Anciients Add New Dates to 2025 North American Tour

Starting this week, Anciients are kicking off their first U.S. tour in 8 years. The heavy, heady and heartfelt Canucks are performing their latest Canadian Grammy-winning opus throughout the American North and Southwest. Along the way, the band will make a few stops down south around their appearance at ProgPower USA. After this month-long run is over, it won't be long before they return to the road.   

Today, Anciients are announcing the next leg of their North American tour in support of Beyond the Reach of the Sun. In October and November, the band will bring their new album to Eastern Canada for the first time as well as major cities across the East Coast and Midwest. Joining them for the bulk of these dates are Music City heavy jamming psych-wizards Howling Giant. 

"It's been a long time coming", Anciients' frontman Kenny Cook says. "We're ready to hit the road hard!"

Get tickets for Anciients' 2025 North American Tour
https://www.season-of-mist.com/bands/anciients/

Anciients' 2025 North American Tour
with Dawn of Ouroboros, Armed for Apocalypse, Nott, Exist and Howling Giant

August 27 - Seattle, WA @ Substation [TICKETS]*
August 28 - Portland, OR @ Dante's [TICKETS]*
August 29 - Boise, ID @ The Shredder [TICKETS]**
August 30 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon [TICKETS]**
August 31 - Colorado Springs, CO @ What's Left Records [TICKETS]**
September 2 - Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street [TICKETS]**
September 4 - Atlanta, GA @ ProgPower USA [TICKETS]
September 5 - Gastonia, NC @ The Rooster [TICKETS]***
September 6 - New Orleans, LA @ No Dice [TICKETS]***
September 7 - Austin, TX @ Come And Take It [TICKETS]***
September 8 - Houston, TX @ Pub 529 [TICKETS]****
September 9 - Dallas, TX @ TX Tea Room [TICKETS]****
September 11 - Phoenix, AZ @ Nile Underground [TICKETS]*****
September 12 - San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick [TICKETS]*****
September 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Knucklehead [TICKETS]*****
September 14 - San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside [TICKETS]*****
September 16 - Sacramento, CA @ Cafe Colonel [TICKETS]*****
September 17 - Reno, NV @ The Cellar*****
September 18 - Eugene, OR @ John Henry's [TICKETS]******
September 19 - Richland, WA @ Ray's Golden Lion [TICKETS]******
September 20 - Bellingham, WA @ The Shakedown [TICKETS]******
October 29 - Saskatoon, SK @ Black Cat [TICKETS]
October 30 - Regina, SK @ The Exchange [TICKETS]
October 31 - Winnipeg, ON @ Sidestage [TICKETS]
November 1 - Sioux Falls, ND @ Bigs Bar [TICKETS]
November 2 - Des Moines, IA @ Lefty's Live Music [TICKETS]
November 3 - Cudahy, WI @ X-Ray Arcade [TICKETS]
November 4 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups [TICKETS]^
November 5 - Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle [TICKETS]^
November 6 - Chicago, IL @ Live Wire Lounge [TICKETS]^
November 7 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace [TICKETS]^
November 8 - Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar [TICKETS]^
November 9 - Ottawa, ON @ Dominion Tavern [TICKETS]^
November 11 - Boston, MA @ O'Briens [TICKETS]^
November 12 - Portland, OR @ Geno's [TICKETS]^
November 13 - Providence, RI @ The Parlour [TICKETS]^
November 14 - New York City, NY @ Woodshop [TICKETS]^
November 15 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie [TICKETS]^
November 16 - Baltimore, MD @ Mobtown Ballroom [TICKETS]^
November 19 - Chattanooga, TN @ JJ's Bohemia [TICKETS]^
November 20 - Huntsville, AL @ Mad Malts [TICKETS]^
November 21 - Jacksonville, FL @ The Albatross [TICKETS]^
November 22 - Bradenton, FL @ Obscura [TICKETS]^
November 25 - Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar [TICKETS]
November 26 - Denver, CO @ The Black Buzzard [TICKETS]
November 28 - Missoula, MT @ Zacc [TICKETS]
* w/ Dawn of Ouroboros + Nott
** w/ Dawn of Ouroboros
*** w/ Dawn of Ouroboros + Exist
**** w/ Armed for Apocalypse + Exist
***** w/ Armed for Apocalyspe
****** w/ Armed for Apocalyspe + Nott
^w/ Howling Giant

Beyond the Reach of the Sun is available now on Season of Mist.

Order & Stream
https://orcd.co/anciientsbeyondthereachofthesun

Watch the new video for "Is It Your God" on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.

https://youtu.be/QYAjywHYNZA

"'Is It Your God' asks how someone can believe in a higher power when given a life full of despair and anguish", Cook says. "Do you continue to restrict your happiness while living this life, in hopes of joy for eternity? Or do you question whether it's all for nothing?"

LAST RETCH Reveals Video For "Dissolved in Lye"

Canadian death metal outfit LAST RETCH present "Dissolved in Lye (Down to Rot)", the second single to land from their forthcoming album Abject Cruelty, due out September 26, 2025 via Time to Kill Records. 

Watch the video for "Dissolved in Lye (Down to Rot)" below.

Pre-Order Abject Cruelty HERE: https://timetokillrecords.com/en-us/collections/last-retch-abject-cruelty

Or HERE: https://lastretch.bandcamp.com/album/abject-cruelty

“Dissolved in Lye (Down to Rot)" is the second single from LAST RETCH’s sophomore album, Abject Cruelty. This relentless, high-speed track delves into the desire to annihilate one’s own body in pursuit of unity with death, seeking immortality through self-mutilation, using substances to transcend reality, and grasping for any means to escape the crushing weight of mental illness and addiction. The lyrics serve as a stark reflection of the hardships endured by society’s most vulnerable, ultimately highlighting the devastating effects of opioid and stimulant addiction.

Written collaboratively in 15 minutes and featuring drummer Spencer Robson’s on-the-fly contributions, it’s a sonic freefall into what the band calls the 'nightmare zone,' a gory mess that gleefully collapses under its own weight. 

Abject Cruelty is LAST RETCH’s third official release and their first for Time to Kill Records. The album follows their 2023 debut Sadism and Severed Heads and 2024’s Ergotism EP. Written amidst the industrial decay and social collapse of Hamilton, the new record offers eight tracks of no-frills death metal, anchored by concise songwriting, memorable hooks, and blunt-force aggression.

About LAST RETCH:

LAST RETCH is a death metal band from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, formed in 2021. Blending the earworm riffs of CARCASS, the anthemic drive of BOLT THROWER, and the relentless savagery of CANNIBAL CORPSE, the band delivers a modern take on old-school death metal that’s as visceral as it is memorable. With short, focused songs built around crushing grooves and no-nonsense structures, LAST RETCH distills the genre down to its most punishing essentials.

The current lineup: Finlay Blakelock (Vocals), Derek Brzozowski (Guitar), John Russell (Guitar), Matt Fyke (Bass), and Spencer Robson (Drums), operates with a clear mission: write riffs that stick, keep things tight, and hit hard. Each member brings a different perspective, resulting in a sound that nods to death metal’s roots while pushing into new territory with dynamics, pacing, and variation in tuning.

Since their formation, LAST RETCH has released a self-titled demo (2021), the full-length Sadism and Severed Heads (2023, CDN Records), and the Ergotism EP (2024, CDN Records/Iron Fortress Records). They’ve shared the stage with bands like GUTALAX, UNDEATH, GATES TO HELL, KRUELTY, and REPLICANT, earning a reputation for ferocious live performances and tight musicianship.

Their latest album, Abject Cruelty (2025, Time to Kill Records), is their most direct and aggressive work yet: an eight-track assault shaped by the decay and desperation of their hometown. With themes pulled from real life and riffs sharpened to a deadly point, LAST RETCH continues to evolve while staying rooted in the timeless brutality of death metal.

LAST RETCH is: 
 

  • Finlay Blakelock – Vocals

  • Derek Brzozowski – Guitar

  • John Russell – Guitar

  • Matt Fyke – Bass

  • Spencer Robson – Drums


Connect with LAST RETCH:
 

The Acacia Strain Announce "Tune Low Die Slow Ho Ho" 2025

THE ACACIA STRAIN  — Vincent Bennett, vocals; Devin Shidaker, lead guitar; Griffin Landa, bass; Mike Mulholland, guitar; and Matt Guglielmo, drums — are are once again spreading a massive and metallic dose of holiday cheer this December. The band has announce "Tune Low Die Slow Ho Ho" 2025. The two-day, annual holiday extravaganza is set for Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14 at Empire Live in Albany, New York.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, August 29 at 10am ET. Get tickets here.

"Merry TASMAS, Round Two," says Bennett. "Everyone has an Xmas festival now. Guess what? Next year, we are doing Thanksgiving. Come pit and be merry!"

How can you deny an invite like that?

The daily lineups are below, with The Acacia Strain headlining both nights for a one-two punch to the throat.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13:
The Acacia Strain
Skinless
Fuming Mouth
Gates to Hell
No Cure
Azshara
Horse Grave
NOIR
Surfaced

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14:
The Acacia Strain
Full of Hell
On Broken Wings
Jivebomb
Jarhead Fertilizer
Flatwounds
Sunbloc
Evil Mind
Violent Streets

The Acacia Strain recently announced their upcoming album You Are Safe From God Here. It arrives on October 24 via Rise Records. Pre-order it here.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton’s “A Song To Sing” Gets Dreamy Disco Treatment

Country music giants Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton deliver a 70s-inspired music video for their first true duet collaboration, “A Song To Sing,” praised by Rolling Stone for “its dreamy disco groove and lovestruck devotion.”
 
Directed by Running Bear and produced by James Stratakis, the video features the pair of visionaries, clad in matching terracotta suits (with cameos from Morgane Stapleton in gold lamé), taking the stage at Brentwood Skate Center to perform the Stereogum-dubbed “slinky arrangement” with “the two singers’ enormous, intertwined vocals.” A callback to an era of music epitomized by Ronnie Milsap, Waylon Jennings, and especially the classic Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers duets, the collaborators borrowed jewelry from Rogers’ and Parton’s estates, with Lambert wearing a pair of Parton’s gold clip-on hoop earrings and Stapleton donning a lion necklace of Rogers’.
 
The music video for “A Song To Sing” arrives on the heels of the biggest streaming debut of Lambert’s career, racking up more than 3.3 million U.S. streams and over 4.3 million streams globally in its first week. The track also topped 27,000 in U.S. track consumption. Co-written by the pair along with Jesse Frasure and Jenee Fleenor, and produced by Dave Cobb, the song also arrived at No. 1 on the Country Digital Song Sales chart.
 
Lambert and Stapleton boast a combined 14 GRAMMY, 33 Country Music Association and 59 Academy of Country Music awards and have each influenced generations with their singular artistries and distinctive creative points of view.

About Miranda Lambert
Critically acclaimed groundbreaker/songwriter/superstar Miranda Lambert has defined her multifaceted career as an artist, entertainer, entrepreneur, advocate and businesswoman with an unflinching quest for excellence, honesty and conviction. Current single and duet “A Song To Sing” with Chris Stapleton arrived as the biggest streaming debut of her career, with Rolling Stone praising its “dreamy disco groove and lovestruck devotion.” Her 10th solo studio album, Postcards from Texas, available everywhere now via Republic Records, continued her unbroken streak of 10 consecutive Top 10s on the Top Country Albums chart. The most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history, including their top honor for Entertainer of the Year, she has also won three GRAMMYs and 14 Country Music Association Awards. A TIME100 honoree and perennial best-of-the-year list maker at the New York Times, TIME, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Stereogum, People and more, NPR has called her “the most riveting country star of her generation.”
 
A multi-dimensional superstar, she’s earned seven No. 1 solo albums, 10 No. 1 hit radio singles, more than 80 prestigious awards and countless RIAA certifications; conquered Las Vegas with her twice-extended Velvet Rodeo residency; blurred genres with Leon Bridges, the B-52s, Loretta Lynn, Enrique Iglesias, Sheryl Crow and Elle King; and delivered her LGBTQ+ inclusive anthem “Y’All Means All” for Netflix’s “Queer Eye.” Lambert has taken those standards to become a label co-founder, teaming with longtime collaborator Jon Randall to launch their own imprint, Big Loud Texas, in partnership with Big Loud Records. She is also a New York Times bestselling author and the first female restaurateur on Lower Broadway with her Tex-Mex cantina Casa Rosa, while also expanding her creative reach with her Wanda June Home collection exclusive to Walmart and her Idyllwind clothing and boot line at Boot Barn. Her passion for rescue animals inspired the creation of her MuttNation Foundation, which has raised over $11 million since inception to promote adoption, support shelters across the country, advance spay & neuter and assist with the transport of animals during times of natural disaster.
 
MirandaLambert.com | Facebook | Twitter/X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
 
About Chris Stapleton
Kentucky-born Chris Stapleton is an 11x GRAMMY, 19x CMA and 21x ACM Award-winner and one of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians.
 
In the midst of yet another triumphant year, Stapleton recently won the ACM Award for Male Artist of the Year as well as Best Country Solo Performance at the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards for his song “It Takes A Woman.” These accomplishments celebrate Stapleton’s album, Higher, which includes break-out songs “White Horse” and “Think I’m In Love With You.” Produced by Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton and Chris Stapleton, the record landed on several “Best of” lists including Billboard, Esquire, Los Angeles Times, Vulture and Rolling Stone, who praises, “dazzling…the best evidence yet for the way one man’s voice has become synonymous with the very idea of a musical genre.” Additionally, The New Yorker declares, “Stapleton is the rare country star with both traditional bona fides and broad commercial appeal. He has an outlaw soul and a pop star’s capacity for inescapable hooks,” while GQ proclaims, “In an age rife with division, he’s maybe the only thing Americans all agree on.”
 
Known for his electric live performances, Stapleton will continue his extensive “All-American Road Show” through this summer including two upcoming shows at NYC’s Madison Square Garden. Additionally, Stapleton has recently collaborated with Post Malone (“California Sober”), Dua Lipa (“Think I’m In Love With You (Live from the 59th ACM Awards)”), Slash (“Oh Well”) and George Strait (“Honky Tonk Hall of Fame”), released a version of Tom Petty’s “I Should Have Known It” for the new Tom Petty tribute album and returned to NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” for the third time as musical guest. He also performed the National Anthem at 2023’s Super Bowl LVII and has worked in recent years with Adele, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, P!nk, Sheryl Crow, Santana and many more.
 
Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, are founders of the Outlaw State of Kind charitable fund, which supports a variety of causes that are close to their hearts.

Photo Credit: Andy Barron

Breaking Through: Nate Vickers Returns With "Falling Away From Heaven"!

Alt rock's breakout act to watch, Nate Vickers, returns with a brand new single, "Falling Away From Heaven", out today via Oxide Records. Powered by a massive, sky-reaching chorus, "Falling Away From Heaven" is a sweeping anthem that wrestles with guilt, redemption, and the gravity of letting go. Watch the new video for "Falling Away From Heaven" below.

Fans got a first glimpse of the track on Thursday night, when "Falling Away From Heaven" debuted exclusively on SiriusXM Octane's Test Drive. Diving in deeper, the accompanying video paints a moody, blue-washed portrait where Nate Vickers performs beneath vaulted church ceilings, flashes of stained glass, and candlelight setting the scene. Gliding between explosive full-band moments and Vickers alone, drifting through shadowed pews and echoing aisles, the video weaves together a narrative rich with introspection and emotional tension.

Getting to the core of "Falling Away From Heaven," Nate Vickers shares:

""Falling Away From Heaven" is about giving into the vices you swore you'd never touch. It's guilt and pleasure tangled up in the same breath."

With his smash hit "A Little Too Late" cementing Nate Vickers as a breakout voice and his previous single "Parasite" pushing his sound into a darker, more visceral territory, "Falling Away From Heaven" builds on that rising momentum. Seeing Vickers blending gritty guitars with pain and the pursuit of healing, these latest tracks capture an artist unafraid to bare his scars while reaching for something greater.

Inspired by icons such as Linkin Park, Three Days Grace, and Bad Omens, Nate Vickers has crafted a sound that is unmistakably his own, drawing more than 1.5 million followers to his TikTok and 513K to his Instagram. Between viral, late-night covers and playlist-dominating originals, Vickers has also earned his place as a standout favorite on Pandora and Sirius XM's Octane. What began as a spark has now become an alt-rock wildfire.

Be sure to stay tuned for more Nate Vickers news coming soon.

ABOUT NATE VICKERS

Introducing Nate Vickers: the enigmatic force behind the electrifying sounds captivating social media feeds worldwide. Based in Houston, this rock/pop virtuoso has mastered the art of leaving audiences spellbound, all while shrouded in an aura of mystery that leaves followers craving more.

With a whisper of his name echoing through the digital landscape, Nate Vickers commands attention like a siren's call. His journey to stardom is paved with viral covers on TikTok and Instagram, where his raw talent and magnetic presence have garnered an awe-inspiring following of a staggering 1.5m followers on TikTok and 513k on Instagram.

But Nate is more than just a musical maverick; he's a connoisseur of the digital realm, immersing himself in the thrilling landscapes of FPS games like Warzone, Apex Legends, and the timeless RPG gem, Runescape. From the tender age of youth, Nate's passion for gaming has been a steadfast companion, shaping his creative journey and imbuing his artistry with a dynamic edge.

Yet, his interests don't end there. Nate's eclectic spirit finds solace in the realms of fashion, art, skateboarding, and drawing, where his boundless creativity grows. Each brushstroke, each riff, each daring fashion choice speaks volumes of a soul unbound by convention, a spirit dancing on the precipice of discovery.

To know Nate Vickers is to embark on a journey shrouded in intrigue, where every note, every post, every shared moment unveils a new layer of his enigmatic persona.

Photo Credit - Clayton King

PALE HORSE RITUAL Announce 'Diabolic Formation'

Canadian stoner/doom/heavy psych outfit PALE HORSE RITUAL evoke the occult sound of the '70s in their new album, Diabolic Formation. The first single, "Wickedness" provides a taste of the fuzz-driven, analogue ambience that lies in wait. Diabolic Formation is set to arrive in our realm on November 28, 2025, via Black Throne Productions.

The haunting psychedelic splendor of "Wickedness" is highly immersive. Rhythmic instrumentation carries the momentum throughout the track while additional textures are delivered by organ arrangements, atmospheric fuzz and compelling vocals. Flooded in a haze of heavy, there's something eerie and disturbing beneath the surface. 

About PALE HORSE RITUAL
Steeped in mysticism, PALE HORSE RITUAL create an spellcasting blend of doom, occult rock and vintage metal. Based out of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the band formed in 2024 and their sound is driven by gritty vocals, sludgy riffs, and pounding rhythms that channel the spirit of 1970s heavy music with a modern, gothic edge. Following their alluring 2024 EP titled Enchantress, the quartet are preparing to unveil the full-length, Diabolic Formation on November 28, via Black Throne Productions. 

Line Up: 
Paco (Bass/Vocals)
James Matheson (Lead Guitar)
Will Adams (Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals)
Jonah Santa-Barbara (Drums)

Album Credits:
Producer: Will Adams
Recording Studio: Green Mountain Ranch
Engineer: Will Adams at Tell Me About It… Records
Mastering: Zack Hollow at Z Hollow Studios
Mixing: Will Adams

Guest Musicians:
Dom Valela- Keys, Vocals
Doom Valhalla- Italian Preacher

Links:
Bandcamp: https://palehorseritual.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palehorseritual/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaleHorseRitualBand
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pale.horse.ritual

Singer/Songwriter Adam Mac Serves Up Country Sass and Southern Swagger with New Track "All Dollars, No Sense" Out Now

Genre-bending queer country artist Adam Mac, recently dubbed “cowBoy George” by fans for his bold style and sound, is back with a new track that blends razor-sharp wit, undeniable groove and a healthy dose of side-eye. Available today “All Dollars, No Sense” offers another taste of what’s to come from Mac’s highly anticipated third studio album, due later this fall. Listen to “All Dollars, No Sense” HERE

The danceable fusion of country and modern pop, written by Mac alongside Jessica Cayne and Chris Rafetto, spins a clever, tongue-in-cheek take on keeping up appearances while going broke in the process. Packing a funky punch, “All Dollars, No Sense” hits like a club-ready mashup of Bruno Mars and Brooks & Dunn, laced with a no-holds-barred lyricism as cutting as it is catchy:

Mac has been pushing the boundaries of country music from the beginning. Rooted in the gospel and '90s country sounds of his youth, he has carved a space all his own with a fresh fusion of southern soul, disco flair, and fearless storytelling. These new tracks follow the success of Mac’s previous release “Dust Off Your Boots,” which sparked a nationwide line dancing trend and held the No. 1 spot on CMT’s 12 Pack Countdown for six consecutive weeks. Before that, his breakout anthem “Disco Cowboy” reigned at No. 1 for four weeks and premiered exclusively on CMT.
 
As a visible queer voice in country music today, Mac’s journey has not been without challenges. When he was scheduled to headline the Logan County Tobacco and Heritage Festival in his conservative hometown, backlash from local pastors sparked national headlines. His strength in the face of hate drew support from fans, hometown friends and celebrities alike – including Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini and Brandy Clark – and led to a guest appearance on Morris’ Lunatics Tour in Chicago.
 
With his magnetic presence and rich storytelling, Mac continues to carve out space for queer voices in the country format showing that there’s room for every kind of story. For the latest news and updates follow along on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook @adammacmusic and online at adammacmusic.com.

BLAKE SHELTON ANNOUNCES RETURN TO THE COLOSSEUM AT CAESARS PALACE JANUARY 15 – 31, 2026

Country music’s unabashed ambassador, Blake Shelton, is returning to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, with eight performances scheduled from January 15 – 31, 2026.

“We had so much fun earlier this year, I figured—why not do it again,” said Shelton. “This time we’re gonna do it more country, with more cocktails, and probably make a few more questionable decisions. Let’s go, Vegas.”

Tickets will go on sale to the public Thursday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. PT. Blake Shelton fans will have access to a presale beginning Friday, Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. PT.

Citi is the official card of the Blake Shelton: Live in Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Friday, Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. PT until Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 10 p.m. PT through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visitwww.citientertainment.com.

A Seated presale will begin Friday, Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. PT. In addition, Caesars Rewards members, Caesars Entertainment’s loyalty program, as well as Ole Red, Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers, will have access to a presale beginning Monday, Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. PT. All presales will end Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 10 p.m. PT.

Tickets to the following eight shows can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com/BlakeSheltonVegas, with all shows scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

January 2026: 15, 18, 21, 23, 24, 28, 30, 31

Armed with 30 #1 hits—including his latest chart-topper, “Texas,” and current radio smash, “Stay Country or Die Tryin’”— Shelton will unleash his signature, unmistakable and raucous energy on Las Vegas, guaranteed to bring the house down. Fans can expect a powerhouse set packed with fan favorites and brand-new music from his critically acclaimed album, For Recreational Use Only.

About Blake Shelton:
With 30 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. His debut BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville album, For Recreational Use Only, was recently released and the 12-track album, his first in nearly four years, features his No. 1 Wheelhouse Records single “Texas,” the poignant “Let Him In Anyway,” his current single, “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. Earlier this year, he wrapped his Friends & Heroes Tour, which featured Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, Trace Adkins, and Emily Ann Roberts, and spent the summer playing a variety of festivals. 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.

Look for Shelton this fall in The Road, a gritty new CBS series he co-produced alongside Taylor Sheridan, David Glasser, Lee Metzger, and headliner Keith Urban. The show follows aspiring artists on a relentless national tour, offering a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the highs, lows, and hard truths of chasing a dream from the road.

 KEEP UP WITH BLAKE SHELTON

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | X | FACEBOOK

Bask Premiere New Album 'The Turning'

Ever since they came rumbling down from the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bask have sounded of their very own time and place. The climb to reach album number four ended up taking these Southern trailblazers on one hell of a trip. But on The Turning, the band take their homebrewed Heavy Americana to a whole new dimension.  

"The album is passionate, soul searching, driven with purpose and a sense of adventure that doesn't involve pointless wandering", Blabbermouth writes about The Turning in a 8/10 review. "Sure, influences can be heard, assumed and even self-professed, but as a collective, Bask doesn't rip off any band, subgenre nor style. The Turning is a true exploration of sound, story and self". 

"The Turning is an emotionally charged record of the highest order with Bask firmly establishing themselves as one of the most unique and original voices within the modern day Psych Stoner Rock / Metal scene", writes Outlaws of the Sun. "This is a record of real quality and can easily be considered of the best Psychedelic Rock albums of the year".

The Turning comes out tomorrow, Friday, August 22 on Season of Mist, but you can hear all eight lush and roaming songs today by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.     

Listen to The Turning Below.

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

Bask are ringing in this heavy and heady frontier on their current tour of the East Coast. Hear them perform songs off The Turning during the album's opening run out on the road.  

The Turning 2025 East Coast Tour 
August 21 - Savannah, GA @ El Rocko [TICKETS]
August 22 - Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel [TICKETS]
August 23 - Raleigh, NC @ Chapel of Bones [TICKETS]
August 24 - Richmond, VA @ Fuzzy Cactus [TICKETS]
August 26 - Philadelphia, PA @ MilkBoy [TICKETS]
August 28 - Searsport, ME @ Starboard Lounge [TICKETS]
August 29 - Providence, RI @ Parlour [TICKETS]
August 30 - Wallingford, CT @ Cherry Street Station [TICKETS]
August 31 - Boston, MA @ O'Briens [TICKETS]

"Music is an emotional outlet, but at the end of the day, it's also a way for us to hang out with our best buds", the band says. "The Turning was a challenge, but we weathered the storm and came out the other side with a beautiful album that sounds like Bask".   

Line-up:

Jesse Van Note – Bass
Scott Middleton – Drums
Ray Worth – Guitar
Zeb Wright – Guitar/Vocals
Jed Willis - Pedal Steel

Guest musicians
Clay White - Trumpet
Franklin Keel - Cello
Alex Taub - Piano, Hammond B3 Organ

Recording Studio 
Echo Mountain Recording

Producer 
Kenny Harrington

Engineer
Kenny Harrington

Mixing Studio
Acre AudioMixing

Mixing Engineer
Andrew Schneider

Mastering Studio
West West Side Music

Mastering Engineer
Alan Douches

Available Formats
Digital Download
CD Digipack
12" Vinyl Gatefold (Black)
12" Vinyl Gatefold (Transparent Orange)

Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/basktheturning

TESTAMENT | ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM PARA BELLUM + RELEASE MUSIC VIDEO FOR 'INFANTICIDE A.I.'

Bay Area thrash metal icons TESTAMENT returns this Fall with their fourteenth studio album, Para Bellum. The album which will be released on October 10th via Nuclear Blast Records stands as both a battle cry and an observation of humanity's uneasy alliance with its own creations. As technology accelerates and disconnection grows, Para Bellum sees TESTAMENT reflecting the modern chaos through music that’s urgent, sharp, and unflinchingly human.

Today, TESTAMENT deliver one of their most intense songs they've written to date, 'Infanticide A.I.'. Lead by the blinding speed of their new drummer Chris Dovas, the band shows off its musical talent far beyond their expected norms. Watch the music video for 'Infanticide A.I.'' directed by Joey Durango, here: https://youtu.be/Gtw3lcQvyPU

TESTAMENT's Chuck Billycomments, "The new album Para Bellum consists of some fast, heavy and melodic tunes. Once again Peterson has found a way to keep the song writing fresh and modern sounding. It’s gonna be hard to choose what songs to play live cause to many to choose from."

TESTAMENT's Eric Petersonstates,"It’s been 5 years since our last recordTitans Of Creationwas released. Since then, we all waited to get back to it and we all did in a big way! Now our long over due new recordPara Bellumis upon us and about to be released in October. We are super stoked and excited to release new blood and fury to you all! With our first single 'Infanticide A.I.' we’re coming out swinging! But with new velocities of fury, while maintaining a balance that we all love and know from a Testament track, enjoy!"

Stream 'Infanticide A.I.' here
https://testament.bfan.link/infanticide-a-i

Pre-order or pre-save Para Bellum on the format of your choice here:
https://testament.bfan.link/para-bellum

Para Bellum was recorded with Juan Urteaga, mixed by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios, and was mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios. The album is extremely polished and operating at full throttle. The band once again enlisted Eliran Kantor tocreate the album artwork. In an era flooded by AI-generated imagery. the hand painted creation encapsulates the album’s essence: a serene angel made of missiles, an explosion turned halo, surrounded by shovel-bearing cultists with books strapped to their faces.

From first note to last breath, Para Bellum is an album by warriors—crafted in chaos, and built to outlast the wars to come! 

TESTAMENT is:
Chuck Billy | Vocals
Eric Peterson | Guitar
Alex Skolnick | Guitar
Steve DiGiorgio | Bass
Chris Dovas | Drums

INDUCTION Unveil "Dark Temptation" With Music Video

Following a series of live dates in support of iconic metallers SAVATAGE, their first-ever, frenetically-acclaimed appearance at Wacken Open Air and the previously-released single "Beyond Horizons," INDUCTION strike again with their brand-new song "Dark Temptation" - a track that fuses razor-sharp riffs, symphonic fire, and high-octane hooks into a relentless storm of sound!
 
Alongside today's release and new album harbinger comes a visually stunning video, set in a high-tech sci-fi universe that mirrors the song’s futuristic energy and dark allure. It’s a bold step that brings INDUCTION’s cinematic vision to the next level - combining crushing symphonic metal power with a world that feels larger than life! "Dark Temptation" cements INDUCTION’s reputation as one of the most exciting rising forces in modern power metal: epic, heavy, and unafraid to push boundaries.
 
Guitarist Tim Kanoa Hansen states: “With ‘Dark Temptation,’ we officially open the gates to our upcoming third album, Love Kills!, set for release in February 2026. This track marks the beginning of INDUCTION’s next chapter - where seduction meets danger, and love dances on the edge of the blade. It’s heavy, it’s dark, it’s sci-fi - and this is only the beginning. Let yourself be pulled into this forbidden tale and experience the thrill of ‘Dark Temptation,’ the first taste of what’s to come. You’ll be hungry for more!”
 
Listen to "Dark Temptation": https://induction.rpm.link/temptationPR
 
Watch the stunning new video below: 

Crafted at Hamburg, Germany’s Chameleon Studios and Boogie Park Studios, the song was produced by Hansen and mixed and mastered by Eike Freese in collaboration with the guitarist. After regrouping in 2024, "Dark Temptation" marks the second track featuring singer Gabriele Gozzi, guitarist Justus Sahlman and drummer Markus “Maks” Felber in INDUCTION’s band history.
 
In support of their forthcoming studio offering, the quintet have been confirmed as supporting act of VISIONS OF ATLANTIS’ and WARKINGS’ 2026 “Pirates & Kings Over Europe” tour, taking them to 20+ cities across the continent in February/March. 

Markus “Maks” Felber (drums), Gabriele Gozzi (vocals), Justus Sahlman (guitars), Dominik Gusch (bass), Tim Kanoa Hansen (guitars)
Photo credit: Tim Rönz

About INDUCTION
 
In the heart of the power metal resurgence stand INDUCTION, a name that has quickly become synonymous with the genre’s new wave. Led by Tim Kanoa Hansen, son of metal legend Kai Hansen (HELLOWEEN, GAMMA RAY), INDUCTION are a force to be reckoned with, igniting stages and captivating audiences worldwide.
 
Their rise began with a bang as their sophomore album, Born From Fire, was released under the wings of Reigning Phoenix Music, earning widespread acclaim and solidifying their status in the genre. Notable praises include being crowned “Power Metal Rising Star of the Year” by Rock Hard in 2022 and drawing the attention of German TV channel SWR, which chronicled their ascent in a documentary.
 
Building on this momentum, INDUCTION embarked on high-profile tours alongside metal giants such as STRATOVARIUS, SONATA ARCTICA, BATTLE BEAST, GAMMA RAY, ACCEPT, and more, showcasing their polarizing live energy and winning over audiences across Europe and also Japan.
 
Though widely considered a progressive power metal band, INDUCTION refuse to be confined by a single genre. With each release, they defy expectations, seamlessly blending and evolving the boundaries of their music while staying true to their unmistakable core.
 
As they march toward the release of their eagerly awaited third album, INDUCTION remain a hungry force in the metal galaxy, fuelled by a passion for music and an unwavering commitment to their craft. With the rallying cry “We bring the heat!” echoing in every riff and chorus, they invite fans to join them on their epic journey through realms of myth, majesty, and POWER!
 
INDUCTION are:
Gabriele Gozzi | vocals
Tim Kanoa Hansen | guitars
Justus Sahlman | guitars
Dominik Gusch | bass
Markus “Maks” Felber | drums
 

More on INDUCTION:

inductionofficial.com | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok 
YouTube | X | Spotify | Apple Music | RPM

Indecent Behavior + Air Drawn Dagger Release Video for Joint Single "Give Me Everything"

German pop punkers Indecent Behavior and their British emo-pop labelmates Air Drawn Dagger have just released the video for the joint single "Give Me Everything." 

Watch it video below.

After performing at Rock am Ring, Rock im Park, and touring with Neck Deep, Zebrahead, and the Donots, Indecent Behavior will unleash their fourth studio album, SICK, on  September 26. Air Drawn Dagger released their debut album A Guide For Apparitions back in April. It was produced by Neil Kennedy (Creeper, Boston Manor) and the band recently toured with Halocene and Crushed By Waves, and performed at the Glastonbury Festival.

"The new single 'Give Me Everything' is for all those who want to break free from a toxic relationship – confidently and looking forward," says Indecent Behavior singer Henrik Bergmann. "People are different — what is completely normal for one person can mean the exact opposite for another. When two fundamentally different personalities come together in a relationship, it often gets complicated — sometimes even painful. 'Give Me Everything' is a liberating blow. The song is about the moment when you realize: 'I don't want this anymore — I'm worth more than this and I won't let myself be manipulated any longer.' It's not about settling scores with anger, but consciously drawing a line under things — without resentment, but with a clear view of the future. Maisie from Air Drawn Dagger brings a second perspective to the song. Because even if at first glance it seems as if there is a clear 'guilty' person, it is often simply a question of fundamentally different views on life and on each other."

Stream the single and pre-order the album SICK by Indecent Behavior here

In November, the two bands will also be performing together on stage, as Air Drawn Dagger will be accompanying Indecent Behavior on their SICK tour through Germany from November 20-28. Let's go!

We live in a world full of impressions. What seems like an ocean full of possibilities to some is incredibly overwhelming, oppressive and unfair to others. There is no escape from the mass of unfiltered information that rains down on us every day. No light at the end of the dark news tunnel. No clear way out of the labyrinth of options, which instead of freedom only brings excessive demands. SICK was created precisely from these thoughts and is an album for everyone for whom it sometimes just gets too much. Who feel like they are living in a world that they simply don't understand. For all people who are looking for a place where they can feel understood and comfortable.

INDECENT BEHAVIOR ARE:
Henrik Bergmann — Vocals
Christian Noß — Guitar, Vocals
Denis Selzer — Bass, Vocals
Florian Heintz — Drums

Der Weg einer Freiheit Release Searing New Single "Marter"

Since their formation in 2009, Der Weg einer Freiheit have carved out a singular place in modern black metal. While rooted in the genre’s foundations, these Germans are constantly evolving. On their upcoming sixth album, they turn inward with devastating clarity. Innern tunnels toward collapse and into silence before finally reaching a place of personal transformation.

Today, Der Weg einer Freiheit are releasing the second advanced single from Innern. “Marter” is the album’s searing opener, a harrowing plunge into its core themes of isolation, dissolution and the fragile possibility of release.  

Watch the video for “Marter” below.

Innern comes out September 12th on Season of Mist

Pre-order

https://orcd.co/derwegeinerfreiheitinnern

Pre-save

https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/46CJu30XN9wGChOsoHEJCm

As the opening track from Innern, “Marter” sets the tone for an album that peers inward, confronting pain not as an end, but as a threshold. The song is defined by its contrasts: unrelenting yet fragile, crushing yet imbued with fleeting moments of calm. Opening with mournful restraint, it slowly uncoils into a storm of relentless tremolo-picked guitars. Intricate yet punishing blast beats from Tobias Schuler rumble beneath the grounding weight of Alan Noruspur’s bass. Nikita Kamprad and Nicolas Rausch’s layered guitars oscillate between ferocity and elegiac stillness as Kamprad’s vocals shift from anguished cries to whispered resignation.

On “Marter”, Der Weg einer Freiheit contemplate identity, rebirth and the futility of clinging to words that fall on deaf ears. The lyrics’ imagery of burning throats, collapsing voices and the pull of the stars frames suffering as both torment and an avenue toward renewal. The repeated surrender, “Nimm sie alle, meine Schreie…”(“Take them all, my screams…”), dissolves personal agony into something vast and cosmic.

The lyric video for “Marter” was created by Riivata Visuals.

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT stand now at the peak of a fifteen-year evolution.Their music is as concerned with silence as it is with sound, as shaped by introspection as by fury. As they prepare to bring Innern to European stages in autumn 2025, they do so not as provocateurs of extremity, but as artists navigating the fragile space between collapse and clarity. In a genre often defined by spectacle, DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT remain committed to vulnerability, transformation, and truth.

Lineup:

Nikita Kamprad — Vocals, Guitars

Nicolas Rausch — Guitars

Alan Noruspur — Bass

Tobias Schuler — Drums

Production Credits:
Recorded, mixed & mastered in Würzburg, Germany by Nikita Kamprad.
Drums recorded separately at Studio Weißmann, Würzburg, Germany.

Cover Art:
Design & layout by Max Löffler (https://maxloeffler.com/)

Photography:
Mario Schmitt

Press-kit: https://presskit.season-of-mist.com/Der_Weg_Einer_Freiheit/

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Follow Der Weg Einer Freiheit:

Official Website: https://derwegeinerfreiheit.de/

Bandcamp: https://derwegeinerfreiheit.bandcamp.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/derwegeinerfreiheit

Instagram: http://instagram.com/derwegeinerfreiheit

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/derwegeinerfreiheit

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7e823b0KQoVtLG86Ui5xGD

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/der-weg-einer-freiheit/363526020

Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/1386896

Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/4479035

ALL HELL returns from the shadows with their fifth full-length album, Sunsetter,

Arriving October 10, 2025 on Terminus Hate City. From their origins in Asheville, North Carolina in 2013, the band has carved a singular path through the underground, blending elements of first wave black metal, deathrock, punk, and film score atmospheres into something entirely their own. Sunsetter is the culmination of years of evolution and hardship, a concept record that stretches from ancient myth to modern apocalypse, driven by fire, blood, and vision.

The band (Jacob Curwen on guitar and vocals, Erik Ballantyne on bass, and Elanti on drums) began work on Sunsetter after the release of 2019’s The Witch’s Grail. Progress was slow and plagued by constant disruption. The pandemic struck, personal tragedies followed, and devastating floods hit their home region. In the midst of all this, the band found themselves burned out and disillusioned with metal entirely. But after stepping back and rediscovering their creative hunger, they emerged with a record that is not only their most metal release to date, but also their most fully realized.

Sunsetter tells a sprawling, violent tale of exile, rebirth, and cosmic vengeance. The story begins in ancient times with the curse of Cain, the first murderer, cast into the land of Nod where he joins with Lilith, the exiled first wife of Adam. From their union comes a cursed bloodline. The album’s opening track, “Exiled into Nod,” skips any slow buildup and immediately drops the listener into the chaos of this mythic prayer. It is followed by “Dominus Sanguis, Domina Nox,” a dark hymn to the Lord of Blood and the Lady of Night, and then “The Violent Brood,” a classic ALL HELL track that portrays the frenzy of being hunted by Cain's spawn.

“The Bleeding” flips the perspective and explores the mind of a predator, with a guest solo from Nate Garnette of SKELETONWITCH adding another layer of menace. The title track, “Sunsetter,” takes a more triumphant tone, capturing the defiance and pride of the children of Cain as they reject the sun and claim dominion over the night. Its straightforward power made it the obvious choice for the album’s name.

Side two of the album begins with “The Flood and the Death,” a cinematic, spoken-word interlude that sets the stage for a shift in time. The next chapter takes place centuries later, where the bloodline of Cain has survived the flood and reemerges in the present. “Behold the Night” brings this rebirth to life with driving energy and shifting dynamics. “Path of Cain” offers a darkly anthemic reflection on lineage, sin, and survival.

The final act of the album accelerates toward doom. “Sacrifice to Shadow” portrays a cult's plea for the return of their ancient masters, while “The Ancients Rise” delivers on that prophecy with grinding riffs and ominous brass that call back to the album’s ancient beginnings. The closing track, “The Outer Night,” brings it all to an end. It begins with militaristic urgency, climbs to apocalyptic grandeur, and fades into the cold silence of a world overrun. Cain and Lilith return, and the sun sets for the last time.

The album was recorded, mixed, and engineered by Chris Adams at Hidden Audio, with mastering by Jacob Curwen. The visual aesthetic, including the album art, was also created by Curwen, preserving the band’s independent and uncompromising approach.

The sun fades. The night takes hold. The world belongs to ALL HELL.

About ALL HELL:

ALL HELL is a blackened metal trio from Asheville, North Carolina, known for their relentless fusion of first wave black metal, deathrock, punk, and horror-driven storytelling. Since forming in 2013, the band has carved out a distinct identity rooted in occult themes, razor-sharp riffs, and a fierce DIY ethos. Their sound is aggressive, stripped-down, and deeply atmospheric — a raw, unfiltered descent into myth, violence, and the supernatural.

With five full-length albums and an EP to their name, including 2025’s apocalyptic concept record Sunsetter, ALL HELL has evolved from a local cult favorite into a powerful underground force. Their live presence has taken them across the U.S., sharing stages with acts like RINGWORM, BLACK TUSK, PROFANATICA, and TURN COLD, and performing at festivals such as Decibel Metal and Beer Fest, Dark Lord Day, and RPM Fest.

The current lineup, Jacob Curwen (guitar and vocals), Erik Ballantyne (bass), and Elanti (drums), continues to push the band’s sound forward while staying true to its core. With each release, ALL HELL digs deeper into a unique mythos that spans history, horror, and apocalypse, embracing the dark, the ugly, and the eternal night.

ALL HELL is:

  • Jacob Curwen – Guitar and Vocals

  • Erik Ballantyne – Bass

  • Elanti – Drums


Connect with ALL HELL:


Bandcamp: https://allhell.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/allhellband
Instagram: https://instagram.com/allhellband
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5FVXnF7zGfuo8WF5qq4XHK
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/be/artist/all-hell/925520478

HIGHER POWER - announce first UK headline tour in 4 years + 'Better' video

UK alt-hardcore quintet Higher Power are pleased to announce an 8-date UK headline tour this October, bringing their new material live to our stages. This is their first UK headline run since 2021! The band's third studio album, There's Love In This World If You Want It, was surprise released digitally in June via Nuclear Blast Records. The album will be released physically on September 19th and is available for pre-order, HERE.

Higher Power have also released a dreamy video for cathartic new track 'Better', which you can view below.

Frontman Jimmy Wizard commented on the video:
"This video couldn’t be anymore honest, we literally turned up at our practice room with no plan but we let the creativity flow and the result is what you get when some friends hang out, exchange ideas and have fun. The rest of the videos have felt very narrative and metaphor based where as this one needed to be super stripped back and we let the music do the talking!"

Stream There's Love In This World If You Want It and pre-order physical copies here: https://higherpower.bfan.link/love

Inner peace. That’s the aim for us all, isn’t it? Well, the truth is that it is always there waiting for you. You just need to work away a little bit to find it, digging deep and questioning yourself to get closer and closer to achieving that ultimate sense of personal zen. It may not always feel like the search is paying off, but there is always potential for that love, compassion and understanding of who you are to seep through. The journey may be challenging, but you’ll be glad that you took part in it in the end.

For Higher Power, that journey has seen them do things that, when they emerged onto the Yorkshire hardcore circuit in 2015, were never even on their radar. From their innocently frantic beginnings of emulating and celebrating legendary bands like Leeway and Merauder for a new generation, even playing their first two shows in the basement of the house owned by The Flexand at an early iteration of Outbreak Fest respectively, the ten years that have followed have seen them ride every ebb and flow that the music industry has to offer. From touring with everyone from Alexisonfire and Neck Deep to Knocked Loose and Angel Du$t to signing to Roadrunner Records for their sophomore full-length 27 Miles Underwater, they have achieved the sort of things that, up until recently, would never have been on the horizon of possibility for a hardcore band of their ilk. Yet, within experiencing the industry mechanics usually reserved for the highest echelons of rock royalty, they also realised they were drifting away from the things that made them want to do all of this in the first place.

The result of putting what feels right for them first is There’s Love In This World If You Want It, a record that encapsulates the Higher Power spirit in a way that only those whose hearts are truly entrenched in the band can produce. Peeling away layers of assumption and ideology placed upon them by others and focusing once more on the genre-splicing experimentation that inspired them to create together in the first place, they have produced nine songs that showcase exactly what they are made of in a screaming rainbow of colour.

UGLY KID JOE 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF MENACE TO SOBRIETY ON BOTH SINGLE AND DELUXE DOUBLE VINYL COMING IN NOVEMBER FROM DEKO ENTERTAINMENT

In 1995 Ugly Kid Joe released their 2nd full length record, Menace To Sobriety. A heavier and darker album than the predecessor, which fit the time, and Kerrang! Magazine called it “the album of year”, yet the album received little to no promotion in the US, validating vocalist, Whitfield Crane’s claim that their label was backing away from them.  

30 years later Menace To Sobriety’s true power is evident, without the bias of the times, and with the years having shown that many of the albums that were ignored by the labels prove to have much more life than the ones they spent their PR budgets on, Ugly Kid Joe may have recorded the heaviest and most consequential album of their careers. Menace saw the addition of drummer Shannon Larkin from Wrathchild America, and later of  Godsmack, and his impact was obvious from the opening of the powerful lead off track “God”. His playing propels the doom of the lead off single “Tomorrow’s World”, a track that shows how big of an influence Black Sabbath was on the band, and one of the stand outs on this album. The bands songwriting shines throughout this album, as does the musicianship, and of course the infamous Ugly Kid Joe sense of humor. “Milman’s Son” shows the depth of the band’s writing, and the different textures of Whit’s voice from smooth to snarl, the melody is memorable and so are the lyrics, sincere, yet humorous.  As the record rolls on we hear the powerful chemistry of the guitar duo of Dave Fortman and Klaus Eichstadt with riffs like “Clover” and the amazing “Jesus Rode A Harley”, and the heavy and funky bass playing of Cordell Crockett.  

View “Milkman’s Son” below:

Deko is proud to bring this album back to vinyl for its first Official Repress in two different formats! The single album reissue is on Ugly Kid Joe Ghostly Green, and a double LP pressed at 45RPM on an explosive Orange A-Side / B-Side Splatter that comes in a gatefold, both featuring the bonus track “Slower Than Nowhere”, which was not included on the US release of the album originally.  Both in limited pressings!  

Ugly Kid Joe was formed in 1989, and has released five full-length albums, two compilation albums and two EPs. They burst on to the scene with As Ugly as They Wanna Be (1991) and America's Least Wanted (1992), which were both certified double platinum by the RIAA; the former is notable for being the first EP to go platinum, and propelled by the hit songs “Everything About You”, “Neighbor”, “So Damn Cool” and the huge cover of “Cats In The Cradle”. The band broke up in 1997, and after a 13 year absence, reformed, and have been recording and touring almost annually ever since, and they show no signs of slowing down.

This is a must have for Ugly Kid Joe fans and continues Deko Entertainment’s mission to bring you some of the best reissues with the best sound quality and packaging from some of your favorite bands. Bringing some of these releases to vinyl for the first time including recent reissues from Union, Trapeze, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Dokken, Slaughter and Warrant.

Pre-order here: https://www.dekoentertainment.com/reissues/ugly-kid-joe 

For more information, visit 

www.dekoentertainment.com 

Deko Entertainment–Art Has Value

Barbarians of California (Feat. AWOLNATION, Tinfed) Return With New Ripper "Modern Fashion"

The West Coast's contribution to hardcore punk is undeniable. That tradition of aggression, passion, and scrappy melodicism continues with The Barbarians Of California, an engaging new manifestation of iconoclastic spirit and true bombast. Featuring Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION and Eric Stenman of Tinfed, as well as being a noted producer, TBOC are equal opportunity iconoclasts, gleefully thrashing the left and the right in the hardcore-punk tradition of nonconformity and raw fury. The band isn't "political," because they aren't advocating for anyone's platform. The central message is defiance.

Today, The Barbarians of California return with the video for the brand new single "MODERN FASHION."

Watch it below.

"Hopefully, 'Modern Fashion' can become a metaphor for whatever you feel like wearing and for whatever music you feel like listening to...never having to explain yourself," declares Bruno.

How many easter eggs can you spot?

The track is built on noisy, choppy riffs that land like electric shocks to your spine. It's gnarly post-hardcore at its absolute finest. 

The band's debut album And Now I'm Just Gnashing My Teeth arrived last year. Get it here.

TBOC will spend the rest of August and September on tour with Deftones. All upcoming TBOC dates are below, including an appearance at RiotFest. 

THE BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA ON TOUR:
WITH DEFTONES:

8/22 — Vancouver, BC — Rogers Arena
8/24 — Edmonton, AB — Rogers Place
8/25 — Calgary, AB — Scotiabank Saddledome
8/27 — Winnipeg, MG — Canada Life Centre
8/29 — Minneapolis, MN — Target Center
8/30 — Milwaukee, WI — Fiserv Forum 
9/1 — Buffalo, NY — KeyBank Center 
9/7 — Quebec, QC — Videotron Centre
9/8 — Montreal, QC — Bell Centre 
9/10 — Cleveland, OH — Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 
9/11 — Baltimore, MD — CFG Bank Arena
9/13 — Saint Louis, MO — Enterprise Center
9/15 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena
9/17 — Kansas City, MO — T-Mobile Center
9/19 — Chicago, IL — Riot Fest*
1/25-1/31 — Shiprocked 2026 

ABOUT THE BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA:
So, who, exactly, are The Barbarians of California? Here's a refresher. 
 
Eric Stenman and Aaron Bruno first collided in the California hardcore scene of the early '90s. Stenman cut his teeth in the same Sacramento community that eventually launched diverse and disparate acts like Deftones, Far, Will Haven, Team Sleep, Hella, Death Grips, and Trash Talk. Bruno was born and raised just north of L.A. and nicknamed "AWOL" by his high school friends.  Eric played guitar for cutting-edge, electro-infused rockers Tinfed. Commercial success eluded them despite a cult following, a deal with a major label, and an appearance on the M:I 2 soundtrack.  Bruno co-founded the hardcore band Insurgence as a teenager. His next band, Home Town Hero, toured with Weezer and Stone Temple Pilots and released a major label album, but combusted in 2004. Next came Under The Influence Of Giants, who, despite critical acclaim, disbanded in 2008. Stenman became one of the most sought-after producers of alternative rock. His discography as a producer, mixer, and engineer includes important releases from 7 Seconds, Senses Fail, ††† (Crosses), and AWOLNATION. AWOLNATION, of course, is the multi-platinum act Bruno formed in 2009. 
 
The spirit of the underground and the personal catharsis delivered through metallic hardcore never left either of them. So, when Aaron learned that Eric crafted a batch of throwback bangers combining impassioned angst with modern sensibilities, he wanted in immediately. The Barbarians were born.  The apparent "full circle" moment isn't lost on either of them. "It's a funny time in our lives to go back and make the most aggressive music we've ever created," Stenman laughs. “Both of us have always had a love for this world. If given the opportunity, why not try to give back to it?"

Kaitlin Butts Releases Official Music Video for Viral Hit "You Ain't Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me)"

Rising country/Americana singer/songwriter Kaitlin Butts has released the official music video for her viral anthem, “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” a track that has taken on a life of its own across TikTok and streaming platforms. Recently spotlighted in Variety for its runaway virality, the song has become a favorite for fans and artists alike, amassing over 123 million TikTok views, 8 million global streams, and inspiring thousands of fan-created videos that showcase its biting lyrics. Watch the video Below.  

The track is featured on her critically lauded album Roadrunner!, which Holler described as “something worthy of the silver screen.” The new video written and conceived by Butts and directed by Chris Beyrooty delivers on that cinematic promise. It harkens back to a classic western tale where the woman declared “unafraid to test boundaries,” by Rolling Stone, is the one administering her own brand of wild west justice offering a striking and comedic take on the track.

“Making this music video was something I’ve wanted to do since I put out this album,” shared Butts. “I’ve had the treatment for it since January 2024, when I was writing the videos for ‘Wild Juanita’s,’ ‘Hunt You Down’ and ‘Other Girls.’ When ‘You Ain’t Gotta Die’ started to have its viral moment, I was so excited to create something I’ve had in my head for so long. We looped in director Chris Beyrooty to help me bring it all to life and I could not be more pleased with how it turned out. I took some inspiration from some of my favorite movies, Holes, Django Unchained and Chicago. Expect a little dance with a side of blood, lipstick and justice.”

The video follows the breakout success of Butts’ 2024 album, Roadrunner!, which solidified her as one of the most inventive songwriters in modern country. She leaned into her lifelong love of musical theater and dreamed up a modern-day reimagining of the soundtrack to her all-time favorite musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!. It was praised as “epic, involved, entertaining, and thought-provoking” by Saving Country Music and hailed as “a brilliant showcase of what happens when you believe in yourself so much – and so well – that the world is left with no other purpose than to bend to your desires, whatever they may be,” by The Tennessean while No Depression called Butts “one of the more creative songwriters making country music right now” the much buzzed about troubadour is showing no signs of slowing down.
 
With a fearless songwriting style that blends humor, vulnerability, and theatricality, Butts has earned a reputation for music that pushes creative boundaries. “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me)” has quickly become a defining moment of her career, bridging the acclaim of Roadrunner! with the viral energy of a new fan-favorite anthem.

This year, Butts will bring her live show to stages across the country, joining some of the genre’s biggest names. She will open for Lainey Wilson on her worldwide Whirlwind Tour, hit the road with Molly Tuttle on The Highway Knows Tour and join Ella Langley on her Still Hungover Tour. She will also reunite with Flatland Cavalry as part of their Flatland Forever(more) Tour, while making appearances at major fairs and festivals, including a highly anticipated set at AmericanaFest 2025.
 
For the latest news and tour dates visit kaitlinbutts.com, and follow along on Instagram, Facebook and X @kaitlinbutts and on TikTok @kaitlinbuttsmusic.

About Kaitlin Butts: 
“Unafraid to test boundaries” (Rolling Stone), Kaitlin Butts fearless approach to country music is helping her reach new heights. In 2024, Butts released her acclaimed album Roadrunner!. She leaned into her lifelong love of musical theater and dreamed up a modern-day reimagining of the soundtrack to her all-time favorite musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, which ended up on numerous best-of year-end lists. “With the last album I wanted to write about the struggles I’d seen people go through or experienced myself, so a lot of the songs had a sadness or darkness to them,” Butts explains. “I feel like Roadrunner! is much closer to what I’m like onstage, where there’s real emotion and truth but also humor and a tendency to poke fun. It’s all those different versions of me at once.” Butts also hit the road hard in 2024, making her Lollapalooza debut, opening for Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne and Flatland Cavalry, and trekking across the U.S. on her first-ever coast-to-coast headlining tour.
 
In 2025, the Tulsa-born, Nashville-based Butts is gearing up for another banner year. Butts will join Lainey Wilson on her Whirlwind Tour this Summer, and will also be featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s latest American Currents exhibition. In the exhibit, Butts is featured alongside artists like Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton and others. Butts has also joined the 2025 Opry Next Stage Class alongside Kashus Culpepper, Tigerlily, Tucker Wetmore, Dasha, Avery Anna and Chayce Beckham, as well as the CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2025.

Toronto’s most determined and hardest‑working power trio, DANKO JONES, let out a mighty roar in Leo Rising

Toronto’s most determined and hardest‑working power trio, DANKO JONES, let out a mighty roar in LeoRising, an eleven-track masterclass in sweat-soaked, no-nonsense rock ’n’ roll. The album – produced to red‑hot perfection by long‑time collaborator Eric Ratz – lands on 21 November 2025 via Perception - A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music and Sonic Unyon (for Canada).

“You know the sound every kid makes with their mouth when they play air guitar?”Danko asks. “That’s still the sound I want to put on every album we make. If we can come close to that sound, that’s an album worth releasing. Eric Ratz produced this album and he knows this about me. I have complete faith in the guitar tones he manages to capture. There weren’t any changes in recording. We still did it all apart from one another, like our previous two albums. JC recorded in Finland, Rich flew in from Prince Edward Island to Toronto to record his drums, and I worked with Eric in Toronto on guitars and vocals.”

Leo Rising is another triumph from one of the most consistent bands in the business. Above all, it showcases the fizzing, electrified chemistry between the three members of this explosive powerhouse. Operating as a stable and harmonious unit since 2013, DANKO JONES join forces on stage every night, united in their love for riffs, melodies, and a raucous, sweat-drenched good fucking time.

“This is the line-up I wish we had from the start,” Danko concludes. “I’m not just saying that because time has already proven it. First and foremost, we all get along with each other onstage and offstage. The mood is always light and nobody’s ego gets in the way. When it comes to writing and recording, we are all on the same page and we service the songs, always!”

Leo Rising may just be the most uplifting and inspirational DANKO JONES album to date. A thunderous display of high octane guitar-driven rock awaits, from the thrill seeking opener "What You Need" to the blues infused seductive delight, "Too Slick For Love". Also lying in wait on Leo Rising is the power-pop hit "Everyday Is Saturday Night" which brings the party vibes with a catchy lyrical hook you'll find yourself repeating everyday of the week. "It's A Celebration" sees the energy continue flowing with fiery rhythms across the dynamic track. Unafraid to reveal a grittier side as the distortion is turned up a notch, the sleaze-metal leaning "Pretty Stuff" is followed by the edgy "Gotta Let It Go". 

About DANKO JONES:
Every time someone announces the death of rock ‘n’ roll, Canada’s most incendiary power trio roll with the punches and keep rocking with maximum commitment to the cause. DANKO JONES are a three-piece rock ‘n’ roll band from Toronto. They never sleep. They sweat blood. And they are keeping rock alive by doing it better than anyone else.
 
On duty since 1996, these unstoppable road-hogs have devoted their lives to rousing the people with blistering, no-bullshit, all-action rock. They have rallied a global army of rock-hungry fans, and blown them away with a steady stream of explosive, anthem-packed albums and an absurd number of live shows. From early underground smashes like We Sweat Blood [2003] and Sleep Is The Enemy [2006], to the band’s recent, triumphant triumvirate of A Rock Supreme [2019], Power Trio [2021] and Electric Sounds [2023], DANKO JONES have been a relentless force for rock ‘n’ roll good, both in the studio and on the road. And they have absolutely no intention of stopping.
 
“You know what? I like the routine of recording, touring, writing, and repeat,” states singer/guitarist, Danko Jones himself. “I can do that till I’m dead! It may sound boring, but it’s so hard for a band to achieve. I don’t take this lightly. Also, it’s a page out of the MOTÖRHEAD handbook so it works! Since “Electric Sounds” we’ve been touring and touring. We managed to play in Mexico and Greece for the first time, and we even played Prince Edward Island, a province in Canada we’d never been to before. Other than that, it’s been a life of gigs and writing more songs to play more gigs!”
 
Proving that their time was well-spent, Danko, bassist John Calabrese and drummer Rich Knox have conjured yet another blazing banquet of nourishing rock goodness on their 12th studio record, due for release later this year.

DANKO JONES are:
Danko Jones | vocals, guitars
John Calabrese | bass
Rich Knox  | drums