Nekrogoblikon Share "Show Me Your Goblin" + "Fiend" + Embarking on Headline Tour

Whether or not they are the "Best Goblin Metal Band" or the ONLY "Goblin Metal Band" is irrelevant. What does matter is that while John Goblikon, the rambunctious host of the Right Now Podcast, is the hideous face behind the sung vocals, the screaming is actually being masterfully delivered by Dickie Allen (also of Infant Annihilator).

Fun and slimy, the crew behind NEKROGOBLIKON have tapped into '80s culture of "creature features" with their presentation of their own double feature with two brand new music videos: "Show Me Your Goblin" and "Fiend," directed by Brandon Dermer, whose extensive resume includes mainstays Blink-182 and Panic! At The Disco. The songs were produced, engineered, and mixed by Jason Suecof (Job For a Cowboy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Whitechapel).

Watch "Show Me Your Goblin" and Fiend" here. 

Melodic death metal of monstrous proportions, NEKROGOBLIKON will be taking their show on the road for the "Show Me Your Goblin" Tour with special guests Revocation, Ov Sulfur, BRAT, and Exmortus. Bringing the party to death metal, their sound is distinguished, complete with experienced instrumental arrangements and choruses that are as melodious as they are hypnotically explosive. 

Hand to Gob, there is no experience like walking into your city's finest venue and witnessing the commanding presence of the one and only John Goblikon. NEKROGOBLIKON undoubtedly fill the gap between ironic, tongue-and-cheek and impressive, calculated musicianship. 

Catch them on the road this May and June throughout the U.S. 

NEKROGOBLIKON ON TOUR:
5/8 — Roseville, CA — Goldfield Trading Post
5/9 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theatre
5/10 — Seattle, WA — El Corazon
5/11 — Boise, ID — Treefort Music Hall 
5/13 — Denver, CO — Summit
5/15 — St. Louis, MO — Delmar Music Hall
5/16 — Lawrence, KS — Granada Theater
5/17 — Milwaukee, WI — Milwaukee Metal Fest 
5/18 — Minneapolis, MN — Varsity Theatre
5/20 — Detroit, MI — The Majestic Theatre
5/21 — Columbus, OH — King of Clubs
5/22 — Pittsburgh, PA — Thunderbird
523 — Worcester, MA — Palladium
5/24 — Brooklyn, NY — Music Hall of Williamsburg
5/25 — Richmond, VA — The National 
5/27 — Greensboro, NC — Hangar 1819
5/28 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade
5/29 — Orlando, FL — The Abbey
5/30 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Revolution Live
5/31 — Tampa, FL — The Orpheum 
6/02 — Houston, TX — White Oak Music Hall 
6/03 — Austin, TX — Come and Take It
6/04 — Dallas, TX — Trees
6/06 — Albuquerque, NM — Sunshine Theater
6/07 — Phoenix, AZ — Nile Theater
6/08 — Las Vegas, NV — Backstage Bar
6/10 — Fresno, CA — Strummers
6/11 — San Francisco, CA — Great American Music Hall 
6/12 — San Diego, CA — The Observatory
6/13 — Los Angeles, CA — 1720

Jenna Paulette Releases “How To Make A Cowboy Cry” + Extends Horseback Acoustic Tour Among Sold Out Shows

Cowgirl and songstress Jenna Paulette releases “How To Make A Cowboy Cry,” her first offering since the September 6, 2024 release of her sophomore album, Horseback. Listen to “How To Make A Cowboy Cry” below.
 
Written by Paulette, Parker Welling and Casey Brown, and produced by Will Bundy, “How To Make A Cowboy Cry” is reflective of Paulette’s current chapter of life after becoming a wife and mother, and underscores that despite their physical toughness, the quickest way to make cowboys cry lies within life’s most meaningful moments.
 
“I wrote ‘How To Make A Cowboy Cry’ right after Ross and I eloped,” explains Paulette. “Truthfully, it was before we thought about having kids, and in a conversation where we were dreaming about it, he named our little girl with two family names—and from that moment on I prayed for one. We have lived these moments in this song…from our wedding day, to two pink lines, to a moment in the truck headed in Colorado to work calves listening to Chris Ledoux.”
 
Traversing her home region of Texas and Oklahoma, Paulette’s Horseback Acoustic Tour kicked off with a sold out show last night in Castroville, Texas. As her April 17 show in Bluff Dale, Texas sold out a week early, Paulette adds three new dates in Clinton, Wisconsin on June 18; Chicago, Illinois on June 19; and Jacksonville, IL on June 20. Tickets for the newly announced dates are available now at JennaPaulette.com.

At each Horseback Acoustic Tour stop, fans will have a chance to sign up and win a gift card valid for the purchase of one CowboyGirl shirt, courtesy of Ely Cattleman. Fans will sign up at the merch table and must be present to win. For more information and tickets, visit JennaPaulette.com.
 
Horseback Acoustic Tour Dates:
Apr 11 // Belton, TX // Schoepf’s BBQ
Apr 12 // Edmond, OK // The Old Icehouse
Apr 16 // Conroe, TX // Table At Madeley
Apr 17 // Bluff Dale, TX // Double D BBQ *SOLD OUT
Apr 18 // Paris, TX // The Rail Yard
June 18 // Clinton, WI // Boxcar’s
June 19 // Chicago, IL // Carol’s
June 20 // Jacksonville, IL // Twisted Tree Music Hall

About Jenna Paulette: 
A CMT Next Women of Country honoree and an Apple Music’s Country Riser, singer-songwriter Jenna Paulette — a cowgirl who came of age amid the gritty realities of ranch life — is part of Nashville’s growing wave of female artists who are rewriting the rules and charting their own paths. Paulette settled in Nashville in 2015, where she struck up a mentorship with Ashley Gorley – a veteran songwriter with 80+ No. 1 tunes under his belt – which ultimately led to her publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music in June 2021. Since collaborating with songwriters Will Bundy, Rhett Akins and Jessie Jo Dillion, as well as opening for Mason Ramsey, Parmalee, John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker and most recently Aaron Watson, Paulette has landed brand partnerships with Justin Boots, Boot Barn, Ely Cattleman and Ranch Water.
 
With the arrival of her debut album The Girl I Was in 2023, Grammy.com remarked the project as “transformative,” noting it “fuses the sounds of Twain and Miranda Lambert, tackling mental health with the somber ‘You Ain't No Cowboy’ and waxing philosophical on ‘Country In The Girl.’” She continued to spotlight her authentic western lifestyle last year, performing the national anthem at the National Finals Rodeo, making her Grand Ole Opry Debut and performing in multiple festivals including CMA Fest. Paulette recently signed with independent label Leo33. Paulette’s sophomore album, Horseback, is available everywhere now. For more information, visit www.jennapaulette.com.

Ryan and Rory Share Swoon-Worthy Love Song "What's Mine Is Yours”

Hailed as “one of Nashville’s hottest rising duos” (Country Now), Ryan and Rory are in a giving mood with “What’s Mine Is Yours," a romantic, nostalgia-soaked anthem that’s pure country gold. From the bottom of their hearts to the top of their dresser drawers, they are offering everything down to their last name in this song, now available, HERE. 

“What’s Mine is Yours” is about giving yourself completely to another person,” says Ryan Follese. “I think it takes just the right person to make two lives one.” 

 

“It’s also about how the simple things can say so much about a great relationship,” adds Rory John Zak. “Like when she borrows a t-shirt and I never get it back." 

Named a SiriusXM The Highway “Highway Find,” “Ryan and Rory are primed to become the next major male duo in country music” (Music Mayhem). Co-written by Ryan and Rory, Trannie Anderson and producer Kevin Bard, this bold, heartfelt track is featured on their electrifying setlist as they hit the road with Brett Young this spring after just wrapping dates with Tyler Braden. It follows the fueled up anthem “Truck Stop” that was released last month and anchored by the sexy video, featuring actresses/models Mariah Strongin and Bryanna “B” Ferringer as partners alongside "officers" Ryan and Rory.

Wrapping up 2024 on a high note, the '2025 Artist to Watch' (Music Mayhem) made their Grand Ole Opry debut, released the poignant track “Heaven’s Got A Country Station,” and toured with Sam Hunt and Jamey Johnson, who declared, “If I were a gambler, I’d bet on these two."

Between concert and recording dates, Ryan and Rory are prolific songwriters with a stockpile of new songs ready to be dropped in 2025.

About Ryan and Rory:
BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville's country music duo Ryan and Rory “are bursting onto the scene” (Country Swag). Named SiriusXM The Highway’s latest “Highway Find,” Ryan and Rory’s buzzy party starter “Pour Decisions” is a nod to the universal heartache band-aid, with the lively smash launching their highly anticipated self-titled debut EP, available now. Ryan Follesé is a Nashville native, 2X PLATINUM #1 hit singer-songwriter and American Music Award winner. Rory John Zak, from Raleigh, North Carolina, is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who has played over 300 shows per year since he was 17. Having opened for Sam Hunt, Jamey Johnson and Tyler Braden and acclaimed by MusicRow “to make major waves on the country music scene,” Ryan co-wrote all six tracks on the project, with Rory adding his masterful instrumentals and expertly smooth harmonies to Ryan’s robust lead vocals. Featuring their vivacious anthem along with standout smash “This Town” that Billboard applauded as a “must-hear” new country song, the EP embodies that vibrant, wide-open spirit, while also showcasing their musical depth with bright imagery, buoyant lyricism, and soul-stirring ballads. Delivering “commercial polish and good-natured, honest storytelling” (Tennessean), “Ryan and Rory are the next heir apparent to the country duo throne” (Country Swag). “Poised to be a staple on countless playlists” (PopCulture), the duo made their Grand Ole Opry debut on December 7 and is already back in the studio working on new music. They closed out 2024 with the nostalgic “Heaven’s Got A Country Station” and revved up more than just engines in their release last month with “Truck Stop.” Sharing everything they have, down to their last name, Ryan and Rory drop their latest “What’s Mine Is Yours.” See them on the road throughout the spring across the US and Canada with select dates opening for ACM Award winner Brett Young. 

KEEP UP WITH RYAN AND RORY

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Kolby Cooper's Highly-Anticipated Album 'Love You, Goodnight' Out Now

Dubbed “Country music’s newest badass” by People, Kolby Cooper returns with Love You, Goodnight—a no-holds-barred, emotionally charged album that hits like a shot of whiskey and stays with you like a scar that sparks a good story. Fueled by raw honesty, gritty vocals and a rebel spirit that refuses to play it safe, it’s a thrill ride through heartbreak, redemption and everything in between. Stream Love You, Goodnight now—available everywhere HERE.
 
“Making this album really kicked my ass. It took longer than I wanted it to, yet we dug down deep on this one and I think it really gives a glimpse into my life over the last few years,” shares Cooper. “There’s the part of me that is focused on being a great husband and dad to my wife and kids and then there’s the other side that is trying to make this dream happen out here on the road...and with all of that I think you will feel that there is an underlying theme of brokenness on this album that maybe writing and singing about it helps others not feel quite so alone.”
 
Establishing himself as a skilled songwriter, Cooper has been recognized as “the current buzzworthy artist in country music” (People) and is making waves with his 2025 headlining tour. At just 25 years old, he has spent the past six years captivating audiences and is “well on his way to headlining shows at Yankee Stadium and Red Rocks Amphitheatre” (Sounds Like Nashville).

The brand-new album arrives as Cooper has amassed over 440 million on-demand streams, made his Grand Ole Opry debut and filled stages across the country, including dates opening for acts like Jelly Roll and Koe Wetzel. The Texas native and father of three presents Love You, Goodnight, featuring 14 incendiary anthems, each showcasing a different facet of life on the road. All written or co-written by Cooper, including a powerhouse duet with fellow Texan Danielle Bradbery, the country outlier has already given fans a sneak peak with previously released heart-pounding tracks like “Under My Skin,”  “Running Away,” “Hate You Too,” “Kill Me,” “Mama” and the poignant “Hello From The Road.” 

LOVE YOU, GOODNIGHT TOUR 2025 DATES:
April 11—Huntsville, TX—Jolly Fox Club
April 12—Poteet, TX—Poteet Strawberry Festival 2025*
April 23—Stephenville, TX—LJT Texas Music Festival 2025*
April 25—Waco, TX—The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill
April 26—Bay City, TX—Rusty Hook Ranch
May 1—Midland, TX—The Tailgate
May 2—Christoval, TX—Cooper’s BBQ/LIVE!
May 3—Abilene, TX—Potosi Live
May 9—Rice, TX—The Ranch Saloon
May 10—Elgin, OK—Elgin Municipal Park*
May 15—Grand Junction, CO—Warehouse25sixty-five Kitchen + Bar
May 16—Laramie, WY—The Cowboy Saloon & Dance Hall
May 17—Casper, WY—The Gaslight Social
May 29—Little Rock, AR—The Rev Room
May 30—Fort Smith, AR—The Majestic
June 12—Roswell, NM—The Liberty
June 13—Albuquerque, NM—Dirty Bourbon
June 14—Las Cruces, NM—Whiskey Dicks
June 19—Phoenix, AZ—Crescent Ballroom
June 20—Tucson, AZ—191 Toole
June 27—Denver, CO—Grizzly Rose
June 28—Colorado Springs, CO—The Whiskey Rose
July 4—La Vernia, TX—4th of July Festival*
July 5—Big Lake, TX—Star Spangled Celebration*
July 12—Jacksonville, IL— Morgan County Fair*
August 1—Broken Bow, OK— Hochatown Saloon 
August 2—Alexandria, LA—Rapides Parish Coliseum*
August 9—Oro Station, Canada—Boots and Hearts Music Festival 2025*
August 10—West Chester, OH—Voices of America Country Music Fest 2025*
August 14—Minneapolis, MN— Varsity Theater 
August 15—Rosemont, IL— Joe’s Live
August 16—Grand Rapids, MI—Elevation
September 6—Nashville, TN— Basement East
September 11—Louisville, KY—Bourbon & Beyond 2025*
September 12—Kansas City, MO— PBR Big Sky
September 13—Hugoton, KS—High Plains Fest*
September 18—Wichita, KS—Cotillion 
September 19—St.Louis, MO— Delmar Hall
September 20—Manhattan, KS— The Hat
*Festival

About Kolby Cooper:
As an old-school troubadour whose fans keep him on the road, Kolby Cooper has spent the last six years winning one crowd after another and slowly building his rep as a rough-around-the-edges, country-rock phenom. But the infinite horizons of the highway come with a cost. Dialing up Love You, Goodnight in response – his second album for BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville with Combustion Music – the burning conflict within his late-night calls home becomes a blowtorch of country grunge, as a modern-day outlaw shoots from the sonic hip, pushing his sound to its high-voltage limit. A 25-year-old husband and father of three, the Texas native grew up in the shotgun seats of his long-haul trucking family members, switching CDs between Waylon Jennings and Cross Canadian Ragweed – but also Nirvana, Blink-182 and more. Starting his own career at 18, the singer-songwriter soon reached exit velocity on his orbit through the Texas live circuit, and his grassroots fan base now drives sold-out national headline tours and supporting runs with Jelly Roll, Koe Wetzel and more. Meanwhile, Cooper has racked up over 440 million on-demand streams, a Grand Ole Opry debut and industry-wide accolades, dubbed “country music’s newest badass” by People. Featuring 14 fuse-busting anthems – each one revealing a different aspect of life on the road, written or co-written by Cooper himself – Love You, Goodnight arrives as a hard-hitting fusion of the Texas country tradition with 2000s-era alt-rock, metal and punk. This ferocious follow-up to Cooper’s roughshod Red Dirt beginnings marks a heavy creative turn to match his heavy soul. More than sonic aggression, these tunes depict epic emotionality and an edgy, East-Texan rasp.


 KEEP UP WITH KOLBY COOPER
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BLAKE SHELTON RELEASES NEW SONG “STAY COUNTRY OR DIE TRYIN’”

The countdown continues to Blake Shelton’s highly anticipated new album For Recreational Use Only, available May 9 on BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. The album is available now for pre-order, pre-add, and pre-save here.

Leading the album rollout is the hit single “Texas,” which has soared into the Top 10 and continues to climb both radio and streaming charts. Shelton also recently unveiled “Let Him In Anyway,” a soul-stirring ballad that Billboard praised as having “the makings of an enduring Shelton classic.”

Today, Shelton delivers another taste of the album with the release of the electrifying new track “Stay Country Or Die Tryin,’” written by Drew Parker, Graham Barham, Sam Ellis and Beau Bailey.

“When I heard ‘Stay Country or Die Tryin,’’ it took me back to the first time I heard ‘Ol’ Red’ or ‘God’s Country,’” says Shelton. “It’s got so much energy and is full of those little catchphrases and things we say out in the country. I absolutely fell in love with it. I’m proud of this recording—and I love singing it live even more. Hopefully, you’ll come catch a show and sing it with us.”

For Recreational Use Only spans 12 tracks that capture life’s highs and lows with Shelton’s signature blend of authentic storytelling, raw emotion, and unforgettable melodies. The album also boasts guest appearancesfrom music superstar Gwen Stefani, country legend John Anderson, and Shelton’s longtime friend and tourmate Craig Morgan.

With For Recreational Use Only, Blake Shelton strengthens his status as one of country music’s most compelling voices, delivering a deeply personal yet universally relatable collection that celebrates love, resilience, and staying true to your roots.

About Blake Shelton:

With 29 No. 1 singles, 52 million singles and 13 million albums sold and nearly 11 billion global streams, Blake Shelton has received numerous awards, including six ACMs, three AMAs, ten CMAs, 11 CMTs and six People’s Choice, among many others. Shelton just announced his new BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville album, For Recreational Use Only, set to drop May 9. The 12-track album, his first in nearly four years, features his Top 10 Wheelhouse Records single “Texas,” the poignant “Let Him In Anyway” and red-dirt “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” and includes appearances by Gwen Stefani, John Anderson and Craig Morgan. 

 

Shelton kickstarted the year with his Live In Las Vegas Residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. He just wrapped his Friends & Heroes Tour, which featured Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, Trace Adkins and Emily Ann Roberts, and will play a variety of festivals this summer  The Grand Ole Opry member also remains focused on his Ole Red partnership with Ryman Hospitality, with locations currently in Tishomingo, Nashville, Gatlinburg, Orlando, and most recently, Las Vegas, with a stand-alone venue complete with a roof-top stage and bar on the Las Vegas strip.

KEEP UP WITH BLAKE SHELTON

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The Callous Daoboys Unleash New Single "Distracted by The Mona Lisa" + Official Video via MNRK Heavy

Witness the latest exhibit from Atlanta, GA sextet The Callous Daoboys with their new track "Distracted by The Mona Lisa" unveiled today via MNRK Heavy. Accompanying today's release is the visceral official music video showcasing the band's electrifying energy they bring to their live performances. Today's drop leads to the grand opening of The Museum Of Failure with the release of the band's highly-anticipated forthcoming album 'I Don't Want to See You in Heaven' out on Friday, May 16. When asked about the inspiration behind the track, vocalist Carson Pace shared:

"There have been countless times in my life where I have felt married to my passion. It’s been detrimental, painful, and has forced me to sacrifice a normal life. This song is me committing to being married to that passion, regardless of the consequences. It’s less a spit in the face of normality, and more a love letter to my own band."

The journey through The Museum Of Failure began with the visceral, full-force energy of "Two-Headed Trout/The Demon of Unreality Limping Like A Dog", followed by the striking reveal of "Lemon", where pop harmonies danced with heaviness. Continue the art walk by streaming "Distracted by The Mona Lisa" here, watching the official music video below, and pre-ordering 'I Don't Want to See You in Heaven' here.

Don't miss your chance to catch The Callous Daoboys' incendiary live show on the 20 Years of All's Well That Ends Well tour, going on now with Chiodos, Hawthorne Heights, and Emmure. After the tour wraps on April 26, the sextet will next be playing a handful of dates with Beartooth later this month and early May, followed up an appearance at Unhinged Festival in July and ending the year on the Coheed and Cambria S.S. Neverender Cruise in November. Snag your tickets at the link here, and be sure to stay tuned for more The Callous Daoboys news coming soon.

20 Years of All's Well That Ends Well with Chiodos, Hawthorne Heights + Emmure:

Apr 11 - Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works

Apr 12 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade

Apr 13 - Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore

Apr 15 - St. Pete, FL @ Jannus Landing

Apr 16 - Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall

Apr 17 - Raleigh, NC @ Ritz

Apr 18 - Richmond, VA @ The National

Apr 20 - Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore

Apr 21 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall

Apr 22 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium

Apr 24 - Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall

Apr 25 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theater

Apr 26 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue

Beartooth Spring 2025 Dates:

Apr 30 - St. Louis, MO @ The Pagent*

May 15 - Mobile, AL @ Soul Kitch Music Hall*

May 16 - Dothan, AL @ The Plant*

Unhinged Festival:

Jul 26 - Denver, CO @ National Western Stockyards

Coheed And Camrbia S.S. Neverender Cruise:

Nov 8-13 - Miami, FL to Cozumel, MX

ABOUT THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS

A fearlessly free-spirited collective from Atlanta, Georgia, The Callous Daoboys revels in high-strung extremity, careening from furious metal cacophony to unabashed rock 'n roll and back again. The band Kerrang! hails as “gloriously chaotic” is like a Molotov cocktail combining extreme metal and nü-metal with life-affirming glee, as each song deliriously swerves across stylistic lines.

The Callous Daoboys are frontman Carson Pace, possessed like a young Mike Patton; fretboard-abusing guitarists Maddie Caffrey and Daniel Hodsdon; frantic bassist Jackie Buckalew; destructive drummer Matthew Hague; and spirited violinist Amber Christman. 

Celebrated by SPIN, Fader, Revolver, Brooklyn Vegan, and New Noise (who praised the band as “innovative, unflinching, brazen”), The Callous Daoboys have turned heads on raucous tours with TesseracT, Protest The Hero, and SeeYouSpaceCowboy, and at prestigious international metal festivals. Celebrity Therapist (2022) more than delivered on the promise of the band’s early rumblings. I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven (2025) ups the ante on every conceivable level. The album was produced by Dom Maduri (Silly Goose, GEL, Bummer Hill). 

The Callous Daoboys resurrect noise rock as if they’re summoning the dead. Sure, every band claims to blend heavy riffs with catchy melodies as if that’s somehow fresh by itself, but this crew delivers that with a wrecking ball of unrestrained frenzy and total mayhem. The band’s three full-length albums and various EPs loudly testify to their fearless creativity and clever craftsmanship. - Ryan Downey

Florida Indie-Punk Rockers Virginity Release "Fidelity Castro" EP via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' power pop darlings Virginity have released their new EP "Fidelity Castro" as a follow-up to their 2024 LP "Bad Jazz" - available to purchase here. The EP is a collection of six dynamic tracks that went from being outcasts on the album tracklist to star songs in their own right.

Listen below.

The band has received critical acclaim from the rock scene's top tastemakers, including New Noise Magazine, Brooklyn Vegan, Audiotree, and more. As fan favorites at Smartpunk's SXSW showcase and Florida's beloved FEST, Virginity have cultivated a core fanbase who are foaming at the mouth for these new tracks. 

Speaking about the new EP, Virginity says, "Fidelity Castro started out being a way to just throw a couple of tunes out that had been sitting on the back burner for a while. As we assembled those, we kept returning to the live recordings we’d done in Jordan’s living room when we first started writing for Bad Jazz and felt like a couple of songs had so much life in them that we had to send them out into the world with our new recordings. We’ve also got a Shins tune on here because we’re just fans of that band and that record (Chutes Too Narrow) in particular. That was just something fun to do and a challenge, to make it our own a little. Lastly, we’ve got Love Exists, which is a song so incredibly void of any cynicism (basically an idea that’s nonexistent in our catalog) that we weren’t sure what to do with it. Should we rerecord it, make it a full band affair, or perhaps make it a proper piano ballad or something? Ultimately, we decided the magic was already there and that it should just be put out as is. The arc of this band has been about progressively getting more and more authentic. In a way, Fidelity is our most authentic release yet. There’s a real “scars and all” approach to it. We’re not being precious about any of it and, for now, that’s really inspiring and exciting for us. We really believe that some of these songs are some of the best we have to offer, and we’re so proud of this little collection."

ABOUT VIRGINITY
Virginity’s “Fidelity Castro EP” was originally supposed to be a way to release the leftover scraps from the Bad Jazz recording sessions, but as the band continued to finesse the recordings, the EP morphed into something entirely different. It took on a life of its own, and taught the band it can operate more loosely than it ever has before.

Featuring 5 original tracks and a cover of one of their favorite Shins tunes, the EP shows the band finishing three partially developed concepts from the Bad Jazz sessions as well as 3 demos of songs that never made it to the studio, but showed just as much promise as anything that landed on the album. And while the basic tracks of the demos were recorded live and raw, they show another side of the band’s abilities and yearning to experiment with lo-fi production (a la a recent obsession with Guided By Voices) and attempt to not overthink something that already rocks ass. 

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.

GILLSAW Unleashes Epic Cover of Marilyn Manson's "The Beautiful People"

The vision behind our 'The Beautiful People' cover stems from a unique personal connection. Marilyn Manson's groundbreaking original, released almost three decades ago, immediately struck me. Simultaneously, the imagery from the 1932 movie Freaks, especially its legendary dinner scene, left a lasting impression. For me, the song always evoked the film. Our cover project makes this fusion explicit: the visuals (video/artwork) directly blend these influences. Sonically, it's a tribute reimagined through the heavy GILLSAW lens – respecting the core while delivering our distinct, powerful sound.

FOG WATCH Narrative:

"Fog Watch" tells the tragic story of Ian, a man descending into madness. Through a series of increasingly distorted experiences, we witness his journey from isolated lighthouse keeper to drug-addicted nomad.

  • Fog Watch: Ian battles loneliness and encroaching insanity, symbolized by the perpetual fog. The lyrics reflect his isolation and mental deterioration.

  • Thankful: Ian's desire for validation turns to bitter rage as he resents the lack of gratitude from those he protects.

  • Rizen: Ian falls under the influence of a false deity, surrendering reason for blind obedience.

  • Siren Comes: Ian faces nightly temptations, battling internal fears and desires.

  • Trenched In: Ian's final act of devotion leads to his self-burial, a symbolic death and rebirth.

  • Bombay Way: The reality is revealed: Ian's experiences were drug-induced delusions, culminating in a fatal overdose in Bombay Beach.

"FOG WATCH" explores themes of isolation, the search for meaning, and the destructive power of delusion.

GILLSAW'S SOUND

Gillsaw's sound is a meticulously crafted fusion of heavy metal's muscularity and industrial music's stark, electronic edge. This powerful core is layered with intricate progressive structures and ethereal new age ambient textures, creating a dynamic and immersive atmosphere that defies genre boundaries.

Swedish Heavy Metallers DREAM EVIL Release New Digital EP 'Thunder In The Night'

Gothenburg’s DREAM EVIL returned loud and strong to the spotlight last year with their seventh studio album, 'Metal Gods' which included ten tracks of pure steel. Today, DREAM EVIL is pleased to launch four additional songs from the 'Metal Gods' sessions with a new digital EP entitled 'Thunder In The Night.'

DREAM EVIL bass player Peter Stålfors checked in with the following comment about the EP:

“It’s so much fun recording a new album, but sometimes it can be a little bit too much fun… and you record too many songs to fit on one album! That was the case when we released ‘Metal Gods’ last summer. But now the time has come to finally release the remaining four songs from ‘Metal Gods’ sessions on this brand-new EP entitled ‘Thunder in the Night.’

"Watch out for the guest guitar soloists, Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) on the title track‘Thunder in the Night’ and Pontus Norgren (Hammerfall) on ‘Fight for Glory.’ It’s not just Heavy Metal, it’s also ‘Thunder in the Night’!”

Check Out the Video for the Album's Titular Track "Metal Gods" Below

With special guest lead guitar appearances by Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) on the title track and Pontus Norgren (Hammerfall) on “Fight For Glory,” these tracks also feature recording/mixing duties by DREAM EVIL guitarist Fredrik Nordström at his legendary Studio Fredman (In Flames, At The Gates, HammerFall, Arch Enemy, Bring Me The Horizon, etc.).

The 'Metal Gods' album and the 'Thunder In The Night' EP also feature cover artwork by Seth Siro Anton (Paradise Lost, Exodus, Rotting Christ, etc.).

Order 'Thunder In The Night' HERE

DREAM EVIL are:

Fredrik Nordström – Lead Rhythm Guitars

Peter Stålfors – Lead Bass

Niklas Isfeldt – Lead Vocals

Sören Fardvik – Lead Drums

Markus Fristedt – Lead Lead Guitar

BAEST Announces New Album, Unleashes Video for New Single, “Misfortunate Son (feat. ORM)”

Danish death metal commando BAEST will be unleashing its fourth studio album, 'Colossal,' on August 15, 2025 via Century Media Records! To celebrate the upcoming offering, the band is now sharing the crushing new single, “Misfortunate Son (feat. ORM)," which can be found along with an official music video created by Moshmallows below.

Produced by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio (Heaven Shall Burn, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Haunted, etc.), the album contains nine tracks across 42 minutes, including the already released singles "Colossus" and "Imp Of The Perverse," as well as an upcoming single with guest vocal features by Jesper Binzer of D-A-D on “King Of The Sun."

Pre-orders are now live HERE.

BAEST explains about the “Colossal” album and the band’s current activities as follows: “Paying homage to the heavy metal roots of our music, we wanted to incorporate fast, classic and rocking riffs. This album showcases our passion for melody and a new direction for our death metal. Keeping the energy of former releases and adding new flavours to the inferno, ‘Colossal’ stands out as an honest, original and exciting release. Recording it over the course of 2 years at Antfarm Studio with Tue Madsen has been a different but exciting process, leaving a lot of space in between material released off the album, with the two first singles ‘Colossus’ and ‘Imp Of The Perverse’ being almost a year old by now. We found that giving songs more time to grow felt right, and we also had to reinvent our own style and sound in that process, which leads to our satisfaction with ‘Colossal’ - it’s a broad album sound wise, and we feel this is the essence of BAEST. Playing some of the new tracks live on our recent tour with Danish rock legends D-A-D was helpful in cementing the appeal of the new tracks and helped us finish the album recordings between those shows. Next up, we embark on our first ever U.S./North America run supporting Arch Enemy, and we are following this tour up with a ton of European festivals. This will be the perfect platform to show the new material and get feedback from the fans - see you on the road!”

Adds BAEST about the new song: "'Misfortunate Son’ is the newest single release from our upcoming 4th album ‘Colossal.’ Recorded at Antfarm Studio with Tue Madsen (The Haunted, Heaven Shall Burn, Meshuggah), it brings forth a blend of melody and brutality. The song showcases our passion for classic heavy metal riffing while incorporating the signature catchiness we always strive for with BAEST! We brought our Danish heroes ORM to add some eerie vocals, contributing a darker mood to the track…”

In addition, BAEST will be laying waste to North America next week for the first time ever as they embark on the "Blood Dynasty" tour in support of Arch Enemy w/ Fit For An Autopsy and Thrown Into Exile! The band will launch their destruction in San Diego, CA next week, on April 15, and will batter audiences across the continent through May 10 in Stroudsburg, PA. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets can be found HERE.

The album’s artwork was created by Solomacello

GET TICKETS HERE

BAEST North American Tour Dates

(supporting Arch Enemy w/ Fit For An Autopsy + Thrown Into Exile):

04/14: San Diego, CA @ Observatory Northpark

04/15: Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern

04/16: San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom

04/18: Portland, OR @ Roseland Ballroom

04/19: Seattle, WA @ Showbox

04/20: Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl

04/22: Edmonton, AB @ Union Hall

04/23: Calgary, AB @ The MacEwan Hall

04/25: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex

04/26: Denver, CO @ Summit

04/28: Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore

04/29: Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theater

04/30: Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Hall

05/02: New York, NY @ Palladium Times Square

05/03: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium

05/05: Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of The Living Art

05/06: Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore

05/08: Montreal, QC @ L’Olympia

05/09: Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theater

05/10: Stroudsburg, PA @ The Sherman Theater


Are you ready to rock? Something colossal is coming…

Baest are back, with a new sound and a badass attitude. Over the last decade, the Danish quintet have become one of the most celebrated and respected death metal bands in Europe. Their reign of terror began with debut album Danse Macabre, which emerged to great acclaim in 2019. Since then, the Danes have been relentless. Subsequent albums Venenum (2019) and Necro Sapiens (2021) cemented their reputation as extreme metal mavericks with an ear for lethal hooks, while their passionate dedication to playing live enabled them to spread the word at shows and festivals around the world. 

But things are slightly changing with album number 4: Colossal. Pieced together in the aftermath of Covid lockdowns, and fine-tuned over the last couple of years, the new Baest album is an absolute monster. The new songs are still rooted in the belligerent death metal that informed previous records, but Colossal represents a wholesale transformation. Inspired by and infused with old school, classic metal riffs and a giant helping of rock ‘n’ roll bombast, Baest have written an album that delights in the glory of heavy metal and the fine art of rocking out. Bursting at the seams with catchy riffs and classy melodies, with stylistic salutes to everyone from Ozzy Osbourne and Dokken, through to Iron Maiden and Whitesnake, this is the magnificent rock ‘n’ roll rebirth of Baest. 

“We went on tour with the Krisiun guys a couple of years back, and every soundcheck they were playing ZZ Top songs,” says Baest guitarist Svend Karlsson. “Everyone in the venue was rocking out, you know? So let’s rock! As a band, you have to mature a little and figure out that you have to write songs for yourself, and that way of thinking has brought the best out of us. When we talked to Tue about it, we called it ‘Ozzy death metal’. It’s really exciting to see what people think. We’re looking forward to people hearing this album. We released two singles last year that were in a different direction, but the fans haven’t heard the Dokken stuff yet! [Laughs]”

From the explosive assault of the opening Stormbringer, the new Baest album is an electrifying dose of the good stuff. Produced by the legendary Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio in Denmark, Colossal never bends to current trends. Instead, this is a thrilling celebration of heavy metal, played with extreme metal intensity. Vocalist Simon Olsen has evolved into a truly formidable frontman, with a vastly expanded array of shouts and growls, and his band mates – Karlsson, guitarist Lasse Revsbech, bassist Mattias Melchiorsen and drummer Sebastian Abildsten – have grown in power and stature. As Karlsson explains, this change of direction was simply about Baest being true to themselves. 

“We began the process during Covid, and we found out that we needed to do something that everyone thought was fun,” he states. “Then we tried to zoom in on what makes different songs fun. On the first EP, before we signed to Century Media, there is a lot of melodic rock ‘n’ roll stuff. I think it’s there because we hadn’t learned yet to do more death metal riffs, so those were the riffs that Lasse and I had from our upbringing. This time, we turned back to all of those kinds of riffs, being influenced by Zakk Wylde and Jake E. Lee, Accept, Metallica and all that kind of stuff. We figured that if it’s fun and we enjoy playing it, then it’s going to fit! We finally had the guts to try it, and not to worry about what the death metal fans are going to think.”

Although they may anticipate a backlash from death metal purists, Baest are confident that their evolution will be well received. With songs ranging from the anthemic ‘80s metal fury of the title track, and the brutal rock squall of King Of The Sun (featuring a cameo from D-A-D’s Jesper Binzer), to the progressive, true metal avalanche of epic closer Depraved World, Colossal takes Baest back to the essence of their craft. 

“When we wrote Depraved World, that’s a riff from when Lasse was 14 years old,” says Karlsson. “He said, ‘I’ve got this riff!’ and we were like, ‘Let’s do an Iron Maiden death metal song!’ [Laughs] It’s so much fun, because it’s long and so different. The headline for the whole album is that it’s different, it’s catchy, and it’s rock ‘n’ roll. Rock ‘n’ roll vibes, but in the aggressive form of extreme metal. This is our first time working with Tue Madsen, and he’s a no-bullshit kind of guy. He’s been in the industry for so many records and with so many different bands, so he’s like, ‘Fuck what people think! Let’s do what seems fun and what sounds catchy!’”

2024 saw the release of two singles from Colossal: the viciously catchy Imp Of The Perverse, and the aforementioned Colossus. Both were rapturously received, and generated a lot of excitement about Baest’s next move. Now that they have the new music in the can, Svend Karlsson and his comrades are brimming with confidence and commitment to the heavy metal cause. Armed with songs that are guaranteed to send metal crowds into a joyous frenzy, Denmark’s smartest death metal band are perfectly placed to conquer the entire world. 

“I think we needed to figure out that we were okay with being a heavy metal band,” Karlsson shrugs. “There are also a lot of progressive elements to the record, that we started developing on the Justitia EP. That’s when we realised that it works live, and people really like the Ozzy riffs! So let’s do some more! We played a new, unreleased song on the last tour. Nobody had heard it before, but instantly everyone started clapping along and jumping and having fun. Everybody wants to party, right?”

BAEST line-up:

Svend Karlsson - Rhythm/Lead Guitar 

Simon Olsen - Vocals 

Lasse Revsbech - Rhythm/Lead Guitar 

Sebastian Abildsten - Drums & Percussion

Mattias ‘Muddi’ Melchiorsen - Bass

Album Artwork:

Solomacello

Production:

Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio

Special Guests:

Jesper Binzer of D-A-D on "King Of The Sun"

ORM on "Misfortunate Son"

Formats (U.S.): Ltd. CD Digipak / LP / Digital Album

BAEST online:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FACEBOOK 

INSTAGRAM

YOUTUBE

STREAM // DOWNLOAD

Century Media online:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

YOUTUBE

Ashley McBryde to Receive Honorary Doctorate in Music from Arkansas State University

Grand Ole Opry member Ashley McBryde picked up her first guitar as a young girl and began crafting songs by the age of 12. Her passion for music grew as she joined her high school marching band, playing trumpet and French horn. Later, she attended Arkansas State University studying music with the intention of becoming a band director – until a professor encouraged to pursue her dream of being an artist. Now the GRAMMY Award winner is coming full circle as she is set to receive an Honorary Doctorate in Music from her alma mater.
 
“Everybody called my dad Doc and everybody called his dad Doc. I always wondered what that felt like - the pride that filled their chests when they were addressed by that title,” shares McBryde. “I am beyond grateful and so humbly honored to be recognized by my Alma Mater with a Doctorate in Music. To know I now carry that title in a field that has been my life's passion and purpose is a feeling I will cherish forever.”
 
“Arkansas State University is incredibly proud of Ashley McBryde, and I am honored she is part of our ‘Red Wolf Pack,’” shares Todd Shields, Chancellor at Arkansas State. “Her courage to pursue her dreams, her exceptional accomplishments, and the positive influence she has among so many people are deeply inspiring. She absolutely deserves this recognition, and I am very excited to award her the title of Dr. McBryde.” 
 
McBryde will attend Arkansas State’s Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony at First National Bank Arena on May 10 in Jonesboro, Ark. to be recognized for her achievements and accept her Honorary Doctorate in Music.

Written by McBryde with Chris Harris and Patrick Savage and produced by John Osborne, she recently released “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs” via Warner Music Nashville, with Billboard observing the song as “a sterling, introspective look…at the values that embody a ‘cowboy song,’” while Tennessean notes “its creation relates well to the legacy of Kristofferson, the artist she honored at the CMA Awards.”
 
“Ashley McBryde is a truly special artist. She’s fundamentally an old-school country singer, and when she focuses on that, she’s one of the best we’ve got,” asserts  Stereogum, as American Songwriter affirms “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs” finds “McBryde in top form.”
 
McBryde is set to perform at Stagecoach, WE Fest, Peach Jam and Country Thunder festivals in Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin and Alberta among headlining dates this spring and summer. For tickets and additional information, visit AshleyMcBryde.com.

Ashley McBryde Tour Dates
 
April 10           John T. Floore Country Store // Helotes, TX
April 11           Cowtown Boots // El Paso, TX
April 12           Country Thunder Arizona // Florence, AZ
April 26           Stagecoach Festival // Indio, CA   
May 2              PNC Music Pavilion // Charlotte, NC with Cody Johnson
May 3              Credit One Stadium // Charleston, SC with Cody Johnson             
May 4              Country Thunder Florida // Kissimmee, FL
May 15            SKyPAC // Bowling Green, KY
May 16            Peoples Bank Theatre // Marietta, OH
May 17            The Event Center at Hollywood Casino // Charles Town, WV
May 29            American Music Theatre // Lancaster, PA
May 30            Parx Xcite Center // Bensalem, PA
May 31            Paramount Theatre // Charlottesville, VA
June 8              CMA Music Festival 2025 // Nashville, TN
June 13            IP Casino Resort Spa – Studio A // Biloxi, MS
June 14            Peach Jam // Clanton, AL
June 20            Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel & Casino // Lake Charles, LA
June 21            Wild Adventures Live! 2025 // Valdosta, GA
June 26            Country Stampede // Topeka, KS
July 12            Country Concert 2025 // Fort Laramie, OH
July 17            Kresge Auditorium // Interlochen, MI
July 18            Country Thunder Wisconsin // Twin Lakes, WI
July 19            The Amp at Log Still // Gethsemane, KY
July 25            Night In The Country Music Festival // Yerington, NV
Aug. 1             Happys Inn // Libby, MT
Aug. 2             Big Valley Jamboree // Camrose, AB
Aug. 7             WE Fest // Detroit Lakes, MN
Aug. 13           Put In Bay // Put-In-Bay, OH
Aug. 15           Country Thunder Alberta // Calgary, AB
Aug. 21            iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre // West Palm Beach, FL with Little Big Town
Aug. 23            The Wharf Amphitheater // Orange Beach, AL with Little Big Town
Sept. 13           Spyglass Ridge Winery // Sunbury, PA

About Ashley McBryde
GRAMMY, CMA and ACM award winner Ashley McBryde cut her teeth playing country songs in biker bars – and it shows. The Grand Ole Opry member’s 2018 major label debut Girl Going Nowhere (Warner Music Nashville) charmed The New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, Paste, The Washington Post and more, all en route to landing a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album. McBryde closed out 2019 with ACM New Female Artist, CMT Breakout Artist, a New Artist of the Year win at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards and two nominations for the 2020 GRAMMYs for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance for “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.” Follow-up Never Will was tagged by Rolling Stone as one of the most anticipated of the year alongside NPR, who also ranked her Top 10 RIAA Platinum-Certified single “One Night Standards” as one of the best songs of 2019. The album earned McBryde a 2021 GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album, making Never Will the only album nominated for Country Album of the Year by the ACMs, CMAs and the Recording Academy in the same award season. Her GRAMMY-winning duet with Carly Pearce, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” went all the way to No. 1 and earned McBryde and Pearce the ACM and CMA award for Musical Event of the Year. McBryde was honored with the 2022 CMA International Artist Achievement Award for the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside of the United States. Her collaborative project Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville earned McBryde her third consecutive GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album, making her a six-time nominee. Her latest album The Devil I Know was released to critical acclaim, earning a title as one of the best country albums of the year from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Slate, PASTE, Holler and more. Hailed as “one of country’s most cherished singer-songwriters” by Cowboys & Indians, McBryde offers poetic nostalgia with “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs,” available now. The Arkansas native performs at festivals including Stagecoach; CMA Fest; Country Thunder Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin and Calgary; WE Fest; and Country Stampede among additional headlining dates.  For more information, visit Ashley McBryde.com or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube.

Anotherland Agency Welcomes Megan Wise as VP of New Business

Anotherland Agency is making a big move in partnerships and business development. The agency has appointed Megan Wise as its Vice President of New Business, reinforcing its commitment to securing top-tier brand partnerships and collaborations.
 
With more than 15 years of experience Megan Wise, known for her eye to spot unique brand opportunities and thoughtfulness to connect unexpected dots and turn them into successful deals, joins Anotherland after leading Partnerships at the Country Music Association (CMA). Prior to that, she launched her career at Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Beginning in the mail room, she worked her way up to agent, eventually managing major sponsorships across entertainment.
 
“Simply put, Megan is a powerhouse. She’s got the instincts, the relationships, and the tenacity to take Anotherland to another level,” said CEO, David Bagheri. “Her track record says everything, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome her to the team.”
 
In her new role, Wise will handle Anotherland’s expansion into brand collaborations, overseeing the agency’s sales and partnership initiatives.
 
“The way Anotherland approaches brand collaborations, it’s refreshing, and I’m all in,” said Wise. “From my early years at CAA to shaping partnerships at CMA, I’ve always believed and prioritized helping over just transacting. You always win in the end that way. The opportunities ahead for Anotherland—and our partners—are endless, and I can’t wait to get moving.

Photo Credit: David Bradley

About Anotherland:
Anotherland is a startup with a unique music label + full-service marketing agency model that helps brands of all sizes with high-performing activations and building digital audiences. With a growing client roster spanning entertainment, sports, and Fortune 500 companies, Anotherland brings a fresh take to marketing and creative.
 
For more information, Megan can be reached at megan@anotherland.com.

Kenny Heads West To Finalize SPHERE Visual Reality; 1st Show May 22

SOMEWHERE ON THE WEST COAST – Kenny Chesney signed on to bring his iconic positive vibe country to Sphere with the idea that he could deepen how No Shoes Nation experienced so many of the songs they knew by heart. As much as his high energy stadium shows have defined summer in the 21st century, the man Variety deemed, “country music’s only true long-term stadium act” wanted to create something that captured the dynamics of those shows, but also offered an intimacy and immersion into the songs.

With no one realizing, the creative team behind so much of Sphere’s patented technology quietly embedded at several of last year’s personal record-setting Sun Goes Down shows to capture the intensity and drama. But they have also spent this time shooting footage that reflects Chesney’s life, experience and musical meaning across one of modern country’s farthest-reaching careers.
 
“We didn’t know when we signed on what we were signing up for,” Chesney marvels. “I realized every bit of video was going to have to be shot for this wraparound-the-audience screen, but I had no idea how much creating these moments – because it’s so much more than content – would open up my own creative portals. 
 
“We have to go to California to create the final edit, so we can understand the fullness of how people will experience the visuals, how it will marry to the music. But just the songs we saw earlier in the year, putting the show together is going to be a complete rush.”
 
Given the almost engulfing visual capabilities that deliver over 171 million pixels across a 160,000 square foot screen that wraps up, over and around the audience, the Sphere shows will deliver No Shoes Nation’s soundtrack in a way it’s never been seen or experienced before. With its 16K x 16K resolution wraparound screen, the world’s highest-resolution LED display, there’s an absorption factor at work for fans that will make this the ultimate live experience.
 
Beyond the all new, full-immersion content, the impossibly dialed-in sound quality, the Sandbar on the floor, DJ Brandi Cyrus ramping No Shoes Nation up before the show and a set list promising some surprises, the East Tennessee songwriter/superstar sought to make this experience something that changed the way people felt his music.
 
“You can’t know going into something like this what you are going to experience,” Chesney says. “But you open your arms to all of it, fall into the possibilities and learn a lot about not just the technology, but what else the music is made of. Embrace it all, because it’s awesome.”
 
Whether it’s a longtime favorite or something never played in concert, Chesney Live at Sphere is turning into a wild ride through a whole lotta life and love. Come early, or just drop by the Guitars, Tiki Bars and A Whole Lotta Love fan experience taking over a nearby two-story space at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and grab a drink at the Spread the Love bar, then get ready for the man who made stadium summers a rite of passage. As Rolling Stone wrote, “No Shoes Nation fandom will descend upon Las Vegas in May… The shows will be a rare chance to see Chesney outside of the massive football stadiums he usually hits on tour.” 
 
Limited tickets remain for the Sphere residency at KennyChesney.com with packages available via Vibee, the official VIP Concert & Hotel Package partner for Kenny Chesney’s Live at Sphere residency, at KennyChesney.Vibee.com. All Vibee packages offer guests a choice of premium tickets including Sandbar (general admission floor) or reserved seating, a collectable laminate and lanyard, access to the No Shoes Island VIP Pool Party, exclusive Kenny Chesney curated gift bag and early access to the Guitars, Tiki Bars and a Whole Lotta Love experience on show days for crowd-free shopping on exclusive merch items, and access to a dedicated shopping lane during public hours. Vibee Hotel Packages include a two-night stay at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas (The Venetian or The Palazzo) or Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. 
 
Kenny Chesney Live at Sphere in Las Vegas is presented by Blue Chair Bay® Rum.

Photo Credit: Allister Ann

Kenny Chesney Live at Sphere Las Vegas
Thursday, May 22
Saturday, May 24
Sunday, May 25
Wednesday, May 28
Friday, May 30
Saturday, May 31
Wednesday, June 4
Friday, June 6
Saturday, June 7
Wednesday, June 11
Friday, June 13
Saturday, June 14
Wednesday, June 18
Friday, June 20
Saturday, June 21

Knosis Announce Debut Album "GENKNOSIS" + Share "SHINMON" Video

Japanese metal powerhouse KNOSIS, the visionary project led by renowned multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Ryo Kinoshita, is proud to announce their debut full-length album GENKNOSIS due out August 1 via SharpTone Records.

To celebrate this landmark moment, Knosis has unleashed a brand new single, "SHINMON," delivering an explosive preview of what's to come. Packed with emotional weight, blistering riffs, and Ryo's signature vocal intensity, "SHINMON" stands as a testament to the band's unrelenting creative force.

This announcement follows Knosis' recent signing to SharpTone Records, marking a new chapter for Ryo Kinoshita — formerly the frontman of genre-defining Japanese metalcore act Crystal Lake.

Knosis blends searing metal, visceral hardcore, and introspective soundscapes, capturing the raw emotion and spiritual tension of life's heaviest moments. Following the powerful debut single "FUHAI" (Featuring Yukina of Hanabie)," the release of "SHINMON" sets the tone for what promises to be one of the year's most compelling heavy records.

Watch the official music video for "SHINMON" Below.

SHADOW OF INTENT Announce New Album 'Imperium Delerium'; Drop New Single & Music Video "Feeding The Meatgrinder" feat. Corpsegrinder

Shadow of Intent have returned—and they’ve brought war with them. The New England metal titans today release “Feeding the Meatgrinder”, a merciless new single and it's accompanying music video, that serves as both harbinger and warning shot for their upcoming studio album, ‘Imperium Delirium’, set for release June 27 via Blood Blast Distribution. Pre-save the album HERE.

Featuring a guest vocal from death metal legend Corpsegrinder (Cannibal Corpse), “Feeding the Meatgrinder” is an unrelenting descent into sonic carnage. Lyrically, it paints a brutal anti-imperialist and anti-war narrative, describing the dehumanization and destruction of mass conflict in harrowing detail—its chorus a nihilistic refrain: “Continue to bleed or feed—you're feeding the meatgrinder.” Find the new track on streaming platforms HERE and watch the official music video below.

“We couldn’t be more excited to kick off album 5 with this brand new track where we get to push our boundaries even further. A massive thank you to the great George Fisher aka Corpsegrinder for lending us his voice."

Lyrically and thematically, Imperium Delirium continues Shadow of Intent’s descent into the real-world horrors that define our past and foreshadow our future. From mythic allegory to modern bloodshed, the band’s subject matter confronts the sickness of empires, the seduction of violence, and the machinery of death that fuels it all. As always, the sound is enormous—melding symphonic grandeur, blackened melody, razor-sharp technicality, and punishing breakdowns into a style that remains utterly their own.

Since their formation in 2014, SHADOW OF INTENT have garnered a reputation for crafting mind-blowingly technical, prog tinged symphonic deathcore. Widely acknowledged as one of the forerunners of the current deathcore renaissance, the band's debut album 'Primordial' was named as one of Revolver Magazine's '15 Essential Deathcore Albums', with Metal Sucks giving their 2019 album 'Melancholy' a perfect 5/5 review, stating "you can expect Shadow of Intent to send echoes across metal for as long as they feel like making music". To date, they have clocked up 200 million streams, 62 million YouTube Views and have 340,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

Shadow of Intent are currently playing the last few dates of their North America with Chelsea Grin, Signs Of The Swarm, and Disembodied Tyrant. Remaining dates below, tickets available from shadowofintent.com

Remaining dates:

04/11 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium

04/12 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

04/13 Philadelphia, PA @ Brooklyn Bowl

04/15 Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre

04/16 Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues

04/18 Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater



04/19 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot

ABOUT SHADOW OF INTENT

Formed in 2014 by Ben Duerr and Chris Wiseman, Shadow of Intent have become one of the most respected and forward-thinking bands in modern metal. With four self-released albums—Primordial (2016), Reclaimer (2017), Melancholy (2019), and Elegy (2022)—the band has blended deathcore, black metal, symphonic and progressive elements with narrative and conceptual ambition. The band’s music and subject matter centers on the many evils in the world, whether myth or real-life events, and the future it may lead to.

2022’s Elegy charted at #4 on Billboard’s Top New Artist Albums, #6 Current Hard Music Albums, and #16 on Current Rock and Digital Albums charts. The band has clocked up 200 million streams, 62 million YouTube Views and have 340,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and toured alongside metal heavyweights including Cannibal Corpse, Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder, Lorna Shore, and Cattle Decapitation.

Shadow Of Intent Are

Ben Duerr - Vocals

Chris Wiseman - Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards

Bryce Butler - Drums

Andrew Monias - Bass

Find Shadow of Intent Online

www.shadowofintent.com

Gaahls WYRD Release "Time and Timeless Timeline"

Emerging like a phantom from the depths of an unseen plane, "Time and Timeless Timeline" is Gaahls WYRD at their most lucid and direct—yet no less enigmatic. Clocking in at just over three minutes, the tightly-wound second single from the Norwegian Grammy winners' upcoming second album, Braiding the Stories, defies the sprawling structures often associated with esoteric metal. Instead, it delivers its message with precision, fire and clarity—imbued with a fierce groove, bold '80s-inspired production and an almost ritualistic cadence.
 

Watch the video for "Time and Timeless Timeline" below.

Braiding the Stories comes out June 6th, 2025 on Season of Mist.


Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/gaahlswyrdbraidinggthestories

Driven by Ole “Lust Kilman” Walaunet’s razor-edged riffwork and soaring melodic leads, "Time and Timeless Timeline" explores the dissonance of perception and memory. It’s a meditation on temporal dislocation, how when the time collapses, the subconscious rises to the surface.

Anchored by Gaahl’s commanding vocal performance, "Time and Timeless Timeline" captures the essence of Braiding the Stories. The album goes behind the veil, delving into reams of emotions and emerging into a dream state that lives somewhere between structure and spirit, time and timelessness.

Filmed at the Solslottet Studio in Bergen, Norway, the music video for "Time and Timeless Timeline" offers an intimate look at Gaahls WYRD as they channel the song's metaphysical energy through pure, raw performance.

The striking cover art by visual artist Øivind Myksvoll (Wardruna, Trelldom) is just as mysterious and arresting as his work for The Humming Mountain. Look closely and you’ll find what appears to be hair (aka the veil) and the cosmos (crystallized wine from Gaahl’s collection). Indeed, the group’s signature horned figure lurks between the layers. For Gaahls WYRD, music, lyrics, concept, and art are synonymous. They’re designed to be experienced in their entirety and in unison. Braiding the Stories isn’t an obvious listen, but it gently (and sometimes maniacally) pulls at the listener. The sensation of the journey from opener “The Dream” to closing epic “Flowing Starlight” is quite unlike anything before. All hail Braiding the Stories!


Line-up:
Kristian Espedal «Gaahl» - All Voices
Ole Walaunet «Lust Kilman» - All Guitars
Andreas Salbu «Nekroman» - Bass
Kevin Kvåle «Spektre» - Drums

Production Credits:
Recorded at Solslottet Studio, Bergen, Norway.
Produced by Iver Sandøy & Gaahls WYRD.
Mixed & mastered by Iver Sandøy at Solslottet Studio, Bergen, Norway.

Cover Art:
Øivind Myksvoll

Biography:
Chris Dick

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

Follow Gaahl's Wyrd:
Bandcamp:https://gaahlswyrd.bandcamp.com/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/gaahlswyrd/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gaahlswyrd
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/7h8V7XHdJ3akShW3uFaZyn
Apple Music:https://music.apple.com/artist/gaahls-wyrd/1451373309
TIDAL:https://tidal.com/browse/artist/10911081
Deezer:https://www.deezer.com/artist/58388182

Hence unveils haunting new single ‘Steadying The Ship’ – A sonic meditation on the Long Lost Pleasers

In a world rocked by turbulence, where some shake the foundations while others quietly stabilise, Hence returns with their latest single, ‘Steadying The Ship – Long Lost Edit’ - a hypnotic, poetic dive into the paradox of those who hold things together at their own expense.

Set against an atmospheric, undulating soundscape, the track pulses with tension - passive aggression hitting like a whip, promises un-promised, salvation turning numb. At its heart is the hypnotic refrain: “Long lost pleasers, steadying the ship,” a mantra that lingers, both a lament and a quiet rebellion.

“Steadying The Ship is about the ones who become so devoted to maintaining peace that they forget their own truth” the band explains. “The Long Lost Pleasers are those who silence themselves to keep things from falling apart. What starts as an act of grace turns into a slow, quiet disappearance.” With a choir-backed outro swelling into cosmic calm, the song immerses listeners in a space where passivity is both a refuge and a slow erosion of self. The vocals, performed by Arika Adams, dissolve into melodic humming and primal cries - an aching plea for salvation from this Long Lost Feeling. The mood is further enhanced by Haizea Huegun’s rich string arrangements.

The EP also includes ‘Woman In Love’, a collaboration with Irish dark synth-wave specialists Tiny Magnetic Pets, with Paula Gilmer’s sublime vocals complementing a glitchy reimagining of an evergreen classic. The collection is completed by a piano arrangement of the title track from Matt Wilier, the Parisian composer. ‘Steadying The Ship (The Calm Sea)’ is a beautiful rendition which brings new light to the song. ‘Steadying The Ship’ is more than a song - it’s a reflection of human dynamics in times of unrest. Who holds steady, and who gets lost in the process? Hence doesn’t provide the answers but invites listeners to sink into the question.

To further expand its meaning, a series of striking videos and images will accompany the single, transforming its themes into a visual narrative where film meets fashion and the bizarre becomes beautifully normal.

‘Steadying The Ship’ is available on all streaming platforms through Cosmic Cassettes, from 16th April 2025.

Published by Archangelo Music/BMG.

Renowned Rock Singer RUSS BALLARD Shares New Single “You Can Do Magic” + Video

Today, renowned rock singer RUSS BALLARD is pleased to share his new single and accompanying video “You Can Do Magic,” taken from his upcoming double album 'Songs From The Warehouse / The Hits Rewired,' out on April 25th, 2025 via Frontiers Music Srl.

 

This release is a real treat for all rock fans: the first CD contains new songs, which show once again that the inspiration never left RUSS, while the second CD includes brand new recordings of famous hits either penned or performed by him during the years.

About the new single, RUSS BALLARD says:

“America’s management asked me to write a song for them. Their best song for me was always 'Horse With No Name' - it had that hypnotic theme. I thought if they could get another hypnotic one - that would be a big hit… So, I wrote 'You Can Do Magic' and it was a hit for them!”

 

He also expresses his excitement for the album:

“It’s a buzz releasing a new album. What started as my 'Lockdown-tapes' during the pandemic became an album! During lockdown, my studio was a life saver for me, and I found new ways of writing and recording. The result gives the listeners a good insight into this time - have a listen!”

Watch the Video for “You Can Do Magic”  below.

RUSS BALLARD is simply one of the most renowned and gifted songwriters in pop and rock music. His music career started when he was only 14 years old and he wrote a tune, which was recorded by The Shadows, appearing on their album 'The Sound Of The Shadows' in 1964.

During the 70’s and 80’s, his songs ruled the airwaves and the list of hits is pretty much endless. From “Since You Been Gone” (Rainbow), “God Gave Rock'n'Roll To You” (Argent and Kiss), “So You Win Again” (Hot Chocolate), “New York Groove” (Hello and Ace Frehley), “You Can Do Magic” (America), “Winning” (Santana) or “I Don’t Believe In Miracles” (Colin Blunstone) – just to name a few – everyone who needed a great song knew that with RUSS BALLARD they could not go wrong.

 

Numerous records/artists were also produced by him, like Roger Daltrey, America, Elkie Brooks, Skindred or Sada Vidoo. In 1974, he started a solo career (after his stint with the band Argent in early 70’s), which had its highest momentum with the 'S/t' album in 1984 (which included the hit single “Voices”) and the follow up “The Fire Still Burns”.

Since then, BALLARD has released 10 studio albums and is still writing and producing hits. Three songs from his 1984 and 1985 albums were featured in the TV show “Miami Vice” and were extensively played on dance floors around Europe.

 Pre-Order 'Songs From The Warehouse / The Hits Rewired' HERE

"The Red Garden" by FREEZE THE FALL

Emerging from the vibrant rock scene of Kelowna, British Columbia, FREEZE THE FALL is poised to unleash their compelling new EP The Red Garden on June 18, 2025, via 604 Records. Known for their gritty and introspective sound, this trio is ready to take their music to new heights with a project that weaves intricate tales through each track.

The Red Garden showcases a sophisticated fusion of heavy rock and narrative depth. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Jordan Chase at Oodelally Recordings, the album promises a deep dive into thematic richness, complemented by haunting visuals from album artist Kevin Moore of Soft Surrogate.

The journey begins with "Denial," a chilling instrumental that seamlessly transitions into "Rot," where medieval allegories collide with modern-day dilemmas of misinformation. "Hypothermia" follows, with bassist Aria Becker's intricate rhythms underpinning a narrative on the perils of digital anonymity.

Intensity mounts with "VHS," a track that draws from the horror genre to explore the dynamics of power and subjugation. Conversely, "Aurora" offers a melodic reprieve, reflecting on the universal ties that connect humanity through its ethereal sound and thoughtful lyrics.

The album continues to explore profound themes with "Oubliette" and "Lace." The former melds atmospheric tones with progressive elements, including a verse in French that accentuates its reflective mood. The latter, "Lace," closes the album on a poignant note, using sparse instrumentation to delve into themes of innocence lost and the harsh realities of growth.

This album, rich with thematic complexity and audacious musicality, invites listeners to traverse a landscape where music meets myth, emotion, and introspection. With The Red Garden, FREEZE THE FALL crafts an audial tapestry that is both haunting and deeply resonant, promising to leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those who journey through its tracks. This isn't merely an album; it's an immersive experience designed to challenge, captivate, and inspire.

About FREEZE THE FALL:

Hailing from Kelowna, British Columbia, FREEZE THE FALL is a dynamic trio that has quickly carved a niche within the hard rock and metal scene. Formed in 2023, the band consists of Quinn Mitzel on guitar and vocals, Aria Becker on bass and backup vocals, and Jonah Goncalves on drums. Together, they bring a fresh fervor to the modern rock landscape, melding elements of metalcore, nu metal, and hard rock with a deeply narrative-driven approach to their music.

FREEZE THE FALL began making waves shortly after their formation. Their breakthrough came with a viral cover of THE WARNING’s “Evolve,” which caught the attention of both fans and industry insiders. This early success led to their debut single, "Glitch," in February 2024 and subsequently secured them a distribution deal with 604 Records. Their debut EP, Thrones, released in July 2024, showcased their ability to blend intense instrumentation with lyrical depth, earning them nominations for Best Music Video at the Okanagan Screen Awards 2025 for the singles "VHS" and "Hypothermia."

Inspired by the likes of BRING ME THE HORIZON, EVANESCENCE, and SPIRITBOX, FREEZE THE FALL crafts songs that explore the complexities of human emotion and societal issues. Their music features emotive vocals, thunderous bass lines, and blistering guitar riffs, paying homage to ‘90s grunge and ‘00s alt metal while pushing the boundaries with their modern sound.

The band’s creative process is marked by a collaborative spirit and a shared passion for storytelling through music. Each track they create is not just a song but a chapter in a larger narrative, exploring themes from misinformation and the impact of digital anonymity to personal introspection and societal critique.

With their second EP, The Red Garden, released in 2025, FREEZE THE FALL continues to expand their sonic landscape. This project dives deeper into experimental sounds and elaborate storytelling, weaving a tapestry of lore and emotional intensity that challenges the listener while providing a cathartic musical experience.

FREEZE THE FALL not only aims to make music that resonates on a personal level but also seeks to create a lasting impact, pushing the boundaries of rock music with every note and lyric. As they continue to grow and evolve, their journey is one of relentless creativity and a commitment to making music that matters.

DoFlame Releases Deluxe Edition, "GET BENT!" + Shares New Track "Lost In Time"

Last year, Toronto hardcore up-and-comer DoFlame released his sophomore album, BENT, on his new label Blue Grape Music, and he's barreling headfirst into 2025.

Today, DoFlame mastermind Mateo Naranjo dropped the deluxe version of the album, titled GET BENT! Listen here.

 

It features the new track "Lost in Time" and the recently released hip-hop infused "Drunk Talk" in a newly shuffled version of the album. Listen below.

 "Lost In Time" funnels DoFlame's sound back towards his brash punk and hardcore roots, but this time, with a big league mix from platinum engineer Josh Wilbur (KORN, Megadeath, Avenged Sevenfold). Appropriately, "Lost In Time" is the final statement from this seminal period of DoFlame development, a memorable punctuation to halcyon days that are worth remembering, but hard to recall.

"'Lost In Time' is about those that hold up a facade to get what they want: They lie chronically, hop town to town, and clique to clique," the artist says. "It's a burden to deal with these people, but it's bittersweet knowing they'll eventually get caught in their tracks. Those who move like that and get left behind, forgotten, and lost in time."

DoFlame has several U.S. and European dates booked through spring, with more to be announced in the coming months.  All dates are below.

DOFLAME LIVE:

U.S. DATES:
4/28 — Beat Kitchen   — Chicago, IL#   
4/30 — The Middle East — Cambridge, MA#  
5/1 — Songbyrd — Washington, DC# 
5/2 — Kung Fu Necktie — Philadelphia, PA#  
5/3 — TV Eye  — Brooklyn, NY#  
6/27 — The Rumble — Chicago, IL*
#With Bob Vylan
*Festival

EUROPEAN DATES:
5/16 — The Great Escape — Brighton, UK*
5/17 — Brudenell Social Club — Leeds, UK^
5/19 — The Pits — Kortrijk,  BE^
5/20 — La Source — Brussels, BE^
5/23— Supersonic — Paris, FR^
5/24 — Sniester Festival— Den Haag,  NL*
5/27 — Cassiopeia — Berlin, DE^
5/28— Blue Shell — Cologne, DE ^
*Festival
^Headline Date

ABOUT BLUE GRAPE MUSIC:
In 2022, industry veterans David Rath and Cees Wessels formed Blue Grape Music. The name will be familiar to rock music fans, as it was the merchandise company also launched by Wessels, who founded the venerable and esteemed record label Roadrunner Records in the '80s. Roadrunner earned a reputation as an iconic label that turned hard rock and metal acts into household names for several decades under Wessels' tutelage. Rath spent 21 years in the A&R department at Roadrunner, working on albums by a variety of RIAA-certified and culturally important acts, including but not limited to Slipknot, Korn, Turnstile, Gojira, Coheed and Cambria, White Reaper, Slash, Trivium, Dream Theater, and more. When the label changed management and ownership, Rath guided the company and oversaw the signings of bands like Young the Giant and Vance Joy. Ultimately, the Blue Grape executive team is powered by experience and a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-your-hands-dirty, by-any-means-necessary work ethic. Blue Grape's inaugural signing was the two-time Grammy nominee Code Orange and since then, the label has gone on to sign San Francisco punks Spiritual Cramp, hardcore heavyweights GEL, and Baltimore sludge slingers GASKET, with several new signing announcements expected to be announced this year. Blue Grape is distributed globally by The Orchard.