Author: Editorial Team

In recognition of Iron Maiden reaching their 50-year milestone, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has unveiled a series of new releases from the Fender Custom Shop, Fender, and Jackson lines. Each model is designed to showcase the band’s long-lasting impact and its unmistakable place in heavy metal history.

Formed in East London in 1975, Iron Maiden became a major force in shaping the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Their signature blend of dramatic stagecraft and boundary-pushing sound helped build a global following, with the band selling over 100 million albums worldwide.

Max Gutnik, chief product officer at FMIC, explained the goal of the collection. He said that honoring Iron Maiden’s half-century of innovation meant bringing together the instruments that shaped their distinctive sound. “Honoring Iron Maiden’s fifty years of pushing heavy metal forward, this collection brings together the signature instruments that helped define their unmistakable sound,” he said.

He highlighted the lineup by noting the presence of Dave Murray’s high-performance Stratocaster models, Janick Gers’s vintage-leaning Stratocaster, Steve Harris’s iconic Precision Bass, and Adrian Smith’s Jackson SC1.

“From Dave Murray‘s high-performance Stratocaster models and Janick Gers‘s energetic, vintage-leaning Strat to Steve Harris‘s unmistakable Precision Bass and Adrian Smith‘s versatile Jackson SC1, each instrument carries the tone, feel, and power behind Maiden’s multi-guitar attack. These anniversary models are more than tributes; they are stage-ready tools built to inspire today’s players and the next generation.”

Across the band’s 50-year run, Dave Murray has remained a centerpiece of Iron Maiden’s sound. His soaring solos, tightly interwoven guitar harmonies, and galloping rhythms have appeared on all 17 of the band’s studio albums. To highlight his legacy, Fender Custom Shop masterbuilder Andy Hicks collaborated directly with Murray to craft a new version of the guitarist’s preferred Stratocaster: the Limited Edition Masterbuilt Dave Murray Stratocaster.

Hicks spoke about the personal significance behind the project: “Dave Murray has always been my favorite guitar hero. Not only is his style absolutely brilliant but he also proved to me long ago that Fender absolutely belongs in the world of heavy metal”. He added: “It was an absolute honor to build this guitar for him and I will never get over the excitement of seeing my favorite player from my favorite band playing one of my guitars.”

To build the Limited Edition model, Hicks and Murray focused on creating an instrument equipped for heavy touring and demanding performance. The guitar features 21 medium-jumbo stainless-steel frets, along with an oil-finished walnut neck shaped in a ’60s-style Oval “C” profile. It’s designed for comfort and ease of play. Paired with Murray’s preferred pickup configuration—Seymour Duncan Hot Rails in the bridge and neck positions and a JB Jr. in the middle—the guitar offers the tight punch needed for rhythm parts and the clarity required for melodic leads. Finished in NOS Olympic White, the design emphasizes simplicity without sacrificing character.

The model uses a 2-piece alder body finished in NOS Olympic White, matched with an oil-finished walnut neck in the familiar Oval “C” shape. It also includes a compound-radius rosewood fingerboard ranging from 9.5″ to 14″, built for smooth transitions across the fretboard. Murray’s Hot Rails and JB Jr. setup returns here as well, keeping the guitar firmly rooted in the tones he’s known for. To make the instrument road-ready, they added a series of upgraded components, including an AxLabs Tone Claw Locking Spring Claw, Heavy Duty Noiseless Springs, and several FU-Tone enhancements such as a 42mm Big Brass Block, Tremolo Stopper, titanium screws, saddle inserts, and other stability-focused hardware. After testing the final instrument on the road, Murray chose it as his new main guitar. The model also includes a signature neckplate, vintage-style tuners, a Custom Shop strap, and a certificate of authenticity.

As Iron Maiden marks its 50-year anniversary, the band remains one of heavy metal’s most recognizable and influential acts. Their trademark elements—driving bass lines, harmonized guitars, dramatic vocals, and the constant evolution of their mascot Eddie—continue to shape the genre. With 17 studio albums and a global sales record surpassing 100 million, their influence shows no signs of fading even after five decades.

The post FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Celebrates IRON MAIDEN’s 50th Anniversary with Limited-Edition Signature Collection appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

August Burns Red and The Amity Affliction will hit the road this coming spring for the Spring Horizons Tour. It kicks off April 10 in Worcester and runs through May 17 in Philadelphia. Boundaries and Heavensgate will serve as support.

“We’ve been talking in the background about touring with August Burns Red for years at this point,” says Amity’s Joel Birch. “It’s so awesome that it’s finally happening. We can’t wait to get back to our second home and bring what we feel will be one of the best tours we’ve been a part of to all the cities we’re hitting. The lineup is amazing, the venues are amazing, and we couldn’t be more hyped for it — see you there.”

“We’re pumped to be joining forces with The Amity Affliction for what’s sure to be the can’t miss metal tour of the spring,” says August Burns Red. “ABR will be debuting a few brand new songs and bringing the shred alongside Boundaries, Heavensgate, and Dreamwake. We’ll see you all this April and May for the Spring Horizons Tour!”

Pre-sale and VIP packages are available here. VIP packages will include meet and greet, signed screen printed poster, a photo with the band, early merch access (when venues allow), and a collectible tour laminate.

General tickets go on sale on Friday, December 5 at 10am local time. All dates are below, including an appearance at Sonic Temple.

August Burns Red + The Amity Affliction Tour with Boundaries & Heavensgate Dates:

4/10 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium*
4/11 — New Haven, CT — College Street Music Hall*
4/12 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE
4/14 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore
4/15 — Atlanta, GA — Tabernacle
4/16 — Orlando, FL — House of Blues
4/18 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore
4/19 — Dallas, TX — The Bomb Factory
4/21 — Houston, TX — House of Blues
4/22 — San Antonio, TX — Vibes Event Center (Outdoors)
4/24 — Phoenix, AZ — The Marquee
4/25 — San Diego, CA — Soma
4/26 — Anaheim, CA — House of Blues
4/28 — Sacramento, CA — Channel 24
4/29 — Garden City, ID — Revolution Concert House
5/1 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Union Event Center
5/2 — Denver, CO — The Fillmore
5/3 — Omaha, NE — The Astro Theater
5/5 — Minneapolis, MN — The Fillmore
5/6 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave
5/8 — Chicago, IL — Riviera Theatre
5/9 — Royal Oak, MI — Royal Oak Music Theatre
5/10 — Toronto, ON — History
5/12 — Montreal, QC — Mtelus
5/13 — Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Paramount
5/15 — Baltimore, MD — Nevermore Hall
5/16 — Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple**
5/17 — Philadelphia, PA — The Fillmore
*With Dreamwake, No Heavensgate
**Festival Date (ABR + TAA Only)

The post THE AMITY AFFLICTION & AUGUST BURNS RED Announce Spring 2026 Co-Headline Tour appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Alan Morse is a multi-faceted artist whose career has been defined by continually giving audiences what they never knew they wanted. Best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of Spock’s Beard, Alan has spent decades captivating fans with an entirely singular approach to music, art, and life.

A true polymath, Alan is not only a guitarist but a patented inventor, producer, songwriter, singer, entrepreneur, electronics designer, and visual artist. His creativity stretches far beyond conventional boundaries – he enjoys, as he puts it, “playing in a lot of sandboxes.”

A lifelong musician, Alan can play almost any stringed instrument placed in his hands. His recordings and performances span sitar, bouzouki, mandolin, pedal steel, electric sitar, slide guitar, cello, bass, and even the musical saw and theremin. “I like toys!” he says, summing up his playful, exploratory spirit.

Between touring and recording with Spock’s Beard and as a solo artist, Alan has recently been on a deep dive into photography and digital art, and even clothing design. His latest invention, The Psychlotron, an interactive, intuitive animation toy, has wowed attendees at Bequinox, Burning Man, and other art festivals. 

Now, after years of anticipation, Alan is set to release his long-awaited second solo album, So Many Words, scheduled for release in late January 2026. The album features contributions from an impressive roster, including his brother Neal Morse, Simon Phillips, Tony Levin, and members of Spock’s Beard. Musically, the collection explores the fringes of progressive rock, noise, loud guitars, and traditional influences, with Alan handling lead vocals on most tracks and performing a substantial portion of the instrumentation.

Alan currently resides in Monrovia, California, with his wife and family, where his constant flow of creative projects continues to expand into new artistic realms.

The post ALAN MORSE Announces Second Solo Album, “So Many Words”, Arriving In January appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Evanescence has announced a world tour for 2026. The trek will kick off on June 11, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and run through the end of October. Evanescence will perform in North America in June and July, before heading over to Europe, and wrapping things up at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. Support on the trek will come from Spiritbox, Poppy, K. Flay, and Nova Twins across select dates.

Speaking to Rolling Stone about the tour, Evanescence singer Amy Lee said, “It’s going to be a blast. I got all my ladies in. I have an excellent band beside me. When we go out on tour, we have fun together and challenge each other to be the best that we can be. It’s taken time to grow and build and change into that band. I definitely have more energy for everything Evanescence than I did 10 years ago. Because of that, we fuel each other. So I am very excited about the tour.”

Lee elaborated regarding the choice of Spiritbox, Poppy, K. Flay, and Nova Twins as openers: “I’m very excited to be touring with such amazing women and bands. It’s going to be awesome. This has been a big year for me, and for the band when it comes to collaborations and working with people. I’ve loved working with Poppy and Courtney on the ‘End Of You’. We still haven’t gotten to do it live yet. I’m hoping that comes out of this at some point. The same goes for our song with K. Flay, ‘Fight Like a Girl’. I just kind of want to bring all of us together as much as I can and bring it to life on the stage.”

“I haven’t worked with Nova Twins, but I’m a fan of them. We’ve done festivals together in the past couple of years, and seeing them really inspired me. Everything that [bassist Georgia South] turns the bass into is phenomenal. Emma [Anzai, Evanescence‘s bassist] and I will go stand side stage and just be like, ‘What is she doing right there? Figure out what that is. Go ask her after,” Lee added.

Evanescence 2026 World Tour Dates:

06/11 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
06/12 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
06/14 – Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
06/15 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
06/17 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
06/18 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
06/20 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
06/21 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
06/23 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
06/24 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
06/26 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
06/27 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
06/29 – Toronto, Ontario @ RBC Amphitheatre
06/30 – Montréal, Quebec @ Centre Bell
07/08 – Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
07/09 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center
07/11 – North Little Rock, AR @ Simmons Bank Arena
07/12 – Kansas City, MO @ MORTON Amphitheater
07/14 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
07/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
07/17 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
07/20 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
07/22 – Ridgefield, WA @ Cascades Amphitheater
07/23 – Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
07/25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
07/28 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
07/30 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
08/01 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
08/02 – Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
09/08 – Leeds, UK @ First Direct Arena
09/10 – Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live
09/11 – Birmingham, UK @ Utilita Arena Birmingham
09/13 – London, UK @ The O2
09/16 – Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National
09/18 – Paris, France @ Accor Arena
09/19 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Congress Center Messe Frankfurt – Festhalle Frankfurt
09/20 – Dortmund, Germany @ Westfalenhallen Dortmund
09/22 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
09/23 – Hamburg, Germany @ Barclays Arena
09/25 – Berlin, Germany @ Velodrom
09/ 26 – Munich, Germany @ Olympiahalle
09/28 – Bologna, Italy @ Unipol Arena
09/29 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion Zurich
10/01 – Barcelona, Spain @ Palau Olimpic Badalona
10/02 – Madrid, Spain @ Palacio Vistalegre
10/04 – Lisbon, Portugal @ MEO Arena
10/26 – Morrison, Colorado @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre

The post EVANESCENCE Announces 2026 World Tour With SPIRITBOX, POPPY, K.FLAY & NOVA TWINS appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Two of music’s biggest bands, legendary multi-Platinum rockers Chicago and Styx, got their start in Chicago, and now they’re joining together for their first-ever co-headlining tour, bringing the best of the Midwest to venues nationwide with “The Windy Cities Tour – All The Hits…Your Kind of Tour” that kicks off July 13 in West Palm Beach, FL and wraps September 6 in Los Angeles, CA.

Styx and Chicago will be offering their own exclusive pre-sales along with VIP packages beginning Tuesday, December 2, at 10 am local time. Mastercard* and Citi cardmembers will also have access to presale tickets in the U.S. beginning December 2 at 10 am and 12 pm local time, respectively. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, December 5, at 10 am local time at LiveNation. (Mastercard presales are only available for Austin and Kansas City shows.)

“We are excited about the summer tour,” says Chicago trumpeter Lee Loughnane. “Chicago has never toured with Styx before, so it’s going to be a lot of fun; we’re looking forward to it.”

“In my early days of live performing, I had several mentors who were kind enough to let me join in and play with them despite not being able to read charts,” adds Styx singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw.

“Rod Henley, Ricky Parsons, Bobby and Larry Moore, Eddie Wohlford, Wimpy Jones, Country Boy Eddie, and others gave me a shot. And I am thankful for that. By the time Chicago released their first album, I had enough experience to begin learning their amazing music on my own. Now, the idea of Styx touring with Chicago is a major thrill all on its own. We can’t wait to spend the summer with them!”

With more than 100 million albums sold worldwide, in addition to being in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, the multi-Grammy Award-winning Chicago has been hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the “most important bands in music since the dawn of the rock and roll era.” The legendary rock and roll band with horns, Chicago, came in as the highest-charting American band in Billboard magazine’s Top 125 Artists Of All Time.

Chicago received The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys and was previously inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014. They’ve earned two American Music Awards, been named Founding Artists of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Chicago street dedicated in their honor, and keys to and proclamations from an impressive list of U.S. cities. Band members Robert Lamm and James Pankow were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017. Further to that, the band has 21 Top 10 singles, five consecutive Number One albums, 11 Number One singles, and five gold singles, with a total of 49 gold and platinum awards.

Chicago have toured every year since the beginning; they’ve never missed a year. The original three band members are Robert Lamm on keyboards and vocals, Lee Loughnane on trumpet and vocals, and James Pankow on trombone. The band lineup also includes Ray Herrmann on sax and flute, Wally Reyes, Jr. on drums, Neil Donell on vocals, Ramon “Ray” Yslas on percussion, Tony Obrohta on guitar, and Eric Baines on bass and vocals.

From the signature sound of the Chicago horns, their iconic vocalists, and a few dozen ever-classic songs, this band’s concerts are celebrations. 2026 marks the band’s 59th consecutive year of touring.

Creating and recording new music is often considered the lifeblood of any band — an ethos AOR torchbearers Styx continue to embody with the highly anticipated release of Circling From Above, the 18th studio album in their formidable catalog via the band’s label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe.

Spanning 13 tracks, the album navigates the complexities of the human experience through the intersecting lenses of technology and nature. Circling From Above — hailed by critics as their third “masterpiece” album in a row, following 2021’s Crash Of The Crown and 2017’s The Mission — features contributions from all seven members of the band, including founding guitarist/vocalist James “JY” Young (affectionately known as “the godfather of Styx“), guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw, original bassist Chuck Panozzo, longtime drummer Todd Sucherman, keyboardist/vocalist Lawrence Gowan, guitarist/vocalist Will Evankovich and bassist Terry Gowan.

The seven men comprising Styx have committed to rocking the Paradise together with audiences far and wide, and each one of them is committed to making the next show better than the last. They draw from over five decades of barn-burning chart hits, joyous sing-alongs, and hard-driving deep cuts.

Like a symphony that builds to a satisfying crescendo, a Styx set covers a wide range of stylistic cornerstones. From the progressively sweeping splendor that is “The Grand Illusion” to the hunker-down fortitude of all that is the “Blue Collar Man”, from the majestic spiritual love for a special “Lady” to the seething indictment of preening, primping pageantry for pageantry’s sake of “Miss America”, from an individual yearning for true connection as a “Man In The Wilderness” to a soul-deep quest to achieve what’s at the heart of one’s personal vision in “Crystal Ball”, from the regal reach-for-the-stars bravado of “Come Sail Away” to the grainy all-in gallop of that rugged “Renegade” who had it made, the band draws on an unlimited cache of ways to immerse one’s mind and body in their signature sound.

“The Windy Cities Tour – All The Hits…Your Kind Of Tour” Dates:

07/13 – West Palm Beach, FL
07/15 – Tampa, FL
07/17 – Alpharetta, GA
07/18 – Charlotte, NC
07/20 – Bristow, VA
07/21 – Camden, NJ
07/23 – Wantagh, NY
07/25 – Gilford, NH
07/26 – Mansfield, MA
07/28 – Toronto, ON
07/30 – Grand Rapids, MI
08/01 – Rosemont, IL
08/02 – Noblesville, IN
08/05 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
08/06 – Cincinnati, OH
08/19 – Austin, TX
08/20 – Houston, TX
08/24 – St. Louis, MO
08/25 – Kansas City​, MO
08/28 – Denver, CO
08/30 – Salt Lake City, UT
09/01 – Phoenix, AZ
09/02 – Palm Desert, CA
09/04 – Concord, CA
09/06 – Los Angeles, CA

The post STYX And CHICAGO Announce 2026 North American Tour appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

In the early ‘90s, there was a wave of progressive metal bands inspired by the likes of Queensrÿche, Fates Warning, and the then initial success of Dream Theater that inspired a generation of hopeful fans influenced to create their own brand of melodic yet challenging material.

Dover, New Hampshire’s Divine Regale were one of the strongest and most striking candidates, as evidenced by their two demos, 1992’s ‘Window” and 1994’s especially popular Horizons. That EP actually led them to an opportunity to appear on Metal Blade Records’ Metal Massacre XII and the eventual signing to Metal Blade to bring you 1997’s coveted classic Ocean Mind, before disbanding by the end of the decade. Until 2017, when stories of their reformation began, an occasional social media post or live show would occur, and over the years, even a new song, “Pieces,” was uploaded with an accompanying video.

Divine Regale has inked a new deal with M-Theory Audio, which begins with the January 16^th limited vinyl issue of the band’s classic first two recordings on 200 copies on colored vinyl, including an insert with extra pics and personal liner notes. Pre-order it now, here.

This will be followed later in 2026 with the release of the band’s brand-new album, the eagerly anticipated Ghost in Every Room. “We’re excited to announce our signing with M-Theory Audio! The MTA team has been very supportive of DR, and we are looking forward to our debut label release, Ghost In Every Room, reaching you in 2026,” cites drummer Chris Anderson.

“While we continue wrapping production on the new album, M-Theory Audio will be releasing our ‘Window’ and ‘Horizons’ recordings on vinyl. From 1992, Window solidified our following and garnered an opening slot for Dream Theater on their ‘Images and Words’ tour. Horizons is still one of the most highly regarded independently produced progressive albums of the 1990s, and brought the band to worldwide attention. The reissues feature images, reviews, and insight. We hope you enjoy a look back at these early recordings.”

The post Reactivated Progressive Metallers DIVINE REGALE Announce Reissue Of First Two Albums, New Record “Ghost In Every Room” To Arrive In 2026 appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

For most metal fans, the story seems simple: Ozzy Osbourne leaves Black Sabbath, and Ronnie James Dio steps in to launch a new era. But tucked away in the band’s late-’70s chaos is a strange, almost mythic side quest — the brief moment when Dave Walker fronted Black Sabbath, and nearly helped shape what became Never Say Die!.

In late 1977, burnout and bad blood finally caught up with Ozzy Osbourne. With relationships inside Black Sabbath fraying and another album cycle looming, he walked away just as the band was gearing up to record their eighth studio record, Never Say Die!.

Suddenly, this doom-laden juggernaut needed a new voice.

They turned to Dave Walker, a name that made sense on paper but still felt left-field in the Sabbath universe. He’d already put in time with Fleetwood Mac, Savoy Brown, and other outfits, bringing a bluesy, road-tested presence that was miles away from Ozzy’s haunted wail. For a moment, it looked like Black Sabbath might be about to pivot into a different future — same riffs, different ghost behind the mic.

But the timing was brutal. Dave Walker barely had a chance to settle in before the ground shifted again. Before the band could fully cement this new lineup, Ozzy Osbourne had second thoughts and decided to come back. When he did, there was a catch: he reportedly refused to sing any of the material that Black Sabbath had worked up with Dave Walker. For a band already drowning in personal and creative tension, that was another headache stacked onto an already unstable situation.

For decades, this whole episode lived mostly as rumor and footnote. Some read read about Dave Walker’s stint, maybe saw a photo or a passing mention, but actually hearing him with Black Sabbath was nearly impossible. No official releases. No easy bootleg. Just whispers about what might have been.

That’s why a recent upload by YouTube user Brian Schaefer hit the heavy music world like a long-delayed transmission from an alternate timeline.

The footage captures Black Sabbath on the UK television programme “Look! Hear!”, with Dave Walker out front. It’s not some polished live album or box-set centerpiece — it’s a TV appearance from a messy era — but for us fans, it’s gold. In the video, the band slides into the intro to “War Pigs” before unveiling an early version of the Never Say Die! track “Junior’s Eyes”.

“Junior’s Eyes” is where things get really intriguing. As an early take on a Never Say Die! cut, it hints at how that material might have evolved if Dave Walker had stayed. The phrasing, the feel, even the emotional center of the song shifts when it’s not filtered through Ozzy’s uniquely haunted delivery. You can almost sense another version of Never Say Die! taking shape — one that never got the chance to exist.

The post Forgotten Late-’70s TV Performance Footage Of BLACK SABBATH Onstage Without OZZY OSBOURNE Emerges appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Rock supergroup The Fell, featuring legendary bassist Billy Sheehan, multi-platinum producer Mike (K.) Krompass and Australian vocal powerhouse Toby Rand issued their debut EP, Killswitch, on October 24th. And on November 28th, the band will release a new single, the melodic yet rocking “Footprints.”

“Footprints perfectly blends everything I love about making records — a little bit of heavy, big pop-leaning melodies, and radio-ready hooks, all wrapped in a big, modern rock production,” Krompass explained. “Toby Rand and I poured ourselves into this one, and our collective personalities brought it to life.” 

“Footprints is that song where all the pieces fall into place — the energy of modern rock, the lift of a pop melody, and those undeniable radio hooks. One of my favs on the record. Toby Rand and I wanted to capture the sweet spot between modern rock intensity and hook-driven pop. It’s got riffs, melody, and a production that punches – it’s just us.” 

Sheehan also explained why the song remains so special to him: “‘Footprints’ is one of the very first songs I heard from Mike and Toby, and I was instantly hooked! I love this track! And it led to the formation of The Fell!”

Rand also offered his support for the track. “‘Footprints’ is about realizing that sometimes we wander down the wrong path and find ourselves searching for redemption. By retracing our footprints, we can see where we took the wrong turns – and where we found success. It’s a reminder to keep navigating and to keep finding our way in an ever-changing, chaotic world. ‘Footprints’ was also the first completed song we created as a band, and became the barometer for the style of music we were writing. Excited to share this remix with the world.”

Fusing soaring vocals, elite musicianship, and massive rock production, The Fell‘s sound is both cinematic and immediate, anchored in timeless rock energy but elevated by contemporary edge and sonic depth. Drawing immediate comparisons to the guitar-driven, hard rock crunch of Mammoth, the alt-rock edge of Alter Bridge, and the melodic drive of Velvet Revolver, The Fell carves out their own niche, delivering hard-hitting, emotionally charged anthems that connect with fans across generations.

Order the EP here.

The post Hard Rock Supergroup THE FELL (Featuring BILLY SHEEHAN) Share Music Video For New Single “Footprints” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Kings Of Thrash, the union of Megadeth alumni David Ellefson (bass) and Jeff Young (guitar), plus Chaz Leon (vocals, guitar) and Dead Groove/ex-Bulletboys drummer Fred Aching, has inked a deal with Cleopatra Records for the release of a new single. The upcoming song will be the follow-up to “Lockdown”, which was made available in May.

Setting the stage for the new track, the band says: “Get ready for an explosive track packed with killer riffs, electric solos, and nonstop headbanging moments. Stay tuned!!!”

“We wanted to get some material out, some original material here in 2025, ’cause we’ve got some tour dates coming up here in September and October,” Ellefson previously told The Rock N’ Roll & Coffee Show (via Blabbermouth). “So, actually, Chaz brought the song over. And I gave him some instructions. I said, ‘Dude, 1984, full-blown thrash metal.’ I said, ‘Just head for Nuclear Assault Game Over, Metallica Ride The Lightning. Just go right to the heart of the matter.”

It’s an approach that speaks both to nostalgia and to vitality. Leon, who also fronts the band live, brought a track that Ellefson saw as a solid foundation. “He’s got a real thrash heart. And plus, he’s our singer,” Ellefson said. “We’ve written quite a bit of material together, and we wanted something that really just kind of came out of the gate swinging.”

For Kings Of Thrash, the transition from a tribute project into a band producing original music was a natural progression. “It started out as sort of a ‘Let’s go honor thrash metal,’” Ellefson said. “We pulled in a little bit of Thin Lizzy and some Riot and some stuff that we grew up on as well. And then I think the next logical step to kind of legitimize yourself is to write your own tunes.”

While they’ve been leaning on material from their Megadeth days — songs they helped write and originally performed — Ellefson emphasized the importance of pushing ahead. “To move forward, it’s always good to sort of freshen it up a little bit and show everybody what you got.”

That forward motion started on the road with a track called “Bridges Burned”, which was conceived during the band’s 2023 tour. “Jeff and I had pretty much demoed it up in the studio the year before,” Ellefson explained. “But we collaborated on it as a group at soundcheck, tightened it up. Me and Chaz and Jeff sat down and wrote the lyrics in a hotel room while we were on the tour.”

When it came time to debut the song live, they faced internal resistance. “Our crew were, like, ‘Dude, you guys can’t play that on stage.’ I said, ‘Oh, really? Watch this.’ Like, why not? And who knows if we’ll ever even officially record that, but it sits out on the Internet now. It’s on YouTube… It’s, like, why not, man? It’s thrash metal, dude. This is the kick-ass, have-fun, get-in-the-pit-and-fricking punch-your-neighbor music.”

As for the possibility of a full album of new material, Ellefson didn’t rule it out, though he was clear about the hurdles involved. “It’s possible. I’m certainly not gonna say no to it. I tell you what, it was great to just do one song. Making a record is a lot of work, especially when you live in different cities and you’re trying to collaborate.”

That creative friction, however, is part of what gives Kings Of Thrash its character. “One of the things about Kings is we are not four of the same guy. We are four very different individuals, and so to sort of be agreeable on something, I’m not gonna lie, it’s a bit of a challenge. And quite honestly, it’s the diversity that makes Kings so cool.”

The post KINGS OF THRASH – Featuring Former MEGADETH Members – New Single Will Be “An Explosive Track Packed With Killer Riffs” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

In October 2026, two of the most influential forces in extreme metal will join forces for a monumental live assault: Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir will embark on the “In League With Satan” Co-Headline Tour, storming across Europe and the UK. As special guests, the Swedish black metal icons Dark Funeral will add even more ferocity to an already devastating lineup.

This unholy trinity represents some of the darkest, most powerful, and most visionary acts the genre has ever produced. Fans can expect colossal stage productions, blistering performances, and an atmosphere steeped in occult grandeur and sonic extremity. The “In League With Satan” tour promises to be one of the most anticipated extreme metal events of the decade.

Dimmu Borgir comments: “It’s been a few years since we’ve done a proper European tour, and what a great way to get back out there—teaming up with our brothers in Behemoth for this massive European run. We’ll be bringing a brand-new show with us, and we can’t wait to share our next chapter with both new and familiar faces.”

Nergal adds:“Legions of Europe! We decided to outdo ourselves and bring the biggest black metal package ever assembled. Behemoth, Dimmu Borgir, and Dark Funeral historic… biblical! Let’s get evil as fuck!”

Pre-sales will start on Monday, December 1 at 10:00 A.M. CET, while the general on-sale will launch on Wednesday, December 3, at 10:00 A.M. CET. Tickets will be made available here.

The post DIMMU BORGIR Joins Forces With BEHEMOTH For EU Co-Headlining Tour With Special Guests DARK FUNERAL appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.