CROSSFAITH Announce HYPER PLANET 2025 Festival Lineup Feat. UNDEROATH, ENTER SHIKARI, WARGASM, PALEDUSK, SIM, + More

Formed in Osaka, Japan in 2006, CROSSFAITH have represented the very best of what Eastern metalcore has to offer each year since. Combining their heavy roots with their love of electronic and dubstep elements, the band has solidified a space in the hearts of millions by meeting and surpassing the expectations of genre purists everywhere. 
 

In their mission to spread the love of live music, CROSSFAITH proudly present the HYPER PLANET 2025 Festival — a celebration of musicians performing their respective crowd favorites on Sunday, February 2. HYPER PLANET will take place at Japan's largest convention center, Makuhari Messe in the 7-8 Hall, and will host bands including but not limited to: Enter Shikari, Underoath, Wargasm, Paledusk, and more.

"From the moment we started Crossfaith, hosting our own festival has always been one of our biggest dreams. With HYPER PLANET, a festival we are proud to host, that dream is now coming true," says Crossfaith's Kenta Koie.
 
He continues, "This will be a place where artists from around the world, Japanese artists, and people who resonate with music can unite as one. HYPER PLANET breaks the boundaries of traditional rock festivals by featuring music that has shaped us — genres like hip-hop, electronic and more. Here, you'll experience a world where music knows no borders."
 
Koie finishes, "We are pouring everything into this festival and truly hope the movement we create will reach not only Japan but expand and evolve globally too!"

With multiple nominations over the years for being the Best International Band, CROSSFAITH remain a fixture in the music community and strongly believe in bringing the best bands to every music fan, no matter the destination, and this mentality has brought them around the globe to share the very best from their catalog of five studio albums. So, armed with metalcore favorites and their own tricks up their sleeve, join CROSSFAITH in Japan this February to honor some of the very best to grace the stage.

MORE ABOUT CROSSFAITH:
"Playing heavy music is how I feel alive," says singer Kenta Koie. "We want Crossfaith to be the band making music that no one has ever heard before. Crossfaith formed in 2006 and released their debut album The Artificial Theory for The Dramatic Beauty in 2009, followed by The Dream, The Space (2011), Apocalyze (2013), Xeno (2015), and Ex Machina (2018). Each one saw the band blend its love of punk rock, metal, and electronic music in daring new ways. "Good art is how I express myself to other people. It's hard to talk from the bottom of my heart, that's why I write these songs," Koie says. In keeping with their progressive musical journey, 2020's SPECIES EP saw the band continue to push their own sonic soundscape to new grounds.The band dropped the pandemic-penned single "Gimme Danger" in 2022.

WME & Safe Haven Family Shelter Partner to Distribute Gifts to 21 Local Families in Need

WME Nashville and Safe Haven Family Shelter continue their partnership to assist families in need this holiday season. WME staff, clients Lily Rose and Ashley Cooke, and industry partners donated their time and money to help make the holidays a little brighter for 21 families. 
 
“I am so thankful to be able to help the families at Safe Haven Family Shelter for a second year,” said WME agent Carrie Murphy, who spearheaded the efforts. “I am moved at the generous spirit of my colleagues, clients and industry friends for jumping in to make sure these families truly have a Christmas to remember. Safe Haven does tremendous work throughout the year and we are honored to play a small part in that as we close the year.”
 
Hundreds of gifts were purchased and wrapped and will be distributed later this week. Last year's donations included bicycles, toys, clothes, daily essentials and much more. Safe Haven Family Shelter is still accepting monetary donations, and you can give by visiting www.safehaven.org.
 
Safe Haven supports families who, because of a variety of circumstances, cannot afford gifts for their loved ones. Each year, the organization compiles a wish list from every family with the hope that volunteers will donate their time and resources to fulfill those requests.
 
WME continually seeks out new ways to serve the local community. Throughout the year, team members dedicate their time and resources to an array of initiatives—ranging from sponsoring an annual Habitat for Humanity Build to joining in the company-wide day of service, Walk the Walk. 

WME staff pictured with gifts donated to Safe Haven, benefitting local families in need | Photo Courtesy of WME

ABOUT WME: WME is a leading entertainment agency representing the world’s greatest artists, content creators and talent across books, digital media, fashion, film, food, music, sports, television and theater. Named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, WME is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company.
 
ABOUT SAFE HAVEN FAMILY SHELTER: For 38 years, Safe Haven has served as the premier shelter-to-housing program in Middle Tennessee that accommodates families experiencing homelessness. Safe Haven leads our community’s efforts to house, support, empower and advocate for families, allowing them to stay together. Transformative services focused on housing and employment provide families with the resources to become self-sufficient and successful. For more information, visit safehaven.org.

Close Enemies with Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith Sign to TLG|ROCK for Management and Label Partnership ​   

Close Enemies, a powerhouse band featuring legendary musicians Tom Hamilton, multiple Grammy winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, and bassist of the biggest-selling American rock band of all time, Aerosmith, is joined by legendary drummer Tony Brock (The Babys and Rod Stewart), touring veterans Peter Stroud (Sheryl Crow and Don Henley) and Trace Foster on guitar, and singer Chasen Hampton, who has been singing professionally since the age of 11, as a member and co-host of the famed 90s Mickey Mouse Club and pop group The Party, proudly announce their signing with TLG|ROCK for management and label services. The record will be distributed through Virgin Music Group. Unlike the name suggests, these five guys are close friends, each with an illustrious musical career.

 

The band will release their debut single "Sound Of A Train" on January 17th and will be playing shows in support (dates below).

 

Tom Hamilton (Bass): "We’re really excited to be working with TLG/Virgin on the release of the Close Enemies record! They’re genuinely as excited about putting it out as we are! Can’t wait to see what happens!"

 

Tony Brock (Drums): "TLG/Virgin are the perfect match for Close Enemies as we are both SUPERGROUPS! 👌 Can’t wait to see the results!!"


Trace Foster (Guitar): "After spending a year on the writing and recording of this record, we were not going to sign with just anyone to put it out. Once we spoke with Dennis Sanders and his team at TLG/Virgin, we knew we had an ally with the same vision."

 

Chasen Hampton (Vocals): "Honored to join forces with history! TLG/Virgin/Universal Music Group are all proven visionaries and a perfect fit for this band of brothers. We are excited to get this music heard and be a part of this new family."

 

Peter Stroud (Guitar): "We could not ask for a better partner with Denny and The Label Group. His experience across all fronts of the industry is a perfect fit for Close Enemies. And I always prefer flying Virgin! It’s an honor to be playing with these musical brothers and now working with the ultimate team."

 

Denny Sanders, CEO of TLG|ROCK: "My good friend Andy Gallagher of the band Overhaul sent me the music. I absolutely loved it, then to find out who's in the band, well that was just icing on the cake. We are all thrilled here at TLG to be working with Close Enemies."

Tour Dates

Wednesday, January 08, 2025 Philadelphia City Winery Philadelphia, PA
Thursday, January 09, 2025 New York City City Winery NYC
Friday, January 10, 2025 Boston City Winery Boston, MA
Saturday, January 11, 2025 Boston City Winery Boston, MA
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 The Rex Theater New Hampshire
Thursday, January 23, 2025 Daryls House Pawling, NY
Saturday, January 25, 2025 Nashville City Winery Nashville, TN
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 Chicago City Winery Chicago, IL
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 St Lous City Winery St Louis, MO

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

X

MILWAUKEE METAL FESTIVAL 2025 Adds GWAR, ARCH ENEMY, + More to the Lineup, Announces Daily Schedules

GET TICKETS HERE

Due to the massive success of the second edition of Milwaukee Metal Festival, the iconic midwestern event is returning in 2025! The festival will take place once again at The Rave/Eagles Ballroom from May 16-18, 2025, with the pre-party kicking off on May 15. Tickets are now available HERE.

The festival is now pleased to welcome Gwar, Arch Enemy, Oppressor, Wormrot, Between The Buried And Me, Sacred Reich, Necrot, + Frozen Soul to the lineup, with even more bands still to be TBA! The festival is now also revealing the daily lineups, which can be found below:

The updated lineup is now as follows with more TBA!

Friday, May 16:

DOWN (Anselmo, Windstein, Keenan, Bower, Bruders)

Chimaira

Enslaved

Paradise Lost

Suicide Silence

Rotting Christ

Wolves In the Throne Room

Fugitive

Oppressor

Wormrot

No / Más

Avernus

Legions of Doom

Nest

Gigan

Ruin Dweller

Bury My Demons

Saturday, May 17:

Black Label Society

Devin Townsend

Exodus

3 Inches of Blood

Destruction

Between The Buried and Me

Demolition Hammer

TesseracT

Evil Dead

Necrot

Macabre

Nekrogoblikon

Brat

Gorgasm

Renesans

Repentance

Wraith

SNAFU

Sunday, May 18:

GWAR

Arch Enemy

The Dillinger Escape Plan

SCOUR

Amigo the Devil

Sacred Reich

Trouble

Harms Way

The Acacia Strain

Frozen Soul

Speed

END

Exhorder

Deceased

Full of hell

Lionheart

Snuffed On Sight

Gates To Hell

Tracheotomy

Rig Time

Follow Milwaukee Metal Fest:

Website

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X

ALIEN WEAPONRY to Support Kerry King (Slayer) along “North American Headline Tour 2025”

Following the Tribeca film festival debut of their documentary, "Alien Weaponry: Kua Tupu Te Ara," New Zealand's global metal frontrunners, ALIEN WEAPONRY are slated to join the legendary Kerry King with his new band (featuring members of Slayer, HELLYEAH, Machine Head, and Death Angel) as well as special guests Municipal Waste on King’s bombastic “North American Headline Tour 2025!” The tour is set to launch in San Francisco on January 15, 2025, and wrap at House of Blues in Las Vegas on February 22.

ALIEN WEAPONRY won over fans and critics alike with their latest album, 'Tangaroa.' The album coalesces the band’s growing maturation with an undisturbed songwriting process, resulting in their most inspired, honest and informed material yet. In addition to lyrics written in te reo Māori, many 'Tangaroa' tracks feature traditional instruments, called taonga puoro, providing the tracks their own warrior-like attitude. While ALIEN WEAPONRY sourced inspiration from their culture and environmental surroundings while writing most of 'Tangaroa,' the band also looked inward - drawing vision for other portions of the album from within.

ALIEN WEAPONRY

Supporting Kerry King’s “North American Headline Tour 2024”

w/ Special Guest Municipal Waste

 

01/15/25: San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom

01/17/25: Spokane, WA @ Spokane Live Casino

01/18/25: Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo

01/29/25: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater

01/20/25: Vancouver, BC  @ Commodore Ballroom

01/22/25: Calgary, AB  @ The Palace Theatre

01/23/25: Edmonton, AB  @ Midway Music Hall

01/25/25: Winnipeg, MB  @ Burton Cummings Theatre

01/26/25: Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore

01/28/25: Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave

01/30/25: Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Theater

01/31/25: Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues

02/01/25: Toronto, ON  @ Danforth Music Hall

02/02/25: Montreal, QC  @ L'Olympia

02/04/25: Boston, MA @ Royale

02/05/25: Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts

02/07/25: New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

02/08/25: Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage

02/10/25: Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre

02/11/25: St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live

02/13/25: Houston, TX @ House of Blues

02/14/25: Austin, TX @ Emo's

ALIEN WEAPONRY are:                     

Henry Te Reiwhati de Jong - Drums, Backing vocals 

Lewis Raharuhi de Jong - Guitars, Lead vocals         

Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds - Backing vocals & guitar

Extreme Metal Legends NILE Kick Off "Revenge Of The Underworld"

American death metal legends NILE are set to unleash their ferocious live show along their impending North American co-headline tour with Six Feet Under! Featuring support from Psycroptic and Embryonic Autopsy, the tour begins January 7, 2025, in Nashville, TN hitting several major cities including Atlanta, Albany, Pittsburgh, and Las Vegas before concluding in Houston TX on February 22, 2025.

 

This tour follows the band's recent critical smash hit and Napalm Records debut album, 'The Underworld Awaits Us All,' released August 23, 2024. The record appeared in multiple year-end lists including Loudwire's "51 Best Rock And Metal Albums of 2025" and Metal Injection's fifth Best Album of 2024, with BraveWords lauding that "Nile as a quintet in 2024 sounding alarmingly vital and youthful." After three decades of decimation, NILE remains viscously hungry and The Underworld Awaits Us All is a ferocious testament to their monumental legacy.

NILE & Six Feet Under "Revenge Of The Underworld Tour 2025"

w/ PSYCROPTIC and EMBRYONIC AUTOPSY

 

01/07/25: Nashville, TN @ Basement East

01/08/25: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade

01/10/25: Orlando, FL @ The Abbey

01/11/25: Ft Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room

01/12/25: Tampa, FL @ Orpheum

01/13/25: Charlseston, SC @ Music Farm

01/14/25: Greenville, SC @ Radio Room

01/15/25: Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819

01/17/25: Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom

01/18/25: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium Underground

01/19/25: Albany, NY @ Empire Live

01/20/25: Mechanicsburg, PA @ Lovedraft's

01/21/25: Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground

01/23/25: Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater

01/24/25: Columbus, OH @ The King Of Clubs

01/25/25: Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop

01/26/25: Grand Rapids, MI @ Elevation

01/27/25: Joliet, IL @ The Forge

01/29/25: St Louis, MO @ Red Flag

01/30/25: Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts

01/31/25: Ft Wayne, IN @ Piere's

02/01/25: Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave

02/02/25: Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theater

02/04/25: Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater

02/06/25: Las Vegas, NV @ Sinwave

02/07/25: Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory

02/08/25: Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Roseville

02/10/25: Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre

02/11/25: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon

02/13/25: Berkley, CA @ Cornerstone

02/14/25: Santa Cruz, CA @ Catalyst

02/15/25: Los Angeles, CA @ 1720

02/16/25: Phoenix, AZ @ Nile Theater

02/18/25: Farmington, NM @ Lauter Haus

02/20/25: Dallas, TX @ Haltom Theater

02/21/25: Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live

02/22/25: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live

NILE are:

Karl Sanders - Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards

George Kollias - Drums

Brian Kingsland - Guitar, Vocals

Zach Jeter - Guitar, Vocals

Dan Vadim Von - Bass

Arch Enemy Announce Spring 2025 Headline Tour

Swedish extreme metal pioneers ARCH ENEMY will unleash their forthcoming twelfth studio album, Blood Dynasty on March 28 via Century Media Records. Pre-order Blood Dynasty here. Listen to the single "Blood Dynasty" here and watch the official music video below.

Additionally, the band has announced its Spring 2025 North American tour plans. 

The massive tour kicks off on April 14 in San Diego and runs through May 16 in Atlanta, including several stops in Canada. All dates are below, along with key spring festival appearances, such as Sonic Temple and Welcome to Rockville. Get tickets here

Expect a night of maximum headbanging that you will NOT want to miss!

"We can't wait to reconnect with our amazing North American fans this spring," says guitarist Michael Amott. "We're bringing Fit For An Autopsy, Baest, and Thrown Into Exile along for the ride — prepare for an unforgettable night of pure metal mayhem. See you soon!"

ARCH ENEMY ON TOUR:
WITH FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY, BAEST, + THROWN INTO EXILE:

4/14 — San Diego, CA — The Observatory North Park
4/15 — Los Angeles, CA — The Wiltern
4/16 — San Francisco, CA — The Regency Ballroom
4/18 — Portland, OR — Roseland Theater
4/19 — Seattle, WA — Showbox SoDo
4/20 — Vancouver, BC — The Pearl
4/22 — Edmonton, AB — Union Hall
4/23 — Calgary, AB — MacEwan Hall
4/25 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
4/26 — Denver, CO — Summit
4/28 — Minneapolis, MN — The Fillmore Minneapolis
4/29 — Chicago, IL — The Vic Theatre
4/30 — Detroit, MI — The Majestic Theatre
5/2 — New York, NY — Palladium Times Square
5/3 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium
5/5 — Philadelphia, PA — Theatre of The Living Arts
5/6 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore Silver Spring
5/8 — Montreal, QC — L'Olympia*
5/9 — Toronto, ON — Queen Elizabeth Theatre
5/10 — Stroudsburg, PA — The Sherman Theater
5/11 — Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple**
5/13 — Charlotte, NC — The Underground***
5/15 —  Daytona Beach, FL — Welcome To Rockville**
5/16 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade***
5/18 — Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Metal Fest**
*No FFAA But Featuring Martyr 
**Festval Appearance
***No BAEST 

Blood Dynasty marks Arch Enemy's 12th studio album. The record features 11 new tracks full of the band's signature powerful guitar riff and guttural force.

Pre-order Arch Enemy's new album Blood Dynasty here.

Next to the limited deluxe editions that feature two exclusive bonus tracks, fans can direct their attention to the Ltd. Liquid Blood Vinyl that is exclusively available in the band stores and limited to 666 copies.

In support of the new album, Arch Enemy has announced the European "Blood Dynasty" 2025 Tour, commencing on October 10, 2025, in Stuttgart, Germany, and concluding on November 15, 2025, in Düsseldorf, Germany. The tour will feature special guests Amorphis, Eluveitie, and Gatecreeper.

For more information and tickets visit here.

ARCH ENEMY ARE:
Alissa White-Gluz — Vocals 
Michael Amott — Guitars 
Joey Concepcion — Guitars 
Sharlee D'Angelo — Bass 
Daniel Erlandsson — Drums

PERFECT PLAN Announces New Studio Album 'Heart Of A Lion' - Set for Release on February 28, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl

PERFECT PLAN is thrilled to announce the release of a new studio album, 'Heart Of A Lion,' set for release on February 28, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl. Coinciding with the announcement, the band also shares the first single, “We Are Heroes”, accompanied by a new music video.

Lead singer Kent Hilli describes the first single, by saying:

“'We Are Heroes' is a song about the “everyday life heroes” we humans can be… Like nurses, doctors, firefighters, police officers, etc., but also about humans climbing their way up from everyday struggles, substance abuse, other addictions, mental health issues, and becoming a better version of themselves. At the same time, helping and inspiring others by stating themselves as an example of progress and recovery. When I wrote the lyrics, I was imagining myself in a conversation with God about our everyday struggles as humans. As humans, we face different choices every day but the choice to choose love will always be the best and the only way for us going forward.”

Watch the New Video for "We Are Heroes" below.

PERFECT PLAN’s fourth studio album, “Heart Of A Lion” marks the culmination of the band’s musical production to date. Over the course of their first trilogy of albums, “All Rise”, “Time For A Miracle” and “Brace for Impact”, the Swedes have quickly established themselves as a new gold standard in not only the Scandinavian melodic rock genre, but the melodic rock genre as a whole.

Talking about 'Heart Of A Lion,' Hilli continues:

“The new album is once again showcasing that we have developed and matured as a band in terms of songwriting and production. The melodies, riffs, and hooks that we have created on this album are overall the best we’ve done so far. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished. Although our main influences like Survivor, Foreigner, Europe, and Whitesnake are still shining through, there’s that unmistakable PERFECT PLAN sound that is the driving center of it all. And I think we have strengthened that sound and identity.

“With 'Brace For Impact' we wanted to discover a new heavier and 'in your face' sound but on this album, we are back to the sound of the first two albums, with more keyboards and bigger sound taking you back to the 80’s with a modern touch and feel. On this album, we once again teamed up with Mårten Eriksson, whom we worked with on 'Time For A Miracle.'

Hilli adds:

Mårten brought his extreme talent to the songs both co-producing with us and also did he mixing. Mårten's long experience as both a songwriter and producer in the pop industry brought so much to the table and the end result is simply fantastic. If you liked our previous albums, you are gonna love 'Heart Of A Lion'!”

 

Kent Hilli is a one-of-a-kind singer that gained a world-class reputation almost from the start. His class, range, tone, and heartfelt expression caught the attention of his heroes Giant, who picked him to sing on their latest album 'Shifting Time,' and saw Kent releasing two solo albums in 2021 ('The Rumble') and 2023 ('Nothing Left To Lose').

Completing the lineup is: Rolf Nordström, guitarist extraordinaire, Mats Byström, the music mastermind who plays bass and forms a solid, rock-hard base with drummer Fredrik Forsberg. The subtle textures, so important in AOR, come from Leif Ehlin’s keyboards.

'Heart Of A Lion' is a powerful statement from the band offering their absolute best songwriting and production ever: a strong offering with roots very well planted in the 80’s AOR sound. Produced in collaboration with Mårten Eriksson, the band was determined to top the musical results they had previously reached and took a few months to come out with the right musical material.

Sometimes the stars align, and the result is absolutely stunning: a perfect balance of energy and unforgettable melodies is what you are going to find in 'Heart Of A Lion.'

Pre-Order 'Heart of A Lion' HERE 

PERFECT PLAN offers the “perfect” (pun intended) combination: a superb singer, a well-oiled band of experienced players, and a great songwriting talent with a knack for unforgettable melodies and driving rhythms.

With 'Heart Of A Lion,' PERFECT PLAN has crafted an outstanding piece of work which, while paying tribute to the obvious references to the sound of the classics (think Survivor,Foreigner, The Storm, Giant, etc) and Scandinavian AOR, has a recognizable identity and personal feel.

PERFECT PLAN are:

Kent Hilli – Lead Vocals

Leif Ehlin – Keyboards

Rolf Nordström – Guitar

Mats Byström – Bass

Fredrik Forsberg – Drums

GWAR and Static-X Unleash "Machines Vs. Monsters" Tour

WRETCHED EARTHLINGS, PREPARE TO BE ANNIHILATED! The infernal legions of GWAR will lay siege to the Earth in 2025 to mark 40 years of blood-soaked mayhem on this pathetic planet. Prepare for the most brutal anniversary celebration imaginable as your alien overlords unleash a sonic firestorm of bone-crushing riffs and grotesque spectacle on this monstrous anniversary tour!

First stop: the "Machines Vs. Monsters" tour! GWAR will join forces with the industrial metal juggernaut that is Static-X to crush skulls and melt faces across North America. The carnage kicks off this spring, leaving a trail of destruction from Albuquerque, NM (May 24th) to Oklahoma City, OK (June 18th). Full tour dates are below. Prepare for total sonic obliteration with support from Dope and A Killer's Confession.

Bohabs Assemble! Pre-sale tickets are available NOW for the GWAR faithful HERE. Pledge your allegiance with two killer VIP packages:

=> Standard Bohab Package: Get decked out in GWAR merch (shirt, laminate, signed 8x10, cinch bag) and meet the bloodthirsty horde themselves!

=> Ultimate Sacrifice Package: All of the above PLUS the ultimate honor – DIE ON STAGEas a sacrifice to the mighty GWAR! VIP Packages HERE

=> For the rest of you pathetic mortals: General tickets go on sale this Friday, December 20th, at 10:00 AM local time. Don't miss your chance to witness the most brutal spectacle in the galaxy!

Vocalist Bl0thR the Berserker gives a preview of what you can expect from the tour:

"GWAR have been rewriting the rules of live music for 40 years. We just keep getting sicker and sicker, and we will NOT die! We can’t, we’re freaking immortal, and this anniversary tour is some of the sickest stuff we’ve ever come up with! Cum see it. You’re gonna shit." 

GWAR on the"Machines Vs. Monsters" Tour

W/ Static-X,

Dope + A Killer's Confession

05/24: Albuquerque, NM @ Revel

05/26: Wichita, KS @ Cotillion

05/27: Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom

05/28: St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant

05/30: Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore

05/31: Davenport, IL @ Capitol Theatre

06/01: Grand Rapids, MI @ GLC Live @ 20 Monroe

06/03: Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian

06/04: Ft Wayne, IN @ The Clyde

06/05: Wheeling, WV @ Capitol Theater

06/07: Wallingford, CT @ The Dome

06/08: Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo Riverworks

06/09: Toronto, ON @ History

06/10: Montreal, QC @ Mtelus

06/11: Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

06/12: TBA

06/14: Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues

06/15: Raleigh, NC @ Piedmont

06/17: Kansas City, MO @ Grinder's

06/18: Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom

Festival Appearances

05/11: Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple

05/15: Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome to Rockville

Blood. Spectacle. Mythology. Costumes. And more blood. Since forming in Richmond, Virginia in 1985, shock-metal legends GWAR have built an enduring legacy through over-the-top lyrics, mesmerizing live shows, and an intimate connection with their fans. Known for their barbaric interplanetary warrior costumes and chaotic, humor-filled performances, GWAR's visceral, blood-soaked concerts break physical barriers with their audience, creating a truly unforgettable experience. Their seminal 1990 album 'Scumdogs of the Universe' catapulted them into the mainstream and remains a cornerstone of their career, receiving a deluxe reissue in 2020.

Beyond music, GWAR embodies a lifestyle with ventures into skateboards, coffee, CBD, beer, and whiskey. As they approach 40 years, with new music on the horizon, GWAR’s limitless creativity and sheer fun continue to keep fans coming back for more—along with a whole lot of fake blood

HANABIE. and Kim Dracula Announce North American Co-Headline Tour

Alternative artist Kim Dracula and Harajuku-core trailblazers HANABIE. announced their 2025 co-headline tour across North America. Produced by Live Nation, the 24-date run kicks off on Wednesday, March 5 in Montreal, QC at MTELUS, with additional stops in Toronto, Chicago, Boston, Orlando, Nashville, Austin, Anaheim, Portland and more before wrapping up on Saturday, April 12 in Sacramento, CA at Ace of Spades. Special guest Kaonashi will join as support on all dates and Crystal Lake will join on select shows.

The co-headline tour comes on the heels of successful headline tours from both artists that took place earlier this year.

On December 4th, HANABIE. released their EP Bucchigiri Tokyo and official music video for their latest track "Ito Okashi My Type.The band has previously dropped "OTAKU Lovely Densetsu" and their most recent banger, "Metamorphose!", which together have amassed nearly 3 million views on YouTube and over 2.8 million streams on Spotify alone. 

2024 saw Kim Dracula join the concept album for Lin Manuel Miranda & Eisa Davis’ new musical, Warriors. The album is part musical tribute/part audio play and is adapted from 1979 cult-favorite film ‘The Warriors.’ Kim Dracula plays Luther, a villain, and appears alongside Nas, Busta Rhymes, Ms. Lauryn Hill and more. More music is on the way from Kim Dracula in 2025!

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with a Citi presale (details below) beginning Tuesday, December 17. Artist presales will begin Tuesday, December 17 at 12pm ET. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, December 20 at 10am local at livenation.com.

PRESALE: Citi is the official card of the Kim Dracula and HANABIE. co-headline tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, December 17 at 11am ET until Thursday, December 19 at 10pm local through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com

KIM DRACULA AND HANABIE. 2025 TOUR DATES:

Wed Mar 05 - Montreal, QC - MTELUS *+

Thu Mar 06 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall *+

Sat Mar 08 - Minneapolis, MN - The Fillmore Minneapolis Presented By Affinity Plus *+

Tue Mar 11 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues Chicago *+

Wed Mar 12 - Pittsburgh, PA - Roxian Theatre *+

Thu Mar 14 - Boston, MA - Big Night Live *+

Fri Mar 15 - New Haven, CT - Toad's Place *+

Sat Mar 16 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount *+

Sun Mar 17 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore Silver Spring *+

Tues Mar 19 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa *+^

Thu Mar 20 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz *+

Sat Mar 22 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues Orlando *+

Sun Mar 23 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre *+

Tue Mar 25 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works *+

Wed Mar 26 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant *+

Sat Mar 29 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues Dallas *+

Sun Mar 30 - Austin, TX - Emo's Austin *+

Wed Apr 02 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot *+

Thu Apr 03 - Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall *+

Sat Apr 05 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues Anaheim *+

Sun Apr 06 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren *+

Wed Apr 09 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre *

Thu Apr 10 - Portland, OR - McMenamins Crystal Ballroom *

Sat Apr 12 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades *

*With Kaonashi

+With Crystal Lake

^Non-Live Nation Date

About HANABIE.

HANABIE. is a Tokyo-based all-girl rock band that has been making waves since 2015, when YUKINA, MATSURI, and HETTSU came together for a high school club activity. With the addition of CHIKA in May 2023, the band has evolved into a force to be reckoned with. Don’t be fooled by their cute, girlish image—their sound is a hard-hitting blend of powerful shouts, heavy riffs, and unique Japanese flair, capturing fans at home and abroad. Their hit single “Pardon Me, I Have To Go Now” has amassed over 8.3 million views on YouTube and 5.1 million on TikTok.

 In December 2024, HANABIE. released their latest EP, Bucchigiri Tokyo, further showcasing their dynamic range and signature style. 

2023 marked the beginning of their overseas ventures, and in August 2024, they made history as the first Japanese women to perform on the main stage at Lollapalooza in Chicago, USA. With a rapidly growing international following, HANABIE. is actively expanding their presence and making a bold statement on the global stage.

For more information on HANABIE., please visit:

Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | Website

About Kim Dracula

Surfacing from the flesh-eating diseases and torrential wildfires of Australia, Kim Dracula has arrived to create turbulent, creative art that mirrors the chaotic world around us. With the release of their debut album "A Gradual Decline In Morale", they have showcased their ability to traverse multiple genres whilst maintaining a consistent narrative.

 

Utilizing their 6-octave vocal range and a vast array of voices they are able to summon, they go from critiquing society to essentially toying with the listener. In this album, they tell a frightening, yet all too familiar story, all while having fun doing so. The lead single and most popular song from the album, "Make Me Famous", delivers a gluttonous feast of violence, chaos, and satire. Extreme and multi-faceted both lyrically and visually, this track dwarfed Dracula's previous musical output by abrasively blending multiple styles, all composed instrumentally by Kim Dracula themselves. Genres include metal, industrial, jazz, trap, and Latin music, all within a single song without flying off the rails. This eclectic combination of musical styles is consistent throughout the entire album.

 

Still at the beginning of their career, their distinctive and unique musical style has already begun making waves, inspiring numerous emerging artists. With their musical compositions, extreme visuals, and refusal to fit into any specific box, Kim Dracula is gaining a devoted following all across the world and in all different communities. Through all of this, they are reshaping the future of music and proving themselves a creative force to be reckoned with.

For more information on Kim Dracula please visit:

Instagram | X | Facebook| YouTube | Website

HANABIE. is:

Yukina

Matsuri

Hettsu

Chika

Tape Room Music Writers Top Mediabase and Billboard Most-Heard Songs of 2024

Tape Room Music celebrates an extraordinary year as its writers dominate the Mediabase and Billboard Most-Heard Songs of 2024. With contributions from Ben Johnson, Brad Clawson, Casey Brown, Hunter Phelps, Taylor Phillips, Wyatt McCubbin, Zach Crowell and founder Ashley Gorley, Tape Room’s team continues to shape the sound of modern country music.
 
“This was an amazing year for the Tape Room writers and staff,” shares Tape Room Music president Blain Rhodes. “Having that many songs on both the Mediabase and Billboard Year-End Most Played Songs lists is a testament to their world-class talent and unmatched work ethic.
 
“Huge thanks to our publishing partners, the record labels involved, and especially our friends at Country Radio,” Rhodes adds. “We have a lot to be thankful for this year and look forward to many more hits in 2025.”
 
Tape Room Music landed 19 songs on both the Mediabase and Billboard lists, with five of those tracks reaching the top 10, including the No. 1 entry on both charts with Nate Smith’s “World On Fire.”

L to R: Ashley Gorley (Tape Room Music Founder, co-writer), Lindsay Rimes (co-writer, producer), Nate Smith (artist, co-writer), Taylor Phillips (Tape Room Music co-writer) | Courtesy of Tape Room Music

Tape Room Writers on Mediabase’s Most-Heard Songs of 2024

  • #1 - “World On Fire” - Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley

  • #4 - “Outskirts” - Zach Crowell

  • #6 - “Thinkin’ Bout Me” - Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley

  • #7 - “Truck Bed” - Hunter Phelps, Ben Johnson, Ashley Gorley

  • #8 - “I Had Some Help” - Ashley Gorley

  • #11 - “Cowgirls” - Ashley Gorley

  • #12 - “Chevrolet” - Hunter Phelps

  • #13 - “Young Love & Saturday Nights” - Ashley Gorley

  • #15 - “Take Her Home” - Hunter Phelps

  • #20 - “Bulletproof” - Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps, Ashley Gorley

  • #21 - “Love You Again” - Casey Brown, Taylor Phillips

  • #42 - “I Am Not Okay” - Casey Brown, Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley

  • #46 - “Save Me The Trouble” - Ashley Gorley

  • #49 - “Stars Like Confetti” - Zach Crowell

  • #53 - “Sounds Like The Radio” - Wyatt McCubbin

  • #55 - “All I Need Is You” - Brad Clawson, Ashley Gorley

  • #57 - “God Gave Me A Girl” - Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley

  • #61 - “Everything I Love” - Ashley Gorley

  • #74 - “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” - Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley

Tape Room Writers on Billboard’s Most-Heard Songs of 2024

  • #1 - “World On Fire” - Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley

  • #2 - “I Had Some Help” - Ashley Gorley

  • #6 - “Cowgirls” - Ashley Gorley

  • #7 - “Young Love & Saturday Nights” - Ashley Gorley

  • #9 - “Outskirts” - Zach Crowell

  • #11 - “Chevrolet” - Hunter Phelps

  • #12 - “Take Her Home” - Hunter Phelps

  • #15 - “Truck Bed” - Hunter Phelps, Ben Johnson, Ashley Gorley

  • #16 - “Love You Again” - Casey Brown, Taylor Phillips

  • #17 - “Bulletproof” - Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps, Ashley Gorley

  • #18 - “Thinkin’ Bout Me”  - Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley

  • #37 - “Save Me The Trouble” - Ashley Gorley

  • #43 - “All I Need Is You” - Brad Clawson, Ashley Gorley

  • #50 - “I Am Not Okay” - Casey Brown, Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley

  • #51 - “Everything I Love” - Ashley Gorley

  • #57 - “Sounds Like The Radio” - Wyatt McCubbin

  • #64 - “Stars Like Confetti” - Zach Crowell

  • #71 - “God Gave Me A Girl” - Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley

  • #85 - “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” - Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley

Front Row L to R: Ashley Gorley (Tape Room Music Founder, co-writer), Lindsay Rimes (co-writer, producer), Nate Smith (artist, co-writer), Taylor Phillips (Tape Room Music co-writer)
Back Row L to R: Caroline Hodson (Director, A&R, Tape Room Music), Blain Rhodes (President, Tape Room Music), Luke Collins (Creative Coordinator, Tape Room Music), Noelle Peters (Catalog Manager, Tape Room Music) | Courtesy of Tape Room Music

About Tape Room Music
Tape Room Music is an independent music publishing company founded by hit songwriter Ashley Gorley, where writers have celebrated 50 No. 1 songs, including 2021 ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC Country Song, “One Of Them Girls.” In 2022, Tape Room celebrated 8 weeks topping radio charts, with two year-end number-one songs. Ben Johnson’s “Take My Name” topped the year-end Billboard Country Airplay chart, while Hunter Phelps and Will Weatherly’s “Thinking ‘Bout You” led the Mediabase Year-End Country Airplay chart. Recent number-one hits include Nate Smith's 10-week smash “World On Fire,” HARDY's boundary-defying “TRUCK BED,” Morgan Wallen's 6-week chart topper “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” and more. Tape Room Music writers continue to stretch the bounds of their abilities, spreading their talents across writing, producing and performing. More at taperoom.com.

Chicago's Aftermath Returns to the Studio to Record Their Fourth Album ​ 

Chicago's metal powerhouse Aftermath has officially entered the studio to record their highly anticipated fourth studio album. Known for their blistering riffs, thunderous rhythms, and unrelenting energy, Aftermath promises to deliver 11 tracks of pure, uncompromising metal that will push the boundaries of the genre.

 

Following the success of their third album No Time To Waste that was released in 2023, the band is ready to raise the stakes with their most aggressive and innovative work yet.

 

The band states, "We are excited to be back in the studio. We can’t wait for everyone to hear this album. It’s heavy, it’s catchy, and in typical Aftermath fashion it sounds totally different from our previous albums."

 

The new album is being recorded at Electrowerks Recording, with engineering and mixing by Chuck Macak. Additional details, including the album title, tracklist, and release date, will be announced in the coming months.

 

Chicago based Aftermath, fronted by Kyriakos "Charlie" Tsiolis, formed in October 1985 when Charlie and his schoolmate Steve Sacco (Guitar) got together. This early incarnation with Adam (Bass) and Ray Schmidt (Drums) released their first demo in 1986 featuring “Sentenced to Death”, “Revenge”, “Shotgun” and “The Aftermath”.

In 1987, they unleashed their second demo entitled Killing the Future featuring the tracks “When Will You Die”, “Going No Place”, “Chaos”, “Meltdown” and “War for Freedom”. The band pursued a mind-blowing speed and technical brand of thrash that soon set them apart from the pack and in the process made them a pioneering crossover thrash band.

 

The tracks "War for Freedom" & "When Will You Die" were both featured on the British Metal Forces magazine_compilation LP Demolition: Scream Your Brains Out in 1988. Their appearance on the Metal Forces compilation further expanded the band's international appeal.

By 1988, the band's musical direction was changing, and Adam's raw and simple bass lines would soon be replaced with complex and technical bass parts handled at first by John Lovette. Ironically, John never played bass on any Aftermath recording and was not even a bass player. He wanted to join the band so badly, however, that he came to the audition with a friend's bass he had just started to play. The speed and complex playing he displayed were like nothing the members had ever seen before on bass. He landed the gig that day. When the band decided it was time to add a second guitarist, Lovette told his bandmates of his desire to switch to guitar and for the first time he came clean he was a guitar player pretending to be a bass player all along. His bass playing was surpassed by his guitar skills and the band found its second guitar player, but unfortunately the search for a bass player was forced to resume. Luckily, the search (for the time being, anyway) ended with Danny Vega. His warm and precise playing was the perfect complement to the guitar playing of Lovette and Sacco and worked amazingly well with Schmidt's powerful drumming. With Lovette handling most of the song writing duties, Aftermath was about to make an unbelievable musical change.

 

By 1989, that change brought on by Lovette's writing and the band's musical tastes and stylings had slowed and matured as evidenced by the release of the underground classic demo Words That Echo Fear. Danny Vega was replaced on bass by Chris Waldron. The band went onto to become a trailblazing progressive/technical thrash band in the years that followed.

 

In 1990, based on the huge international success of the Words that Echo Fear demo, the metal label RoadRacer Records (a subsidiary of Roadrunner Records) approached the band for a demo deal, which resulted in a live four track demo featuring the songs “Eyes of Tomorrow”, “Afraid Of Time”, “The Act Of Unspoken Wisdom” and “Reflecting Pictures". Negotiations eventually broke down and Aftermath signed to New York's Big Chief Records. The label's collapse halfway through the recording sessions led to a long delay in finishing the record. While the band struggled to pay the studio bill, the album the band started to record in 1990 would not see the light of day for four years. The experience left the band reeling and forced them to issue the album under their own imprint with the help of their manager through Zoid Recordings in 1994. Four long years had passed since the initial recordings for the record Eyes of Tomorrow and the scene had dramatically changed.

 

The album was subsequently re-released on Thermometer Sound Surface / Zoid and released yet again four years (1998) later on Black Lotus Records in a re-mastered version.

 

Quite famously, Aftermath, in a notable court case Tsiolis v. Interscope. Records. Inc., 946 F.Supp. 1344, 1349 (N.D.III. 1996) sued high-profile millionaire rapper DR. DRE over the ownership of the Aftermath name. The Rapper tried to buy the name for $50,000, which the band rejected. The band sued him. As part of the settlement, Interscope Records signed the band. To the label's surprise, the band delivered a record under the moniker Mother God Moviestar. Its eponymous Electro-Metal debut was released in March 1998. The case has been studied in law schools around the US related to the issue of trademark dilution.

 

Aftermath has continued to receive critical acclaim as one of the major influences in the genre. The band was featured on pages 9 and 10 of Gary Sharpe-Young's A - Z of Thrash Metal, available on Cherry Red Books. Aftermath is also given an entire feature section in Alexandros Anesiadis’ 2019 book Crossover the Edge: Where Hardcore, Punk, and Metal Collide.

 

Twenty-five years after its formation, Aftermath's music made its return in 2011 with the release of the Box Set 25 YEARS OF CHAOS on Area Death Productions and the vinyl When Will You Die on F.O.A.D. The reemergence of one of the most original thrash bands ever continued in 2014 with their decision to reunite for several concerts in 2015.

 

Coming off their first show in 20 years at Ragnarokkr Metal Apocalypse in their hometown of Chicago, the band ripped the stage apart at Headbanger’s Open Air in Hamburg, Germany that summer. In the Fall of 2015, the reunion continued with the reissue of Eyes of Tomorrow. With an expanded booklet and remastered by Paul Logus (Pantera, Steel Panther), Shadow Kingdom Records released the band's debut along with bonus material. Following this release was the Killing the Future reissue on Divebomb Records. Once again Paul Logus remastered the tracks from their original source and created a wall of sound in the process. Killing the Future, along with the expanded booklet and bonus tracks from the band's 1986 first demo completed the celebration of the band's 30th anniversary.

 In 2017, the band started writing the material for their new album. There is Something Wrong is an 11-song opus recorded by Chuck Macak. mastered by Ted Jensen and released through Ingrooves by Zoid Entertainment and The Label Group. A concept record in the truest sense of the word, the album features a mix of old-school crossover thrash and technical/progressive metal and is a commentary on what is wrong with the world today. A calling out of the masses to wake up and know the real enemy. The music is urgent, and the lyrics challenge the listener to seek the truth. Aftermath went back to its early days and revived its crossover thrash stylings on several songs, but those are only samples of what the listeners have in store for them once they put on their headphones and listen to There is Something Wrong in its entirety.

 

In 2020, Aftermath released a re-imagined version of the John Lennon classic, "Give Peace a Chance". The song was remixed and remastered for the new album and included on the record because of the message.

 

“John Lennon’s urgent call for peace in Give Peace a Chance is more important today than ever, and our call for peace with this cover is the perfect message to follow up our previous album. We released a dark concept album with a bleak message and felt it was important to follow that up with something positive. The visuals in the video are as important as the lyrics in a way. We live in a visual world today and this video needed to get out the message of HOPE. Having a young girl be the focus of the video was our way of getting that across. Seeing only positive acts when she puts on Lennon’s famous glasses was the perfect visual metaphor. Lennon’s message is transmitted not only through his lyrics but also through the perspective created by his unique lenses” says the band.

 

The video was directed by critically acclaimed video director Steven Nathan in New York City.

 

Aftermath unleashed their highly awaited masterpiece, No Time to Waste, through Zoid Entertainment/TLG/INgrooves on March 17, 2023. This release stands as the triumphant conclusion to a powerful trilogy, representing a notable departure from the somber tones of its predecessor.

 

In an exclusive statement, Kyriakos "Charlie" Tsiolis shared, "We take immense pride in this album, a culmination of a trilogy that commenced with our debut. Crafted during a challenging era in contemporary history, 'No Time to Waste' emerges as an anthem of hope. In contrast to our previous dark conceptual endeavor, we've refined this record. The ten tracks within are both weighty and charged, delivering a potent metal experience coupled with a profound message - that collectively, we can overcome, but time is of the essence."

AFTERMATH is:
Kyriakos "Charlie" Tsiolis - Vocals
Steve Sacco - Guitar
Ray Schmidt - Drums
George Lagis - Bass

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

Facebook

X

Instagram

New Dark Chapel album out Feb 28, 2025

Guitarist/singer/producer Dario Lorina, best-known as a longtime member of Black Label Society (2014 to present), is launching his brand new band, DARK CHAPEL.

Led by Lorina and also featuring Brody DeRozie (Guitar), Mike Gunn (Bass), and Luis Silva (Drums), the band’s airtight guitar-craft and sludgy grooves with magnetic melodies, bluesy phrasing, and grunge mystique are spotlighted on their debut album, Spirit in The Glass, which is due out February 28, 2025 on MNRK Heavy. 

ario’s gritty delivery on the song takes hold on a hypnotic hook, bleeding into a fret-burning lead punctuated by dramatic bends. “’Glass Heart’ is a lyrical and almost cinematic musical story that started with a riff and lyrically stemmed from emotion,” he reveals. “That emotion created an imagery for me that I began writing about as if that feeling was a painting I was writing to describe.”

 

Striking an elusive balance between dark and heavy, ethereal and passionate, Spirit in The Glass  is as Lorina describes, ““This is a culmination of all artistic influence, whether musical or otherwise.” 

FREE PATCH WITH ALL U.S. LP AND CD PRE-ORDERS WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

SEE ALL DARK CHAPEL MUSIC + MERCH HERE

Dario Lorina began his professional career in 2006 when he was 16 as the touring guitarist with the late Jani Lane (ex-Warrant). At 19, he joined veteran metal act Lizzy Borden whom he toured with for four years. He released two instrumental records with Mike Varney on Shrapnel Records in 2013 and 2017 titled, DARIO LORINA and DEATH GRIP TRIBULATIONS. On January 1, 2014 he joined Black Label Society and has since been touring worldwide alongside Zakk Wylde, performing on guitar, piano and backing vocals ever since. Lorina dueled solos with Wylde on Black Label Society's 2022 album DOOM CREW INC., and he joined Zakk Wylde on the January 2022 cover of Guitar World magazine.

 

“The guitar never really left my hands,” he laughs. Years of woodshedding followed. At 16 years old, he answered the call to audition for Jani Lane and found himself on the road with the ex-Warrant frontman shortly thereafter.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

HAMMERFALL - unveils fan video for 'Freedom'

Heavy metal titans HAMMERFALL have released a spectacular new video for their third single, 'Freedom,' from the latest album, Avenge The Fallen. The video is a heartfelt tribute to their global fanbase, who played an integral role in its creation.

When the single 'Freedom' was unleashed in early July, HAMMERFALL launched a unique competition via their social media platforms, inviting fans to submit videos to become a part of "HammerFall’s History."
Fans from all corners of the globe participated, showcasing their passion by rocking HAMMERFALL merch, singing or playing their favorite instruments to the song, throwing the horns, or sharing epic moments at HAMMERFALL shows.

The final video is a dynamic blend of these incredible fan submissions, paired with electrifying live footage from HAMMERFALL’s recent tours and festival appearances. The result is a powerful celebration of the connection between the band and their loyal "Templars of Steel."

Watch the video below:

Line-up:
Joacim Cans - vocals
Oscar Dronjak - guitar
Fredrik Larsson  - bass
Pontus Norgen - guitar
David Wallin – drums

HOMEPAGE: LINK
FACEBOOK: LINK
INSTAGRAM: LINK
TWITTER: N/A

LORD OF THE LOST Vocalist CHRIS HARMS to Release First Solo Album, '1980', on January 31, 2025!

LORD OF THE LOST Singer CHRIS HARMS’ First Solo Album – an 80s Synth-Pop Revival!

CHRIS HARMS not only stands out as a musical chameleon with his band LORD OF THE LOST but also with his very first solo album, '1980.' The album, which is strongly reminiscent of synth-pop, will be released on January 31, 2025 via Napalm Records and is the realization of a long-cherished dream that is finally coming to life. 1980 delivers a very unique sound yet untapped in Harms' main band. Instead, it dives into the uniquely atmospheric synthesizer sounds of the 80s, interweaving them with electronic, wave, and goth elements and completely diverting from guitar-driven rock style.

Harms’ distinctive voice and '1980's synth-pop-inspired sound craft an atmospheric journey through time, starting with the wave-infused, dancefloor-ready album opener and first single, “I Love You.” The official music video, released today, perfectly complements the track, delivering captivating visuals that radiate the retro charm of the 80s.

CHRIS HARMS adds:

“‘I Love You’ – that immediately sounds like a cheerful summer hit to me. However, this first impression couldn’t be more wrong. While the 80s synth sound effortlessly creates a sense of lightness, ‘I Love You’ is, at its core, one of the saddest songs I have ever written. Melancholy in neon colors.”

Watch the Official Music Video for “I Love You“

'With LORD OF THE LOST, CHRIS HARMS just experienced the most successful four years in the band's history, including participation in the Eurovision Song Contest and tours with Iron Maiden, as well as one #1 and two #2 albums on the Official German Album Charts. But a break is out of the question. The idea of a solo album has been maturing in his mind for a long time and has now taken its final form.

CHRIS HARMS describes '1980':

“If I were forced to categorize this album and label it, it would probably say ‘a strange but successful mix of Depeche Mode, Modern Talking and Sandra with Chris Harms' voice, but with less perm and mullet’”.

Make sure to get your copy of '1980' NOW

Songs such as the hit “She Called Me Diaval” and “Lunamor” exude a pleasant lightness, while “Past Pain” and “May This Be Your Last Battlefield” strike a reflective note. Two selected duets round off the album: Harms welcomes guest singer Sven Friedrich (Solar Fake) on “Madonna Of The Night”, while Ronan Harris (VNV Nation) can be heard on "The Grey Machines”.

'1980' deliberately avoids attempting to reinvent the wheel, but is to be understood as a musical journey through time. It is proof of Harms' artistic versatility, for which he is admired and appreciated far beyond genre boundaries. There is no deliberate calculation or riding the wave of any trends on the album, but simply a passion, desire, and love for music, with which CHRIS HARMS has marked a remarkable new pinnacle in his discography as a musician.

Hollywood Undead & Tech N9ne Announce the Return of the HOLLYWOOD & N9NE TOUR

Los Angeles, CA – Following the enormous success of the first leg of their co-headlining HOLLYWOOD & N9NE TOUR, which sold over 60,000 tickets, Hollywood Undead and Tech N9ne are set to take the stage once again, with support from rising stars Set It Off and Zero 9:36. The new run will mark Hollywood Undead’s first coast-to-coast Canadian tour since 2015 and their first return to Western Canada since 2017, making these dates particularly special for fans north of the border. Tickets for the return of the HOLLYWOOD & N9NE Tour go on general sale at 10am local on Friday, December 20th, 2024 with pre-sales starting from today from Hollywoodandn9netour.com

The first leg of this tour was something special, and we’re just getting started,” shares Johnny 3 Tears of Hollywood Undead. “Heading back to Canada after so many years makes this next run even more meaningful. Get ready for an unforgettable show every night.”

Tech N9ne adds “AW MAAAAN that tour with HU was MASSIVE and I can't WAIT to show Canada! Let's move y'all! L9VE.”

The announcement comes on the heels of Hollywood Undead’s latest single, “Hollywood Forever,” which has already amassed 6.4 million streams and 1.6 million views on the official music video in just weeks. The track, a tribute to the band’s deep connection with their loyal fanbase, has been widely celebrated for its gritty lyrics, anthemic sound, and the reintroduction of their iconic masks, created by legendary prosthetic artist Jerry Constantine.

Kicking off on April 6th, 2025, in Reno, NV, at the Grand Sierra Resort, the tour will hit up venues coast-to-coast before making their way to major festivals, Sonic Temple and Welcome To Rockville.

HOLLYWOOD & N9NE TOUR – SPRING 2025 DATES

April 6 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort

April 7 – Boise, ID – Revolution Concert House

April 8 – Tacoma, WA – Temple Theatre

April 10 – Vancouver, BC – Harbour Event Centre

April 11 – Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Events Centre

April 12 – Calgary, AB – MacEwan Hall

April 13 – Edmonton, AB – Midway Music Hall

April 15 – Bismarck, ND – Bismarck Event Center

April 16 – Fargo, ND – Butler Arena

April 18 – Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom

April 19 – Minneapolis, MN – The Myth

April 20 – Green Bay, WI – EPIC Events Center

April 22 – Brookings, SD – Dacotah Bank Center

April 23 – Omaha, NE – Astro

April 28 – Wichita, KS – Wave

April 29 – Des Moines, IA – Horizon Events Center

April 30 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe

May 1 – Gary, IN – Hard Rock Live

May 3 – Kitchener, ON – Elements

May 4 – Toronto, ON – Rebel

May 5 – Montreal, QC – L’Olympia

May 7 – Providence, RI – The Strand

May 8 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall

May 9 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom

Tickets for the HOLLYWOOD & N9NE TOUR go on sale this Friday, December 20th, at 10 AM local time from Hollywoodandn9netour.com

About Hollywood Undead:

Since the release of Hollywood Undead’s RIAA platinum-certified 2008 debut album, Swan Songs, their distinctive and infectious music has incited a cult audience of millions of fans, resulting in sold out shows across the globe, in addition to receiving nods in the press from the likes of Consequence of Sound, Billboard, Alternative Press, Rolling Stone, and Revolver. The quintet has also garnered massive mainstream appeal, with their 2011 sophomore record, American Tragedy, going gold and hitting #4 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. Now, with over 3.1 billion cross-platform streams, 1 billion YouTube views and 4.1 million monthly Spotify listeners, they have firmly cemented their place as one of the most influential bands of the 21st century. Now signed to Sumerian Records, Hollywood Undead and with the release of their brand new single, 'Hollywood Forever', the band are poised for their most exciting chapter yet.

Hollywood Undead Are:

Johnny 3 Tears, J-Dog, Charlie Scene,Funny Man, Danny.

Find Hollywood Undead Online

Spotify | Apple Music

About TechN9ne:

Beyond tallying billions of streams and views, Tech’s accolades include four platinum singles, three gold singles, a gold album, and 23 entries on the Billboard Top Albums Chart. He also holds the record for “most Top 10 albums on the rap chart” and has cracked the Top 5 of the Billboard Top 200 five times. Tech N9ne refuses to be confined by genre, continuing to push the boundaries of music without compromise.

In 2024, Tech N9ne further cemented his status as a genre-defying artist. He thrilled audiences at major festivals like Welcome to Rockville, Rockfest, Sonic Temple, and Aftershock, while touring the U.S. on Falling In Reverse’s Popular MonsTour II. Revolver magazine applauded “the diverse talent of rap rocker Tech N9ne,” while New Noise Magazine praised his “legendary presence, rap-rock-metal mix, and multifaceted style that captivates fans and colleagues alike.”



Falling In Reverse also tapped him, alongside Alex Terrible of Slaughter to Prevail, for the explosive, Grammy-nominated single “Ronald.” The track soared to #2 on the Hard Rock Streaming Songs Chart and cracked the Top 10 on both the Billboard Top Alternative Songs Chart and the Hot Rock Songs Chart.

Ice Nine Kills: The Silver Scream-A-Thon U.S. Headline Tour.

Ice Nine Kills are thrilled to unleash news of their very special US Headline Tour, The Silver Scream-A-Thon. This unprecedented tour, produced by Live Nation, will offer fans a thrilling two-night experience in every city, that will see the band play both their hugely successful, seminal albums The Silver Scream and The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood in full on respective evenings, along with a selection of deep cuts and fan favorites. Tickets for the tour go on general sale at 10am local on Friday, December 20th from IceNineKills.com.

Pre-sales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale, beginning with the Citi pre-sale beginning at 12pm ET/9am PT today (Tuesday, December 17th) from www.citientertainment.com, followed by the Ice Nine Kills Psychos Only pre-sale available only to premium members of the Psychos Only app beginning at 2pm ET/11am PT today (Tuesday, December 17th). Sign up for Psychos Only Premium membership and pre-sale access here.

  • Night One: A full-album performance of The Silver Scream alongside select deep cuts and brand-new material.

  • Night Two: A complete performance of The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood along with deep cuts and brand-new material 



Speaking on today's announcement, Ice Nine Kills frontman and creative mastermind, Spencer Charnas shares

“The Silver Scream-A-Thon is a devilish chance for us to spend twice as much time in some of our favorite haunts, presenting a grindhouse-style double feature filled with deep cuts and our signature singalongs alike. In each city, Night One celebrates the fearsome full-length that began this era, The Silver Scream. Night Two slashes through The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood. Both evenings will unearth deep cuts from our band’s haunted past, with shocks and surprises galore.”

The Silver Scream-A-Thon tour promises an unmissable spectacle of music, terror, and theatricality. Inviting fans to step into the fully immersive, horror-fuelled universe of The Silver Scream, meticulously crafted by Ice Nine Kills over their last two chart-topping album releases. How many will make it out alive is yet to be determined. But for Psychos brave enough to take their chances, VIP packages and general on-sale will start on Friday, December 20th, 2024 at 10am local time, with pre-sales starting today. Head to IceNineKills.com for more info and prepare to meet your fate when The Silver Scream-A-Thon rolls up to a town near you! 

Ice Nine Kills: Silver Scream-A-Thon

US Headline Tour 

April 26: Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre (w/ Metallica)

April 30 & May 1: Raleigh, NC – The Ritz

May 3: Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium (w/ Metallica)

May 6 & 7: Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater

May 9 & 10: Milwaukee, WI – The Rave

May 13 & 14: Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore

May 18 & 19: Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre

May 20 & 21: Grand Rapids, MI – GLC @ 20 Monroe

May 23: Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field (w/ Metallica)

May 24 & 25: Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theater

May 29 & 30: San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater

June 1 & 2: Houston, TX – House of Blues

June 4 & 5: Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle

June 6: Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium (w/ Metallica)

June 8 & 9: New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore

June 11 & 12: Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues

June 20: Santa Clara, CA - Levi’s Stadium (w/ Metallica)

June 27: Denver, CO - Empower Field At Mile High (w/ Metallica)

*Dates in purple are shows with Metallica on their M72 Stadium Tour

Ice Nine Kills has continued to create pop-culture defining moments with their fusion of heavy music and horror-inspired storytelling. Their latest single, A Work of Art” (featuring System Of A Down’s Shavo Odadjian), was featured in 2024’s Terrifier 3, which became the highest-grossing unrated film of all time and a #1 box office hit. The single debuted at #3 on Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart and has already racked up over 15 million streams.

Following their monumental year, which included sold-out shows on Metallica’s M72 World Tour and a headlining spot on their own Kiss of Death tour, Ice Nine Kills is now gearing up for an even bigger 2025. In addition to the Silver Scream-A-Thon, the band will continue touring with Metallica on their 2025 leg of the M72 Stadium Tour with guests Limp Bizkit through the spring and summer and will be playing multiple, globally renowned festivals. 

With over 2 million followers across social platforms, 1 billion collective streams on Spotify, and more than 210 million YouTube views, Ice Nine Kills have undisputedly become one of the most influential and successful acts in modern metal. Do not miss your chance to witness history in the making when they bring the monumental terror of The Silver Scream and The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood to life next year.

About Ice Nine Kills

Ice Nine Kills craft passionate and precise anthems that blend metalcore, melody, and punk with theatrical bombast, which has fostered a devoted fanbase of “Psychos” who revel in the band’s horror-infused pop culture lore. Hit singles such as “Hip to be Scared,” “Funeral Derangements,” and “The American Nightmare” celebrate horror legends with inescapable hooks, heavy riffs, and clever lyrical twists. Led by Spencer Charnas, the band’s breakthrough albums, The Silver Scream and The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood,propelled them to new heights, earning spots on major tours with Slipknot and Metallica and firmly embedding them within the horror community.

The band’s immersive “INKverse” includes cinematic videos, the Psychos Only Club, graphic novels, true crime mockumentaries, and the annual Silver Scream Convention, which expanded to the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 2024. Spencer Charnas, who started the band during high school, has guided Ice Nine Kills through stylistic evolutions from their beginnings playing battle-of-the-band competitions to their status as visionary multimedia raconteurs. The Billboard chart topping Silver Scream albums paid loving homage to horror icons like Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, Chucky, Pennywise, patrick Bateman and more. The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood landed Ice Nine Kills their first Top 20 placement on the Billboard 200 and introduced the chilling new slasher icon, Silence.

Hailed by Loudwire as “one of the most unique acts in metal right now,” Ice Nine Kills captivates with inventive band-fan connections, immersive, theatrical live shows, and a growing legion of "pyschos" the world over. With over 2.3 million monthly Spotify listeners, 1 billion career streams, and 210 million YouTube views, the band has cemented itself as a dominant and visionary force in modern metal, fearlessly carving out a thrilling, horror-inspired legacy.

This Gift Is A Curse Reign Terror on 'Heir'

Though they bonded together after a chance encounter, for the past 16 years, This Gift Is A Curse have pushed the confines of underground metal  to violent extremes. On their upcoming fourth album, the Swedish band extend their all-encompassing reign with a cold, hard fist. Heir claims metal's crown of thorns behind an unruly arsenal of hardcore and sludge-encrusted black metal. As its lead single so cryptically proclaims, there's no escape from their terrifying reign.

Watch the harrowing video for lead single "Kingdom" below.

Heir comes out March 7, 2025 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/thisgiftisacurseheir

Their new video sets an appropriately grim scene for the return of This Gift Is A Curse. After all, a decrepit, god forsaken cabin in the woods looks awfully picturesque when framed against this band's unholy seance. Hammering blast beats and a swarm of needling tremolo picks tear through the gates of "Kingdom" like the hounds of hell.

"I made a secret door into your eyes", a possessed Jonas Holmberg chants alongside Livmødr's bewitching Laura Morgan. The song's eerie pangs of melody summon us deeper into its pentagram-shaped maze, only for the tortured screams and chaotic bludgeoning of riffs to slam the door behind you.

This Gift Is A Curse defies the transient trends of music, instead choosing to carve its path with the bones of the fallen. Their forthcoming album, 'HEIR,' is a relentless pursuit of the extreme, a mosaic of human suffering and the dark beauty that lies within. As the album prepares to sear its mark upon the world, one thing is clear: There will be no heirs to the throne of darkness that This Gift Is A Curse occupies. The crown is theirs alone, forged in the fires of creation and destruction, a beacon for those who dare to walk the shadows.

Line-up
Jonas A. Holmberg - Vocals
Patrik Andersson - Guitars, Vocals
David Deravian - Guitars
Lars Gunnarsson - Bass
Christian Augustin - Drums

Recording Studio
The Overlook Studio, Gävle, Sweden

Production Credits
Produced, Engineered & Mixed by William Blackmon at The Overlook Studio.
Mastered by Magnus Lindberg at Redmount Studios, Stockholm, Sweden.
Guitars recorded at Laard studios and House of Inge Studio. Engineered by Daniel Noring and TGIAC.
Bass recorded at Cold Barn with the help of Daniel Noring.
Vocals recorded at Cold Barn by TGIAC.

Guest Musicians
Laura Morgan (of Livmødr) - Vocals on Kingdom (Track 1), Old Space (Track 9) & Ascension (Track 10).

Cover Art
Jonas A. Holmberg / House of No Light .317 (Instagram)

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

Follow This Gift Is A Curse
Bandcamp: http://thisgiftisacurse.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thisgiftisacurse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisgiftisacurse/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7MoipbqoshfYNfckhzRtYC
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/this-gift-is-a-curse/405256386
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/1005843
TIDAL: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3813169

Available Formats
Digital Download
CD Digipak
2x12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black

2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Gold w/ Silver Splatters

2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Red w/ Black Splatters

Wounded Touch Release New Cover of Finch's "Worms of the Earth" via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' metal powerhouses Wounded Touch are violently busting back onto the scene with their rendition of Finch's original track "Worms of the Earth," out now. The cover is a nod to one of the band's most significant early influences.

The track, recorded and mixed by Andy Nelson (Pain of Truth, 200 Stab Wounds, Harm's Way) at Bricktop Recording and mastered by Ryan "Bart" Williams (The Black Dahlia Murder, Walls of Jericho), is the band's first release following up their dynamic split EP Traumatic Entanglement with FallFiftyFeet from earlier this year.

Since their inception, the Michigan outfit has used musical guerilla campaign tactics and a resilient DIY work ethic to make their way onto nationwide festivals and a full UK tour while gaining notoriety from metal's top publications including Metal Hammer, Brooklyn Vegan, and New Noise Magazine.

Speaking about the new single, Wounded Touch guitarist Mike Poshedly says, "We come from a time where compilations, samplers, video game, and movie soundtracks played a huge part in how we discovered new music growing up. Finch’s 'Worms of the Earth' was featured on both the Atticus Dragging the Lake 2 compilation and on the Underworld movie soundtrack. We had a short list of potential covers we wanted to explore but chose 'Worms of the Earth' because for us. It's an influence/song that encapsulates that era of how we discovered new music. The fact that the studio version of the song isn't streaming anywhere other than the music video on YouTube and the live version on Spotify further solidified the cover choice. We knew this would be a cover that would put us outside our comfort zone but we had a lot of fun revisiting an early influence dating back over 20 years ago."

WOUNDED TOUCH RELEASE COVER OF FINCH'S "WORMS OF THE EARTH" VIA SMARTPUNK RECORDS - LISTEN

ABOUT WOUNDED TOUCH
Even since their infancy, the Michigan outfit Wounded Touch have used musical guerilla campaign tactics to make their way onto the likes of The Fest, Furnace Fest '21 and '23 official pre-shows, SXSW, tour the United Kingdom, and sell out the first pressing of their debut LP while fighting for every inch of ground not given. Bringing influence through the scope of the nostalgic 2000s metalcore/mathcore sound, the band aims to always keep their heads down, remain humble, and push forward through any means necessary if it means continuing to be loud, noisy, and frantic on as many stages as possible.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases. Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.