CLAWFINGER Release New Album Before We All Die; Drop Furious Title-Track Video! Out Now Via PERCEPTION

Swedish rap-metal veterans CLAWFINGER are back with a bang. The band has officially released their new album Before We All Die - their first full-length offering in 19 long years - and celebrated the occasion the night before with an exclusive release show at Kollektivet Livet in Stockholm, attended by a handpicked group of lucky fans. Now, they’re keeping the momentum going with an explosive video for the album’s title track!

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

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

With the new record and the title-track video, CLAWFINGER make it clear that their voice remains as urgent and uncompromising as ever! Watch the clip below:

Known for their pioneering fusion of metal, rap, and unflinching social commentary, CLAWFINGER return with Before We All Die, an album that rekindles the fire which made them one of Europe’s most groundbreaking crossover acts. This long-awaited comeback marks not just a return, but a reinvention, proof that true intensity never fades.

Before We All Die captures the band’s trademark fusion of sharp rap delivery, heavy grooves and biting social commentary, now more relevant than ever. Despite releasing their first studio album since 2007, CLAWFINGER are seeing significant success across social media platforms and streaming services, where both new material and classic tracks are gaining impressive traction. The band’s lyrical perspective and unmistakable sound clearly strike a chord with the current zeitgeist, resonating not only with long-time fans but also with a new, younger generation of metal listeners. This renewed relevance proves that CLAWFINGER’s message, attitude and musical identity remain as powerful and timely as ever!

Before We All Die is out now on PERCEPTION - A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music. Order your favorite choice of format now at: https://clawfinger.rpm.link/beforewealldiePR

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

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

Robin Ross & The Melodynes unveil 'Mind Space' album & ‘Campfire on the Moon’ video

Indie rockers Robin Ross & The Melodynes present their new 'Mind Space' album. Their second album, released via Pennsylvania indie imprint RPM Entertainment on February 20, showcases their diverse sound, mixing their own flavor of indie rock and classic rock sounds. The band also presents their new video for focus track 'Campfire on the Moon'.

Previewed by the B-52s-esque lead track 'Spill No Mo Wine' and the single 'Echo of Love', a shimmering anthem of sonic intimacy, 'Mind Space' is a head-trip with heart, blasting off from bedroom daydreams into a technicolor inner universe. Built from raw acoustic bones and lit up with electric spark, it balances cosmic drift with dance-floor swagger -- a joy-chasing, freedom-fueled reminder that the wildest frontier is the one inside your own head.

Robin Ross & The Melodynes is not just about music - it's about big fun between like-minded artists, including Wharton Tiers, JoEllen Gaetani, Katlyn Albrecht, Emery Rhodes, Tony Anniello. Joe (Bass) Torres, TW Howell and Nancy Isola. That shared joy is woven into every note, creating an infectious energy that invites the listener right into the heart of the party.

"Into my mind we roam. If we close the world around us and keep your eyes open, you can see prisms if you let them through. 'Mind Space' is a world of prisms -- some reach far and some are close. The title track 'Mind Space' is about resting in bed and drifting to the stars. Being the captain in your mind you can go wherever you want. Other songs like 'Spill No Mo Wine' and 'Shiny Blue Shoes' are our party stamp songs. Whatever world you land on, let's hope joy and spirits are plentiful," says Robin Ross.  

"Other songs are about the journey. 'Follow' is aboard a spaceship en route to Mars, while 'Campfire On the Moon' is about all of your campfires in life together with others in a secluded sphere like the moon. We give in life as we move along the 'Echo of Love', which is a song about love by JoJo. I wrote the music on an acoustic guitar and built from there, adding the Strat later for the edge. 'Cause I Do' is something we do when we fall in love along life's flight. 'Taking All of My Heart' is another change ball, more of a pop love song about being swept off your feet on your journey. 'Come On In' is about being welcome -- come in let's dance. And 'Curious Mind' is about being tossed around in a dream but waking up to hope and beauty in someone someday". 

This album was recorded at Baa Baa Leaf Music Studio in Milford, Pennsylvania, whereRoss produced and engineered it, along with famed engineer Jonathan Duckett (Phillip Glass, Kenny G, David Sanborn). 

"This album wouldn't be complete if it didn't have a few side pocket tunes. 'Free the Young'is one of those songs, recalling castles and kings, where tyranny was born to a new generation -- a crest that is upon us now. This is a message for youth to question history and fight for freedom," saysRobin Ross.

"The other side pocket song is'Sweet Jane', a blues riff song about a pooch named Jane. We were chilling with Sweet Jane and hit the blues and her master, Tony, wrote up some lyrics. We put this down in the studio and have been playing it ever since."

Emerging from the New Jersey and New York music scenes in 1988, Robin Ross has grown into a central figure in the creative pulse of Milford, PA. A multi-faceted musician, songwriter, and producer for cover thirty years, he has released numerous album while helping launch and develop several recording spaces, includingTriple R StudiosandSound Complexnear NYC. He has since grown his current hub,Baa Baa Leaf Music Studiointo a creative sanctuary and production house.

In the early ’90s, Ross co-foundedLaughing Jack(later renamedJack’s Maze), praised for a progressive rock style echoing the grandeur of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Though business pursuits eventually pulled him down a different path, 2021 marked a return to form: he built Baa Baa Leaf Music Studio and reunited with bandmates Frank Cinquegrana, Scott Cowan, and Joe Torres to record new material, with a fresh Jack’s Maze release anticipated later this year.

As of February 20, 'Mind Space' is available on digital platforms, including Apple Music,Spotify, Amazon and Bandcamp, where his 2025 debut'Back To The Forest' EP  asRobin Ross & The TW Howlers, is also available. CDs can be obtained athttps://robinrossmusic.com/ music.

CREDITS
Recorded at Baa Baa Leaf Music Studios (Milford, PA)
Produced & Mixed by Robin Ross
Supervising Engineer: Jonathan Duckett

Robin Ross - Guitar, bass, keys, vocals

JoEllen Gaetani - Vocals

Wharton Tiers - Drums

Tony Anniello - Vocals

Katlyn Albrecht - Vocals, percussion

Emery Rhodes - Vocals

Dan Engvaldsen - Guitar

Joe Torres - Bass

TW Howell - Vocals, guitar

Jack Kowat - Sax

James Henry - Djembe

Nancy Isola - Background vocals

Tina Ross - Background vocals

Sandy Broxmeyer - Background vocals

Photography & videos by Tina Ross
Album artwork & design by Tina Ross
Publishing & booking: RPM Entertainment Enterprises, LLC
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with Robin Ross // Robin Ross & The Melodynes
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Reverbnation | Apple Music | Spotify | Booking contact | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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ARISING EMPIRE ALERT: The Veer Union Release New Album "Reinvention"

This is what a reset actually sounds like.

With Reinvention, The Veer Union return sharper, louder and more focused than ever. The album doesn't feel like a comeback — it feels like a band reconnecting with its core and pushing forward at the same time. Heavy, melodic and emotionally charged, Reinvention captures everything The Veer Union have built over years in the scene, refined into their most confident statement yet.

At the center of the record sits "Feel Again," the album's focus track and emotional backbone. It’s a song about breaking through numbness, about finding that spark after being worn down — and it hits with soaring hooks, crushing guitars and the kind of chorus that sticks instantly. "Feel Again" isn't just a highlight, it’s a reminder of why The Veer Union's music resonates so deeply with their audience.

The album also marks the peak of an incredibly successful campaign cycle. Over the past months, The Veer Union rolled out a steady run of singles that kept momentum building — tracks like "My Empire," "Sea Of Fear," "Caught In The Crossfire," "Sunk Your Teeth In" and "Meet Your Maker" each showing a different side of the band while staying unmistakably true to their sound. Each release pulled in more listeners, more attention, and more anticipation for what Reinvention would become.

That consistency paid off. With nearly 300,000 unique monthly listeners on Spotify, The Veer Union are proving that their reach is bigger than ever — connecting with longtime fans while constantly pulling in new ones across the global heavy scene.

Reinvention isn't about chasing trends or rewriting the past. It's about evolution, resilience and rediscovering purpose. This is The Veer Union fully locked in — and sounding stronger than ever.

Stream the album — HERE

ARISING EMPIRE ALERT: Lost in Hollywood Drop New Single "Love Is Dying"

LOST IN HOLLYWOOD RELEASE BRAND NEW SINGLE "LOVE IS DYING" (FEAT. PHILIP STRAND FROM NORMANDIE).

Love isn't supposed to sound like this.

With "Love Is Dying," Lost in Hollywood tap straight into the moment where everything starts to crack — and they don't look away.

Featuring Philip Strand of Normandie, the new single by Lost In Hollywood blends crushing metalcore weight with a haunting melodic pull, balancing raw aggression and fragile emotion in a way that feels both intimate and explosive. It’s not a polished love song or a dramatic farewell — it's the sound of something falling apart in real time.

The track arrives at a moment where Lost in Hollywood have been quietly building serious momentum. Recent singles like "The Fire," "Pretty Skin," "Like A River" (feat. Of Virtue) and "The Art Of Being Torn Out" (Feat. Half Me) didn't just showcase different sides of the band — they proved how confidently they move between atmosphere, heaviness and emotional depth. Each release pushed their sound further, pulling more listeners into their orbit and solidifying their place in the modern metalcore landscape.

"Love Is Dying" feels like the emotional center of that journey. Philip Strand’s unmistakable voice adds a fragile contrast to the band’s relentless energy, turning the track into a tense back-and-forth between vulnerability and rage. It’s heavy, melodic, uncomfortable — and exactly the kind of song that sticks with you longer than expected.

All of this leads straight into Lost in Hollywood’s upcoming album, set for release on March 20th. The record promises to be the band's most focused and ambitious work to date — bigger in sound, sharper in songwriting and unafraid to sit with uncomfortable emotions. If the recent singles were pieces of the puzzle, "Love Is Dying" is the moment everything clicks into place.

March 20th isn't just another release date — it's the next step for a band that's done playing it safe.

Watch the video Below:

Hillbilly Vegas Share New Single/Video "I Hope You Know"

Southern Rockers Hillbilly Vegas are sharing their new single & video for ”I Hope You Know”.  The track is the 1st single from the Oklahoma based band’s upcoming album “A La Mode”, which is slated for release in May via Quarto Valley Records. 

“I Hope You Know” is a song about the chaos of a relationship that’s deteriorated to the point of no return. The song is driven by guitars with a southern style, rocking blues groove - with just the right touch of grit that the band is known for.  

The band’s Steve Harris says “I Hope You Know’ comes from a very personal experience in my life, but it’s a moment a lot of people recognize. It can be a romantic relationship, a friendship, family, or even a professional relationship. In my case, it was a professional relationship and a lifelong friendship that slowly deteriorated due to substance abuse. It’s realizing the person you trusted isn’t in control anymore, and that you can’t fix it for them. Sometimes the only thing left to do is let go and hope it gives them the motivation to fix themselves.”

The video for “I Hope You Know”, which was directed by GR1M (Chase Matthews, Crucifix), was filmed in Oklahoma and produced by the band.  Harris explains the concept: “With the ‘I Hope You Know’ video, we paid tribute to where we come from and the music that built us. ’70s era rock was the greatest era of rock and roll. We kept it fun - like rock n’ roll is supposed to be and let the visuals reflect that golden age. We shot it at our warehouse during the worst snowstorm the U.S. had seen in 60 years, which forced us to keep it simple. Honestly, that made it even better.”

About Hillbilly Vegas:

Hillbilly Vegas’ dynamic sound caught the ears of an independent label in Nashville in 2011, and their first album “Ringo Manor” was released and sold more than 10,000 copies – driven by the hit single “Little Miss Rough and Tumble”.  The band has gone on to chart 5 songs on Billboard’s Rock charts, including “Let It Ride” – which remained on the chart for 13 weeks and reached #10, “Feels Good”, “High Time For A Good Time”, “Hell To Pay”, “Two Gun Town”, and fan favorite “Shake It Like A Hillbilly”.

The band has earned a reputation for rousing live shows - bringing a loud, party-like atmosphere that is all-inclusive.  They’ve shown they have a broad appeal across different genres, pleasing crowds while performing shows with rockers Blackberry Smoke, The Kentucky Headhunters, Wolfsbane and Ted Nugent; along with country icons Alabama, Travis Tritt, Blake Shelton, and Wynonna Judd. Hillbilly Vegas has played before huge crowds at NASCAR events, as well as many major bike rallies, including the legendary annual Sturgis Motorcycle rally.  They have a strong UK following, and have played the Maid of Stone and Steelhouse festivals. The band is managed by David Spero (Joe Walsh, Cat Stevens/Yusef Islam, Bad Company). Tour dates are being booked in support of the album release for later this year.

Hillbilly Vegas is:

Steve Harris - Lead Vocals

Stacy Thornburg - Guitar/Vocals

Geraldo Dominelli - Guitar/Keyboards (former Loverboy/Paul Rodgers)

Todd Ronning - Bass (former Bad Company)

Gunnar Molton (Drums)

About Quarto Valley Records

Founded by tech entrepreneur Bruce Quarto, the California-based independent label, Quarto Valley Records, represents Rock, Blues, Jazz and Americana genres with an impressive artist roster featuring legacy musicians Paul Rodgers, GRAMMY® award-winning Edgar Winter, Savoy Brown as well as the legendary talent that comprises The Immediate Family, GRAMMY® award-winning producer and renowned drummer and songwriter Tom Hambridge, GRAMMY® award-winning producer and percussionist Narada Michael Walden, blues-rock artist Sean Chambers, British blues sensation Bonham-Bullick, Wings member Denny Seiwell, acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Al Staehely, singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer Steve Postell of The Immediate Family, esteemed Americana-Blues singer-songwriter David Starr, the soulful Richard T. Bear, pianist and songwriter John McAndrew, Oklahoma-based high-energy southern rock band Hillbilly Vegas and emerging artist Dominic Quarto. 

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.    

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

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.

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

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

Moodring Share "Anywhere But Here"

The musical entity's name hints at volatility — color, emotion, and temperature in flux. Nowhere is that more evident than in death fetish, a defining album for a haunting and defiant new chapter. For founder and frontman Hunter Young, this is more than a record.

It's survival, reflection, and metamorphosis. It is art made from the raw materials of pain, purpose, and persistence.

The album, steeped in nu metal, alt, and industrial influences, arrives on March 27 via SharpTone Records. Pre-order it here.

Moodring have just dropped the visualizer for "ANYWHERE BUT HERE." Watch it below.

With its moody, quiet-loud dynamics, rich layers, and palpable sonic tension, the song is another thrill ride in which listeners can ride sidecar. It's the perfect execution of industrial ambience and metallic edge. 

"'Anywhere But Here' is about the breakdown of a relationship where a shared creative world became a source of manipulation and envy," shares Young. "The chorus lyric is coming from a place of irony, but also represents a longing for freedom and steadiness."

The Moodring origin story puts the timber and tone of the music in clear view.

Young conceived Moodring alone, in his bedroom, an exercise in catharsis through art. The resulting debut EP, 2021's Showmetherealyou, resonated with a surprising number of diverse listeners. That connection inspired Moodring to evolve into a creative outlet that transcended its simple origins.  Both sensual and suffocating, the Stargazer album followed in 2022. In a glowing review, Kerrang! praised the full-length as "hefty from the get-go" and likened it to "a cool wave of water lapping over you." The album's "vivacious" vocal work and vibe made new Moodring fans around the world.

The following year's EP, Your Light Fades Away, expanded the palette further, fusing ferocity, shimmering melody, and nü-metal groove into something equally cinematic and claustrophobic.  The "black-velvet nu-metal melodies and bleak-booming breakdowns" (Revolver) of 2025's "half-life" were, sadly, inspired by a life-changing medical diagnosis that left Young unable to tour with Moodring or his accomplished deathcore outfit, SharpTone Records labelmates PSYCHO-FRAME.

Unable to tour and unwilling to compromise, Young focused on writing and recording new music. death fetish  is the sound of transcendence—an artist refusing to disappear, even as the light fades.

For all its darkness, death fetish is not a surrender. It's a reclamation. It’s Young taking back control of his narrative — body failing, mind racing, still creating, still here. "I just wanted to make a dark, honest record," he says. "And if people don't like it, I don't really care. I had to do it for myself."

Moodring, once a more traditional "band," now exists as something far more elusive and infinite: A vessel for transformation, a mirror for mortality, and a living testament to pain and creation.

STATE OF ILLUSION Release New Single and Lyric Video “Wasted Life," From the Upcoming Re-Release of Pluto’s Ghost Out 4/17

STATE OF ILLUSION return with “Wasted Life,” a crushing progressive metal statement and the latest single from the upcoming re-release of Pluto’s Ghost, arriving April 17.

Driven by jagged, angular rhythms and percussive drop G chugs, “Wasted Life” delivers urgency and weight through intricate riffing and relentless momentum. Lyrically, the song confronts the haunting realization of unrealized potential and existential doubt.

The song’s origin was immediate and undeniable. One morning, founder and songwriter Jacob Porter woke up with the main riff fully formed in his head and recorded it on the spot. What followed became one of the most challenging writing processes of his career. The chorus proved elusive and was rewritten 17 times over several months before the final version came together. That persistence paid off. “Wasted Life” has since become a live favorite and currently closes STATE OF ILLUSION’s set with explosive intensity.

“Wasted Life” is taken from the re-release of Pluto’s Ghost, a record born from isolation, persistence, and an unwillingness to let go. Written and produced by Jacob Porter, founder, vocalist, and primary songwriter behind STATE OF ILLUSION, the album unfolds as a deeply personal journey through isolation, grief, and endurance. Blending expansive atmosphere with intricate instrumentation and emotionally driven songwriting, Pluto’s Ghost showcases the band’s dynamic range across progressive rock and metal landscapes.

With the release of the “Wasted Life” lyric video, STATE OF ILLUSION invite listeners deeper into the emotional core of the record, where heaviness meets honesty and self doubt transforms into clarity.