpetual Chasm of Black Mirrors"

Symphonic black metal project VESSELES has released their new song "Perpetual Chasm of Black Mirrors". The song is from their upcoming release Home, which will be released on January 16, 2026. "Perpetual Chasm of Black Mirrors" highlights the deepening mental decay as Valira sinks deeper into her own internal torment. 

Listen BELOW:

Pre-order Home: https://vesseles.myshopify.com/

About VESSELES:
Founded in 2023, VESSELES is the sonic vessel through which Valira speaks the language of her origins. As composer, orchestrator, and architect, she crafts bleak, incantatory soundscapes that fuse serrated guitars with haunted symphonic textures. Her voice, at once seething and spectral, now rises with increasing clarity, layered across both backing and lead roles in studio and on stage. This is not performance. It is possession. Through sound, she casts off the human shell and steps fully into her true form: demon, exile, survivor. VESSELES unveiled the debut EP I Am A Demon in 2024, a liturgy of identity dysphoria, rage, and revelation. "Eternally Within Us" follows the recently released 2025 single, "Flesh Throne".

Credits:
Composed by Valira Pietrangelo.
Performed by VESSELES. 

VESSELES Is:
Valira Pietrangelo - guitar and backing vocals
J Burial (Joel Ferry) - vocals
Ron Graves - bass
Nick Brown - drums

Links: 
Bandcamp: https://vesseles.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vesseles/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Vesseles
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vesseles666/
Music and merch: https://linktr.ee/vesseles

ALL THE DAMN VAMPIRES Turn Benny Mardones' "Into The Night" Into A Gothic Midnight Tragedy

Los Angeles-based synthwave-meets-alternative-metal pioneers All The Damn Vampires drop their haunting reimagination of Benny Mardones' 1980 ballad "Into The Night" today, transforming the classic into a gothic midnight tragedy. The track arrives as the second single from the trio's highly anticipated debut album VICECORE, set for release February 4th, 2026. Fans can stream "Into The Night" HERE, watch the lyric video Below, and pre-orderVICECORE on vinyl HERE.

Founded, produced, mixed, and mastered by multi-instrumentalist Davey Oberlin - a longtime touring member of Korn who's also played in Winds of Plague and been a touring guitarist for Five Finger Death Punch - All The Damn Vampires builds on the original's tender vulnerability transmuting it into something altogether more sinister. Where Mardones delivered romantic yearning, Oberlin and powerhouse vocalist Ryan Rose conjure something darker: a fever dream of doomed love, violent transformation, and supernatural obsession.

"Our reimagining of 'Into The Night' takes the classic Benny Mardones ballad into darker, more goth metal-inspired territory," Oberlin explains. "A midnight race through the hills, a tragic crash, and a love that refuses to die.

One saved by fire. One saved by blood. Both forever changed."

The accompanying lyric video, created by Oberlin, features visuals inspired by classic choose-your-own-adventure books and offers cryptic glimpses into the song's reimagined narrative. Rather than spelling out the story, the video presents fragments of fever dream imagery that lets listeners connect the pieces and imagine their own ending. It's storytelling as much as sound design, inviting audiences into a world where love, death and immortality intertwine.

This mysterious story imagined by Oberlin, is the cinematic heartbeat of VICECORE, an album designed to evoke golden hour drives with the top down along the Pacific Coast Highway whilst ruminating on heartbreak and revenge. Recorded over 18 months, the album weaves completely reimagined covers of classic tracks (including Whitesnake's "Is This Love," Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight," and Cutting Crew's "(I Just) Died In Your Arms") with original songs, blurring the line between the two. The album features contributions from synthwave producer Sunglasses Kid on the title track, vocals from Jack Underkofler of Dead Poets Society on "Falling Into Darkness" plus guitar solos from virtuosos Andy James and Miles Dimitri Baker, who also rounds out the live lineup. The aesthetic draws from Miami Vice, hardcore merch culture, and Los Angeles gang imagery, filtered through Oberlin's deep love of film soundtracks ranging from The Goonies to John Carpenter's catalog, and a childhood spent obsessing over Type O Negative, Korn, and Alice in Chains.

All The Damn Vampires has already carved out a lane at the intersection of heavy music and visual media. The project's music has appeared in cult horror film Terrifier 2, while Oberlin's collaboration with Avenged Sevenfold on a reimagined version of "Ordinary", which he produced and co-wrote, debuted via a secret Fortnite puzzle, introducing the project to an entirely unexpected audience. With over 12.1 million cross-platform streams and 2.11 million YouTube views to date, All The Damn Vampires continues to build a world where retro can be cinematic, crushing, and heavy.

ABOUT ALL THE DAMN VAMPIRES

All The Damn Vampires is more than a music project. It’s a cinematic world crafted by musician and producer Davey Oberlin. Built on a foundation of synthwave, goth metal, and cinematic sound design, the project evokes neon‑drenched cityscapes, emotional storytelling, and an unapologetic embrace of retro‑futuristic aesthetics.

Oberlin’s musical pedigree adds depth to the project. Having performed and toured with legendary acts like Korn, Five Finger Death Punch, and Winds of Plague, he brings a unique perspective that fuses heavy music sensibilities with lush, melodic synth textures. This balance of grit and atmosphere has become a hallmark of All The Damn Vampires.

The project’s reach has extended into visual media, with its music featured in films such as the cult‑favorite Terrifier 2, connecting the sound of All The Damn Vampires with horror and synthwave subcultures worldwide.

Further elevating the project, Oberlin collaborated with Avenged Sevenfold on a reimagined version of their song “Ordinary.” Serving as both producer and co‑writer, he infused their track with his distinctive sonic vision, melding synth‑pop vibrancy with the band’s powerful rock identity.

Whether crafting immersive soundscapes or collaborating with some of the biggest names in modern music, All The Damn Vampires continues to push boundaries. Delivering beautifully evocative music that’s as cinematic as it is unique and unforgettable.

NYC's LAPTOP unpacks '90s Fame & Failure on "Indie Hero" with epic video

Laptop, the cult NYC project led by Jesse Hartman (formerly with Island Records), continues their cinematic synth pop revival with “Indie Hero”, a wry and wistful love song to the myth of late 20th century cool, but also a hate song about hero worship gone hideously wrong. Anchored by Laptop’s signature mix of cinematic synths, dry wit, and bittersweet reflection, this track opens a new chapter for Hartman, now joined by his son Charlie as co-frontman in this multi-generational pop experiment, with equal parts satire and sincerity. The single previews their forthcoming album "On This Planet", slated for release in Spring 2026 via Hurricane Cove Records.

The details? Hartman isn’t at liberty to say. Well, maybe just a little: As a teenage guitarist, Hartman once toured overseas with one of his idols, watching the myth of cool dissolve in real time. "Indie Hero" captures the moment (during a fateful night in a Tokyo restaurant), when youthful ambition collided with middle-aged madness. The Hartmans sing: “I’ll dive across a table for you, my indie hero, I’m feeling so unstable for you, my indie hero” - half romantic, half tragic, all reckless. Together they go on a dangerous, adolescent journey, both literally and symbolically, repeating in the outro: “I want to go to Japan again.”  “Indie Hero” ultimately reflects on fame, failure, and the pursuit of artistic immortality.

Hartman shares, “This is a love letter to the ghosts of the ’90s and their obsession with the ghosts of the late ’70s. All the beautiful people who never quite went the distance. Including me. It’s about idol worship, but also about outgrowing it."


The video, directed by Jesse Hartman, reimagines that journey as a Japanese comic-book fever dream: a young musician chasing his dreams and heroes across neon cities and sake bars, only to discover that the real revelation isn’t fame—it’s self-discovery (and maybe a little heartbreak).

“When I was starting out in the ’90s, I met a lot of my punk and new wave heroes in New York’s East Village. They weren’t always as cool as I thought they’d be. It taught me that sometimes it’s best not to meet your heroes, and better to just become your own," Hartman recalls. “I think the video sketches that coming of age picture in comic-al way”.

Written years ago by Hartman and longtime musical collaborator Luke Wood (from Hartman’s first band Sammy), and recorded this past year between New York, Nevis and Valencia, “Indie Hero” layers drums and machines, horns and synths, shimmering guitars and the Hartmans’ sly vocals into something both nostalgic and immediate, like hearing your favorite 2001 record on a futuristic radio.

Laptop emerged in the early 2000s with three cult classic albums on Island Records, earning praise from NME and The Guardian, who dubbed Hartman the master of “insincere sincerity.” Having got his start as a teenage Voidoid with Richard Hell, Hartman then co-founded the indie rock band Sammy (with Luke Wood, later President of Beats by Dre), releasing albums via Fire Records and Geffen Records.


Since reviving the band, Laptop has released the surreal trilogy "Additional Animals", "I Don't Know", and “Weirder”, mixed by Grammy award-winning producer Mario McNulty (David Bowie, Prince, Nine Inch Nails, Julian Lennon), collectively drawing millions of views and reintroducing Laptop’s postmodern humor to a new generation.

Laptop has recently staged an epic return to live performance with a 14-piece band at New York's Sony Hall (their first hometown show in two decades) opening for UK legends Cast, and a headliner show at London's Waiting Room. These Stop Making Sense–like spectacles underscore the scale and ambition of Laptop’s reboot.

As of November 19, “Indie Hero” is available on major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full album "On This Planet" will be released in Spring 2026.

CREDITS

Written by Jesse Hartman and Luke Wood (BMI) 

Published by Exurbia Music, Inc. 

Released by Hurricane Cove Records

Jesse Hartman – vocals, guitars, keyboards, synths, piano, bass, percussion

Charlie Hartman – vocals

Lulu Hartman – vocals
Anna Heddad – vocals

Geddys “Ch4se” Ferguson – vocals
Arthur Lewis – keys, piano, vocals

Mike Desmarais – drums

Lluisen Capafons – drums, congas, additional percussion
Dima Faustov – Saxophone
Lev Borovskiy – trumpet and trombone

Santo Fazio – Harmonica
Oliver Freiberg – drum programming

Produced by Jesse Hartman

Recorded by Iñaki Ariste Aznar (Valencia), Edward Douglas (NYC), Jesse Hartman (NYC/Nevis)
Mixed by Jesse Hartman, Ray Aldaco, Edward Douglas (final mix by Jesse Hartman & Edward Douglas)

Mastered by Dave Trumfio

Recorded in Valencia, Spain. Additional sessions in Nevis. Final overdubs & edits in NYC
Video concept, direction, cinematography & editing by Jesse Hartman

Featuring Charlie Hartman, Jesse Hartman & the Laptop band: Santo Fazio, Flynn Mulcahy, Fergus Segrove, Aviv Tal, Odetta Hartman, Camellia Hartman, Denise Gordon, Alex Friedman, Richard Baskin, Brandon Volel & Sam Rowley
Shot at Tall Tree Court and Sony Hall (at a live Laptop show September 3, 2025)

Cover artwork by Jesse Hartman & Scott Ratner
Artist photos by Thomas Krause
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR