Sleep announce their new album, Hempispheres, out digitally on September 3 and physically on October 30 via Third Man Records.
Physical pre-orders open September 3rd. Stream the new single The Morrisist today.
Ian Munsick Releases New Song, “Palomino Eyes,” Off Upcoming Album
Wyoming native Ian Munsick continues to intertwine those Western themes he’s known for into his latest release, “Palomino Eyes,” available now. Listen Below.
Written by Munsick and Phil O’Donnell, “Palomino Eyes” places a cowboy’s lens onto rose-colored glasses, emphasizing the beauty of how the world is seen through a partner’s eyes.“Nine times out of ten a song title hits me days, weeks, months or even years before I actually sit down to write it. It’s extremely rare that an idea is born and I have the time and creative juice to write it from start to finish,” Munsick explains. “But when I was driving through the farmland of Tennessee on my way to write with one of my favorite songwriters, Phil O’Donnell, I saw a beautiful Palomino hanging by the fence with enamoring blue eyes. I thought to myself, ‘I have one of those waiting for me at home… Caroline.’”
He continues, “We wrote ‘Palomino Eyes’ in a few hours, unsure which part was the chorus and which part was the verse. That’s probably one of the reasons why it’s my personal favorite song on the album. It doesn’t follow a formula. It’s free and untamed, just like that Palomino and my beautiful wife.”
“Palomino Eyes” is the latest release off Munsick’s upcoming studio album, The Mountain Goat. Spanning 15 tracks, The Mountain Goat is Munsick’s first independent release via WEST TO THE REST RECORDS in partnership with Triple Tigers Records, and was produced by Munsick, Jeremy Spillman and Mike Robinson. Pre-save HERE.
Additionally, five D2C fan packs are available to pre-order on his online store, including an exclusive autographed zoetrope vinyl. Pre-order HERE.
Along with co-producing the album, Munsick also played an extensive role in the instrumentation heard on the record. In total, Munsick is credited with playing nine different instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, piano, bouzouki and kazoo, as well as lending background vocals and programming.
Munsick promises to deliver fans a memorable tour of the west with a series of shows during album release week, as well as the launch of his Schaefer Outfitter clothing line on August 18. As part of “The Road to The Mountain Goat,” Munsick’s official album release show will be held at Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater in Park City, Utah on August 22 as part of the Deer Valley Concert Series.
Founded in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Schaefer Outfitter has spent four decades providing western wear to working cowboys and ranchers. Their collection with Munsick will include custom pearl snap shirts, outerwear, hats and graphic tees designed collaboratively between Munsick and the Schaefer team. Fans can enter to win a signed piece of the collection HERE.
Munsick is also partnering with The Landmark Hotel & Casino to open the Ian Munsick Cowboy Bar & Western Grill in Deadwood, S.D on September 18. Built between 1894-1920, The Landmark is Deadwood’s largest historic structure at approximately 35,000 square feet. The Ian Munsick Cowboy Bar & Western Grill will reside within over 2,600 square feet of the footprint. The venue will promote and celebrate country and western music with old school country bar decor, along with two performance stages, one indoors and one outdoors.
The Road to The Mountain Goat Shows:
Aug 21 || Minden, NV || TJ's Corral Outdoor
Aug 22 || Park City, UT || Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater
Aug 25 || Morrison, CO || Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Aug 28 || Pueblo, CO || Colorado State Fair
Sept 11 || San Angelo, TX || Black Buck Amphitheater
Sept 12 || Albuquerque, NM | New Mexico State Fair
Sept 18 || Deadwood, SD || Deadwood Jam
About Ian Munsick:
As one of modern country’s few Rocky Mountain artists – and the only one to merge its timeless traditions with an electrifying roots-pop edge – Wyoming native Ian Munsick lives in the wild places few singer-songwriters go. Yet with his fourth album, The Mountain Goat, he climbs farther out on his creative ledge than ever. Marking his first independent album on WEST TO THE REST RECORDS / Triple Tigers Records, Munsick remains as sure footed as his project’s fearless namesake, thriving in the isolation of a Western-flavored modern country frontier. Racking up over one billion career streams with previous albums Coyote Cry, White Buffalo, and Eagle Feather, Munsick has produced one RIAA-Platinum duet “Long Live Cowgirls” (with Cody Johnson) – No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway Hot 30 Countdown – plus two Gold-certified hits: “Long Haul” and “Horses Are Faster.” Spotify, CMT, and the Grand Ole Opry were among those to recognize Munsick’s vision, and concertgoers across the globe have found a Western authenticity that can’t be faked. Munsick made history in 2025, becoming the first Wyoming-born artist to headline Cheyenne Frontier Days – the iconic rodeo known as the “Daddy of ‘Em All” – and with The Mountain Goat, his quest to bring Western mystique to modern fans continues. Fusing genuine tradition with cutting-edge sonics, 15 tracks feature an “earthy” new organic undercurrent, with the multi-instrumental master more connected to his acoustic roots – and more protective of his territory.
Miranda Lambert Previews 10/2 Album 'Crisco' with "Sunset Marquis," Out Now
Miranda Lambert continues to unveil her highly anticipated new album with today’s release of “Sunset Marquis.” The dreamy, California-soaked song adds another vibrant layer to the joyful creative spirit at the heart of Crisco, arriving October 2 via MCA. Listen Below and pre-order / pre-save the album HERE.
Written by Lambert alongside co-producer Jesse Frasure, David Garcia, Waylon Payne and Ashley Monroe, “Sunset Marquis” is an homage to the iconic West Hollywood hotel that has long served as a creative refuge for musicians, actors and artists alike. Floating on a breezy, ’70s-inspired groove, the song captures the timeless allure of a place “where time stands still... where the stars come out and the music’s loud,” inviting listeners to slip away into its unmistakable atmosphere.
“I've been staying at the Sunset Marquis for close to 20 years,” shares Lambert. “Every time I'm there, you never know who you’re going to run into or what kind of memories you’re going to make. It has this timeless energy that feels like stepping into another era. When we wrote this song, I wanted listeners to be able to close their eyes and feel like they were there with us – to see it, smell it and experience the magic that’s made the Sunset Marquis such a special place for so many years.”
Released alongside the song is an official visualizer that brings the track’s nostalgic energy to life, featuring Lambert in a Cat O’Nine bodysuit with a gleaming vintage red convertible bathed in vibrant neon light as she channels the timeless glamour, romance and late-night mystique of the legendary hideaway that inspired the song.
“Sunset Marquis” also extends beyond the album, appearing in the forthcoming documentary If These Walls Could Rock, available to stream on digital platforms beginning next Friday, Aug. 14.
The song joins the previously released title track plus “Till The Going’s Gone” and GRAMMY-nominated duet “A Song To Sing” with Chris Stapleton in previewing Crisco. Produced by Lambert and Frasure, the forthcoming album celebrates the many worlds that have always existed within country music as it nods to the genre’s shared history with disco music. Across 12 tracks, Lambert explores heartbreak and hope, highways and honky-tonks, rhinestones and roller skates, creating a record that feels both timeless and refreshingly alive while embracing every side of the artist fans have come to love: the storyteller, the wanderer, the romantic, the troublemaker, the traditionalist and the dreamer.
About Miranda Lambert
Critically acclaimed groundbreaker/songwriter/superstar Miranda Lambert has defined her multifaceted career as an artist, entertainer, producer, entrepreneur, advocate and businesswoman with an unflinching quest for excellence, honesty and conviction. GRAMMY-nominated single “A Song To Sing” with Chris Stapleton arrived recently as the biggest streaming debut of her career, with Rolling Stone praising its “dreamy disco groove and lovestruck devotion.” The song appears on her forthcoming album Crisco arriving October 2 via MCA. The new project follows her 2024’s GRAMMY-nominated Postcards from Texas, which continued her unbroken streak of 10 consecutive Top 10s on the Top Country Albums chart. The most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history, including their top honor for Entertainer of the Year, she has also won three GRAMMYs and 14 Country Music Association Awards. A TIME100 honoree and perennial best-of-the-year list maker at the New York Times, TIME, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Stereogum, People and more, NPR has called her “the most riveting country star of her generation.”
Lambert has taken those standards to become a label co-founder, teaming with longtime collaborator Jon Randall to launch their own imprint, Big Loud Texas, in partnership with Big Loud Records. She is also a New York Times bestselling author and the first female restaurateur on Lower Broadway with her Tex-Mex cantina Casa Rosa, while also expanding her creative reach with her Wanda June Home collection as well as Idyllwind, her western clothing, accessories and footwear brand at Boot Barn. Her passion for animals inspired the creation of MuttNation Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit which has raised over $13 million since inception to promote shelter pet adoption, support rescue organizations nationwide, advance spay & neuter and help shelters recover from natural disaster.
MirandaLambert.com | Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Gavin Adcock Releases Anthem for the “Workin’ Man”
Raised running cattle on a farm in Watkinsville, Georgia, Thrivin Here Records/Warner Records Nashville’s Gavin Adcock is no stranger to hard work. As he prepares for his third studio album in three years, The Day I Hang It Up, due October 2, Adcock arrives today with an anthem for the “Workin’ Man.” Listen Below.
Written by Gavin Adcock, Luke Laird and Jimi Bell, “Workin’ Man” equates the dedication and discipline required for a hard day’s work to a dependable love.
“This song is for working people. The kind of people who put in long hours, take pride in what they do and make time for the people they love,” remarks Adcock. “My fans live that life. They work hard all week and come to our shows ready to have a good time. It’s also about knowing what you deserve. If somebody isn’t treating you right, there’s someone else out there who will. There’s nothing like having a good, hardworking person by your side.”
In an effort to further honor his fans’ work ethic, Adcock personally asked them to submit videos of their blue collar, “Workin’ Man” jobs for a curated music video. The request, made via his Instagram account, received an overwhelming response with nearly 4,000 videos submitted. The final music video, featuring nearly 500 fans, arrives tomorrow, Aug. 7 at 5pm CT to commemorate the end of the work week.
With American Songwriter dubbing him a “modern-day outlaw…building a career reminiscent of artists like Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and more,” Adcock’s upcoming project is a continuation of the signature grit and adrenaline-fueled anthems that have garnered him over 2.4 billion career streams to-date.
The Day I Hang It Up limited edition signed vinyl and standard vinyl and CD available for pre-order now HERE.
Showing no signs of slowing down, Adcock’s headlining The Day I Hang It Up Tour is now underway with a rotating lineup of special guests including Pecos & The Rooftops, Corey Kent, Tyler Nance, Jake Worthington, The Creekers, Braxton Keith and Mack Geiger. The tour promises to deliver fans across 30 cities with a live show experience denoted by Music Row as a “rowdy, high-octane performance” which Adcock is known for. To purchase tickets for the tour, click HERE.
A proven must-see live performer, Adcock has SOLD OUT venues via multiple headline tours spanning cost-to-coast such as the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour Presents: Gavin Adcock, his Actin’ Up Again (Again) Tour, and his Need To Tour. Most recently, Adcock joined Morgan Wallen for select dates on Wallen’s 2025 I’m The Problem Tour and his 2026 Still The Problem Tour, receiving explosive responses from audiences across the country.
The Day I Hang It Up Tour 2026
Aug 7 || Tacoma, Wash. || Dune Peninsula # ^
Aug 9 || Bend, Ore. || Hayden Homes Amphitheater # ^
Aug 14 || Bakersfield, Calif. || Dignity Health Theater $ ^
Aug 15 || Ontario, Calif. || Toyota Arena $ ^
Aug 28 || Columbus, Ohio ||KEMBA Live! Outdoor * %
Aug 29 || Cincinnati, Ohio || MegaCorp Pavilion Outdoor * %
Sep 11 || Cleveland, Ohio || Jacobs Pavilion # ^
Sep 17 || Lubbock, Texas || Cooks Garage * %
Sep 19 || Round Rock, Texas || Round Rock Amp %
Sep 24 || Baton Rouge, La. || Raising Cane's River Center Arena * %
Sep 25 || Oxford, Miss. || SJB Pavilion * %
Oct 15 || Macon, Ga. || Atrium Health Amphitheater > %
Oct 16 || Birmingham, Ala. || Coca-Cola Amphitheater > %
Oct 17 || Little Rock, Ark. || First Security Amphitheater > %
Oct 22 || Fishers, Ind. || Fishers Event Center $ ^
Oct 23 || Knoxville, Tenn. || Knoxville Civic Coliseum $ ^
Oct 24 || Cary, N.C. || Koka Booth Amphitheatre $ ^
Oct 29 || Charlotte, N.C. || Bojangles Coliseum > %
Oct 30 ||Savannah, Ga. || Enmarket Arena > %
Oct 31 || Estero, Fla. || Hertz Arena > %
Nov 6 || Boston, Mass. || MGM Music Hall at Fenway > %
Nov 7 || Reading, Penn. || Santander Arena > %
Nov 13 || Detroit, Mich. || Masonic Temple Theatre > %
Nov 14 || Grand Rapids, Mich. || Van Andel Arena > %
Dec 10 || Las Vegas, Nev. || The Theater at Virgin Hotels !
Opener denotations:
$: Pecos & The Rooftops
*: Corey Kent
^: Tyler Nance
#: Jake Worthington
%: The Creekers
>: Braxton Keith
!: Mack Geiger
Kenny Chesney, SILVER SANDS MARINA + the Reality of Albums
When Kenny Chesney decided to re-record “Carry On,” then add three tracks to the project he’d been working on, the 2025 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee thought he was just trying to maximize the potential for what became Silver Sands Marina. His 21st studio recording, though, turned into something the songwriter/superstar didn’t realize in the moment – only after he’d finished tweaking three new songs, finishing the sequence and listening to the entire project.
“There wasn’t a master plan,” admits the high-energy performer. “I wish I could say there was a master plan, but the truth is: the songs that felt like they belonged together knew something I didn’t. After the first couple listens to what became the final sequence, I realized, ‘This is an album.’
“With all the tracks, the playlists, the drops, I think we’ve forgotten the power of an actual collection of songs designed to work as a whole. Not 10 or 12 or even 18 great songs, but songs that have a relationship to each other, that speak to how life rolls out and happens.”
Having made the decision to follow his heart instead of merely doing what he’s always done, Chesney changed the game for what kinds of songs he was seeking – and what he wanted this project to be. Committing to brand new independent HEY NOW Records, the rule book went out the window and suddenly the man who earned his bones as a young writer at Acuff Rose Music found creative gears that explored emotions, turning points and hilarity in a way that most albums don’t.
With the random encounter/perfect moment title track, the surging song of arrival “Burn My Boat” and “Carry On,” Chesney’s first independent label single that marked his 100th charting single, making him the new record holder for Most Top 10s – and the 3rd in chart history to lock the entire country radio panel in its first week – it’s obvious the music on Silver Sands Marina speaks to the emotions we often move through without pausing to feel them. For Chesney, listening back, he recognized that not only did his latest contain a wide sweep of eclecticism, it dug deep into the heart of the matter, made fun of some tough stuff, created clarity in the storm and conjured all the feels.
“Songs that make you laugh, that make you realize what a moment might actually mean, those things are so important – and we forget all about them. Musically, lyrically, even the idea of opening with ‘Burn My Boat’ and closing with Brett James and Tony Lane’s ‘Shot Glass’ takes you places I’ve never been… and when all the songs line up next to each other, you get a real taste of how life rolls out, and the things you don’t see until it’s too late.”
Due Sept. 25, Silver Sands Marina features appearances by singer/songwriters Lily Meola, Megan Moroney and Colbie Caillat and embodies all the things the East Tennessean is known for: positive vibes, good humor, long drives, specific places, moments and memories that are destined to last a lifetime, obliterate what pulls you down and deliver a sense of how sweet life truly is.
Co-produced with longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon, the pair drew on some of Nashville’s most iconic songwriters including Shane McAnally, Matraca Berg, Tia Sillers and Jessie Alexander, plus emerging powerhouses Jessi Jo Dillon, Adam Wright and Tennille Townes
Personal, reflective, empowering and euphoric in different places, pre-order/pre-save/pre-add HERE.
The man with the most Billboard Country Airplay No. 1s returned to TalkShopLive – where limited signed copies of the picture disc vinyl, as well as signed albums and CD, are available – for his first discussion of Silver Sands Marina. Beyond unpacking many of the songs on the 11-song project, he elaborated on the way albums made of songs that speak to each other offer an extra dimension to the listening experience – and uncover the nuances of what being truly present can mean.
Watch the full conversation here: https://talkshop.live/watch/fvRzP4UAS_kb
Victoriana Infused Electronic Metal Duo CODEX LOVELACE Present "Follow Me"
"Follow Me" is the debut single release from electronic metal duo, CODEX LOVELACE. With a shared love of Victoriana, history, and a bit of cyber punk, CODEX LOVELACE fuses dark EDM and atmospheric electronics with metal. The debut album Galvanized Heart is scheduled to arrive on September 4th, 2026.
"Follow Me" explores themes of love and lust, while also drawing inspiration from the history and birth of electricity. This major technological development in our history is explored by Joan Avant in the lyric, “Light the way night into day”.
The 'electrifying' sound of "Follow Me" is created through EDM inspired rhythmic arrangements and synth layers. Enhanced with impactful and punchy heavy guitars, the influences from metal bring a darker edge.
Pre-order Galvanized Heart HERE: https://codexlovelace.bandcamp.com/album/galvanized-heart
CODEX LOVELACE is:
Joan Avant: multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer & lyricist, producer.
Holly Royle: multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer & lyricist.
Album Credits:
Guitar performance, bass, violin, drums, synth programming, vocal performance, composition and lyrics by Joan Avant
Guitar performance, synth programming, vocal performance, composition and lyrics by Holly Royle
Produced and mixed by Joan Avant
Mastered by Andy Fernihough
Cover artwork by Marisol Maerz
Photography by Tom Lloyd Photography / Joan Avant
Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codex_lovelace/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@CodexLovelace
Bandcamp: https://codexlovelace.bandcamp.com
Zahna Drops Latest Single & Music Video "Love & Loss"
Heavy rock artist Zahna has released her new single “Love & Loss”, taken from her upcoming album Break or Breakthrough, set for release September 4 via XOVR Records, the label founded by Brian “Head” Welch of Korn. Stream “Love & Loss” HERE and watch the accompanying video Below.
Following the spiritual confrontation “Defiler”, the sharpened battle cry of “The Archer” and the hard-won restoration of “Break or Breakthrough”, “Love & Loss” is the fourth single released from her upcoming album and pulls Zahna into one of the album’s most vulnerable spaces. Built on the ache of sudden grief and the exhaustion that follows a year of relentless personal upheaval, the track finds her standing in the wreckage, staring into the void, and asking the questions that faith does not always answer neatly. Written after the sudden passing of Zahna’s father-in-law, the song traces the shockwaves that move through a family after loss, when the foundations shift, certainty starts to fracture, and even survival begins to feel like something that has to be questioned before it can be chosen again.
Speaking on the track, Zahna shares:
“Love & Loss" is a song about being in so much pain you begin to question everything you believe, and start to look outwardly for the answers instead of inwardly. I wrote the song about my Father-in-law who passed away very suddenly. I saw how the fall out of him leaving the earth, shook the foundation for so many of us in the family. That same year, all hell broke loose in so many different ways in my life. I was so tired of fighting in every sense of the word.
“Love & Loss” is a cry for understanding in the midst of hopelessness and grief. It's a song that begs the question if this life is really worth living, and if there could really be a purpose and design in what seems to be random chaos. I guess that what I’ve learned, is that experiencing loss only leaves you behind with one thing, and that is a deeper sense of love, which ironically stings more in the absence of everything else. And when the absence is the void, you still scream out.
The new single deepens the emotional scope of Break or Breakthrough, an album shaped by spiritual warfare, endurance, freedom, grief, reconciliation and the possibility of life after crisis. Across the record, Zahna builds with the intensity of someone treating rock music as a vessel for survival and catharsis, where every heavier moment carries consequence and every melody feels pulled from somewhere deeply vulnerable and authentic.
For Zahna, signing with XOVR Records marks both a milestone and a mission. Having long hoped to work with someone like Brian “Head” Welch, the partnership has given her the space to build an album rooted in trust, detail and purpose. Break or Breakthrough was produced and mixed by Kellen McGregor of Memphis May Fire, with co-writing and associate production from Cory Brunnemann of Through Arteries.
Zahna’s recent momentum has already carried into active rock. Her previous single “Defiler” has been spinning across a growing list of active rock stations across the country including SiriusXM Octane, Music Choice and HardDrive Radio, exploding onto the chart after just a few weeks at the active rock format where it remained for over a month whilst also hitting Top 20 on the SiriusXM Octane chart.
With "Love & Loss" now out in the world and Break or Breakthrough arriving September 4, Zahna continues to reveal an album built not around easy victory, but around the brutal, beautiful work of staying alive, staying honest and finding love still burning in the absence.
ABOUT ZAHNA
Zahna is a heavy rock artist, vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and vocal coach whose music combines hard-hitting rock, metalcore intensity, dark pop atmosphere and deeply personal storytelling. First emerging as the vocalist of alt-rock band ILIA, she launched her solo career with Red For War and later released 2023’s Stronger Than Death, an album shaped by her experience surviving a near-terminal battle with kidney failure.
Her new album, Break or Breakthrough, will be released September 4 via XOVR Records, the label founded by Brian “Head” Welch of Korn. Produced and mixed by Kellen McGregor of Memphis May Fire, with co-writing and associate production from Cory Brunnemann of Through Arteries, the album explores spiritual warfare, endurance, freedom and the possibility of life after crisis.
Zahna has amassed over 20 million streams and continues to build growing support across SiriusXM Octane, Music Choice, HardDrive Radio and active rock radio. Beyond music, she is a vocal coach, a passionate advocate for those living with chronic illness, and an artist whose work pulls from faith, anime, literature, gaming and visual storytelling. Across every chapter,Zahna’s mission remains clear: to create songs with substance, honesty and enough fire to help people keep going.
Avant-Grind Extremists SQUID PISSER Unleash New Single "Tumors"
Today, SQUID PISSER — the brainchild of Tommy Meehan (Grodius Maximus of GWAR) — unleashes their new single "Tumors," taken from their long-awaited full-length EP, 'Throat Slave,' set for release on August 28th via Skin Graft Records / Sweatband Records. The new track arrives alongside an official music video.
On the new single, Baxter Yogurt explains:
"A tumor is just a chaotic mass of cells growing out of control without a purpose. A destructive a**hole feeding off another life form because it can't survive on its own."
He continues, "The song is about people who spread chaos wherever they go while hiding behind manipulation, posturing, fear, and false confidence. People like that can seem larger than life until you realize they're just total parasites with no real personality of their own. They're faking everything they pretend to be, scrambling desperately and loudly for attention, conflict, and other people's pain because there's nothing of substance underneath. Even their identity is borrowed... Stitched together from the people they've used, envied, and tried to become. It's about seeing through that illusion and recognizing these people for what they really are: cowardly, pathetic, and ultimately insignificant."
Watch the Music Video Premiere for "Tumors" Below:
Following the sensory overload of 2024's 'Dreams of Puke,' Los Angeles slime merchants SQUID PISSER return with 'Throat Slave,' a "full-length EP" featuring five original songs, six demented remixes, and a foreboding introduction that pushes the band's increasingly strange universe into darker territory.
While retaining the band's trademark volatility and sonic intensity, 'Throat Slave' marks a significant evolution, embracing greater groove, atmosphere, and dynamic tension. It also serves as the first SQUID PISSER release to prominently feature the creative contributions of guitarists Michael Armendariz and Raz Azraai, expanding the band's sonic palette while preserving its uniquely unstable identity.
Side A explores paranoia, confrontation, self-examination, and release, using imagery of decay and mutation to examine the struggle to reclaim one's identity from manipulation and illusion. Side B transforms that vision through remixes by Plack Blague, Hyper Gal, Drumcorps, Fartbarf, Ecology: HomeStones, dj Embryonic Petit Sac, and KK Null (Zeni Geva), reimagining the material as electronic hallucinations, industrial rituals, mutant dance music, and psychedelic fever dreams.
Paired with the luminous, unsettling artwork of Bora Murmure, 'Throat Slave' emerges as SQUID PISSER's most immersive and adventurous release yet, occupying a space between nightmare and revelation.
As Baxter Yogurt puts it, “'Throat Slave' is a collection of songs about defending your identity from parasites... Whether they're people, institutions, bad habits, or the voice in your own head telling you to play it safe. The record is filled with bodily fluids, vermin, disease, and decay because that's what these forces feel like when they're attached to you and feeding. Every song is a battle between self-determination and surrender. The answer isn't self-improvement or enlightenment... It's trusting yourself enough to reject what's false. Don't become somebody else's 'Throat Slave.'”
SQUID PISSER are excited to be getting back on the road for their "Tumors Across America Tour" kicking off August 19th in Long Beach, CA.
SQUID PISSER Live:
"Tumors Across America Tour"
August 19 - Long Beach, CA @ Alex's Bar
August 20 - Sacramento, CA @ Cafe Colonial
August 21 - Petaluma, CA @ Phoenix Theatre
August 22 - Palmdale, CA @ Transplants
August 23 - Cottonwood, AZ @ Queen B Vinyl
August 24 - Silver City, NM @ Whiskey Creek
August 25 - El Paso, TX @ EP Underground
August 27 - Austin, TX @ Lost Well
August 28 - Houston, TX @ The End
August 29 - New Orleans, LA @ Poor Boys
August 30 - Birmingham, AL @ The Nick
August 31 - Atlanta, GA @ 529
September 1 - Piedmont, SC @ Tribbles
September 2 - Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor
September 3 - Asheville, NC @ Static Age Records
September 4 - Cookeville, TN @ Muddy Roots
September 5 - Harrisburg, PA @ Capitol City Music Center
September 6 - Montague, MA @ RPM Fest
September 7 - Wallingford, CT @ Cherry Street Station
September 8 - Philadelphia, PA @ Nikki Lopez
September 9 - Youngstown, OH @ Westside Bowl
September 10 - Chicago, IL @ Livewire
September 11 - Sioux Falls, SD @ The Den
September 12 - Lincoln, NE @ Reverb
September 13 - Kansas City, MO @ MiniBar
Supporting The Dillinger Escape Plan
October 25 - Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
October 26th - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
October 27th - Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre
METAL ICON KAI HANSEN RELEASES NEW SINGLE "WELCOME TO LIFE"
With "Welcome To Life," Kai Hansen releases the second single from his upcoming solo album Born With A Hammer. Following the powerful "Feeding The Beast," the song reveals another side of the musician who, as co-founder of Helloween and founder of Gamma Ray, has played a defining role in European heavy metal, and power metal in particular, for decades.
Driving guitars, striking changes in tempo and strong melodies come together in a direct blend of heavy metal, punk and rock’n’roll. As the second track on the album, "Welcome To Life" makes it clear early on just how diverse Born With A Hammer is set to be.
Lyrically, the song is about accepting life as it is, not dwelling on what is missing and making the most of what you have. Hansen combines this outlook with his unmistakable guitar playing, an infectious sense of spontaneity and the spirit of a road trip through life.
The official lyric video brings this idea to life as a Mustang tears through a heightened, hell-tinged world. Its imagery follows the song's shifting dynamics and puts its sense of freedom firmly on the road.
Born With A Hammer was produced by Eike Freese, Kai Hansen and Alexander Dietz. The album was recorded with Eike Freese on guitar, Heaven Shall Burn’s Alexander Dietz on bass, Carcass drummer Dan Wilding and Induction guitarist Tim Hansen.
Across 10 songs, Born With A Hammer combines powerful heavy metal with punk attitude, hard rock drive and strong melodies. "Welcome To Life" represents the album's more immediate and carefree side, expanding the picture of this new solo chapter following "Feeding The Beast."
Following the worldwide success of Helloween’s recent reunion era and its major international tours, Born With A Hammer sees Kai Hansen return his focus to his own musical world. "Welcome To Life" shows that this world is firmly rooted in his history while continuing to forge a path entirely of its own.
Listen to "Welcome To Life" Below.
Pre-order Born With A Hammer HERE.
ABOUT KAI HANSEN:
Kai Hansen is one of modern heavy metal’s most influential creative forces. As co-founder of Helloween and founder of Gamma Ray, he shaped the sound and spirit of power metal and continues to influence artists and fans worldwide. His work with Helloween has brought him back to the biggest stages around the globe, while Born With A Hammer reveals another side of his creative drive — personal, direct and fully charged.
TUNGSTEN Ignite the Fire with New Single "Fuego Del Sol"
Swedish melodic metal force TUNGSTEN unveil "Fuego Del Sol", the brand-new single from their upcoming studio album Ashes, slated for a release on October 9 via PERCEPTION – Powered by Reigning Phoenix Music. Blending the band's signature heavy sound with unmistakable Spanish and Latin American influences, the track delivers powerful riffs, infectious rhythms and a vibrant atmosphere that sets it apart from anything they've released before.
With its irresistible groove, soaring melodies and captivating hooks, "Fuego Del Sol" stands out as one of TUNGSTEN's most distinctive tracks to date. The single offers another exciting glimpse of the band's forthcoming album while proving there's still plenty of room to expand their signature sound.
Speaking about the track, vocalist Mike Andersson comments:
"Parts of the song are in Spanish, which made sense for the feel we were going for. It's a slightly different track for us, with a more rhythmic and warm character. My wife is Spanish, so that influence is naturally there. Coming from Northern Europe, we're drawn to that kind of atmosphere since it's so different for us."
Stream "Fuego Del Sol" Below:
Following a strong entry into the metal scene with their 2019 debut “We Will Rise” and a steady rise through albums like “Tundra,” and “Bliss,” the band now return with a powerful new chapter. Between touring and live performances throughout 2025, TUNGSTEN focused on writing material for their upcoming album, aiming to create a worthy follow-up to 2024’s “The Grand Inferno.”
Ashes sees TUNGSTEN continue their crusade, delivering irresistible metal with anthemic choruses and a fresh surge of energy that pushes their signature sound even further. The album captures everything the band stands for: powerful songwriting, massive hooks, and a dynamic mix of melody and heaviness that makes it one of their strongest and most focused releases to date!
In support of Ashes, the band will embark on a co-headline tour with INDUCTION, joined by special guests KILMARA. Following the tour, TUNGSTEN will play a string of headlining dates across Sweden and Norway. Find all upcoming shows listed below!
Pre-order Ashes now at this location: https://tungsten.rpm.link/ashesPR
TUNGSTEN Live:
08.08.2026 – FI –Helsinki, Hellsinki Metal Festival
22.08.2026 – SE – Vita/Luleå, Vita Rockfest
ANTHEMS OF STEEL TOUR 2026
With INDUCTION & Special Guests KILMARA:
07.10.26 – DE – Herford @ Kulturwerk
08.10.26 – DE – München @ Backstage
09.10.26 – DE – Leipzig @ Hellraiser
10.10.26 – DE – Passau @ Zauberberg
11.10.26 – DE – Karlsruhe @ Die Stadtmitte
12.10.26 – CH – Aarburg @ Musigburg
13.10.26 – AT – Salzburg @ Rockhouse
14.10.26 – DE – Mörlenbach @ Live Music Hall
15.10.26 – DE – Hamburg @ Bahnhof Pauli
16.10.26 – DE – Lingen @ Alter Schlachthof
17.10.26 – DE – Solingen @ Laut und Hart Festival
18.10.26 – DE – Selb @ Rockclub Bayern
ASHES TOUR:
22.10.2026 – SE – Lund, Mejeriet
23.10.2026 – SE – Gothenburg, Valand
24.10.2026 – SE – Örebro, Rockbar
25.10.2026 – NO – Oslo, Salt
26.10.2026 – SE – Stockholm, Kollektivet Livet
09.–10.04.2027 – DK – Roskilde, Epic Fest 2027
For more info and tickets visit: https://tungstenofficial.net/Tour
TUNGSTEN are:
Mike Andersson – Lead Vocals
Karl Johansson – Bass, Keyboards, Vocals
Nick Johansson – Guitar
Anders Johansson – Drums
Connect with TUNGSTEN:
Tungsten Official | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube
The Bites Bring a Little Heat to “Whenever You’re Ready”
Los Angeles based rock quartet, The Bites, return with their new single, "Whenever You're Ready", a sharp, swaggering anthem of frustration, desire, and the kind of hard-earned patience that only makes rock and roll hit harder. Pulling from garage rock, pop punk, and blues, The Bites have crafted their forthcoming self-titled record, set for release on September 18 via Earache Records, to reflect where they've been and where they're headed. Listen to the brand new single, "Whenever You're Ready", Below.
Built on a reckless hook and a no-nonsense level of momentum, "Whenever You're Ready", finds The Bites caught in the wreckage of a bad love affair. Despite holding out hope that they'll finally come around, The Bites refuse to chase or beg, but trust that the right moment will arrive on its own terms. Standing their ground with a wink and what feels like a dare, the band turns the chase into a hook you can't shake.
Letting the chemistry do the talking on "Whenever You're Ready", The Bites share:
"Whenever You’re Ready’ started with a pretty simple feeling: watching someone you care about chase the wrong thing, knowing there’s nothing you can do except be there if they ever figure it out. We wanted the music to carry that same mix of hope, frustration and energy, so it became one of those songs where we stopped thinking about what a Bites song was supposed to sound like and just followed whatever made the emotion hit harder. That meant bringing in synths, new textures and bigger dynamics that we hadn’t really explored before. More than anything, this song represents what this whole album has been about for us: trusting the song, pushing ourselves creatively, and not putting limits on what a rock band can sound like.”
The Bites first ignited this new era with "Aftertaste", a high-voltage comeback that hinted at what's to come on their forthcoming self-titled record. Hailed by Classic Rock (UK) as "zingy, catchy rock'n'roll with dirt on its boots and sunny pop rock harmonies fresh off the beach," the track highlighted their ability to fuse road-worn edge with a breezy, West Coast melodic shine.
Their debut record, "Squeeze", made an immediate impression, cracking the Top 40 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart on the strength of its raw, high-energy rock and roll. Between extended worldwide runs including Sebastian Bach and 69 Eyes and their stretch in the Caribbean for the Monsters of Rock Cruise, their time spent away from home changed them in ways that couldn't help but surface throughout "The Bites".
What's new for The Bites is their willingness to let their walls down while writing about real experiences, wrestle with the state of the world, and trust that the honesty makes for the most powerful rock and roll that they've ever put to tape. The record doesn't abandon what made The Bitescompelling across their debut release, it only sharpens it.
Recorded across multiple locations with producer Keith Armstrong (Green Day, Bon Jovi) at the helm, The Bites upcoming self-titled record was partially tracked at the iconic East West Studio in Los Angeles, in the same room where Red Hot Chili Peppers cut some of their greatest work. For a band quickly on the rise, there's something fitting about The Bites laying down tracks in a space steeped in rock and roll history. Adding their own chapter to a legacy that runs deep in those walls, "The Bites" arrives as a record that honors that history while allowing The Bites to carve out a story of their own.
Check out the band’s pre-sale bundles and vinyl variants HERE and be sure to stay tuned for more news from The Bites coming very soon.
TEMPERANCE Release "Death: Right Before We Die" + Video!
Italian symphonic power metallers TEMPERANCE delve deeper into their personal deck of Tarot with the release of "Death: Right Before We Die." The second single from their upcoming album Arcani, coming October 16 via Napalm Records, deals with an experience the band members shared while on tour. While having dinner in Tallinn, Estonia, during Sabaton Cruise 2024, the restaurant they stayed at caught on fire. That same day, guitarist Marco Pastorino wrote the main melody for the emotive mid-tempo song that now also features intense vocals.
Kristin Starkey about "Death: Right Before We Die":
"This song explores the existential threat to our mortality through the tarot card, Death. It is human nature to try to avoid this eventuality, but the ferryman always finds us. This song is about facing the inevitable 'end' not with despair, but by anchoring ourselves in the profound beauty of human connection and the love we share in the present moment. Ultimately, it's a personal anthem about survival and presence. It's a reminder to surrender to the journey, seize every single day, and remember that we have the power to define our own fate."
Watch the Official Music Video for "Death: Right Before We Die" Below:
Italian symphonic power metallers TEMPERANCE reshuffle the pack with their eighth album, Arcani, coming October 16, 2026 via Napalm Records. Structured around the divinatory practice of Tarot, each of the new songs follows a different card of the Major Arcana deck. Pouring their passion into 13 spellbinding songs with even catchier symphonic melodies than before, TEMPERANCE's bright future takes shape on Arcani.
Though not a direct concept album, TEMPERANCE position themselves as masters of narrative with their Tarot-themed album, Arcani. Their symphonic grandeur rising to new heights on their memorable seventh album, the Italian five-piece knows how to make their trademark alternating vocalists stand out. With the most personal lyrics of their career, the lines recorded in group sessions binding the band together even more, TEMPERANCE present a strong melodic piece of work, filled with power, passion, and perspective.
Marco Pastorino about Arcani:
"We are finally here to announce our new album Arcani! 13 incredible new songs that we have worked tirelessly on over the past year, and we are confident they will become an essential part of our live show. Epic symphonic arrangements, harmonies woven through our three distinctive voices, huge metal guitar solos, and a fantastic production! After our adventures around the globe supporting the magical world of Hermitage, we have returned with something magical once again. Welcome to the world of Arcani."
Get Your Copy Of Arcani NOW!
TEMPERANCE LIVE 2026:
8/23 — Bobalna, RO — Rock Revolution Fest
10/10 — Oberwart, AT — Black Unicorn Festival
KAMFEST:
10/31 — Tilburg, NL — O13 (KAMELOT, Blackbriar, EXIT EDEN, TEMPERANCE)
Supporting KAMELOT’s Dark Asylum World Tour, Europe Pt. 1 w/ EXIT EDEN
11/01 — London, UK — O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
11/03 — Manchester, UK — O2 Ritz Manchester
11/05 — Oberhausen, DE — Turbinenhalle
11/06 — Pratteln, CH — Z7 Konzertfabrik
11/07 — Lyon, FR — La Rayonne
11/08 — Stuttgart, DE — LKA
11/10 — Krakow, PL — Klub Studio
11/11 — Warsaw, PL — Progresja
11/13 — Zagreb, HR — Boogaloo
11/14 — Budapest, HU — Barba Negra Red Stage
11/15 — Belgrade, RS — Hangar
11/17 — Trezzo sull'Adda, IT — Live Club
11/18 — Padova, IT — Hall
11/20 — Toulouse, FR — Metronum
11/21 — Barcelona, ES — Razzmatazz 1
11/22 — Madrid, ES — Sala La Riviera
TEMPERANCE ARE:
Kristin Starkey — Vocals
Michele Guaitoli — Vocals/Piano
Marco Pastorino — Guitars/Vocals
Luca Negro — Bass Guitar/Vocals
Marco Sacchetto — Drums
NYHC Crossover Pioneers CRO-MAGS Pay Tribute to their Debut Album with 'The Age of Quarrel: 40 Years of Quarrel' Out on November 13th via BLKIIBLK
Today, CRO-MAGS, the iconic New York hardcore outfit fronted by Harley Flanagan, proudly announces their new album, 'The Age of Quarrel: 40 Years of Quarrel,' a tribute to their 1986 seminal debut. Following the release of the original single "Wired for Chaos," the band now shares the 2026 version of "World Peace," alongside an official music video, available below.
On the decision to honor 'The Age of Quarrel,' Harley shares:
"It all started with the making of the 'Wired for Chaos' movie, but there were several reasons for revisiting 'The Age of Quarrel.' None of the people who played on the original record ever got paid, and none of us ever received an accounting of the album's sales. For years, I tried to reunite the original lineup to re-record it and reclaim the rights to 'The Age of Quarrel' and 'Best Wishes' through the Copyright Reversion Act. But I couldn't get everyone together to take back ownership of the music, and that window has now closed."
He continues, "We had to re-record a few songs for the 'Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos' documentary soundtrack because the original recordings couldn't be licensed. That inspired me to finish the entire album. To honor 'The Age of Quarrel,' I brought together friends, current bandmates, and musicians from other bands to celebrate these songs that have meant so much to so many people, myself included. Forty years later, everyone who wrote these songs will finally be paid through ASCAP and BMI, and the remaining proceeds will go to charity. I'm doing my best to make things right. These songs belong to the fans. I'm washing my hands of the past and trying to clear the bad karma from this record. Love wins. My quarrel is over."
Check Out the Music Video for "World Peace (2026)"
Forty years ago, New York City's CRO-MAGS defined the metal-punk crossover with their landmark 1986 album, ‘The Age of Quarrel.’ The intensity, influence, and groove of that record continue to resonate today, fueled by the band's enduring legacy and hard-earned reputation as one of heavy music's most volatile and influential acts. Now led by founding bassist and vocalist Harley Flanagan, who assumed frontman duties beginning with 1989's ‘Best Wishes,’ CRO-MAGS bring ‘The Age of Quarrel’ full circle with a celebration of the album that started it all.
Joining Flanagan are original ‘AOQ’ guitarist Doug Holland, former CRO-MAGS/ Suicidal Tendencies guitarist Rocky George, and members of modern-day acolytes Turnstile and Rise Against for fresh takes on classics including "Hard Times," "World Peace," and "Malfunction," along with the addition of the 1985 demo-era favorite "Everybody's Gonna Die." Drums on all tracks were handled by drum phenom Greyson Nekrutman. Produced and mixed by Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Blood Incantation), ‘40 Years of Quarrel’ not merely revisits a pivotal crossover classic, but pours new fuel on the fire for old devotees and new converts to the CRO-MAGS cause.
CRO-MAGS are currently on tour in Europe before returning to the U.S. for a series of select dates, with additional shows to be announced soon.
CRO-MAGS Live:
Europe:
August 7 — London, UK @ United and Strong Fest
August 8 — Newport, UK @ Corn Exchange
August 9 — Blackpool, UK @ Rebellion Festival
August 11th — Barcelona, ESP @ Beach, Beer, & Chaos
USA:
August 30th — Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
September 1st — McKees Rocks, PA @ Roxian Theatre
September 2nd — Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew's Hall
September 26 — Daytona Beach, FL @ Party Weekend
October 4 — Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival
Heavy Metal Legends ACCEPT Unleash Re-Recorded "Save Us" Plus Static Video
Heavy metal force ACCEPT unveil the third single from their upcoming anniversary album,Teutonic Titans 1976-2026, produced, mixed, and mastered by the legendary Zeuss. For a powerful new rendition of the fan-favourite deep cut "Save Us" (originally from I'm a Rebel, 1980) the band is joined by Tobias Forge, bass master Frank Bello, and powerhouse drummer Ray Luzier. "Save Us" showcases both ACCEPT's enduring songwriting and the extraordinary musical community that has celebrated and supported the band throughout its five-decade career. Out September 4 via Napalm Records, Teutonic Titans 1976-2026 marks ACCEPT's 50th anniversary with 19 iconic tracks reimagined alongside 50 legendary guest artists. "Save Us" stands out as one of the album's most compelling moments, breathing new life into a hidden gem from the band's catalogue while celebrating both ACCEPT's lasting legacy and the heavy metal genre they helped shape. Powerful and timeless, the album proves that ACCEPT remain as vital and influential as ever.
Watch the Static Video for "Save Us" Below:
German heavy metal legends ACCEPT celebrate 50 years of pure power, bringing together the scene's A-list musicians for a landmark release. Teutonic Titans 1976-2026 stands as a definitive statement of the band's legacy, forged in steel and driven by unmistakable riffs. Arriving September 4, 2026, via Napalm Records, the album delivers some of the most iconic songs ever written in heavy music.
Led by guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, the longtime architect of ACCEPT's sound, the band is joined by a staggering 50 guests across 19 reimagined versions of their biggest tracks. Teutonic Titans 1976-2026 is ACCEPT's most ambitious and star-studded release to date, reaching far beyond the borders of their country of origin. Featuring the biggest names in heavy music paying tribute to the German icons, the record cements the band's standing on the global stage. This is more than an album; it is a manifesto of metal! Pre-orders are now available in various exclusive formats.
Get Your Copy Of Teutonic Titans 1976-2026 NOW.
ACCEPT LIVE 2026:
FESTIVALS:
8/7 — Helsinki, FI — Hellsinki Metalfest
8/29 — Newark, UK — Stonedead Festival
GUESTS: TAILGUNNER
8/27 — Wolverhampton, UK — KK's Steel Mill
8/28 — London, UK — Indigo at The O2
GUESTS: DYNAZTY + TAILGUNNER:
11/19 — Leipzig, DE — Haus Auensee
11/20 — Lingen, DE — Emsland Arena
11/21 — Oberhausen, DE — Turbinenhalle
11/22 — Paris, FR — L’Olympia
11/24 — Balingen, DE — Volksbankmesse
11/25 — Lyon, FR — Transbordeur
11/27 — Valencia, ES — Auditorio
11/28 — Madrid, ES — La Cubierta
11/29 — Toulouse, FR — Le Bikini
12/1 — Zurich, CH — Komplex 457
12/2 — Milan, IT — Alcatraz
12/4 — Vienna, AT — Gasometer
12/5 — Zlín, CZ — Sports Hall Datart
12/6 — Budapest, HU — Barba Negra
12/8 — Berlin, DE — Uber Eats Music Hall
12/9 — Gliwice, PL — Arena Gliwice
12/11 — Hamburg, DE — Inselpark Arena
12/12 — Offenbach, DE — Stadthalle
12/13 — Brussels, BE — AB
12/15 — Herford, DE — Kulturwerk
12/16 — Tilburg, NL — O13
12/18 — Neu-Ulm, DE — Ratiopharm Arena
12/19 — Geiselwind, DE — Eventhall
12/20 — Munich, DE — Zenith
ACCEPT ARE:
Wolf Hoffmann — Guitar
Mark Tornillo — Vocals
Philip Shouse — Guitar
Christopher Williams — Drums
Martin Motnik — Bass
Iodine Recordings to Release Gameface "All My Friends" EP on 9/25
For more than 35 years, Southern California melodic punk veterans GAMEFACE have built a legacy on heartfelt songwriting, emotional honesty, and an unwavering connection with their devoted fanbase. From influential releases on Revelation Records, Doghouse Records, and Equal Vision to a celebrated return in the 2010s, the band has remained a constant voice of authenticity, proving that sincerity never goes out of style.
Now, Gameface begin a new chapter with Iodine Recordings, returning with their first new recordings in over a decade. The two-song 7", featuring "All My Friends" and "Men of Stone," finds the band sounding as vital and emotionally resonant as ever. Rooted in the melodic post-hardcore sound they've spent decades refining, both songs reflect on friendship, aging, loss, and the quiet struggles that often go unspoken.
Pre-order here and listen to the title track below.
The cover art was designed by iconic cartoon artist Brian Walsby (7 Seconds, The Melvins, Corrosion of Conformity).
"'As we age, our circle of friends tends to shrink. It's easy to grow complacent and withdrawn. We lose people. Social media magnifies our anxieties, and the pull of political division only deepens the distance between us. It's easy to feel small, isolated," explains vocalist Jeff Caudill. "'We wrote 'All My Friends' and 'Men of Stone' for those who've drifted down rabbit holes, those facing declining health, and those who can't quite bring themselves to talk about any of it. These songs lived as ideas for years, but only recently did we feel compelled to record them. It was a way to lean on our friendship and help get us through these dark times. We feel strongly about these songs, and we're grateful they exist."
Rather than chasing nostalgia, Gameface continue to write music with the same vulnerability and conviction that has defined the band since 1990. "All My Friends" and "Men of Stone” are not simply a return — they're a reminder of why Gameface remain one of melodic punk's most enduring and beloved voices.
MAD MAX Share Lyric Video for New Single "Keep You Alive"
Following the previously-released first single "Silver" (listen here), German melodic hard rock veterans MAD MAX have shared a lyric video for "Keep You Alive," offering another preview of their forthcoming studio album, Stories Of Destiny. Due out on September 4 via ROAR – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music, the album finds the band celebrating 45 years of history while continuing to push forward with new material.
Co-written with HELLOWEEN guitarist Sascha Gerstner, "Keep You Alive" serves as the album's second single and showcases the collaboration through MAD MAX's signature blend of powerful riffs, memorable hooks, and timeless, larger-than-life melodic hard rock.
Stream "Keep You Alive": https://madmax.rpm.link/alivePR
The video clip is now available below:
Packed with powerful guitar-driven anthems, memorable melodies and timeless hard rock spirit, Stories Of Destiny combines newly recorded material, long-awaited hidden gems and collaborations with some of the most respected names in the rock and metal world. The album also introduces UK vocalist Alan Clark while welcoming original MAD MAX singer Andreas Baesler as a special guest for his first MAD MAX appearance in 45 years, creating a direct link between the band's earliest days and its present.
Founded in Münster, Germany in 1981 by guitarist, songwriter and bandleader Jürgen Breforth, MAD MAX have remained one of Europe's most enduring melodic hard rock and heavy metal acts for more than four decades. Renowned for their unmistakable guitar-driven sound, strong melodies and classic hard rock attitude, the band have built a loyal international following through countless albums, tours and festival appearances.
Reflecting on an extraordinary career while embracing the future, Stories Of Destiny is built around songs Breforth had the honor to co-write with acclaimed musicians including Sascha Gerstner (Helloween), David Readman (Pink Cream 69), Andreas Broon (The Sisters Of Mercy) and Michael Voss, known from his work with Michael Schenker. Reimagined and newly recorded in unmistakable MAD MAX fashion, the album captures both the band's musical roots and their continued evolution.
Further highlights include two previously unreleased MAD MAX songs from 1991, "Til' The End Of Time" and "Weapons Of Love", alongside a newly recorded version of "Piece Of Candy", based on the very first guitar riff Breforth ever wrote for the band in 1981. Performed as a duet between Alan Clark and Andreas Baesler, the track symbolizes the connection between MAD MAX's past and present. The Spanish version, "Dulces Falsos", marks the band's first-ever song with Spanish lyrics and pays tribute to their growing fanbase across Latin America.
The visual world of Stories Of Destiny also connects to the MAD MAX comic, created by Mexican comic artist Maestro Arturo Said. The comic tells the story of the band from its founding days in 1981 through the 1980s and up to MAD MAX’s first shows in Colombia in 2023, making the album both a musical and visual celebration of the band’s legacy.
Pre-order your album copy now at: https://madmax.rpm.link/storiesPR
Artist Line-Up:
Alan Clark - Vocals
Andreas Baesler - Vocals On "Dulces Falsos" & Duet Vocals On "Piece Of Candy"
Jürgen Breforth - Guitar
Dethy Borchardt - Guitar
Fabian Watermann - Bass
Axel Kruse - Drums
Connect with MAD MAX:
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/madmax.legacy.band
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/madmaxgermanycom
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@MADMAXLEGACY
Website | https://madmax-germany.com
Holissstik Realize Haunting Vision on "Reoccurring Dreams"
No matter how his genius takes shape, Tor-Helge Skei remains one of the most consistent and surprising artists in extreme music. As a founding member of the critically acclaimed Manes and Lethe, the Norwegian multi-instrumentalist and producer has pushed the boundaries of metal and electronic music. Now, he’s expanding his vision like never before with Holissstik, a new collective experiment that features fellow members of Manes and Lethe, underground legends and rising stars from the avant-garde.
Today, Holissstik are releasing the third and final advanced single from Chapter 1: This Endless Solitude. Though haunted by the current state of the world, “Reoccurring Dreams” possesses the collective spirit that makes Skei and his collaborators such a unified force.
“Collaboration is the heart and soul of Holissstik”, Skei says. “I’ve had the idea for ‘Reoccurring Dreams’ for quite some time. But, as is often the case, the song evolved, unplanned and uncontrolled, as Nik, Kristoffer, Eivind, Tor Arne and I worked on it together. While quite floaty, it twists off in unexpected directions. There’s even an Easter egg for fans of Manes and Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne! to find!”.
Listen to “Reoccurring Dreams” below:
Chapter 1: This Endless Solitude comes out August 14, 2026 on Season of Mist.
Pre-order & Stream
As one could reasonably expect, This Endless Solitude began in 2024 with Tor-Helge Skei alone at his studio in Norway, revisiting unfinished songs from previous projects. The album’s latest single opens as if falling deep into a trance, blanketed beneath one long, dark cloud of synth. Over the following years, Skei salvaged bits and pieces of old recordings while building new components from scratch using his curious collection of recording software and homemade plug-ins. Jolted awake, “Reoccurring Dreams” tosses and turns between trip-hop, black metal, electronic and industrial.
Skei’s approach to production is still hands-on, but he’s invited outside influences to take control over Holissstik. “After I finished the initial sketches for the songs on This Endless Solitude, I wanted to hear where other people would take with them without being given any rules, limitations or restrictions”, he says. On “Reoccurring Dreams”, familiar faces appear in current and former Manes members Eivind Fjøseide and Tor-Arne Helgesen. But the single also introduces two new collaborators. With just the lift of a finger, Norwegian experimental musician Kristoffer Oustad conjures a melody that will ring in your head for days on end. And though it may be hard to believe, the distorted voice speaking as if from another world is none other than Kamra vocalist Nik Košar.
“I see trees, but they look like men, standing”, recalls Košar, twisting a verse from the Bible on its head. “I do not see myself, but I look, searching”. It’s not an admission of defeat, but a call to become something greater than ourselves.
“From the start, Holissstik felt like a serene light tap from somewhere beyond”, Košar says. “While I typically come from black metal, I love experimenting with different vocal styles. "‘Reoccurring Dreams’ strayed from the usual. The focus moved away from the vocals and their color into the rhythm, the words and the flow. The lyrics are inspired by a quote from the Bible, which I inverted. They don’t carry any religious meaning but reflect the current state of a blind society that struggles within the self-inflicted solitude born out of our removal from nature”.
“The whole creative process and its conclusion felt seamless and genius”, Košar continues. “Working with Holissstik felt like a puzzle where all the pieces are already laid before you and you know exactly where you fit. It was a surreal experience that I am thankful to be a part of”.
“Holissstik is like an audio ecosystem, where the collective is the creative force, the gardener and the nutrient”, Oustad says. “This is where you are the flower and the bee at the same time, both knowing and unaware of your impact and importance in the holistic process. I am proud and deeply honored to have been asked to be a part of it”.
“With Hollissstik, we’ve built something that transcends traditional metal by focusing on the ‘holos’ - the beauty of the complete, interconnected whole”, says Helgesen, who contributes drums to “Reoccurring Dreams”.
Fjøseide, who contributes guitar to the song, agrees. “Skei and I have worked together on music for more than 30 years. Together, we have a special chemical musical reaction that makes things very exciting”.
Although the very nature of Holissstik demands that we expect the unexpected, the collective’s future certainly seems to guarantee obsidian horizons and torrential deluges of artistic truth. In other words, the project promises to persistently and ritualistically pummel us with devastating yet necessary, epic masterworks. Skei and his collaborators truly present the most immersive experiences possible and, in Manes language, offer a safe place in the unsafe; dive in with your hands bound, and be submerged within the imprisoning brilliance. Skei continues to participate in a range of outstanding groups, and yet Holissstik stands as the most unpredictable and, counterintuitive as it might sound, accessible undertaking in the history of his illustrious career.
Lineup
Tor-Helge Skei
Guest musicians
Anna Murphy - Vocals on “Obsession Six”
Christophe Denhez - Guitars on “The Rhythm of Silence”, Guitars, vocals and lyrics on “Behind Me”
Eivind Fjøseide - Guitars on all songs except “Projections”
Gabriel Trentini - Vocals and lyrics on “Obsession Six”
Kristoffer Oustad - Synth on “The Rhythm of Silence”, “Projections”, “Reoccuring Dreams”, “This Endless Solitude”
Tor-Arne Helgesen - Drums on all songs except “Behind Me” and “This Endless Solitude”
Marita Hellem - Vocals on “The Rhythm of Silence” and “This Endless Solitude”
Martyna Halas - Vocals and lyrics on “The Rhythm of Silence”, “My Salvation”, “Would You Take This Heart” and “This Endless Solitude”
Nik Košar - Vocals and lyrics on “Projections” and “Reoccuring Dreams”
Pierre Ripka - Vocals and lyrics on “The Rhythm of Silence”
Paritta Monks - Chanting on “Would You Take This Heart”
Rune Folgerø - Vocals on "This Endless Solitude"
Rune Hoemsnes - Drums on "Behind Me"
Stig Waltoft - Synth and sounds on "Would You Take This Heart"
Tom Engelsøy - Vocals on "Obsession Six"
Torstein Parelius - Bass on "Behind Me" and "This Endless Solitude", lyrics on "This Endless Solitude"
Trond Johansen - Guitars on "Would You Take This Heart"
Production credits
Recorded, produced and mixed by Tor-Helge Skei
Mastered by Knut V. Prytz
Songwriting credits
All songwriting and arrangements by Tor-Helge Skei
Biography
Jillian Drachman
Cover art
Adrien Bousson
Pre-order & Stream
Aussie Deathcore Titans TO THE GRAVE Launch New Single + Official Video
Today, TO THE GRAVE, the world's preeminent vegan deathcore band, are proud to launch their new track, "TORTURE PORN," the third single taken from their upcoming BLKIIBLK debut album, 'LIBERATION FRONT,' set for release on October 2nd. The new single arrives alongside an official lyric video.
On the new single, vocalist Dane Evans shares:
"'TORTURE PORN' might be the biggest fight riff song we have. Lyrically, I wanted to state as bluntly as possible that we don’t care if you hate us, what we stand for or how we choose to stand for it; TTG hates you too. Enjoy the song. Everyone’s still a murderer."
Watch the Official Lyric Video for "TORTURE PORN" Below:
Since forming in 2010, TO THE GRAVE have become one of Australia's most uncompromising heavy exports, earning acclaim for crushing releases including 'Global Warning,' 'Epilogue,' 'Director's Cuts,' and 2024's 'Everyone's a Murderer.' Armed with a singular mission to confront animal cruelty and environmental destruction through some of modern metal's most punishing deathcore, the Sydney outfit have forged a reputation for pairing unrelenting heaviness with fearless activism. Their live assault has taken them around the globe alongside Lorna Shore, Thy Art Is Murder, Shadow of Intent, Carnifex, Oceano, and more, with Revolver hailing them as "one of the country's heaviest exports" and Distorted Sound calling them "one of the most intense, enthralling bands the genre can offer."
Now, the band returns with 'LIBERATION FRONT,' their fifth album and BLKIIBLK debut, a statement of pure intent. Brutal and uncompromising in both sound and message, TO THE GRAVE transform their death metal-infused assault into a vehicle for activism, raging against animal cruelty and environmental destruction while delivering their most direct and fully realized work to date. From the breakdown-laden opener "MEAT THE HUMANS," 'Liberation Front'marks a ferocious return to the band's deathcore roots. While recent releases leaned further into hardcore, the new album embraces deathcore at its most savage and relentless.
Evans comments about the album:
"'LIBERATION FRONT' was born as a concept on tour last year in Australia after we decided we wanted to make the sequel to 'Director’s Cuts.' What came out was something between that and a more pissed off brother to 'Everyone’s A Murderer.' It’s got so many things I love about the band and a bit of everything pushed to 100 with a really bleak kind of aggression that’s just reaching for your throat the entire time. Very keen to play some of these songs live and it’s an exciting chapter to add.”
TO THE GRAVE will be kicking off "The Sawed Off Suffering Tour" with co-headliner Crown Magnetar on September 17th in Chicago. The entire run will be supported by Face Yourselfand on select dates by the likes of I Declare War, Tracheotomy, Backbiter, Squelching and Ameonna (the new band featuring former Chelsea Grin members Alex Koehler, Jake Harmond and Pablo Viveros, making their live debut). For a full list of dates, please see below.
Bassist Matt Clarke exclaims:
“These are the heaviest lineups we’ve ever put together, and we can’t wait for these shows across North America and at home in Aus. For North America, all these bands have a different approach, but the one thing that brings it all together is intensity! We’re stoked to be teaming up with Crown Magnetar for this run, and having Face Yourself on the package just makes it more crushing. We’re very excited that we get to play with OG Chelsea Grin members back on-stage for the first time in Ameonna, and I Declare War hopping on for some shows is awesome! Backbiter, Tracheotomy, and Squelching will all bring their own brands of brutality to the tour. No matter what show you’re hitting, you’re in for a treat.”
TO THE GRAVE Live:
Australia w/ No Cure, Algor Mortis, Bloodmouth
Sept 2 - Perth, AU @ Amplifier Bar *
Sept 3 - Adelaide, AU @ Lion Arts Factory *
Sept 4 - Frankston, AU @ Singing Bird
Sept 5 - Melbourne, AU @ Max Watts
Sept 6 - Canberra, AU @ The Baso ^
Sept 10 - Sydney, AU @ Crowbar
Sept 11 - Newcastle, AU @ Hamilton Station
Sept 12 - Brisbane, AU @ The Triffid
* no Bloodmouth
^ no Algor Mortis
North America w/ Crown Magnetar, Face Yourself
Sept 17 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean *
Sept 18 - Detroit, MI @ Catacombs at The Sanctuary *
Sept 19 - Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s *
Sept 20 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground *
Sept 22 - Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace *
Sept 23 - Montreal, QC @ Foufounes Électriques *
Sept 24 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground *
Sept 25 - Brooklyn, NY @ The Meadows *
Sept 26 - Harrisburg, PA @ Capital City Music Hall *
Sept 27 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium *
Sept 28 - Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery ^
Sept 30 - Asheville, NC @ Revival ^
Oct 1 - Nashville, TN @ The End ^
Oct 2 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Purgatory) ^
Oct 3 - Jacksonville, FL @ The Albatross ^
Oct 4 - West Palm Beach, FL @ The Banyan Live ^
Oct 6 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada $
Oct 7 - Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live $
Oct 9 - Mesa, AZ @ Rosetta Room
Oct 10 - Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex +
Oct 11 - Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post +
Oct 13 - Portland, OR @ The Hawthorne Theatre +
Oct 14 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon +
Oct 16 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell ~
Oct 17 - Denver, CO @ HQ ~
* w/ Backbiter
^ w/ Tracheotomy
$ w/ Squelching
+ w/ I Declare War
~ w/ Ameonna
More Dates TBA!
German Symphonic Metal Icons XANDRIA Present Album's Title Track "Eclipse"
Just a few days ahead of the release of their new album, Eclipse, dropping this Friday, German symphonic metal icons XANDRIA unveil the record's title track and final single alongside an official music video. "Eclipse" showcases the exceptional versatility of vocalist Ambre Vourvahis, highlighting the full range of her remarkable voice: From soft, emotional passages and powerful rock vocals to intense growls and soaring operatic sections. Bringing all of these vocal styles together in a single metal song, performed by one singer, is a truly rare achievement.
Driven by heavy guitars and dramatic orchestral arrangements, the German band, with a career spanning more than 30 years and numerous high-charting releases, continues to raise the bar. They demonstrated exactly that last weekend with their appearance on Germany's ZDF-Fernsehgarten, one of the country's most popular television shows.
Fans can experience XANDRIA's captivating live performance this Saturday on the main stage at Germany's M'era Luna Festival, where the band will celebrate the release of Eclipse. They will then embark on an extensive European tour, kicking off this September.
Watch the official music video for "Eclipse" Below.
With their latest album (2023) being XANDRIA's most successful release to date, entering the Official German Album Charts at #9, the upcoming Eclipse, releasing this Friday, August 7 via Napalm Records, is taking the band on their most diverse path yet. It features eleven tracks that represent the most diverse body of work in the band's discography so far: every song has its own identity—a journey full of discoveries—yet they all belong to the same world. Classic, '80s-inspired metal riffs stand alongside low-tuned modern metal guitars, cinematic orchestral sounds meet Celtic folk influences, and dark electronic elements blend with intimate rock moments, even including a guitar solo that owes more to Pink Floyd than to any metal genre.
Eclipse marks XANDRIA's most outspoken and cinematic album so far: A dark, colourful, and defiant statement for reason, empathy, and democracy in times when all three are under attack, brought to life by a band fueled with new energy, new ambitions, and a clear artistic direction, aiming higher than ever and not looking back!
Pre-order your copy of Eclipse HERE.
XANDRIA LIVE 2026:
9/16 — London, UK — The Dome
9/17 — Glasgow, UK — Slay
9/18 — Manchester, UK — Academy
9/19 — Birmingham, UK — O2
9/21 — Kortrijk, BE — DVG Club
9/22 — Paris, FR — Nouveau Casino
9/23 — Nantes, FR — Le Ferrailleur
9/24 — Barcelona, ES — Razzmatazz 3
9/26 — Albacete, ES — Ginetarock
9/27 — Montpellier, FR — Secret Place
9/28 — Toulouse, FR — Le Rex
9/29 — Lyon, FR — Rock’n Eat
9/30 — Munich, DE — Backstage Halle
10/1 — Zagreb, HR — Boogaloo Club
10/2 — Milan, IT — Legend Club
10/3 — Salzburg, AT — Rockhouse Bar
10/5 — Cluj-Napoca, RO — FORM Space
10/6 — Bucharest, RO — Quantic Club
10/8 — Sofia, BG — Pirotska 5 Event Centre
10/9 — Belgrade, RS — Zappa Barka
10/10 — Budapest, HU — Analog Music Hall
10/12 — Berlin, DE — Lido
10/13 — Warsaw, PL — Hydrozagadka
10/14 — Kraków, PL — Zaścianek
10/15 — Prague, CZ — Distrikt Prague
10/16 — Dresden, DE — Blauer Salon
10/18 — Cham, DE — L.A. Live Style Cafe
10/19 — Frankfurt, DE — Das Bett
10/20 — Pratteln, CH — Z7
10/21 — Stuttgart, DE — Im Wizemann Club
10/22 — Nuremberg, DE — Hirsch
10/23 — Hamburg, DE — Bahnhof Pauli
XANDRIA ARE:
Marco Heubaum — Guitar, Keys
Ambre Vourvahis — Vocals
Robert Klawonn — Guitar
Dimitrios — Drums
Toxic. Addictive. hot mess Announce Debut EP + Are Back With Two New Singles!
Milwaukee pop rock upstarts, hot mess, are back with a double dose of new music, releasing two new singles - "Toxic Cloud" and "New Addiction" today alongside the announcement of their debut EP, "Make Myself Your Favorite Scene", set for release on October 15th. Following the momentum of their neon-lit, pulse racing single "Take Me Home", hot mess continue to sharpen their blend of nostalgic grit and modern pop-rock sheen. Fans can listen to "Toxic Cloud" and "New Addiction" HERE.
Pulling in complementary directions, "Toxic Cloud" takes aim at a scene obsessed with everything except the music itself, while "New Addiction" trades that slow-burn tension for a rush of drums and pop punk urgency, widening the emotional range that hot mess has hinted at so far. Together, the two singles offer an early glimpse of the range and chemistry that run throughout the band's debut EP, "Make Myself Your Favorite Scene". Built across 6 tracks, their forthcoming EP, is a document of late nights, bad decisions, and the moments that feel too good to be smart, all filtered through hot mess' signature blend of retro-futuristic synths and pop-punk backbone.
On what "Toxic Cloud" and "New Addiction" represent for the band, frontman Reid Stevenson shares:
"Toxic Cloud and New Addiction being released together reflects what we want to be as a rock band. We want the freedom to push into heavier territory with a track like Toxic Cloud, being more guitar driven and having a breakdown. While also being able to write on the other side of the pop-leaning spectrum with New Addiction, but still rubbing some hot mess dirt on it to make it our own."
Reflecting on reaching the milestone of announcing their debut EP, "Make Myself Your Favorite Scene", bassist Trevor Gallagher states:
"We here at hot mess are beyond excited to announce our very first EP: Make Myself Your Favorite Scene! This project has not only been a year in the making, but its truly a statement into what we’re all about. Heavy hitting, catchy, and a punch in the face that makes you say ONE MO TIME SUCKA."
Only eight songs into their career, hot mess are still in the earliest chapters of their story, yet the trajectory is unmistakable. Colliding a danceable pop rock with a streak of pop punk grit, the band deliver songs that feel instantly familiar and endlessly replayable. Hook heavy and high energy, hot mess are just rough enough around the edges to hint that something bigger is beginning to take shape.
Stay tuned for more news from hot mess soon.
ABOUT HOT MESS
hot mess is a high energy, pop-rock band formed in 2025 out of Milwaukee, WI. Blending anthemic hooks, punchy guitars, and unapologetic lyrics into a sound that feels nostalgic and refreshingly modern. The band is comprised of members Reid Stevenson (vocals), Sam Theno (guitar), Owen Stevenson (guitar), Trevor Gallagher (bass), and Aidan Scheuren (drums).
hot mess channels themes of ambition, relationships, jealousy, and self reflection. Pulling from their pop-punk roots they push their sound into a contemporary, darker pop-rock territory.