COLBY LEE SWIFT SIGNS WORLDWIDE PUBLISHING DEAL WITH BMG + WME FOR BOOKING

Texas country artist Colby Lee Swift today announces a worldwide publishing deal with BMG as well as representation by WME for booking.

Born and raised on a ranch in Midfield, Texas, Swift has built a reputation around his deep rooted traditional country sound and honest, heartfelt songwriting. Influenced by legends like George Strait and John Conlee, he has carved out his own lane with songs that draw comparisons to the storytelling spirit of Johnny Cash. His single “John Deere Rust” hit Texas Radio in June 2025, following fan favorites “Chaser,” “Money to Drank,” “Heartbreak Hangover” and “The Barn.” Swift has been working closely with multi-instrumentalist and producer Brent Rader and is gearing up to release new music soon.

“Ever since I met Amy and started working with BMG they have made me feel right at home and have connected me with some of the best songwriters in Nashville,” shares Colby Lee Swift. “I’m looking forward to this next chapter in my career.”

“I’m thrilled to be working with Colby Lee Swift,” says Amy Hendon Scott, BMG Creative Director. “It is great to have an artist who lives the stories they sing. His timeless vocal, genuine spirit, and story driven songs capture a beautiful tension between long days of ranch work and late nights creating music. We are excited to join forces with the amazing team at WME, who share the vision and love for Colby. Big things to come!”

“Colby Lee Swift represents country music at its core. He sings songs he genuinely believes in, with a traditional sound and honesty that can’t be manufactured," shares WME's Alex Luebbert. "We’re excited to work together and partner with BMG, who shares that belief.”

“Getting to work with WME was really a right place at the right time kind of thing,” adds Colby Lee Swift. “Working with Lance, Alex, Ryan, and Joey Lee has been a blessing and I could not ask for a better team in my corner. I’m excited to see what 2026 has in store. And my management team, Bobby Walkup and Trippy Phillips, have been with me through thick and thin. It’s been a journey and they have always been there to guide me in the right direction. Bobby helps me on the social media part of things and we write a lot together. Trippy is great at connecting the dots behind the scenes. Everybody knows their role and that is why we make a great team.”
 
KEEP UP WITH COLBY LEE SWIFT
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK

Photo ID (L-R): Chris Oglesby (BMG), Lance Roberts (WME), Colby Lee Swift, Amy Hendon Scott (BMG), Alex Luebbert (WME), Bobby Walkup and Trippy Phillips (Hollow Point Management)
Photo Credit: Terry Wyatt

About BMG: 
Founded in 2008, BMG reimagined the relationship between music companies, songwriters, and artists by offering fairer contracts, greater creative freedom and unparalleled transparency in royalties and licensing. Now the fourth-largest music company in the world, BMG combines human creativity with cutting-edge technology to connect music with global audiences. With 18 offices across 13 key markets, BMG represents more than three million songs and recordings, including some of the most iconic catalogs and works from leading artists and songwriters including The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, George Harrison, Blondie and more. BMG is wholly owned and privately held by the international media, services and education company Bertelsmann, whose other content businesses include the entertainment company RTL Group and the trade book publisher Penguin Random House. 
 
About WME:
WME is the world’s preeminent talent agency. With over 125 years of experience, WME enables artists, athletes and brands to grow their businesses, leverage the full potential of their intellectual property and bring projects to life that define the cultural landscape. WME’s expertise spans books, comedy, digital media, fashion, film, food, licensing, music, sports, television, theater and more. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, WME’s office locations include Australia, Chicago, China, London, Miami, Nashville and New York. WME is part of WME Group, a global network of businesses that represent the world’s leading talent, intellectual property and brands. For more information, please visit www.wmeagency.com.

JELLY ROLL TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE GRAND OLE OPRY FAMILY MARCH 10

Multi-Grammy® Award winner Jelly Roll will officially become a member of the Grand Ole Opry on March 10. Opry member and close friend Lainey Wilson will induct him into the family. Also scheduled to perform include his friend and mentor, Opry member Craig Morgan, as well as friends Leanne Morgan, ERNEST and more.

Jelly Roll was invited to become a member during a surprise moment of his interview on The Joe Rogan Experience, the #1 podcast in the world across all platforms. Rogan surprised Jelly Roll with a video message from Opry member Craig Morgan - inviting him to join the Opry family. 

The country superstar and BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville/Republic recording artist made his Opry debut on November 9, 2021 and has become an Opry fan favorite and beloved by not only the fans, but many of its members over the years. Jelly Roll has dedicated his time to playing the show numerous times, mentoring many artists through the Opry NextStage program, and serving as host of Opry NextStage Live shows in Texas.  

Jelly Roll’s Opry history with Morgan predates back to a moment years ago when freshly released from prison, Jelly was in the Opry audience as Morgan performed “Almost Home,” a moment the star references as ‘life changing’ for him. Years later, Jelly was surprised on stage by Morgan, where they performed “Almost Home” together on the Opry stage. Marking the full-circle moment, Morgan presented handwritten, autographed framed lyrics of “Almost Home” to Jelly to commemorate the occasion. 

Jelly Roll recently won every Grammy Award he was nominated for in 2026 including Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Brandon Lake, Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Amen” with Shaboozey and Best Contemporary Country Album of the Year for his sophomore album, Beautifully Broken, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. The album features his multi-week #1 Grammy-nominated song, “I Am Not Okay.” The three Grammy wins recognize his major impact on both country and Christian music genres. 

Having grown up in Antioch, Tennessee, the CMA, ACM, Grammy, Dove and People’s Choice award winning star’s debut Country project, Whitsitt Chapel, continues to resonate and the album marked the biggest debut by a Country artist that year of release.

The Opry will continue its 100th celebration in 2026 with a performance at Carnegie Hall (March 20), Opry 100 Honors shows including “Opry 100 Honors Little Jimmy Dickens” (March 21), and other special shows. For a full Opry 100 schedule, tickets, and more info on the Opry’s anniversary, visit opry.com and follow the Opry on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Tickets for all 2026 shows on sale NOW.  

The Grand Ole Opry:
The Grand Ole Opry is the home of country music where artists and fans gather, in person and virtually, to celebrate and be part of country’s past, present and future. Founded in Nashville in 1925 and today the longest-running live broadcast show in the world, the Opry strengthens its roots by constantly evolving. The Opry’s members are country’s most emblematic artists, and the show regularly showcases country music’s top new talent. The Opry welcomes legions of fans to visit the Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee – Music City, USA – to experience one of the 3-7 live shows it hosts per week; take a backstage tour; listen to live broadcasts on opry.com and wsmonline.com, SiriusXM Willie’s Roadhouse, or its flagship home WSM Radio; and watch Opry Live on Saturday nights and Opry content all week long on Circle Country. The Grand Ole Opry is part of Opry Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP).

Leah Blevins Shares Haunting New Track "Lonely" Ahead of 'All Dressed Up' Album Arriving March 20

On the heels of recent releases “Be Careful Throwing Stones,” “Diggin’ in the Coal” and “All Dressed Up,” the title track from her Dan Auerbach-produced album, singer/songwriter Leah Blevins releases another deeply personal glimpse into her Easy Eye Sound debut with her new track, “Lonely,” available today. Listen to “Lonely” HERE and watch the video BELOW.  

Written by Blevins with Auerbach and Pat McLaughlin, “Lonely” captures the quiet devastation of absence and the lingering ache of unfinished stories.

“This song represents the loss of someone that leaves you desperately wishing you could see them again,” shares Blevins. “Whatever the circumstances may be, you’re left holding onto a dream, a memory and all that you could’ve had if that significant person didn’t walk through that door to the other side.”

With sparse emotional clarity, the track unfolds with a cinematic stillness:

The new release continues to reveal the sonic depth of All Dressed Up – a timeless blend of Southern rock earthiness and pop-country shimmer, anchored by Blevins’ twangy, Karen Carpenter-esque vocal purity.

Previous releases have drawn early praise, with Whiskey Riff calling “Be Careful Throwing Stones,” a “song that needs to be on your radar” and “All Dressed Up,” was named a “hot new track” by Barnburner.” Meanwhile, “Diggin’ in the Coal” further showcased Blevins’ ability to find light in dark places, inspired by her East Kentucky roots and family coal mining legacy.

Pre-save All Dressed Up, set for release March 20, 2026, HERE. 

In addition to the recent tracks, the official music video for “Be Careful Throwing Stones” premiered exclusively with Holler noting “the infectious, retro-tinged earworm has been elevated by a cinematic new music video.” Watch the official video HERE.

Raised on the bluegrass-stained Kentucky country of Loretta Lynn, Patty Loveless, Dwight Yoakam and fellow Sandy Hook native Keith Whitley, Blevins continues a lineage of storytellers who understand the power of plainspoken truth – crafting songs that feel both nostalgic and strikingly modern.

For the latest news and updates follow along on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook and online at leahblevinsmusic.com. 

ICE NINE KILLS Officially Welcome Ghostface Into The INKverse With TWISTING THE KNIFE (FT. MCKENNA GRACE)

ICE NINE KILLS officially enter the canon of one of the most iconic horror franchises with “Twisting the Knife,” featured in the forthcoming film Scream 7. Castmember Mckenna Grace joins the band on the new single, a rare, high-impact crossover between one of modern metal’s most ambitious bands and one of horror cinema’s most enduring properties. Watch the official music video BELOW. Listen to the song HERE. Catch Scream 7 in theatres Friday, February 27th.

  

Ice Nine Kills mastermind Spencer Charnas shares: 

“Twisting the Knife is our tribute to Wes Craven and the Scream franchise, which means so much to us. Scream is baked into the DNA of who I am and of Ice Nine Kills—my love of horror, comedy, and the collision between the two. I was already obsessed with Halloween and Friday the 13th, but Scream was the first I saw in theaters. Hearing the killer talk about horror movies, in that distinctively pop-culture savvy Kevin Williamson way, blew my mind.

 

In recent years, we’ve gotten to know and work with Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Neve Campbell, Rose McGowan, Jamie Kennedy, Lee Waddell, and others in different capacities. We announced the collaboration with Scream 7 at Wembley Arena, with Ghostface and Rose McGowan, which was surreal in itself.

 

When we learned that Mckenna Grace is a fan of our band, it made perfect sense to invite her to sing. She recorded her part in my home studio, in the same room where I keep my screen-used Scream knife prop, one of the four rubber knives made for the first movie.

 

Marco Beltrami’s Scream scores are just as influential to me as any other component of the films. In our song, there are echoes of the moody atmospheres he’s created, with our own INK twist.”

Mckenna Grace adds

“Making this song was such a special experience for me- I am such a big INK fan and it was such an amazing opportunity to be able to play with a different style of music. I am so inspired by Amy Lee's vocals and we all wanted to channel Scream and Sydney’s story as best as we could. Spencer and the guys were so much fun to collaborate with and I’m so thankful to Kevin Williamson.”

The accompanying music video continues Ice Nine Kills’ signature horror-cinema homage, blending performance with a post-video narrative short that continues the ever-expanding INKverse lore. The voice of Ghostface himself, Roger L. Jackson, reprises his iconic role. The story picks up directly from 2025’s “The Laugh Track,”, which saw Matthew Lillard playing himself. This installment escalates the meta-horror further, with David Arquette (as himself), alongside Johnny Brennan, creator of The Jerky Boys, as Francis Rizzowitz. 

 

“Twisting the Knife” was first teased during Ice Nine Kills’ massive headlining show at London’s OVO Arena Wembley, where the band staged the onstage “death” of Scream star Rose McGowan, followed by an onstage video call from Ghostface. The moment marked a theatrical high point in a career-defining run, following 2.5 years supporting Metallica on their global stadium tour and multiple sold-out headline tours worldwide. 

Accompanying today’s release is a ‘Nightmare on The Knife’ limited edition merch drop. A riff on Ice Nine Kill’s monthly ‘Nightmare on The Ninth’ drops, specifically tailored to today’s announcement. The exclusive items are available for a limited time HERE.   

20 years on from the release of their debut album, Ice Nine Kills are one of the most intentional and commercially successful bands in modern heavy music, driven by immersive cinematic world-building and a deep fusion of melody and bombast. Their two breakthrough albums, The Silver Scream and The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood, generated over 1.5 billion streams alone and positioned the band as a rare crossover force.

 

INK’s recent string of standalone singles further cemented their position at the cutting edge of the intersection between horror and metal. “A Work of Art,” selected as the official song for Terrifier 3, soundtracked the film’s rise into box office history as the highest-grossing unrated movie of all time, while “The Great Unknown” sharpened the band’s cinematic instincts into a Matrix-inspired fever dream. Then came “The Laugh Track,” a homicidally catchy tribute to Jack Nicholson’s Joker that became the band’s most successful single to date, pushing them deeper into mainstream and pop culture conversation.

About Ice Nine Kills

Ice Nine Kills spread cavalier carnage with a knowing smile, crafting densely catchy songs that fuse extreme metal, melody, and punk with theatrical precision. Led by Spencer Charnas, the internationally acclaimed band broke through with The Silver Scream and The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood. Tracks like the gold-certified “A Grave Mistake,” “Hip to be Scared,” “The American Nightmare,” and franchise collaborations including “A Work of Art,” the official song from Terrifier 3, cemented Ice Nine Kills as one of modern metal’s most distinctive and culturally fluent forces.

 

Beyond the music, the band has built the INKverse into a sprawling ecosystem encompassing high-concept cinematic videos, graphic novels, mock true-crime books, the Psychos Only community, monthly “Nightmare on the 9th” merch drops, and the annual Silver Scream Convention. Handpicked by Metallica for their M72 World Tour and embraced by the horror community that shaped Charnas from childhood, Ice Nine Kills continue to blur the line between music, film, and fandom. “Twisting The Knife (ft. Mckenna Grace)” signals a bloody new chapter: the band stands 20 years on from their debut, with their most ambitious and devilish era yet unfolding.



About McKenna Grace

Mckenna Grace is an emerging voice in alt‑pop, crafting emotionally charged, confessional music that reflects the same depth and vulnerability she brings to her acclaimed acting career. She began writing songs in 2020, turning to music as a personal outlet that quickly evolved into a powerful creative extension of her storytelling. 

Shaped by a unique musical upbringing — her mother’s love of pop and her father’s passion for metal and hard rock — Grace blends intimate pop melodies with a raw, alternative edge. Her sound moves effortlessly between indie‑pop shimmer, pop‑punk energy, and lyrical honesty rooted in lived experience. 

In 2021, she signed with Photo Finish Records and officially stepped into the music world with a run of singles that introduced her versatility and voice. The indie‑pop favorite “Natalie” celebrates friendship and platonic love with warmth and clarity. The high‑octane “LOSER!!” cemented her reputation for channeling teenage angst into anthemic, relatable songwriting, while “Swim Team” showcased her introspective and pensive sides and continued evolution as an artist. 

Alongside her rising music career, Grace continues to take on high‑profile film roles. She was announced to star in Netflix’s live-action Scooby-Doo series, Scooby, from Berlanti Productions and recently wrapped Lionsgate’s Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026), portraying ‘Maysilee Donner’ in the highly anticipated prequel. She will also star in Scream 7 (2026), marking her entry into one of horror’s most enduring franchises as well as the sequel PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie (2026). In 2025 she was seen in a string of major releases including the feature adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Regretting You,Blumhouse’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, and Jan Kamosa’s Anniversary. She also recently returned as ‘Phoebe Spengler’ in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024), following the success of Ghostbusters: Afterlife. 

THE ETERNAL Unveil Lyric Video For “Bleeding Into Light” Following Release Of New EP Celestial!

Just weeks after the release of their brand-new, critically acclaimed EP Celestial on January 16 via Reigning Phoenix Music, Australian-Finnish dark metal act THE ETERNAL keep the momentum going. The band has now unveiled a lyric video for the haunting track “Bleeding Into Light,” further expanding on the EP’s emotional weight and atmospheric depth.

“Bleeding Into Light” stands out as one of the most introspective cuts on Celestial. Driven by brooding melodies, dynamic shifts, and a sense of restrained intensity, the song balances fragility and force. The accompanying lyric video mirrors that mood, pairing the words with stark, shadow-drenched visuals that underline the track’s themes of loss and inner turmoil.

Vocalist and guitarist Mark Kelson comments:
"The lyrics of “Bleeding Into Light” explore themes of grief, deception, and the struggle for redemption amid despair. Set against a backdrop of hollow spirits and shattered visions, the song portrays a soul trapped in mourning and isolation, burdened by disgrace yet yearning for transformation. The repeated plea of “bleeding into light” reflects both suffering and a desperate desire to transcend deceit and defeat, suggesting that healing can only come through painful confrontation with truth. Ultimately, it captures the tension between being consumed by shadows of loss and the relentless drive to break free into renewal and change."

Following the success of their 2024 album Skinwalker, the band's new EP Celestial sees THE ETERNAL continue their signature fusion of melancholic atmospheres, doom-laden heaviness, and progressive depth. The progressive gothic metal collective once again delivers an emotive and cinematic journey through sound and spirit, unafraid to embrace both beauty and bleakness while charting new creative horizons.

With Mark Kelson (vocals/guitars) and Richie Poate (guitars) in Melbourne, joined by Niclas Etelävuori (bass, ex-Amorphis/Flat Earth) and Jan Rechberger (drums, Amorphis) in Helsinki, THE ETERNAL have solidified themselves as a truly international collaboration. Their music resonates with fans of acts such as Katatonia, Swallow the Sun, and Anathema - dark yet luminous, heavy yet emotionally transcendent!

Celestial is available digitally and as a limited, eco-friendly recycled vinyl LP edition (exclusively available through the band’s official store and the RPM shop). Order your favorite choice of format at this location: https://theeternal.rpm.link/celestialPR

THE ETERNAL is:
Mark Kelson / Guitar & Vocals
Richie Poate / Guitar
Niclas Etelävuori / Bass
Jan Rechberger / Drums & Percussion

More on THE ETERNAL:
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/TheEternal
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/theeternalofficial/
X | https://www.twitter.com/theeternalband
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@theeternalofficial
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4vJAnrZbwUesT_FlY03mdw

HOKKA ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM VIA MISERIA IV REVEAL VIDEO FOR THIRD SINGLE 'HEART SAID NO'

Finnish rising force HOKKA announce their highly anticipated full-length album Via Miseria IV, due out on April 24 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band brings together three major names from Finland’s rock legacy: former BLIND CHANNEL frontman Joel Hokka, THE RASMUSfounding member and former guitarist-songwriter Pauli Rantasalmi, and phenomenal young drummer Jimi Aslak.

Following the success of the previously released singles 'In The Darkness' and 'Death By Cupid's Arrow,' the band now unveil the powerful third single from the upcoming record, 'Heart Said No,' arriving together with another epic, cinematic video in unmistakable HOKKA style.

A beautiful, emotional anthem built around a captivating piano melody, 'Heart Said No' showcases a more vulnerable yet powerful side of HOKKA, blending soaring atmospheres with the band’s signature intensity. The track offers another glimpse into the sonic depth and thematic weight that define Via Miseria IV, an album that explores themes of struggle, resilience, and inner conflict.

Frontman Joel Hokka comments on the song:

“Big boys don’t cry — except when writing songs like this. 'Heart Said No' was the first song I ever wrote with tears in my eyes — and I wasn’t the only one in the band. The song is a raw and authentic deep dive into self-reflection, shaped by minds steeped in melancholy. We’re incredibly proud to announce that our first album, Via Miseria IV, will be released on April 24th.”

Check out the video for "Heart Said No' Below:

Listen to 'Heart Said No': https://hokka.bfan.link/heart-said-no


Pre-order Via Miseria IV: https://hokka.bfan.link/via-miseria-iv

In addition, HOKKA has just announced their first live shows for 2026 giving fans the opportunity to experience the power and storytelling of the warrior and sensai saga on stage for the first time.

The first club show:
07.05.26  FI  Helsinki - Tavastia

Confirmed festival shows:
12.-13.06.26   FI  Lahti - Kesämössö
27.06.26         FI  Helsinki - Tuska
03.-05.07.26   FI  Turku - Ruisrock
04.07.26         FI Tampere - Tuhdimmat Tahdit
17.-19.07.26    FI  Joensuu - Ilosaarirock
23.-25.07.26    FI  Kuopio - Kuopiorock
25.07.26          FI  Oulu - QStock
14.-16.08.26    CH Cudrefin - Rock The Lakes

line up:
Joel Hokka - voc
Pauli Rantasalmi - guitar
Sampo Sundström - guitar
Jimi Aslak - drums

social media: 
Instagram: @joelhokka @jimiaslak @paulirantasalmi
Tiktok: @joelhokka @jimiaslak.  
YouTube: @hokkasyndicate.    

JON Q PUBLIC Announces Two-Run Midwest Tour

Rising punk powerhouse JON Q PUBLIC is gearing up to hit the road and bringing their high-energy live show to fans in two explosive waves across the Midwest.

Known for their dynamic performances, driving riffs, and emotionally charged songwriting,

JON Q PUBLIC has built a reputation as a must-see live act. The band’s upcoming tour marks a major step forward as JON Q PUBLIC continues to expand into key markets throughout the U.S.

The tour will be divided into two spearate runs, allowing the band to cover more territory and connect with fans in multiple cities throughout the Midwest. Featuring headling performances alongside select supporting acts, expect a full-throttle, raw, gritty, rock and roll experience... one that keeps audiences wanting more!

Setlists will feature standout tracks from the band’s catalog, crowd favorites, and new material that showcases the band’s continued growth and evolution. From intimate club venues to large regional stages, JON Q PUBLIC promises an unforgettable live experience driven by unrefined passion, authenticity, and fierce rock energy. The band is poised to solidify their presence as one of the region’s most compelling live rock acts.

Dates…

MARCH / APRIL 2026

…

3/16 - CINCINNATI, OH @ The Comet

With Shark Noises, Get Wrecked & Heet Death

-

4/1 - FAIRFIELD, OH @ Swine City Brewing

With Misunderstood, Maestro Murder, & o/s/g

-

4/2 - YOUNGSTOWN, OH @ Westside Bowl

With Misunderstood, & o/s/g

-

4/3 - DAYTON, OH @ A Punk House (TBA)

With Misunderstood & o/s/g

-

4/4 - KENOSHA, WI @ Final Girl Bar

With Misunderstood, & o/s/g

-

4/5 - MILWAUKEE, WI @ Veggas Pub

With Misunderstood, & o/s/g

-

4/6 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN @ Pop Up Show (TBA)

-

4/7 - ST PAUL, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall

With Dirty 930, & o/s/g

-

4/9 - DENVER, CO @ Town Hall Collaborative

With Winched, Radical Eyes, 3xCharm

-

4/10 - MIDVALE, UT @ The Pearl on Main

With The Soakers, The Apathetics, & Willöh

-

4/11 - LAS VEGAS, NV @ Pop Up Show (TBA)

-

4/12 - LAS VEGAS, NV @ Double Down Saloon

With Goldie Vegas & The Playboys, Stagnetti’s Cock, & Makers A.D.

-

4/14 - FORT COLLINS, CO @ Surfside 7

With The Swashbuckling Doctors & Radical Eyes

-

4/16 - CHAMPAIGN, IL @ Exile On Main Street

With o/s/g

-

4/17 - MAPLE HEIGHTS, OH @ Maple Grove Tavern

With o/s/g

-

4/18 - SHELBYVILLE, IN @ Strand Theatre

With Misunderstood, The Helsings, & Narwhal Express, Maestro Murder, & Criminal Record

MAY / JUNE 2026

…

5/1 - SOUTH BEND, IN @ The Well Coffee House

With The Foleys, The Sawed Offs, & o/s/g

-

5/2 - PITTSBURGH, PA @ Whovilles

With Filthy Low Down, Honervah, & The Sawed Offs

-

5/3 - ATLANTA, GA @ 529 EAV

With The Sawed Offs, Catch These Hands, Craigslist Punks, & Croak & Dagger

-

5/7 - AKRON, OH @ The Vortex

With o/s/g

-

5/8 - LEMONT, IL @ Heroes West

With o/s/g

-

5/9 - DES MOINES, IA @ Locals Bar & Stage

With More Cheese, Anchoress, & o/s/g

-

5/10 - DETROIT, MI @ Corkscrew Tavern

With o/s/g

-

5/11 - COLUMBUS, OH - Pop Up Show (TBA)

-

5/12 - LOUISVILLE, KY @ Highland’s Tap Room

With Arhythmia & Maestro Murder

-

5/14 - CLEVELAND, OH @ Dunlap’s Corner Bar

With o/s/g

-

5/15 - INDIANAPOLIS, IN - TBA

-

5/16 - ORLAND PARK, IL @ House of Music

With o/s/g

-

5/22 - FAIRFIELD, OH @ Swine City Brewing

Misunderstood’s 20th Anniversary Fest

-

5/23 - OH (TBA)

-

6/19 - ANN ARBOR, MI @ Mash Bar

With o/s/g

-

6/20 - KY (TBA)

JON Q PUBLIC is Midwestern punk band best known for high energy performances and catchy rock and roll songs with attitude. 

Members include JJ Roetting on vox & strings, Joe Payne on strings & backup vox, Adam Pacheco on drums, and Jon Doewho fills in occasionally on drums or strings & backup vox. 

The band plays an eerie dystopian tsunami of eclectic and traditional punk music fused with pop punk. Influences include Black Flag, Ramones, Misfits, Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Dead Kennedys, Bad Religion, Agent Orange, and more. 

There is no “H” in JON Q PUBLIC. JON Q PUBLIC should not to be confused with the Christian rock group Johnny Q. Public, and has never released music titled "Feel The Bern". 

JON Q PUBLIC'S debut album was released July 18, 2025. “Crackheads Boxing Club & the Split Decision” was written, recorded, and produced by JJ Roetting & Jairo Muñoz. The album features backup vocals from Joe Queer and percussion from Hoglog Rehab - both from legendary punk band The Queers. 

JON Q PUBLIC'S new self titled album, “Jon Q Public”, is scheduled for release later in 2026.

Today the Bon Scott Estate announce a robust event and merchandising plan to celebrate the rock and roll icon’s 80th birthday: JULY 9, 2026

Today, the Bon Scott Estate and its exclusive licensing/merchandising partner Perryscope Productions announce a robust event and merchandising plan to celebrate what would have been the rock and roll icon’s 80th birthday: JULY 9, 2026

 

LIMITED-EDITION COLLECTIBLES
In tribute to one of the greatest voices of all time, German studio specialist Neumann is partnering with the Bon Scott estate on a limited-edition signature product to be released on Bon’s 80th birthday.

The Perth Mint, following up on the 2024 sold-out 1oz silver proof coin, will issue limited collector’s edition 1oz gold and 10oz silver bars bearing Bon’s name and likeness.

Reg Mombassa, the legendary graphic artist (as well as founding member of fellow Australian rock icons Mental As Anything) has designed an exclusive artwork to commemorate the birthday that will be available on posters, t-shirts, and more.

Knucklebonz, the leaders in collectible rock and roll statues, will issue their third Bon Scott edition in 2026, based on iconic images from the 1978 Powerage tour. This follows the sold-out 1979 “Highway To Hell” edition and the 1976 “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N Roll)” statue (complete with bagpipes!).

APPAREL COLLABORATIONS
Although Bon was often spotted performing sans shirts, various apparel partnerships have been embraced by fans to display their love for the iconic frontman. Dixxon Flannel Co. will launch the second limited-edition Bon Scott shirt in “Heritage” Tartan, following the 2025 “Touring” Tartan shirt. Copa Football Jerseys will launch a collectible “Bon 80” football jersey, also in Heritage Tartan. Both products are based on the officially registered Bon Scott tartans created in partnership with Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers of Edinburgh, Scotland who offer official Bon Scott tartan kilts, vests and accessories.

There will also be a wide range of brand-new Bon 80 t-shirt designs and more limited-edition items in the Perryscope official online store and the Australia-based store from Merch Jungle.

YOUTUBE CHANNEL
The Estate has struck a deal with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to provide Bon Scott video content to his official YouTube channel. This follows the ABC’s highly rated 2023 episode of Australian Story, introduced by Brian Johnson, and featuring the only interview ever given by Bon’s brother Derek Scott.

Additionally, the YouTube channel will post exclusive interviews with Bon’s friends, peers and admirers like Rick Springfield, Bruce Howe (Fraternity), Sammy Hagar and Scott Ian (Anthrax) who have all recently sat on camera to discuss their memories and why Bon remains a touchstone 46 years after his passing.

TRIBUTE EVENTS
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2026, Bonfest The International Bon Scott Rock Festival will take place in Kirriemuir, Scotland on May 1-3, 2026. The sold-out festival presented by Kirriemuir youth charity DD8 Music has an amazing lineup of rock and roll bands and AC/DC tribute acts, ensuring a weekend to properly celebrate Bon’s 80th. 2026 guests include UK rock legends Reef and former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade. There will also be a bespoke pop-up Bon Scott merch store at the site of the original Scott family bakery at 19 Bank Street in Kirriemuir.

Bon’s 80th birthday will be celebrated with the third annual Bon’s Birthday Bash in NYC on Monday, July 6th. Past celebrations have included guest vocal performances by Corey Glover (Living Colour), Jimmy Kunes (Cactus, Humble Pie), Peter Shaw (Trans Siberian Orchestra), Tony Award-winner Lena Hall (Headwig and the Angry Inch) and many more of NYC’s finest singers.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum will host a one-night-only theatrical screening of the classic concert film Let There Be Rock: The Movie. This will accompany a special limited Bon Scott memorabilia display, celebrating his career.

ENDURING MUSIC
46 years after his passing, the music that Bon helped create with AC/DC remains of the utmost cultural relevance. Recent high-profile sync licensing featuring Bon’s voice include the 2025 Tom Holland-starring Lego short film Never Stop Playingthat features “T.N.T.” and the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander Australian TV spot that playfully recast “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N Roll” as the long-running Aussie in-joke “It’s A Long Way To The Shop (If You Want A Sausage Roll)”.

AC/DC meanwhile continues their massively successful PWR/UP tour through South and North America in 2026. The band’s current setlist has included eleven songs written by Angus Young/Malcolm Young/Bon Scott (out of twenty-one) performed to stadiums all over the world:

    “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)”

    “Shot Down In Flames”

    “Highway To Hell”

    “Sin City”

    “Jailbreak”

    “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”

    “High Voltage”

    “Riff Raff”

    “Whole Lotta Rosie”

    “Let There Be Rock”

    “T.N.T.”

This follows the band’s Australia tour that featured several Bon-related events like the city of Melbourne’s world-record bagpipe ensemble playing tribute to the original promo video clip of “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N Roll)”.

Rising Insane Release Video for New Single "Good Enough" (Feat. Caskets)

Following their sold out tour with CALLEJON, German metalcorists Rising Insane storm into 2026 with the video for their new single "Good Enough," featuring Matt Flood from Caskets.

Stream the single HERE.

Watch the "Good Enough" video BELOW.

"Good Enough" is an intense song about inner conflict, vulnerability, and the search for self-acceptance. Caught between doubt and inner storms, "Good Enough" questions self-worth.

Flood adds, “Being invited to feature on Rising Insane's new single was an incredible experience, and I can't wait to see how fans respond to 'Good Enough.' It's a high-energy, powerful track, and I think both Rising Insane fans and Caskets fans are really going to connect with it."

While Rising Insane remain true to their post-hardcore and metalcore roots, the band has evolved both collectively and individually, which is clearly reflected in their new and fresh sound. With over 25 million streams worldwide and top placements on some of the most influential playlists, including Kickass Metal, The Core and All New Metal, Rising Insane have recently created quite a buzz.

RISING INSANE ARE:
Aaron Steineker — Vocals
Sven Polizuk — Guitar
Ulf Hedenkamp — Bass
Florian Köchy — Guitar
Robert Kühling — Drums

Darius Rucker Brings Big Band Gala to Charleston’s Gaillard on April 7

Charleston’s own Darius Rucker will return to the Holy City for a special one-night-only event, the Darius Rucker Big Band Gala presented by Explore Charleston, set for Tuesday, April 7 at the Gaillard Center. The gala performance offers fans a rare opportunity to experience Rucker in an elevated, intimate concert setting backed by the Robert Lewis Orchestra, conducted by Peter Graves, creating a distinctive evening tailored to the Gaillard Center stage.
 
A portion of proceeds will benefit the CMA Foundation’s music education initiatives for Charleston County Schools and Carolyn G. Rucker Nursing Scholarship at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, continuing Rucker’s longstanding commitment to giving back to the community that raised him.

“These big band shows are some of my favorite nights as it’s the only time I get to perform so many of the standards we all grew up listening to with the backing of such an incredible orchestra,” offers Rucker. “It’s all to benefit incredible non-profit work locally.”
 
Tickets for the Darius Rucker Big Band Gala go on sale this Friday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. local time via GaillardCenter.org, with price points ranging from $50 to $250. Please note that all tickets are non-transferable and will be delivered electronically to the purchaser 48 hours in advance of the show.

Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide including their Double Diamond-certified (22x Platinum) debut Cracked Rear View, which remains among the top 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. Since releasing his first Country album in 2008, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified hits. Rucker was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012, and he won his third career GRAMMY Award in 2014 for Best Solo Country Performance with his Diamond-certified (11x Platinum) version of “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time. His latest album Carolyn’s Boy is available everywhere now as is his New York Times bestselling memoir “Life’s Too Short,” released via Dey Street in 2024.
 
As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker co-chaired the capital campaign that generated $150 million to help build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. and has raised over $5.1 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through his annual Darius and Friends benefit concert and golf tournament. In addition, Rucker has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and serves as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tenn. Rucker is also an avid sports fan, with his Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics line of NFL, MLB, NHL and NCAA apparel available via Fanatics.com, and he is part of the Music City Baseball investment group working to bring an MLB team to Tennessee in addition to serving as a partner at the MGC Sports & Entertainment agency. 

For more information, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

Photo Credit: Travis Dew

PRESIDENT Share Video for New Single "Angel Wings" — WATCH // Band Touring North America With Bad Omens

Multi-million streaming, UK-based collective PRESIDENT operate at the intersection of heavy music, electronic experimentation, and cinematic atmosphere. Refusing to conform to the traditional structures of genre or identity, PRESIDENT prioritize intent over image.

Today, PRESIDENT have issued their first new music of 2026 in the form of the new single "ANGEL WINGS."

Watch the video below. 

The stunningly transcendent and richly layered song is the next step in the band's sonic evolution — a mix of alt-rock, industrial, programmed beats, and push-and-pull breakdowns.

"'Angel Wings' reflects a search for spiritual redemption and the resolve to begin again," the artist explains. "It marks the opening of a new chapter. At its core, the song speaks to holding close those who matter most, while remaining unmoved by detractors."

"Angel Wings" is a new term for PRESIDENT in many ways. It's not only the first new song of the year — it's also the band's first release for Atlantic Records. 

PRESIDENT launched in 2025, operating under the cloak of minimalism and anonymity, cultivating intrigue with every single and performance. Built to exist outside the noise, PRESIDENT are building something that invites deeper investment — designed to be discovered, not sold. PRESIDENT said it best, tellingRevolver in a cover feature that "the music industry has elements of fast fashion to it these days. Things just come and go. Everything's really quick. Everyone's shouting for attention and there's just so much noise, and it just becomes a fucking conveyor belt. [We] wanted to step back and not be a part of that. But if people are interested, and they want to enter into this world, we'll grab them with open arms."

PRESIDENT's debut EP, King of Terrors, was released in fall 2025. Listen here.

PRESIDENT's North American tour kicks off this weekend. They will open for Bad Omens and Beartooth. All dates are below.

PRESIDENT ON TOUR:
WITH BAD OMENS + BEARTOOTH:
2/22 — Salt Lake City, UT — Delta Center
2/24 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena
2/26 — Kansas City, MO — T-Mobile Center
2/28 — Detroit, MI — Little Caesars Arena
3/02 — Minneapolis, MN — Target Center
3/03 — Milwaukee, WI — Eagles Ballroom*
3/04 — Rosemont, IL — Allstate Arena
3/06 — Toronto, ON — Scotiabank Arena
3/08 — Laval, QC — Place Bell
3/10 — Newark, NJ — Prudential Center
3/11 — Boston, MA — TD Garden
3/13 — Philadelphia, PA — Xfinity Mobile Arena
3/14 — Baltimore, MD — CFG Bank Arena
3/16 — Raleigh, NC — Lenovo Center
3/17 — Nashville, TN — Bridgestone Arena
3/18 — Little Rock, AR — The Hall^
3/19 — Dallas, TX — American Airlines Center
3/20 — San Antonio, TX — Frost Bank Center
3/22 — Oklahoma City, OK — Paycom Center
3/24 — Glendale, AZ — Desert Diamond Arena
3/26 — Inglewood, CA — Kia Forum
3/27 — Oakland, CA — Oakland Arena
*Beartooth + President only
^Headline Show

Only Human Push Past the Brink of Existence on New Single “Breach”

ONLY HUMAN are fresh to the prog space. But the Danish upstarts are already on the brink of a major discovery with their debut album. Planned Obsolescence invents an existential form of prog metal that speaks to our not-too-distant dystopia.

Today, ONLY HUMAN are releasing the second advanced single from Planned Obsolescence. “Breach” is pushed past the brink of our existence by despair, but the band’s cutting-edge fusion emerges like a beacon of hope.

“‘This is a brooding song”, the band’s vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen says. “It’s a lament for how we’ve let cynicism take a permanent hold and lead us past the point of no return”.

Watch the lyric video for “Breach” below:

Planned Obsolescence comes out March 27, 2026 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/onlyhumanplannedobsolescence

Concept albums are standard entries in metal’s archives. But when the five members of ONLY HUMAN came together after connecting online and IRL over everything from The Matrix to Bring Me The Horizon, they wired the band’s framework around one prevailing idea.

“We like a lot of bands that just play rock music, but we wanted ONLY HUMAN to be about something”, says Christensen, who also produced, mixed and mastered Planned Obsolescence. “This album is supposed to wake people up to all the ways technocracy is encroaching on society. We now live in a reality where humans are products to be consumed and disposed of”.

While the first single from Planned Obsolescence cautioned against technology automating our every waking decision, “Breach” raises the alarm to a full-on blast. Scrambled electronics, dissonant guitars and pulse-pounding drums blare over the speakers, warning those asleep at the wheels of society that now is the time to hit eject. “Aimless in the midst of disaster” , Christensen screams in terror, as if preparing for the impact of our inevitable collapse.

“Self-destructive tendencies are a natural force in the world”, Christensen says, “but it’s our own choices and weaknesses that ultimately will them into existence”.

Planned Obsolescence presents a vision for the future that’s far beyond sunshine and rainbows. “Breach” ends the album not on the verge of apocalypse but spiraling into the void amidst soul-crushing riffs. Even the glowing keys appear like a comet bound for Earth. But while fueled by existential dread, ONLY HUMAN arrive as a beacon of hope. “Do you feel what I feel?”. In the age of artificial intelligence, the band’s combination of prog, djent, hard rock and electronics isn’t just meaningful but vital.

Catch ONLY HUMAN live and in the flesh during their upcoming record release show, as well as at Sweden Rock Festival and Naestved Metalfest.

ONLY HUMAN Live in 2026

May 2 - Copenhagen, DK @ Rust (Record Release Show)

June 3-6 - Sölvesborg, SE @ Sweden Rock Festival

August 27-29 - Næstved, DK @ Næstved Metalfest

The lyric video for “Breach” was created by Tamara Llenas of Aimed & Framed.

“When the world is going badly, the reason is because people gave up”, Christensen concludes. “Things aren’t hopeless. We can absolutely fight back. Hopefully, this album gets people to think about valuing humanity over profit”.

Lineup
Patrick Grønbæch Christensen- Vocals
Martin Hastrup - Guitars
JaCK Kijne - Guitars
Andreas Pröll - Drums
Guillaume Blanjean - Bass

Recording, Mixing and Mastering Studio
Only Human Studio

Production Credits
Producer & Sound Engineer - Patrick Grønbæch Christensen
Mixing Engineer - Patrick Grønbæch Christensen
Mastering Engineer - Patrick Grønbæch Christensen (Digital and CD), Brett Caldas-Lima (Vinyl)

Cover Art
Guillaume Blanjean

Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/onlyhumanplannedobsolescence

Available Formats
CD Digipack
12" Vinyl Jacket (Black)
12" Colored Vinyl (Transparent red with black and white splatters)
12" Colored Vinyl (Transparent red and black marbled)



Follow Only Human
Official Website: https://onlyhuman.band/
Bandcamp: https://onlyhumandk.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlyhumandk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnlyHumanDK
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/dk/artist/only-human/1742337573
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/11Cl9Vdw4xGPUMtcurjgg1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@onlyhumandk

BELPHEGOR Announce "Praise The Beast" North American Tour

The gates open once more.

With the release of “Scarlet Beast – Leviathan,” BELPHEGOR return at their most menacing and deliberate, delivering a track that moves with the force of an advancing colossus. Built upon lumbering, monolithic riffs and a suffocating sense of inevitability, the single embodies a towering presence, vast, unrelenting, and absolute.

“Scarlet Beast – Leviathan” does not chase speed; it commands submission. Favoring tension, density, and sheer authority over velocity, the song fuses ritualistic black metal atmosphere with the crushing weight of death metal. The result is a sonic behemoth, oppressive, deliberate, and unstoppable, advancing through scorched terrain with death trailing in its wake.

The single arrives as BELPHEGOR kick off their North American “Praise The Beast” tour, carrying this new chapter directly onto the stage. The track’s immense weight and deliberate pacing translate into a live experience built on tension and command, setting the tone for a run that promises ritual intensity across the continent.

Accompanying the single is a stark and uncompromising music video that captures the essence of true darkness. Gritty and raw in execution, the visual counterpart strips away artifice and embraces ritualistic imagery, shadow, and decay. It is not spectacle, but invocation.

With “Scarlet Beast – Leviathan,” BELPHEGOR once again prove their mastery of controlled devastation. The beast does not rush. It advances. And nothing stands in its path.

Praise The Beast North American Tour 2026

02/19 - Brooklyn, NY, Brooklyn Monarch  
02/20 - Lowell, MA, Taffeta Music Hall  
02/21 - Montreal, QC, Le Studio TD  
02/22 - Toronto, ON, Lee's Palace  
02/23 - Lakewood, OH, Mercury Music Hall  
02/24 - Joliet, IL, The Forge  
02/26 - Denver, CO, HQ  
02/27 - Albuquerque, NM, Launchpad  
02/28 - Haltom City, TX, Haltom Theater  
03/01 - Houston, TX, Scout Bar  
03/02 - San Antonio, TX, Paper Tiger  
03/05 - Mesa, AZ, The Rosetta Room  
03/06 - San Diego, CA, Brick by Brick  
03/07 - San Francisco, CA, DNA Lounge  
03/08 - Roseville, CA, Goldfield Trading Post  
03/09 - Los Angeles, CA, 1720  
03/10 - Anaheim, CA, The Observatory

Purchase tickets HERE: https://www.belphegor.at/present.htm

About BELPHEGOR:

Since their formation in 1993 in Austria, BELPHEGOR have stood as one of the most brutal and transgressive forces in black death metal. Founded by vocalist and guitarist Helmuth Lehner, the band has spent over three decades refining a sound forged in fire and sacrilege, merging the violent precision of death metal with the ritualistic darkness of black metal.

Their musick is an invocation of infernal power, a soundwall of relentless blasphemy.

From the raw intensity of early releases like The Last Supper (1995), Blutsabbath(1997), and Necrodaemon Terrorsathan (2000), to the increasingly sophisticated compositions found on albums such as Lucifer Incestus, Bondage Goat Zombie, Pestapokalypse VI, and Totenritual, BELPHEGOR have continually pushed the boundaries of extreme musick. Each release marks a further descent into forbidden territory.

The band’s thematic focus with ritual magick, religious inversion, and arcane symbolism is matched by their technical mastery, multilingual lyrics, and sonic experimentation.

With their twelfth studio album The Devils (2022), BELPHEGOR delivered one of their most punishing and ambitious records to date.

Recorded at Fascination Street Studios with producer Jens Bogren, the album features nine meticulously crafted compositions that shift seamlessly between feral aggression and solemn majesty.

Tracks such as Glorifizierung des Teufels and Virtus Asinaria - Prayer incorporate choral passages and ritualistic structure, while Damnation - Höllensturz unfolds with a dynamic complexity that further amplifies the band’s compositional vision.

Lyrically, the album weaves together German, Latin, and English to cast incantations of death, desecration, and rebellion against sacred order. Accompanied by visionary artwork from Seth Siro Anton, The Devils stands as a high point in Belphegor’s canon and underscores their continued relevance in the global extreme metal landscape.

Following the success of The Devils, BELPHEGOR were honored with the 2023 Amadeus Austrian Music Award in the Hard and Heavy category, a rare moment of formal recognition in Austria for a band that has long walked a path far removed from mainstream acceptance. This accolade acknowledges their artistic legacy and highlights the contrast between their recognition and the transgressive nature of their craft.

Renowned for their intense live rituals, BELPHEGOR have toured relentlessly across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and beyond. They have appeared at Wacken Open Air, Knotfest, Bloodstock, Hellfest, Tons Of Rock, Sweden Rock, and numerous other prestigious metal festivals. Their stage presence is more than a performance, it is a ceremony of magick and infernal theatre, where sound, smoke, blood, and fire converge in a communion with darkness.

Now, as the band approaches its thirteenth studio album, a deeper and more arcane force begins to stir. The number thirteen bears ancient meaning: endings, thresholds, and the passage into the unknown. Rooted in primordial doctrine, the thirteenth seal is said to bind the final veil between worlds, the last barrier between order and chaos.

With this upcoming release, BELPHEGOR prepares to break that seal, not to follow, but to lead. To summon what lies beyond even their own previous creations: something more primal, more ritualistic, more devastating.

Early glimpses of new material point to a continuation of the dark artistic path begun with The Devils, now delving even deeper. The upcoming album takes shape as a focused ritual: precise, uncompromising, and rooted in the band’s unmistakable vision, the glorification of the Devil.

Prepare. The next chapter is imminent. 

More from BELPHEGOR:

www.belphegor.at | Facebook | Instagram | X | Youtube

LIGHTNING STRIKES Release New Album, The King Is Victorious, February 18th!

Los Angeles–based heavy metal outfit Lightning Strikes return with their long-awaited new full-length album, The King Is Victorious, out today, February 18th.

 

The album features eight powerful new tracks and showcases a truly international lineup of elite musicians. The majority of The King Is Victorious was recorded by Lightning Strikes co-founder Maksudian, alongside Japanese guitar virtuoso Norifumi Shima (Concerto Moon), American bass legend Barry Sparks (Michael Schenker Group, Yngwie Malmsteen), and rising Argentinian vocalist Mariano Gardella. Rounding out the album is a special guest appearance by keyboard maestro Derek Sherinian (Black Country Communion, Sons Of Apollo), who also appeared on the band’s debut release.

 

Karpis Maksudian shares:

 

They said heavy metal was just noise.

They said the wait was too long.

They said the fire fades with time.

 

They were wrong.

 

This album isn’t just music — it’s years of pressure, pain, growth, and hunger forged into sound. Every riff hits harder. Every drum feels like thunder. Every scream carries everything I’ve been holding back.

 

This is the heavy metal you’ve been waiting for.

Superstar-level heaters. No fillers. No limits.

Just raw power.

 

I didn’t come back quietly.

I came back louder. Stronger. Hungrier.

 

When this drops, it’s not just an album release — it’s a takeover.

 

Turn your speakers up.

Tell the world heavy metal is alive.

And get ready… because once this is out, there’s no turning back.

 

And I also as a producer want to take this moment to speak from the heart.

 

From the bottom of my soul, thank you to every single person who was part of this powerful journey. This album was built on passion, fire, and brotherhood — and I’m beyond grateful to the warriors who stepped into the storm with me.

 

A special, thunderous thank you to the legends who played on the title track “The King Is Victorious” without hesitation, without conditions — just pure love for the music and the metal spirit:

 

Rowan Robertson, Mark Zavon, Craig Goldy, Norifumi Shima, Takehiko "Shake" Kogure, Dario Mollo, Mariano Gardella, Rob Math, Barry Sparks, Derek Sherinian, Michael T. Ross and the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. 

 

Your talent, your energy, your riffs, your solos, your power — you helped turn this song into a battlefield anthem. This wasn’t just collaboration… this was unity. This was heavy metal brotherhood at its finest.

 

The King is Victorious because of all of you.

 

Let the world hear it.

Originally formed in 1984, Lightning Strikes made history as the first heavy metal band with an all Armenian-American lineup, predating the emergence of System Of A Down by more than a decade. After disbanding, Maksudian revived the Lightning Strikes name more than 25 years later, assembling a new lineup to record the band’s self-titled debut album in 2016.

 

That release featured Brazilian vocalist Nando Fernandes (Sinistra, Hangar), drummer Rob Math, Derek Sherinian, and legendary former Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin, who sang on and penned lyrics for standout tracks “Death Valley” and “301 AD (Sins Of Our Fathers).” Mixed by renowned producer Roy Z, the album was met with strong critical acclaim and peaked at #6 on Japan’s Burrn! Magazine import charts.

Poison the Well Drop Video for New Single "EVERYTHING HURTS"

POISON THE WELL will release PEACE IN PLACE, their first album in 16 years, on March 20 via SharpTone Records. Pre-order it here. 

Today, they share the video for new single "EVERYTHING HURTS." Watch it below.

The song hones in on PTW's patented and signature quiet/loud dynamics, and it's a perfectly executed mix of moody and metallic. In the video, we follow singer Jeffrey Moreira in an almost voyeuristic way. The tension in both the song and the accompanying visual builds steadily. Tune in to see where they start and where they end, and pay attention to some easter eggs along the way.

"'Everything Hurts' is about the patience and effort it takes to keep relationships alive," says Moreira. "I care deeply about the people in my life, but even the people you love can be frustrating sometimes. And it's important to remember that we can be just as frustrating to them. We all have our moments — and I have my moments too. The ones that stick around are the ones you have a unique connection with. You can't put up with everyone's shit, so the people you keep close are the ones whose shit you actually want to deal with."

POISON THE WELL ARE:
Jeffrey Moreira — Vocals 
Ryan Primack — Guitar
Vadim Taver — Guitar 
Christopher Hornbrook — Drums 
Noah Harmon — Bass 

PTW recently announced their Spring 2026 headline tour. Converge will support with Balmora, SPY, The Armed, and The Barbarians of California appearing on different segments. Tickets and more information are available here. All dates are below.

POISON THE WELL ON TOUR:
4/2 — Cleveland, OH — House of Blues*
4/3 — Chicago, IL — Concord Music Hall*
4/4 — Pontiac, MI — The Crofoot*
4/6 — Pittsburgh, PA — Preserving Underground*
4/7 — Toronto, ON — HISTORY*
4/9 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium*
4/10 — Queens, NY — Knockdown Center*
4/11 — Philadelphia, PA — Fillmore*
4/12 — Baltimore, MD — Nevermore Hall*
4/25 — Las Vegas, NV — Sick New World%
5/7 — Denver, CO — Summit&
5/9 — Austin, TX — Stubb’s Outdoors&
5/10 — Houston, TX — House of Blues&
5/12 — Phoenix, AZ — Nile Theater&
5/13 — Los Angeles, CA — The Belasco&
5/15 — Anaheim, CA — House of Blues&
5/16 — San Diego, CA — The Observatory North Park&
5/17 — San Francisco, CA — The Regency Ballroom&
%Festival Date
*SPY and Balmora
&The Armed and The Barbarians of California

ABOUT POISON THE WELL:
In the space of barely a breath, Poison The Well pacify fits of jarring brutality with moments of fragile beauty. Their unmistakable melodic hardcore gently dilutes the effects of trauma, betrayal, depression, and loss with hard-won wisdom and diligently earned self-acceptance. For as much force as they commit to the riffs and the breakdowns, there’s an equal amount of naked emotion encoded in their relatable hooks. At this point, they are unassumingly, yet undeniably embedded in the DNA of modern metal and hardcore. Poison The Well’s 1999 debut, The Opposite of December… A Season of Separation has claimed spots on BrooklynVegan's 15 '90s Metalcore Albums That Still Resonate Today; KERRANG!'s 21 Best U.S. Metalcore Albums of All Time; Loudwire's 25 Best Metalcore Albums of All Time; and Revolver's 10 Most Influential Metalcore Albums of All Time. Stereogumput it best, "The Opposite of December… A Season of Separation influenced a whole generation of metalcore bands." Meanwhile, 2003's You Come Before You remains regarded among Metal Hammer's 100 Greatest Metal Albums of the 21st Century and Rock Sound's 250 Greatest Albums of Our Lifetime. Despite going on hiatus following 2009's The Tropic Rot, the group's influence has only expanded over the years (as evidenced by over 100 million streams across their catalog). After touring in 2015 and 2021, they've commemorated milestone birthdays of both You Come Before You and The Opposite of December... with in-demand headline jaunts. Once again, the members felt an intense need to create as a unit. Rallying together, the guys channeled the spirit of their most celebrated material through a prism of new experience on their sixth full-length offering, Peace In Place.

Johnny O’Neil Releases “Live at Le Musique Room” Featuring “Lover” a Brand New Track from an Upcoming Album

Johnny O'Neil announces his new live album “Live at Le Musique Room”, out now on Bearded Maggie Records. The live album features a live performance of a brand new song “Lover” that will be released on his upcoming new studio album.

JOHNNY O’NEIL “Lover” Official Music Video from the Album “Johnny O’Neil Live at Le Musique Room”: https://youtu.be/9NtXsFZSHVg
 
You can stream and purchase “Live at Le Musique Room” at: https://linktr.ee/johnnyoneil

Talking about the new live album, Johnny O’Neil said, “Our new live album was recorded in a very intimate theater setting at Le Musique Room, opening for our good friends, Bobby Jensen and the Dead Cowboys. The album represents a true inflection point for our band. After our former guitarist, John Funk, informed us last spring that, “I just have no passion to play hard rock anymore,” we had to decide whether to replace him with another second guitarist. We very briefly considered holding auditions, but rather than going through the agony (and time!) of that process, we elected to forge ahead as a three-piece, and have never looked back or regretted our decision. 

 

The album features songs from our first two studio albums, as well as a brand new track, “Lover,” a tune I wrote about a fellow who has watched a woman being mistreated by someone from afar, and tells her to “leave him – c’mon with me”! “Lover” is the first single from our upcoming third studio album, which again will be co-produced, recorded, and mixed by Johnny’s “Blood Brother,” the incomparable Brian Bart. We cannot wait for our fans to hear us get back to our hard rock roots - this time as a three-piece!”

Band Members:
Johnny O’Neil: Lead Vocals, All Guitars
Benny Craig: Bass Guitar and Background Vocals
Joachim Baecker: Drums and Background Vocals
 
JOHNNY O'NEIL:
O’Neil has been in practice as a Ph.D.-level clinical psychologist for over two decades, quite a feat considering he dropped out of high school at 16 to focus on his burgeoning music career. After more than a decade of achieving many of his musical dreams, including the ‘80s with Dare Force, O’Neil decided to go back to school at the age of 28 to get his GED. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, followed by a Master’s degree and eventually a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The Ohio State University.

Now a solopreneur in private practice as a forensic psychologist, O’Neil conducts Independent Psychological Evaluations (IPEs) of claimants involved in workers' comp and personal injury cases, and provides courtroom testimony as an expert witness – a fascinating occupation to be sure. In fact, he found himself interviewing dozens of Minneapolis police officers who filed disability claims due to PTSD in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

Not surprisingly, for O’Neil, playing music is an invaluable form of therapy and expressing his emotions. “I don’t have a choice, I have to play music,” he says. “It’s how I’m wired and how I preserve my sanity. It’s therapy for me. I’ll be performing until my last gasp.”

O’Neil fell in love with music at the age of five, begging his parents to buy him a guitar after seeing The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, which they finally did when he turned eight years old. The stars aligned when his future Dare Force bandmate, Brian Bart, moved in across the street when he was nine. “We had a tussle over something silly in the front yard, then my mom invited us in for a piece of cake; we’ve been thick as thieves ever since,” O’Neil says.

O’Neil and Bart immediately bonded over their mutual love of music (including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Winter, Steppenwolf, and Creedence Clearwater Revival), and quickly formed a band together. One of their first gigs was at Sunny Hollow Elementary School in 6th grade, where Bob Dylan’s younger brother, David Zimmerman, was their music teacher and introduced their band to an audience of 500-some fellow classmates.

Infusing his songwriting with his personal values of tolerance, compassion and empathy throughout his career, O’Neil believes that an important part of an artist’s job is to not only reflect what’s going on in the world, but also to comment on it and influence it. To this end, O’Neil’s driving rock tunes go beyond being simply upbeat, feel-good rock ‘n roll, to songs that really have something to say to the world.

Bizarrekult Confronts All There Is on New Album Alt Som Finnes

True to black metal’s fiercely individual spirit, upon moving to Norway at the end of the 2000s, Roman V. started Bizarrekult as a lone wolf. Much like Roman’s previous two retreats into the studio, his upcoming third album emerged from a deeply personal crisis. Only on Alt Som Finnes, he’s not alone in confronting all there.  

Alt Som Finnes comes out this Friday, February 20 on Season of Mist Underground Activists, but you can hear all eight absorbing songs today by listening to the full album stream below.

“I was not ready for all this”, Roman says about Alt Som Finnes. “None of us are, when the time comes. But at the end of this journey, it seems to have all been worth it. The music gave me hints as to where to go and what can be”.  

Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/bizarrekultaltsomfinnes

Alt Som Finnes maintains the classic energy of old school Norwegian black metal. “Verdens verste” rails against consumerism with blistering grooves. With its crazed riffs and blistering howls, there’s no escape from the feverish intensity of “Drøm”. But Bizarrekult’s new album strips away all of our defenses while adding more post-metal ambiance. “Avmakt” surges and seethes in a fight for control before losing power amidst melodies that fall then fade like dying pinpricks of light.  

No one will emerge unscathed from Alt Som Finnes. However, for the first time, Roman is joined in his struggle. The album features guest vocalists from Predatory Void, MØL and Dødheimsgard. Behind a steady pounding of double bass, lead single “Blikket Hennes” buzzes with the all-consuming darkness of a guilty conscience, only for Yusaf “Vicotnik” Parvez to enlighten us with soothing cleans. Despite being riddled with regrets, closer “Tomhet” breaks new ground as the first Bizarrekult song sung in English.

“Am I alone like this? No, we are many”. As the album storms through the finish line, Roman and Kim Song Sternkopf howl together into the void. It’s a damning realization, but also a call for us to become something greater.  

On Alt Som Finnes, Bizarrekult confronts all there is with devastating clarity.

No one emerges unscathed from Alt Som Finnes. But while riddled with regrets, album closer “Tomhet” breaks new ground as the first Bizarrekult song sung in English. “Am I alone like this? No, we are many”. It’s a damning realization, but also a call for all of us to become something greater.

Line-up
Roman V. — Vocals
Ignat P. — Guitars & Bass
Alexander P. — Drums

Production Credits
Recorded at Seaside Room.
Produced, mixed & mastered by Miguel Tereso at Demigod Recordings, Portugal.

Guest Musicians
Yusaf "Vicotnik" Parvez (Dødheimsgard) — Vocals on "Blikket Hennes"
Lina (Predatory Void / Cross Bringer) — Vocals on "Drøm” (Recorded by Tim De Gieter)
Kim Song Sternkopf (Møl) — Vocals on "Tomhet"

Cover Art
Gravestench Art (https://www.instagram.com/gravestench_art/)

Photography
Radmila Volchenkova

Available Formats
CD Jewelcase

12” Vinyl (Black)

12” Vinyl (Purple, black and white marbled)

Pre-save & Pre-order 

https://orcd.co/bizarrekultaltsomfinnes

Follow Bizarrekult
Bandcamp: https://bizarrekult.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bizarrekult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bizarrekvlt/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Cj4Bc1WpdNZhGcKyQfWci/
Apple Music:https://music.apple.com/artist/bizarrekult/1455860457 Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/11699593

MICHAEL MONROE NEW VIDEO/ SINGLE ‘SHINOLA’ OUT NOW UPCOMING ALBUM – OUTERSTELLAR – NEARS RELEASE

Wednesday February 18th, 2025 –

Michael Monroe unleash the unapologetic and electrifying third single ‘Shinola’, taken from the PRE-ORDER AT THIS LOCATION forthcoming studio album Outerstellar, due for release this Friday, February 20th via Silver Lining Music.

For Pre-orders go to THIS LOCATION.

‘Shinola’ takes aim at a morally corrupt emotional leech who exploits everyone in their orbit, only to reap the isolation they’ve sown. It’s a razor- sharp, crowd-rallying anthem that transforms collective exasperation into raw, liberating release.

“‘Shinola’ was obviously originally written about a certain jerk but unfortunately most of us can relate as we know a lot of them” comments Michael Monroe. “There’s a lot of negative, ignorant idiots in the world and sometimes it’s good to vent frustrations by singing about it. And Karma always

gets us in the end anyway!"

Watch/Listen to ‘Shinola’ below – video by Paul M Green.

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. 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.

Listen to the first and second video and singles from Outerstellar – ‘Rockin’ Horse’ and ‘Disconnected’ – and watch the videos here – videos by Leigh Brooks.

Outerstellar will see a whole burst of life when

Michael Monroe and band bring it to stages internationally over the course of the year. The first glimpse will happen on the Buckcherry UK co-headline tour, kicking off in Southampton on February 24, where fans will get to experience some of these new tracks live for the very first time. For a full list of upcoming shows and tickets visit: michaelmonroe.com

Outerstellar is out this Friday, February 20. To celebrate its release Michael Monroe and band will host a series of exclusive HMV in-store signing sessions across the UK, giving fans the opportunity to meet the band up close, have their albums signed and capture the moment with photos.

Outerstellar is available on Limited Edition 12” White Vinyl, 12” Turquoise Vinyl, 12” Black Vinyl, CD Digipak, Digital Download, Streaming and special D2C bundles.

Pre-order/stream 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

DUNCAN EVANS AND THE WEEPING STARLIGHT Announce New Album The World is a War Zone and Release New Single "The Starlight Weeps"

DUNCAN EVANS AND THE WEEPING STARLIGHT today unveil their powerful new single "The Starlight Weeps" while announcing the forthcoming release of their new album, The World is a War Zone, due September 18, 2026 via Widowbird Records.

"The Starlight Weeps" offers the first glimpse into the band’s expansive and emotionally charged new chapter. Opening in free time on a brooding synth drone and sheets of textured guitar noise, the track slowly gathers momentum before erupting into surging waves of bass and thunderous drums. The arrangement moves in dramatic swells, rising to cathartic crescendos and retreating into moments of stark vulnerability.

Lyrically, the song imagines God attempting to reconnect with humanity, reframing divinity as something internal rather than distant. The repeated closing refrain, “God is coming back inside / God is coming home,” captures the spiritual core of both the single and the album it introduces.

The World is a War Zone marks the first full-length release under the name DUNCAN EVANS AND THE WEEPING STARLIGHT. Formed in 2022 to reflect the emergence of a committed three-piece lineup, the band channels intense post-punk dynamics through the dark and primal undercurrents of folk music. Across nine tracks and 45 minutes, the album explores faith, psychological upheaval, suffering and renewal, navigating the internal battlefields that shape modern existence while holding fast to the possibility of redemption.

Built around hypnotic bass lines, powerful and nuanced drumming, chiming guitar arpeggios, warm organ textures and sheets of atmospheric noise, the band’s sound is both intimate and elemental. The music shifts between fragile restraint and towering crescendos, creating a landscape that feels sombre, mournful and fiercely committed.

About DUNCAN EVANS AND THE WEEPING STARLIGHT:

DUNCAN EVANS AND THE WEEPING STARLIGHT is the collaborative evolution of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist DUNCAN EVANS, built around a committed three-piece lineup that transforms intimate compositions into expansive, emotionally charged performances. Formed under this name in 2022, the project reflects a shift from solo authorship toward a unified band dynamic, where arrangements are shaped collectively and the music breathes with the chemistry of a live unit.

At its core, the band fuses post-punk intensity with the dark and primal undercurrents of folk music. Hypnotic bass lines and powerful, nuanced drumming provide a muscular foundation for chiming guitar arpeggios, warm organ textures and sheets of atmospheric noise. The songs often move through shifting time signatures and dramatic dynamic contrasts, flowing from sparse, fragile passages into towering crescendos with a sense of purpose and emotional weight.

Lyrically, DUNCAN EVANS AND THE WEEPING STARLIGHT explores faith, doubt, suffering, transcendence and the search for meaning in a fractured world. Religious imagery frequently appears, reframed as metaphor and directed inward rather than toward distant absolutes. The writing confronts catastrophe and psychological turmoil with unflinching honesty while holding onto the belief that renewal and redemption remain possible.

The result is a sound that feels sombre, mournful and fiercely committed, grounded in the traditions of post-punk and folk yet shaped by a distinctly personal vision.

DUNCAN EVANS AND THE WEEPING STARLIGHT is:
 

  • Duncan Evans – vocals, guitars, synths, software instruments

  • Ol Jessop – bass guitar

  • Kev Reid – drums

ROMAN CANDLE Confronts Industry Disillusionment With New Single "Bite Harder Than You Bleed"

Las Vegas screamo quartet Roman Candle have dropped brand new single, "Bite Harder Than You Bleed", today. A razor-edged confession about industry pressure, false worship, and the hollow egos hiding beneath the surface. Self-aware and unflinching it's the band's most striking release yet. Watch the official music video BELOW and stream the track on DSPs HERE.

Written in isolation and chasing emotional truth over polish, the track fuses serrated guitar work with Piper Ferrari's commanding vocal intensity and lyrics that refuse comfort whilst capturing the contradiction of writing your own playbook in a world that demands conformity. Speaking further on the inspiration for writing the track Piper shares

"Bite Harder Than You Bleed came from this place of being completely jaded with the music industry—the pressure to act the same, think the same, and worship the same idols. It's that 'kill your idols' moment where you realize even the people you look up to are just as hollow, anxious, and bruised as you are. Lines like 'falsely shallow, hollow, refusing to follow' and 'your idols hate you too' were me processing how disheartening it can feel, but also how freeing it is to acknowledge it. The song is basically my reminder that you have to bite harder than you bleed—push back, stay sharp, and refuse to let the world wear you down."

Since their breakout EP Discount Fireworks, Roman Candle spent the next few years refining their sound and expanding their reach. "Fire In The Night Sky Forever.", "This Band Has Led Me To Places I Wouldn't Go With A Gun," and "Nothing Is Original" each showcasing their ability to balance chaos with clarity. January's "Can We Watch Something Happy?", rooted in Piper's personal experiences, further cemented their reputation for unfiltered storytelling. Last October's sold-out Las Vegas hometown show marked a defining moment, proof of swelling local and national attention. To date, the band has amassed 2.8 million streams across all platforms and 400,000 YouTube views, steadily building a devoted following through relentless live performances and emotionally resonant songwriting.

With a full-length album on the horizon, Roman Candle continues to position themselves at the forefront of a new generation of screamo acts. Raw, intentional, and resonant in a way that cuts straight to the bone.

"Bite Harder Than You Bleed" is out now via Sumerian Records and can be streamed here: sumerian.lnk.to/bhtyb

ABOUT ROMAN CANDLE

Hailing from the desert underground of Las Vegas - Roman Candle - Piper Ferrari, Jonas Vece, Sergio Lopez, and Alex Dupuis - form one of the most emotionally raw and compelling new voices in modern screamo.

What began as a creative spark between Piper and Jonas has evolved into a fully realized four-piece, blending serrated aggression with vulnerable lyricism and a deep sense of place within the current hardcore landscape.

Onstage, the band operates with total commitment. Piper's commanding vocal presence, Jonas's tense and dynamic guitar work, Sergio's driving low end, and Alex's explosive percussion combine into a live experience that feels both communal and cathartic. Their hometown support has swelled alongside national attention, positioning them firmly at the forefront of a new generation of screamo artists.

Roman Candle Are

Piper Ferrari - Vocals

Jonas Vece - Guitar

Alex Dupis - Drums

Sergio Lopez - Bass