METAL HALL OF FAME TAKES OVER THE SUNSET STRIP FOR 2026 BLOWOUT BASH

"We invite all the fans to join us in celebrating the 80's," says Metal Hall of Fame Founder/CEO Pat Gesualdo. "Get ready to unleash your inner metal spirit, and Dress in Leather, Studs, Big Hair, and All The Metal You Can Handle Two iconic venues, one legendary night!! 

Hosted by Eddie Trunk and entertainment personality Cathy Rankin

2026 Sunset Strip Takeover Inductees 
 

* CELEBRITY RED CARPET - Rainbow Bar And Grill (6:00PM-8:00PM).

* METAL HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS / ALL STAR JAM - Roxy Theater (8:00PM)

* Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns, Guns N' Roses Co-Founder)

* Chris Holmes (Former W.A.S.P., Mean Man) Inducted by Carlos Cavazo

* Warren DeMartini (RATT, "Pearcy/DeMartini")

* Riki Rachtman (MTV / Headbangers Ball)

* Rikki Rockett (Poison, Rockett Mafia)

* All-Star Jam!!


This special celebration of the Sunset Strip will also include sponsorship activation from Monster Energy AMA Supercross (With some of their Superstar Riders), Ghost Tequilia, Koffin Krew Apparel, and Dimebag Darrell's Blacktooth Whiskey!! Please Note: A Limited number of tickets are available!!

GET TICKETS HERE:
https://www.axs.com/events/1221628/metal-hall-of-fame-tickets

The Metal Hall of Fame (MHOF) is a non-profit organization. Legendary entertainment executives oversee all of the Metal Hall of Fame initiatives, including, Pat Gesualdo (Founder, Metal Hall of Fame/Studio-Touring Drummer), Wendy Dio (Founder, Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund), David Ellefson (Formerly of Megadeth), (Michael Sarna Inmotion Entertainment Inc), Jimmy Kay (The Metal Voice,) Munsey Ricci (Skateboard Marketing), George Johnsen (Mammoth Vision Studio), Brian Perera,(Founder, Cleopatra Records).

The Annual Metal Hall of Fame Celebrity Gala has included historical moments throughout Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. From having Sharon and OzzyOsbourne join with us to have former Ozzy drummer Lee Kerslake achieve his dying wish of receiving his Platinum Record Awards for the "Blizzard of Ozz," and "Diary of A Madman" albums. Having: Metallica Induct Megaforce Recordsfounders Jon and Marsha Zazula. Inducting Judas Priest at Wacken Open Air.Inducting Steve Vai, Triumph, Geoff Tate, and members of KISS and Iron Maiden. Inducting Anthrax at Heavy Montreal. Having Paul Stanley Induct KISSmanager Doc McGhee. Having Brian May of Queen Induct Joe Satriani. These are just some of the memories that the Metal Hall of Fame has shared with Hard Rock and Heavy Metal fans throughout the world.

As always, fans can vote at www.metalhalloffame.org for their favorite bands to be Inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame.
 

For more information, please call 973-263-0420, or visit: www.metalhalloffame.org.

SYLOSIS - Announce 2026 Studio Album 'The New Flesh' + Drop Crushing-As-Hell Title Track

Today, SYLOSIS have revealed the first details of their seventh studio album, titled The New Flesh, slated to drop on February 20th 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The collosal tetrad featuring Josh Middleton (guitar/lead vocals), Ali Richardson(drums), Conor Marshall (guitar) and Ben Thomas (bass), have also unleashed a god-tier single, the album title track 'The New Flesh'.

SYLOSIS stated,
"Introducing The New Flesh. This is us solidifying the line up of the band and moving forward with a new sense of purpose and aggression. After having spent so much of the last 2 years on the road, The New Flesh, and the songs that will follow from the album, have been written with the live environment in mind. There is an energy running through these songs that we’ve never felt on a Sylosis album, until now. We'll see you all in 2026 - Josh, Ali, Ben, Conor"

Pre-order album The New Flesh here: https://sylosis.os.fan/
Watch 'The New Flesh' video Below:
Stream 'The New Flesh' track here: https://sylosis.os.fan/

Across January and February 2026, SYLOSIS will be tearing across the UK and Europe for their biggest ever tour.

Tickets on-sale now via https://sylosis-band.com

SYLOSIS will also be touring North America across April and May 2026 with BLEED FROM WITHIN, GREAT AMERICAN GHOST & LIFE CYCLES Full dates are here:

NORTH AMERICA 2026
w/ BLEED FROM WITHIN, GREAT AMERICAN GHOST & LIFE CYCLES

02.04 - Worcester MA, The Palladium
03.04 - Montreal QC, Theatre Beanfield
04.04 - Toronto ON, Opera House
06.04 - Philadelphia PA, Theatre of the Living Arts
07.04 - Lakewood OH, The Roxy
08.04 - Millville PA, Mr Smalls
10.04 - Detroit MI, St Andrew’s Hall
11.04 - Grand Rapids MI, Elevation
12.04 - Chicago IL, House of Blues
14.04 - Minneapolis MN, Varsity Theatre
15.04 - Lincoln NE, Bourbon Theatre
17.04 - Englewood CO, Gothic Theatre
19.04 - Boise ID, Shrine Social Club
20.04 - Seattle WA, The Crocodile
21.04 - Portland OR, Hawthorne Theatre
22.04 - Roseville CA, Goldfield Trading Post
24.04 - Los Angeles CA, The Regent Theatre 
25.04 - Pomona CA, The Glass House
26.04 - Phenoix AZ, Crescent Ballroom
28.04 - Austin TX, Come and Take It Live
29.04 - Dallas TX, Granada Theater 
01.05 - Tampa FL, The Orpheum
02.05 - Atlanta GA, The Masquerade (Hell)
03.05 - Greensboro NC, Hangar 1819
05.05 - Richmond VA, Canal Club
06.05 - Baltimore MD, Nevermore Hall
07.05 - New York NY, Gramercy Theatre

Tickets on-sale now via https://sylosis-band.com

When the going gets tough, metal gets heavier. SYLOSIS have always been devoted to the fine art of breaking necks, but in recent times, the urgency of their mission has grown exponentially. Still surfing on a wave of acclaim and the effusive fan response to their last album, 2023’s A Sign Of Things To Come, Josh Middleton’s virtuoso wrecking crew are poised to release their latest and best album, The New Flesh. A towering testament to destructive riffing, incisive melody and refined brute force, the band’s seventh full-length offering is a powerful showcase for the state of SYLOSIS in 2025: lethal, uncompromising, and avowedly metal as all hell.  

The New Flesh is a fearsome statement of renewed intent. Harder, heavier and more ruthless than its predecessor, it is full of the kind of explosive, riff-driven anthems that guarantee carnage in the pit. But this is no exercise in mindless bludgeon: instead, Josh Middleton has penned his most evocative and thought-provoking songs to date. From the punishing grooves and breakneck viciousness of the opening 'Beneath The Surface', to the epic conflagration of album closer 'Seeds In The River', The New Flesh is an artful and nuanced take on the pure metal that SYLOSIS hold close to their hearts. This is brutality and catchiness in perfect symbiosis.   

Dark and destructive, but dynamic and diligent, SYLOSIS are on blistering, career-best form on The New Flesh. The purposeful reset that began with The Sign Of Things To Come has evolved into something unstoppable, and the band’s latest work brims with confidence and authority. If it’s skull-shattering, 21st century heavy metal you want, The New Flesh brings it like never before.  

IWAN Unleashes a New Era of Power Rock with the Explosive New Single "BLACK AND BLUE"

“Black and Blue” was born from two sides of my life that most people never imagine existing together: surviving domestic violence and responding to it as a police officer. I’ve lived both. And for a long time, denial convinced me I could “help” someone become the person I believed they could be. Looking back, that belief was pure delusion.

While my heart was breaking, it was held together by hope—hope that acted like a chain, wrapped around old scars I thought had healed. Like many survivors, I learned that with every bright day came a storm. “Black and Blue” is my story as someone who didn’t yet understand narcissistic abuse, but paid the price of learning it firsthand.

This experience taught me that growth has no age limit and shame has no place in survival. In the first verse, I sing about using up “nine lives” like a cat—yet every time, I stood back up. Now I use my voice to reach the person who might be standing where I once stood. If you see a red flag: run. It’s not a parade. Abuse doesn’t get better. You cannot love someone into changing. Narcissists project; they

don’t evolve.

“Blue lights, white lies” refers to the night I finally opened the door for the police. That moment ended my relationship. He wanted me to lie—“get the story right”—but bruises don’t lie.

Like my song “Warriors,” this track is meant to empower. Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate—age, gender, background, none of it protects you. And as a former cop, even a professional problem-solver, I learned that some problems can’t be fixed. They must be walked away from.

I didn’t stay because of low self-esteem. Mine was solid. I stayed because I thought love could save someone. But only God has that power.

I turned a bad experience into something meaningful—my new single, “Black and Blue.”

I hope it helps someone recognize the truth sooner than I did."

BIO:

A former NYPD officer turned powerhouse vocalist, IWAN isn’t just another name in rock—she’s a movement. Her journey has been one of solitude and resilience, of standing alone but never backing down. That relentless fire fuels her music, turning raw emotion into anthems that cut deep and refuse to be ignored.

Drawing inspiration from icons like Scott Stappand Creed, IWAN blends the grit of classic rock with the intensity of alternative, channeling struggle into strength. Her songs don’t just play; they ignite. With searing riffs, haunting vocals, and lyrics that hit like a gut punch, she crafts a sound that’s both defiant and deeply human.

Her music is a battle cry for the fighters, the outsiders, and those who refuse to break. Somewhere between Joan Jett’s rebellion and Mad Max’s recklessness, IWAN is both force and fury—polished yet raw,

powerful yet unfiltered.

She isn’t just stepping onto the scene—she’s commanding it. With a fan base craving realness and a no-BS attitude, she’s here to

leave a mark.

“I want to be remembered,” she says. “I want someone to say my music helped

them through.”

KVRMA Unveils Haunting New Single “Drown Inside A Lullaby”

Atmospheric alt-rock powerhouse KVRMA returns with one of their most haunting and immersive releases to date:

“Drown Inside A Lullaby.”

Blending cinematic soundscapes, emotional turbulence, and mesmerizing vocal performances, the new single showcases the band at their most vulnerable — and their

most powerful.

“Drown Inside A Lullaby” A hard hitting song that details the tortured mindset of someone in the process of succumbing to addiction

Built on soaring melodies, hypnotic rhythms, and lyrics that cut deep, KVRMA crafts a sound that feels equal parts fragile and ferocious. The track dances between shadow and light, pulling listeners into a melancholic dreamscape where comfort and chaos collide.

Musically, “Drown Inside A Lullaby” is a lush evolution of KVRMA’s sonic identity, weaving together atmospheric guitars, pulsing basslines, and swelling vocals that rise like a tide before crashing into a breaking wave of emotion. It’s the band’s most cinematic production yet — intimate enough to feel whispered in your ear, but massive enough to shake a stadium.



With “Drown Inside A Lullaby,” KVRMA solidifies their place as one of the most compelling rising voices in modern alternative music, delivering a piece that resonates long after the

final note fades.

ABOUT KVRMA

KVRMA is a high energy rock and metal band hailing from Central Pennsylvania. The band consists of musicians with years of experience. Secretly beginning in August of 2023, the band quickly began writing music and recording at Atrium Audio with Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland. The band released their first single “SILENCE” in April of 2024 and subsequently announced the forming of the band to the public.

KVRMA is honored to be nominated for Best New Band and Best Hard Rock band at this year's Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame

In under a year of being an official band, KVRMAhave recorded and released an entire EP, they have done three music videos acquiring thousands of views, and are looking to get more under their belt. Their debut performance was opening for New Years Day. This is only the beginning.

KVRMA IS:

Jackson Gurecki | Vocals

Michael Nelson | Vocals/Guitar

AJ Lopez | Guitar

Tyler Travis | Bass

Dane Lowell | Drums

Kyle Wilkinson | former drummer special shout out 

SATURN’S DOWNFALL IGNITES A NEW ERA WITH THEIR EARTH-SHAKING SINGLE “CHASING GRAVITY”

Rising rock juggernaut SATURNS DOWNFALL launches into an entirely new stratosphere with the release of their electrifying new single, “Chasing Gravity,” a high-voltage collision of intensity, atmosphere, and raw alt-metal power. The track marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for the band as they sharpen their sonic identity and push their artistic boundaries further than ever before.



With “Chasing Gravity,” SATURNS DOWNFALL fuses soaring vocals, relentless grooves, and cosmic-scale production into a song that feels both weightless and crushing at the same time. The result: an undeniable anthem built for massive stages, late-night drives, and fans who crave music that hits on every emotional frequency.

About “Chasing Gravity” 

Brady Hearn - “Chasing Gravity’ came from one of the most honest places we’ve ever written from. Every beat and every lyric carries the weight of what we’ve lived through. It’s raw, it’s emotional, and it represents exactly who we are at our core.”

Colby Bennett - “The song is a look inside addiction’s grip — the highs, the lows, and the fight to rise above the force that keeps pulling you back down.”

BIO:

Formed in 2025 out of raw passion and friendship,

SATURNS DOWNFALL is a hard-hitting rock/metal force from York, Pennsylvania. Blending cosmic intensity with deeply human emotion. Founded by drummer Brady Hearn (Windsor, PA), the band was built on pounding rhythms, haunting melodies, and a vision to create music that feels larger than life.

From the very beginning, SATURNS DOWNFALL carried family and friendship at its core. Brady’s father, Scott Hearn, played a vital role in shaping the band’s songwriting foundation, bringing wisdom and craft to the musical direction. On the front lines, longtime friend Colby Bennett delivers soaring clean and gritty vocals, channeling the raw energy and emotion that define the band’s sound.

Together, SATURNS DOWNFALL delivers music that feels both timeless and modern—an echo of classic rock/metal influences with a vision firmly set on the future. With themes of struggle, rebirth, and cosmic destiny woven into every track, SATURNS DOWNFALL invites listeners to step into their World: one where heavy riffs, anthemic hooks, and unrelenting passion collide.

Their debut single ‘Chasing Gravity’ has already gained early radio traction across the U.S. and internationally — including spins on 92.7 WQLZ, 105.7 The X, The Sound, 97.9X, Australia’s Valley FM 89.5, and a #4 placement on an independent Top 10 countdown.

Upon Wings Drop Metalcore Single "Velvet Shadow" + Holiday Song

Upon Wings' new single, "Velvet Shadow," is ethereal, dark, dreamy, and totally irresistible. From the very first beat, it grabs you — dark, intense, and heartbreakingly beautiful — and doesn't let go. This isn’t just a song; it's a gothic metalcore anthem that flirts with your emotions while slamming you with crushing guitar riffs and industrial punches. And those angelic vocals from Anne Autumn Erickson? They wrap around your heart and whisper straight into your soul.

Upon Wings' latest song "Velvet Shadow" fits right next to bands such as Bad Omens and Falling in Reverse, but it's a sound all their own.

ABOUT UPON WINGS "VELVET SHADOW"
"Velvet Shadow" is all about juxtaposition — soft and sweet, hard and heavy, tender and terrifying. There's metalcore fury, industrial grit, and even a touch of techno that sneaks in. It's playful, it's dramatic, it's intoxicating — and you might just find yourself hitting replay because you need more. The industrial edge gives it bite, the subtle techno adds rhythm, and the layering keeps you discovering little surprises every listen.

At its core, "Velvet Shadow" is unapologetically emotional, wildly beautiful, and simply angelic. Gothic yet soaring, aggressive yet tender, heavy yet flirtatious — Upon Wings have crafted a track that pulls at your heart while slamming your soul with power. It's a song to get lost in, to feel everything at once, and maybe even to fall a little in love with.

"Velvet Shadow" isn't just music. It's a tender confession that's going to linger in your head long after the last note fades.

As 2025 wraps up, Upon Wings' music has been making waves online. Their 2022 single "Last Love" has garnered more than 27,000 streams on Spotify, and their 2023 follow-up "Distant Memory" is at more than 12,000 Spotify streams. Both of those songs feature guitars from Kevin Jardine and pummeling rhythms from Kyng drummer Pepe Clarke Magaña, while "Distant Memory" also features a shredding guitar solo from Lita Ford guitarist Patrick Kennison. The band's debut single, "Afterlife," featuring Brett Hestla of Creed and Dark New Day, sits at more than 18,000 Spotify streams.

Listen to "Velvet Shadow" on all platforms. 

Find Upon Wings on Spotify and Apple Music.

Anne of Upon Wings also has a solo project, and with it, she just released a brand new, original Christmas single, called "Snow Is Falling."

"Snow Is Falling" is the ultimate Christmas song. It's pure cozy magic wrapped in a pop-trap beat you can't resist. It's heartfelt, fun, and festive, a pop Christmas song with trap energy that feels like sipping hot cocoa by the fire. It's everything wonderful about the holidays wrapped into one little song.

"Snow Is Falling" offers a sparkling, heartwarming pop track with a holiday trap beat that glistens with bells and sparkling beats. It's fun, sweet, and irresistible, mixing modern, angelic vocals with rhythms that pulse and sparkle like freshly fallen snow.

The vocals are the heart of the song. Anne's sweet, whispery, emotive voice carries the lyrics, and it truly feels like a new classic. "Snow Is Falling" simply captures the magic of the season. It's the ultimate modern Christmas song, offering something angelic, playful, and sparkling with energy. That makes it impossible not to fall in love with — just like the first snow of the season.

Stream and download "Snow is Falling" on all platforms.

Find Anne's solo music on Spotify and Apple Music.

MICHAEL MONROE New Video/ Single ‘DISCONNECTED’ OUT NOW New Album – OUTERSTELLAR – OUT FEBRUARY 20

Michael Monroe releases the irresistibly anthemic second single ‘Disconnected’ from forthcoming new studio album Outerstellar, set for release on February 20th via Silver Lining Music. For pre-orders go to this location.

‘Disconnected’ speaks of something that Michael Monroefeels passionately about: that live music is a rare and vital space for people to find each other in the moment.

“Technology was supposed to bring people closer together, when, in fact, people are more disconnected than ever. They're looking at their phones and their computers and downloading stuff” comments Michael Monroe. “And, you know, the Internet can't take away the experience of being at a live show. You're on stage, and you communicate with the audience who are there, in that moment. That's where the magic really happens, and absolutely no program or device or computer can reproduce that!”

Watch/Listen to ‘Disconnected’ Below;

The new album Outerstellar, is an experience as much as a collection of great songs, a sweet smelling, leathery, glitter-shimmered, sweat-soaked raunch and punch wrapped in one of the great voices in rock ‘n’ roll. The harmonies and vibes roll effortlessly in silk scarves, lounging in leather pants with liquor and a smile on a beat-up sofa in those small AM hours. And the sheer attitude, which screams carefree (not careless!) confidence (not arrogance!), a cocksure sense of self-bathed in the sheer joy of playing real rock ‘n’ roll the right way.

The recently released first video and single, ‘Rockin’ Horse’, is a defiant blast against critics and judges and comes with one of the craziest Michael Monroe videos you’ve ever seen. “I am who I am and I'm not going to edit myself for your benefit,”Michael says unequivocally for anyone who might doubt that fact.

Watch/Listen to ‘Rockin’ Horse’ here – video by Leigh Brooks.

From loud crashing guitars to harmonicas, to gorgeous acoustic moments, you’ll sing, you’ll dance, you’ll shiver, you’ll shake, and you’ll smell this wonderful exhilarating record in all its weathered biker jacket incense-coated glory and you’ll also realize that whatever the hell is going on in the world right now, when you put this album on, it’s an instant escape to carefree days and an emancipation from worries, fears and woes.  

Outerstellar will see a whole burst of life onstage when Michael Monroe and the band bring it to stages internationally over the next year. It is EXACTLY what rock ‘n’ roll in its truest sense is meant to be, in fact, just stop reading this, get off your ‘Rockin’ Horse’ and go see Michael Monroe on tour at your first opportunity! In support of the release of Outerstellar, Michael Monroe and band will embark on a UK co-headline tour with Buckcherry, kicking off in Southampton on February 24th. For a full list of upcoming shows and tickets visit: michaelmonroe.com – more dates to be announced.

Outerstellar will be available on Limited Edition 12” White Vinyl, 12” Turquoise Vinyl, 12” Black Vinyl, CD Digipak, Digital Download, Streaming and special D2C bundles. Available to pre-order now at this location 

Band Line-Up:

Michael Monroe - Lead vocals, Harmonica

Steve Conte - Guitars, Vocals

Rich Jones - Guitars, Vocals

Karl Rockfist - Drums

Sami Yaffa - Bass, Vocals

Follow Michael Monroe:

www.facebook.com/michaelmonroeofficial 

www.x.com/michaelmonroe 

www.instagram.com/michaelmonroeofficial

www.michaelmonroe.com/web/

www.tiktok.com/@officialmichaelmonroe 

'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster' - new album from Manchester electronic outfit Scissorgun out now

UK electronic outfit Scissorgun present their album 'Scream If You Wanna Go Faster', releases via Dimple Discs. A must-have for Factory Records collectors, they mix urban electronica with fuzz and wah guitar, these trailblazers present a solid collection of songs, dances and abstract soundscapes. The vinyl includes seven tracks, while the digital and CD versions include three bonus tracks. Ahead of its release, they presented the tracks 'Gone Rogue' and 'Bad As Bingo'.

Formed in Manchester in August 2016, Scissorgun is an electronic trio comprised of Dave Clarkson (synths, rhythms, tapes, percussion), Alan Hempsall (vocals, treated guitar, samples, loops) and Adrian Ball (light show and projections). Carriers of Factory Records' legacy, this project is based on the central premise that everything must come from improvisation. Their musical scope is varied - pastoral dreams one minute and, the next, crashing swathes of noise chased down with a dub twist.

“We always operate on instinct and improvisation is the key starting point. Some ideas become structured songs, but others remain as first recorded, with the music finding us and not vice versa. The title is a soft attempt at social comment, intended to be inferred rather than overt," says Dave Clarkson.

"The idea for 'Gone Rogue' started with a busy electro bass line and, as soon as we found a good quote from a conspiracy theorist on social media, the whole thing seemed to turn into a polemic against turning your back on humanity in revulsion. We dwell on the impact of the fight for our attention on the individual and the damage done. All the while, the driving beat is pushing us on with heavy cowbells and pulsing bass. We’ll all feel better if we dance."

Alan Hempsall adds, "As for 'Bad as Bingo', we were both overjoyed when this came out of the mincing machine. We’d been looking for something with a go-go beat to it, so this was perfect. The words flowed automatically as the best ones always do. Broad brush observations of a situation gone bad coupled with a mawkish sentimentality for what’s lost. The glitching and grinding bass line and barking dogs take on a life of their own. Suddenly it all makes sense and the initial spark revolts into structure and form."

Alan and Dave first met in 2007 when Dave’s band, Triclops, were supporting Biting Tongues at Islington Mill in Salford. Alan was in the audience and was so taken with Triclops’s performance that he wandered over to show appreciation and a friendship was struck up, bonding over a mutual weakness for early industrial, rock and modern jazz. After nine years of gig-hopping and hanging out, the timing was suddenly right for them to organise some jam sessions to see what came out.

It so happens that both of their bands were on hiatus at the time. While Dave Clarkson was in Triclops from 2000 to 2015, he was in White Cube prior to that. He since boasts an extensive catalogue of solo works.

As for Alan Hempsall, he was the vocalist for Crispy Ambulance, who was on Factory Records from 1980 to 1982, before spending five years in the mid ‘80’s playing percussion in a Brazilian Samba band. Hempsall also famously appeared on stage with Joy Division in April 1980, standing in for Ian Curtis at a show in Bury that descended into a riot.

"As with any album, we operate on instinct. Improvisation is the key starting point. At this moment, anything can and generally does come out. The bizarre accidents and serendipity that occur during this process are the parts we keep. Those moments that feel like you’re merely the vessel that the music is transmitted through," says Alan Hempsell.

Dave Clarkson adds, "Some ideas gradually emerge into structured songs whilst others have the fortitude to remain in their original form to some extent or another. Yet no conscious decision is made. We are not in control. It is the music that finds the musicians. As the body of work is growing and developing, it seems to take on its own identity, something else we appear to have little influence on. So, there is an element of Praxis at work here, we’ll do it because we want to and think up the reasons why later."

Prior to this album, Scissorgun released three albums - ‘Assault Two’ (2017), ‘All You Love Is Need’ (2020) and ‘Psychological Colouring Book’ (2021). They frequently perform live and have opened for such artists as Wolfgang Flur, Wrangler and Eric Random.

‘Scream If You Wanna Go Faster’ is out now, available via Bandcamp - both digitally and as a signed white label vinyl release (with colour paper photocopy of a brilliant sleeve). It can also be ordered on CD and cyan-coloured vinyl directly from select record shops.

CREDITS
All music written performed and recorded by Scissorgun
Dave Clarkson – synths, keyboards, loops, electronic drums & field recordings
Alan Hempsall – vocals, words, treated guitars, effects & found sounds
Engineering & production by Dave Clarkson
Mastering by Peter Beckmann at Technology Works, East Lothian
Scissorgun device by Kevin Craig
Sleeve design by Bruce
Photography by Wayne Goodman
Recorded over the course of 2024 at Cavendish House Studio, Manchester, UK
With thanks to Adrian Ball at Hollowsphere, AV
Released by Dimple Discs
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


Keep up with Scissorgun 
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Keep up with Dimple Discs
Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter  | Instagram | Proper Music | Press contact

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The Quality of Mercury unveils stunning video for 'The Voyager', title track from new album

Alternative rock artist The Quality of Mercury has unveiled his debut video for 'The Voyager', the title track from his sophomore album 'The Voyager', a cinematic journey that explores overarching themes of distance, discovery and transformation, previewed by the singles 'Heaven's Gate' and 'Ganymede'. 

Set against an infinite backdrop of silent galaxies and infinite star systems, the song follows a lone voyager drifting deeper into the unknown. As distant horizons stretch endlessly outward, the lyrics reveal a psyche slowly warping under the weight of solitude—haunting whispers, fading purpose, and the desperate craving for contact in a universe that never answers. Atmospheric and emotionally charged, the track captures the eerie beauty and psychological unraveling that come from traveling too far beyond the reach of anything at all.
 
The Quality of Mercury is Pennsylvania-based artist Jeremiah Rouse, who handles everything from writing and performing to engineering. Nine years since his debut 'Transmission' album, his new album is both anthemic and accessible, cinematic and catchy - a perfect blend of muscle and melody.

“With 'The Voyager', I tried to capture what happens when the hunt for purpose leads you past the edge of the familiar.  It’s about the thin line between exploration and unraveling. Inspired by the grand, meditative science-fiction films I’ve always loved, it explores what happens when you travel so far into the stars that reality starts to shimmer," says Jeremiah Rouse. 

"It’s a story of distance, of isolation reshaping the mind, and of finding a strange beauty in the infinite.  My overall intention with this song was to capture the essence of the album as a whole and to bring the listener on the journey with me.”

The accompanying video was created by Italian multi-arts visionary Francesca Bonci, known for her work with Tombstones In Their Eyes, Federale (BJM's Collin Hegna), Philip Parfitt, The Dandy Warhols' Peter G. Holmström a.k.a. Pete International Airport and Slowdive's Rachel Goswell.
 
"'The Voyager' album is an adventurous journey that explores different terrains and sensations: exhilaration, anxiety, longing and introspection. This groovesome, graceful and grand music with space-rock atmospherics speaks to our deep need for connection. His ongoing search for meaning is woven into songs that range from bursts of excitement to moments of quiet reflection. 

Jeremiah Rouse shares, "'This album is born from a deep place of longing -- for connection, for meaning, for something beyond the surface of everyday life. It’s about the desperation we often feel when distance, whether emotional, spiritual, or physical, gets in the way of our need to connect truly."

With majestic imagination and propulsive energy, Rouse's work is preoccupied with the thrill of the sublime universe, chronicling epic intergalactic voyages and the faint echo of cosmic transmissions from untold distances. Expansive and absorbing, each track a grand yet meticulously detailed aural landscape. Ambitious but simple, this music reveals something new every time it's heard. Tiny flourishes, subtle swells, and sound elements moving across the stereo field are placed with painstaking precision, often blooming unexpectedly or emerging decisively at the optimal moment.

With a background in film production and a lifelong love of sci-fi cinema, Rouse approaches songwriting with a distinctly visual mindset. Every song is imagined like a scene from a movie — framed, lit, and paced as though it were a short film. That cinematic sensibility, combined with a meticulous approach to sound design, results in music that’s as emotionally resonant as it is sonically rich.

'The Voyager' album is out now, available from fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
All music written, performed and recorded by Jeremiah Rouse
Back up vocals by Violet Rouse
Drums performed and recorded by Mario Quintero at AudioMQ Studio
Final Mixes by Mario Quintero at AudioMQ Studio
Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music
Album artwork created by Jeremiah Rouse
Artist photos by Matthew Hamm
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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Chase Rice Partners With Boot Barn to Showcase Cody James Black 1978® Collection

11x Platinum-certified singer-songwriter Chase Rice has teamed up with Boot Barn and Cody James for an exclusive collaboration to showcase the new curated collection from Cody James Black 1978®, an elevated line of men’s western wear within the Cody James brand. 
 
Cody James is an industry-leading label in men’s western, country, and work wear, and its Cody James Black 1978® collection features an upscale assortment of handmade boots, handcrafted hats, and high-quality western pieces that blend the grit of the West with sleek Nashville style. 

Chase Rice stars in the brand’s new winter campaign, shot in early November on Rice’s 153-acre farm and bison ranch in Franklin, Tennessee, known as Twin Eagles Creek Farm. In the campaign, Rice models a range of Cody James Black 1978® pieces, including classic cowboy boots, hats, denim, and outerwear.
 
“Cody James Black 1978® is an elevated collection of western-inspired country pieces that embody the spirit of the American West,” says Isha Nicole, SVP of Marketing and Creative at Boot Barn. “Chase Rice is the perfect partner for our collaboration, because he embodies that spirit of country pride. As well as being an incredibly talented country music artist, Chase Rice is an avid farmer, huntsman, and outdoorsman. He doesn’t just write and sing about a lifestyle rooted in the heartland—he truly lives it.”
 
Florida-born Chase Rice was raised on a farm in Asheville, North Carolina, where his love for hunting and deep-rooted country values first took shape. Rice has forged a lifelong admiration for the American West that defines who he is and the rugged storytelling in his music. Now fifteen years into a celebrated country music career, Rice’s enduring affinity for the West shines proudly through on his latest album, ELDORA, released in September. When he’s not on stage, Rice can be found working his land and raising bison on his Tennessee ranch, a passion he’s pursued since 2021.
 
“Partnering with Boot Barn and Cody James was a natural fit,” says Rice. “They want to share a piece of the American spirit with everyone, whether that’s through a pair of cowboy boots or supporting country music, so our values are a good match. Having the team shoot everything here on my farm was a great experience. This is the place where I draw so much inspiration for my music—it’s part of who I am— so getting to share that side of my life and that pride in country living was something special.”
 
The Cody James Black 1978® curated collection featuring Chase Rice is available online at codyjames.com and bootbarn.com, as well as in over 500 Boot Barn retail stores across the country.

About Chase Rice
Few artists have had the enduring impact on country music Chase Rice can claim—and fewer still possess the courage to leave it in the past and blaze a new trail. A true singer- songwriter with success in both disciplines, Rice’s 15-year career has taken the Florida-born North Carolina native to chart peaks and global stages, but with his eighth studio album, ELDORA, his only destination is the American West. A 10x Platinum artist who burst onto the country scene as a Diamond certified songwriter (“Cruise”), while hits like “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” and “Eyes On You” helped Rice post two No. 1’s at Country Radio, igniting a movement through chest-thumping euphoria and bold romantic passion. He sold out international tours and shared stadium billing with Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney, before leaving the major label system for good. Now, with full independence and over 3 billion streams to his credit, ELDORA signals Rice’s dedication to the storytelling craft. Written in Colorado and inspired by a hidden mountainside town, the 12-song set is easily the most raw, unguarded expression of Rice’s talent to date – born in the afterglow of an epic show at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Working hand-in-hand with co-writer/producer Oscar Charles, Rice adopts the unfiltered, rough-hewn approach of an off-the-grid maverick, both embodying the Western mystique, and boldly going where few of his stature would dare.
 
About Cody James and Cody James Black 1978®
Cody James is a leading label in men’s western, country, and work wear. Cody James was created in 2010, and what started as a men’s denim line quickly grew to include western wear, everyday staples, work wear, and their upscale country-western line, Cody James Black 1978®. The Cody James Black 1978® collection features pieces of exceptional craftsmanship, including handcrafted hats, handmade boots, and more high-quality western pieces. For more information, visit codyjames.com.
 
About Boot Barn
Boot Barn is the largest western and work wear retailer in the nation. Founded in 1978, Boot Barn operates 500 stores across 49 states, in addition to several e-commerce sites, including bootbarn.com.
 
Boot Barn says that their customers feed America, build America, and protect America. With an uncompromising desire to support the local communities they serve, Boot Barn proudly offers the broadest selection of cowboy boots, work boots, western wear, workwear, western-inspired fashion pieces, and outdoor gear to support the varying lifestyles of the people who make our country so great. For more information, visit bootbarn.com.

RYAN AND RORY TURN EMPTY ROOMS INTO COUNTRY GOLD WITH "LAWN CHAIR IN THE LIVING ROOM"

BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s rising duo Ryan and Rory cap off a milestone year with “Lawn Chair In The Living Room,” available everywhere this Friday, November 28. Pre-add/Pre-save HERE.

Written by Ryan Follesé, Rory John Zak, Andy Albert, Trannie Anderson, and Kevin Bard, the song paints a vivid picture of what life looks like before finding that person who turns a house into a home. With easy charm and a dose of self-deprecating humor, the duo reflects on bachelor-life décor – a cable box on the floor, a lawn chair in the living room – and how love changes everything from the furniture to the feeling of belonging.

“Rory had a difficult breakup early this year,” says Ryan Follesé. “And then he came home to an empty house… a circumstance that, to songwriters, inspires a great song title: 'Lawn Chair In The Living Room.'"

“I decided to turn heartbreak into interior design, at least that’s what a guy would call it,” laughs Rory John Zak. “Ryan and I, along with our co-writers, thought this was the perfect time to turn lemons into lemonade.”

Following standout releases including “Together Again (feat. Jamey Johnson)” and “Girls Are Pretty,” the new release marks the final chapter in Ryan and Rory’s 2025 run, a year defined by breakout momentum and a packed tour schedule. Their chemistry, storytelling, and humor continue to shine through as they close the year sharing the stage with John Morgan and the James Barker Band across the U.S. and Canada.

2025 TOUR DATES | Tickets HERE
Nov 24—Lethbridge, Canada*
Nov 26—Medicine Hat, Canada*
Nov 27—Calgary, Canada*
Nov 28—Denver, CO~
Nov 29—Colorado Springs, CO~
Nov 30—Grand Junction, CO~
Dec 4—Great Falls, MT~
Dec 5—Spokane, WA~
Dec 6—Tacoma, WA~
Dec 7—Portland, OR~
Dec 9—Roseville, CA~
Dec 10—San Diego, CA~
* - James Barker Band dates
~ - John Morgan’s Friends Like That Tour

KEEP UP WITH RYAN AND RORY

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK

MILWAUKEE METAL FEST 2026 Welcomes IRON REAGAN to Next Year's Edition

Milwaukee Metal Festival 2026 is pleased to now welcome IRON REAGAN as the first headliner for next year! In addition, the festival has previously announced ACID BATH, BELUSHI SPEED BALL, and MORTA SKULD!

Festival co-organizer Jamey Jasta comments, “Stars keep aligning for Milwaukee Metal Fest & it’s been hard to contain my excitement! Thrash & hardcore have always had a place at MMF & Iron Reagan back on the attack means the mosh will go HARD in the good land June 5-7th 2026!“

Tony "T-Buzz" of IRON REAGAN adds, "Milwaukee Metal Fest is one of the classic metal festivals, and we’re very excited to be hitting the stage with the original lineup for a rare appearance this year. We don’t play often — if you want to catch us live, this is the one to make. Looking forward to playing all these songs again for you all.”

The festival will now take place June 5 - 7, 2026, with the pre-party kicking off on June 4! The festival will take place once again at The Rave/Eagles Ballroom. Early bird tickets can be found HERE.

Stay tuned for the first wave of bands - you don't wanna miss this!

Follow Milwaukee Metal Fest:

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VRSTY to Celebrate 5-Year Anniversary of "Cloud City" EP With New Acoustic EP + Band Shares "Shameless (Acoustic)"

Genre-blending and bending New York City-based collective VRSTY (pronounced "Varsity") are celebrating the five-year anniversary of their Cloud City EP with a twist.

The band will drop the four-song Cloud City (Archives) EP on December 12. It features acoustic renditions of three of the EP's original tracks ("Dig," "Pathos," and "Shameless"), giving these classic songs a fresh, reimagined flavor. 
 

The new EP also features an acoustic version of "YOU & I." While this song was does not appear on the original Cloud City EP that dropped via Spinefarm in 2020, it was written during that period of the band's history and is, well, from the VRSTY archive.

Pre-order the Cloud City (Archives) EP here.

Today, the band has shared "Shameless" (Acoustic). Listen Below. 

"I've always loved the kinda 'heavy softness that 'Shameless' had and always thought it would be cool to explore that more," says singer Joey Tyler. "I think I went into it with that mentality at first but then also just wanted to do this as a thank you for everyone who has supported 'Shameless' and Cloud City for so many years. After all, that song was the very FIRST time anyone ever listened to us and gave us a chance."

VRSTY will hit the road, supporting Fire From the Gods this coming winter. All dates are below.

VRSTY ON TOUR:
1/22 — Austin, TX — Come and Take It Live
1/23 — Haltom City, TX — Haltom Theater
1/24 — Oklahoma City, OK — 89th Street
1/25 — Tulsa, OK — The Shrine
1/28 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade (Purgatory)
1/29 — Winter Park, FL — Conduit
1/30 — Jacksonville, FL — Jack Rabbits
1/31 — Columbia, SC — New Brookland Tavern
2/01 — Richmond, VA — Canal Club (Downstairs)
2/03 — Philadelphia, PA — The Foundry at The Fillmore
2/04 — Clifton, NJ — Dingbatz
2/05 — Brooklyn, NY — The Meadows
2/06 — Lowell, MA — Taffeta Music Hall
2/07 — Syracuse, NY — The Song & Dance
2/10 — Pittsburgh, PA — Crafthouse
2/11 — Columbus, OH — King of Clubs
2/12 — Cadillac, MI — Venue Event Center
2/13 — West Chicago, IL — WC Social Club
2/14 — Madison, WI — The Annex
2/15 — Minneapolis, MN — Underground Music Venue
2/17 — Denver, CO — HQ
2/19 — Los Angeles, CA — The Whisky A Go-Go
2/20 — Anaheim, CA — The Parish at House of Blues
2/21 — Las Vegas, NV — The Wall at Area 15

LETHAL, Blending Power Metal with Melodic Heavy Metal, Release PROGRAMMED Remastered By Rob Colwell on Brutal Planet Records

When Programmed landed in 1990, Kentucky’s Lethal delivered an album that many hailed as “the best Queensrÿche record since Operation: Mindcrime.” Blending the muscle of American power metal with the sophistication of melodic heavy metal, the band achieved songs that combine intelligence, melody, and might in perfect balance.

Frontman Tom Mallicoat commands every moment with soaring, expressive vocals, while brothers Eric and Glen Cook drive the music with dynamic twin-guitar harmonies and intricate arrangements. From the opening firestorm “Fire in Your Skin” to the title track “Programmed” and the emotional centerpiece “Another Day”, the album never falters—each song delivering technical mastery and heartfelt conviction. Remastered by Rob Colwell and presented in a jewel case with a 12-page photo/lyric booklet, this Metal Icon Series edition restores Programmed with vivid clarity and punch. For fans of Queensrÿche, Fates Warning, Crimson Glory, and Helloween, this is one of the defining melodic metal releases of its era—timeless, powerful, and fully realized.

LETHAL "Programmed" 2025 Remaster video Below;

Purchase LETHAL "Programmed” (Sky Blue Vinyl): https://boonesoverstock.com/products/lethal-programmed-sky-blue-vinyl-2025-brutal-planet-5-star-prog-power-80s-metal

Purchase LETHAL "Programmed” (Compact Disc): https://boonesoverstock.com/products/lethal-programmed-cd-2025-brutal-planet-5-star-prog-power-80s-metal

Key Features & Collector Details

• Original Year: 1990 (Metal Blade Records)

• License: Officially licensed from Metal Blade Records

• Remastering: Rob Colwell (Bombworks Sound)

• Series: Metal Icon Series

• Packaging: Jewel case with 12-page photo/lyric booklet

• Edition Size: Limited to 500 copies worldwide

• Vinyl Color: Sky Blue Vinyl

• Edition Size: Limited to 250 copies worldwide

• Genre: Classic Melodic Heavy Metal / Power Metal

• For Fans Of: Queensrÿche • Fates Warning • Crimson Glory • Helloween

1349 Streams Full Performance Video for 'Winter Mass' Concert via Black Metal Promotion

True Norwegian black metal horde 1349 is now streaming the full performance of their 'Winter Mass' concert via Black Metal Promotion! The concert was captured on November 20, 2021 in the band's hometown of Oslo (NO) at the venue Parkteatret. Fans can now watch the entire set below.

'Winter Mass' will be released on November 28, 2025 via Season of Mist on vinyl, CD, and audio downloads; pre-orders can be found HERE.

1349 has also recently been announced among the first wave of bands to take the stage at next year's edition of Beyond the Gates Festival. The epic four-day metal event will take place once again in the heart of Bergen (NO) from July 29 - August 1, 2026. Tickets are available HERE.

The cover artwork and layouts for 'Winter Mass' were created by Kim Diaz Holm. The Norwegian artist has captured more than 2,000 concerts, often while standing to the side of the stage. Holm has worked with larger-than-life artists like Abbath but developed a special connection with 1349 after drawing them at both Inferno Festival and Hulen in 2012. Over the past 13 years, he has continued to document the band's incendiary live shows and even designed their merch. What he's created for Winter Mass draws fans even closer to fire. Sketched while he was headbanging in the pit, these drawings leap off the page with the same raw, dark spirit as their muse.

With their signature aural hellfire, 1349 embodies the original spirit of black metal.  

Unhappy with the direction the genre took during the mid-90s, in 1997, vocalist Ravn formed the 1349 with like-minded bassist Seidemann. The band’s current lineup – which is bolstered by guitarist Archaon and Frost (who also drums for Satyricon) – has been in place since 2001. Over the past two decades, they have ignited major European festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Hellfest with their fiery performances and toured internationally with the likes of Cannibal Corpse and Carcass. Each of their eight studio albums have been inspired by the same guiding principal: to bring back the grimness, the eeriness and the primal emotions of Norwegian black metal.

Now, fresh from the ashes of their eighth album, The Wolf & The King, 1349 are releasing a new live album. Though recorded shortly after pandemic lockdown was lifted, 'Winter Mass' explodes out the gates with the band’s signature aural hellfire. This hour-plus set, recorded at Oslo's Parkteatret, enraptured their home crowd with apocalyptic spells from across their discography’s massive cauldron of chaos. Early classics like “Sculptor of Flesh” thrash with unchained madness. Recent favorite "Striding the Chasm" whips by at a blistering pace that could only be captured by cover artist Kim Diaz Holm, who drew the album’s artwork while headbanging in the pit.   

"I will always be here / In all ways in all times", snarls Ravn on hellacious cut "I Am Abomination". After three decades and counting, what was once a proclamation is now a testament to 1349's enduring firepower. 

Experience aural hellfire live in the flesh back where it all began with 'Winter Mass.'

Live Line-up

Archaon - Guitars

Destructhor - Guitars

Frost - Drums

Ravn - Vocals

Seidemann - Bass

Recording:

Parkteatret, Oslo on November 20, 2021

Production Credits

Producer & Sound Engineer - Hugo Alvarstein

Mixing Studio - Alvarstein Mix & Mastering Studio Oslo Norway

Mixing Engineer - Hugo Alvarstein

Mastering Studio - Alvarstein Mix & Mastering Studio Oslo Norway

Mastering Engineer - Huge Alvarstein

Cover + Layout Artist:

Kim Holm

Pre-Order // Pre-Save: https://orcd.co/1349wintermass

Links:

Official Website

Facebook

Instagram

X

Apple Music

Spotify

SOiL Return to the UK for an October/November 2026 Tour with Finger Eleven and Adema

UK favorites SOiL will make their long-awaited return in October and November 2026, following the massive success of their sold-out 2024 UK tour, which featured the band’s special All Scars set.

This new run expands to 15 dates, marking the band’s longest UK stretch yet, and includes several first-ever stops in cities they’ve never performed in throughout their extensive career.

A major highlight of the tour will be their appearance at the legendary Hard Rock Hell Festival XIX on November 5th in Great Yarmouth.

SOiL promises a powerful, career-spanning set packed with fan favorites, charting hits, deep cuts, and even long-awaited new material, making this one of their most anticipated UK tours to date.

Accompanying SOiL on this trek are Canada’s own Finger Eleven (best known for the hits “Paralyzer” and “One Thing”), and long time friends Adema (best known for the hits “Giving In” and “The Way You Like It”).

SOiL bassist Tim King talks about the package:

“We  are so excited to have both bands on this bill with us. Finger Eleven and SOiL go way back but we’ve never properly toured together. And Adema. Well, we’ve been  great friends with them since 2001. In fact, our first ever UK tour in  2002 was with Adema. It’s great to see we are both still around and able to team up once again to come across the pond together!”

“Finger Eleven has been looking forward to making their way back to the UK,” says vocalist Scott Anderson. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to be touring with SOiL this time around. We can’t wait to reunite with old friends and rock out across the pond!”

Vocalist/guitarist Tim Fluckey from Adema also chimes in about the upcoming tour: “We are excited to finally get back to the UK and reconnect with our fans there! To be able to return with SOiL on this tour couldn’t be better for us! We did a tour with SOiL in the UK in 2002. Not only where they great shows, we made life long memories and we can’t wait to make more with them and our fans.”

Tickets are available at all fine ticket outlets or directly from the venues.

For more information please visit:

SOiL

Official Website

Facebook

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Instagram

YouTube

Finger Eleven

Official Website

Facebook

X

Instagram

YouTube

Adema

Facebook

Instagram

Rotten Sound Blast the Alarm on "Idealist"

Few grindcore bands have enjoyed the shelf life of Rotten Sound. After outrunning the apocalypse on their last long-player, the Finnish grindcore vets are back with another politically-charged EP. The latest single from Mass Extinction is slightly more optimistic about our future than its initial discharge, but "Idealist" gets its message across with such blunt force, that it's impossible not to heed the band's charge. 

"'Idealist' is a cynical D-beat anthem about our fight for a better future", says the band's vocalist Keijo Niinimaa. "I do believe that better times are ahead, but it feels impossible to find a new level in humanity. The transition seems to take forever. That frustration led me to write the lyrics to this song. Mika's riffs and Sami's grooves open the circle into a mosh pit".        

Listen to "Idealist" Below.
 

Mass Extinction comes out December 12 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order
https://orcd.co/rottensoundmassextinction

Pre-save on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/4GjDqqrZi7TTEjCmvvXq5f?si=maLSpuYJTP-Vqs4RmsTaUA

All of the songs on Mass Extinction mutated out of the same radioactive Petri dish that spawned Rotting Sound's prior LP Apocalypse. But even though it clocks in at a freakishly fast nine minutes, the band's new EP is no half-life mutation. As they recently demonstrated while touring Latin America with Crypta, Baixo Calao and Season of Mist labelmates DVRK, their time-tested blend of D-beat punk and Swedish death metal has only grown more dangerous after two decades. "Idealist" marches at a spirited pace toward a new state of light and glory before Niinimaa's screaming commands launch the song into a downright hostile groove.   

"Wake up!" At this earth-shaking volume, ignore Rotting Sound if you dare.  

Next year, Rotting Sound will return to the grind with a fresh set of European headline dates in support of Mass Extinction. Following this blistering ride with Repulsive Feast and Teething, the band will return to the U.S. for a special set at Maryland Death Fest celebrating their classic albums Murderworks and Exit.      

Rotten Sound know how to get their message across. In just under 10 minutes, Mass Extinction chews through toxic consumerism, labor exploitation and other plagues on society. Lead single “Brave New World” pushes for unity over divisive politicking behind a barrage of blast beats. But while our leaders certainly need to clean up their act, there’s nothing stale about this band’s filthy brand of grindcore. Even the slightly optimistic “Idealist” gives way to a downright hostile groove upon Niinimaa’s screaming command.   

“Wake up!” With so much atomic force, it’s impossible not to heed Rotten Sound’s warning on Mass Extinction.

Recording lineup
Keijo Niinimaa - Vocals
Mika Aalto - Guitars
Sami Latva - Drums
Matti Raappana - Bass, Backing vocals

All music written by Mika Aalto

All lyrics written by Keijo Niinimaa

Producer
Rotten Sound

Recording & Sound Engineer
Janne Saksa

Recording Studio
Sound Supreme for drums and vocals, Nordic Audio Labs for guitar and bass

Mixing
Jesse Gander at Rain City Studios

Mastering
Brad Boatright at Audio Siege

Cover art
Error Design

Photos
Mika Aalto

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

Available formats

Digital Download
CD Digipack
12" Vinyl (Black with B-side etching)
12" Colored Vinyl (Dark Green with B-side etching)
12" Colored Vinyl (Half Copper, Half Black with B-site etching)

Follow Rotten Sound
​​​​​https://music.apple.com/artist/rotten-sound/71466405
http://rottensound.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RottenSoundOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/rottensoundgrind/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4aglyvdJ7ApTfDC6aQ2LFf

JELUSICK, FRONTED BY VOCALIST DINO JELUSICK, DROPS SOPHMORE ALBUM APOLITICAL ECSTASY

The band JELUSICK is formed around Dino Jelusick (Whitesnake, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, For Whom Gods Destroy, etc...) with Luke Broderick who is (same as Dino) an academically educated musician and with Ivan Keller and Mario Lepoglavec who both actively tour with Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake, Journey). All of them are exceptionally talented musicians who are ready to show the world that rock is still alive. Their music is a combination of hard/heavy/prog with versatile elements from some other genres. JELUSICK is seen as the next rock sensation by fans and music colleagues alike.

Dino joined Whitesnake after receiving a personal phone call from David Coverdale and went out on the band's 2022 farewell tour as a multi-instrumentalist covering many of the vocals for Coverdale. Upon returning he immediately focused his attention on JELUSICK, releasing the critically acclaimed and very well receivedFollow The Blind Man. After releasing a series of singles like “Power to the People”, “Hangman”, “How Many Times”, an “Seasons”, the band is now set to release the eagerly awaited album Apolitical Ecstasy across North America through Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group) in December.

Watch video for “Seasons” Below;

As Dino explains, "I am more than happy that our American fans will be able to buy the 2nd Jelusick album Apolitical Ecstasy as CD and Vinyl directly in America. The album will be released through Deko Entertainment on December 12th and will be available in numerous record stores and online."

Apolitical Ecstasy is available on CD, Vinyl, and get the limited-edition signed bundle while supplies last: https://www.dekoentertainment.com/jelusick

For more information visit:
 jelusick.com
www.dekoentertainment.com
Deko Entertainment–Art Has Value

Long Distance Calling Share "Hazard" Video From Upcoming Live Album "Live at Lichtburg"

With "Hazard," LONG DISTANCE CALLING release the third single from their upcoming live album Live At Lichtburg, set for release on December 5. Originally featured on the band's acclaimed 2020 album How Do We Want To Live?, the track is one of their most atmospheric and emotionally gripping compositions. It now returns in a powerful live rendition, recorded during the sold-out February 2024 show at the Lichtburg in Essen — a historic cinema where more than 1,200 fans shared an unforgettable evening with the band.

Following the singles "Kamilah" and "Out There," "Hazard" once again highlights the unique energy of this performance: intense, tension-filled, and driven by the distinctive textures that define the song. In its live version, the track gains additional organic force — a blend of precise musicianship, pulsating grooves, and the unmistakable cinematic sound LONG DISTANCE CALLING are known for.

The accompanying live video captures the special atmosphere of the night: the monumental stage of the Lichtburg, the close connection between band and audience, and the dynamic presence of a song that feels even more immersive live than on the studio recording.

Watch the "Hazard" video below.

Listen to "Hazard" here. 

Live At Lichtburg not only documents the biggest headline concert in LONG DISTANCE CALLING’s career so far, but also marks a new artistic chapter. With reimagined arrangements, orchestral textures, and a commanding live presence, the album captures why the band remains one of Europe’s most compelling forces in progressive and instrumental rock.

The album will be released via earMUSIC on December 5th, 2025, in multiple formats: 2LP Gatefold Heavyweight 180g + Blu-ray and CD + Blu-ray Digipak, combining the full audio and visual experience of this unforgettable night.

PRE-ORDER THE NEW ALBUM HERE.

NYC's Jessie Kilguss presents luminous sixth album 'They Have A Howard Johnson's There'

Songstress Jessie Kilguss, a name whispered with reverence in deep-cut New York songwriting circles, has released her new album 'They Have A Howard Johnson's There'. Never one to shy away from the cinematic or the deeply literary, on this sixth album, she drives her classic vintage automobile straight into the heart of American mythology, albeit with European art-house sensibility.

Kilguss isn't just making music; she's collecting fragments of the past and stitching them into a luminous, deeply felt present. This album is a powerful collection that's steeped in sweet nostalgia, divine inspiration and sophistication. A masterclass in mood, this is a sonic exploration where poetic introspection and light-filled melodies intersect with folk-laced resignation.

The near-title track, 'Howard Johnson's', is a stroke of lyrical genius—a beautiful, melancholic tribute to her late father, Howard, name-checked in a surreal line by Al Pacino in the movie 'Dog Day Afternoon' ("I’ll charter a plane to Algeria. They have a Howard Johnson’s there"). The whole project is defined by a clever, layered nostalgia, as reflected in the era-inspired video by Deborah Magocsi. Kilguss crafts a sonic space that’s both intimately personal and universally resonant, proving that sometimes, the greatest stories can be found in the most unlikely places.

"This is a collection of songs I’ve written over the past few years, most being inspired, at least in part, by a book (Elena Ferrante’s 'The Lost Daughter & Neapolitan Quartet'), a movie ('Dog Day Afternoon') or a work of art ('The Ecstasy of St Teresa'). The title comes from a line in the song 'Howard Johnson’s', which is a roundabout tribute to my father Howard, who passed away in 2023," says Jessie Kilguss.

Charlie Nieland (Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie, Scissor Sisters), who engineered, produced, mixed and mastered this album at Saturation Point Studios in Brooklyn, brings a nuanced touch, building from a simple guitar and voice into something far grander.

Kilguss says, "I’ve been working on this album for the past year with producer Charlie Nieland, with whom I have been collaborating since 2007. We started every track with just voice and guitar and built them out from there. Previously, I’ve always gone into the studio with my band to record. This was an interesting way to work as we deconstructed each song and then put them back together.."

This album also involves heavy-hitters like Kirk Schoenherr (Tegan and Sara, Elle King, Chet Faker),  John Kengla (David Byrne, Ben Kweller, Serena Ryder), Andrea Longato (Duncan Sheik, Jeremy Jordan), Rob Heath (Madison Square Gardeners, Julia Nunes), Dave Derby (The Dambuilders, Gramercy Arms, Lloyd Cole) and Rembert Block (Rembert and the Basic Goodness).

'St. Teresa in Ecstasy' (and its beautiful video, created by Alex Dar) is a divine, slow-burn revelation, inspired by Bernini's dramatic sculpture and the dizzying feeling of being utterly overwhelmed by art or even something celestial. understands the power of great moments, and this song is pure, dramatic and full of radiant harmonics. 'Fool's Fight'rounds out an album that flows seamlessly.

A fine cartographer of this emotional landscape, Kilguss is a former actress who cut her teeth working with titans like Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder on 'The Crucible', as well as Marianne Faithfull and Mary Margaret O'Hara in the Tom Waits / William Burroughs musical 'The Black Rider',

Apart from her own music, Kilguss also sings with Gramercy Arms, the Loser’s Lounge, Jim Andralis and the Syntonics and Benjamin Cartel. She has performed at the Sundance Film Festival and with Freddie Stevenson, touring with The Waterboys' for their European tour. In summer 2025, Kilguss was an artist in residence at Fish Factory Creative Center in Stodvarfjordur, Iceland.

Kilguss' 2022 album 'What Do Whales Dream About at Night?' LP features drummer Brian Griffin (Patti Smith, Brandi Carlisle, Lana Del Rey), bassist Whynot Jansveld (The Wallflowers), composer-producer Naren Rauch, and Nathan Schram (Bjork, David Crosby, David Byrne), with whom Kilguss ran the non-profit organization Musicambia.

'They Have A Howard Johnson's There' is out everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. 

ALBUM CREDITS
All songs written by Jessie Kilguss, except 'Jesus Was a Crossmaker' (written by Judee Sill)
Produced, engineered, mixed & mastered by Charlie Nieland at Saturation Point Studios, Brooklyn
Jessie Kilguss - vocals, arrangement
John Kengla – guitar, bass, keys on Howard Johnson’s, Fool’s Fight, Lost Causes, Jesus Was a Cross Maker
Kirk Schoenherr – guitar and keys on Chasing Down a Ghost and St Teresa in Ecstasy
Andrea Longato – guitar on St Teresa in Ecstasy
Rob Heath – Drums and percussion
Rembert Block – Backing vocals on Fool’s Fight, Chasing Down a Ghost and Lost Causes
Dave Derby - Backing vocals on Howard Johnson’s
Charlie Nieland – bass, violin bow guitar and keys on St Teresa in Ecstasy, Fool's Fight and Lost Causes, backing vocals on Howard Johnson’s
Single cover photo by Shervin Lainez
Video by Deborah Magocsi
Graphic design by Scott MX Turner
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


Keep up with Jessie Kilguss
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