Author: Editorial Team

Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted is taking The Chophouse Band on the road this summer for their first-ever North American headlining run — 18 dates across the South, Midwest, and East Coast, kicking off 07/01 in Northampton, Massachusetts, and wrapping up with two nights at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on 07/24 and 07/25.

Eight of those dates are headlining shows; the remaining ten see Newsted and company supporting Atlanta country rock outfit Blackberry Smoke through July. Tickets go on sale Friday, 04/24 at 10 a.m. local time. Get them here.

The 2026 Jason Newsted & The Chophouse Band lineup features Jesse Farnsworth (guitar, vocals), Jimbo Hart (bass, vocals), Humberto Perez (guitar), and Robert John-Tucker (drums, vocals).

Newsted had this to say about the run: “We’re fired up to finally take this to the people, and it’s an honor to head out on the road with the Blackberry crew for our first proper run. Blackberry Smoke has built a loyal following that knows and enjoys good music.”

“We’ll be performing The Chophouse Band originals and selections from a few of our heroes. Even at places like the Ryman, we will play some acoustic-based tunes, but throughout the set, it is guaranteed to get heavy!,” he added.

The Chophouse Band plays a rough-edged brand of Americana with roots stretching into bluegrass, folk, soul, rock, and heavy metal — and Newsted‘s lyrics lean personal, threading his own stories through the music.

He elaborated on the band’s direction: “I’ve realized that this is where I can place my energy effectively now. The Chophouse is the continuation of my ambassadorship of American music. The Chophouse Band plays everything from bluegrass to fucking slabs of metal. We’re covering a lot of ground. There could be country flavor to a song, but it’ll still have sharp teeth. We are looking forward to an exciting summer!”

The band takes its name from Newsted‘s four recording studio facilities around the U.S. It got its start in 1992 when Newsted founded The Chophouse Records Studio in San Francisco, with The Chophouse Band performing periodically at benefit shows supporting veterans’ relief, animal rehabilitation, and youth music and arts education programs ever since.

The post Former METALLICA Bassist JASON NEWSTED And His THE CHOPHOUSE BAND Are Heading Out On Their First-Ever North American Headlining Tour appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Slayer has announced two U.S. headlining dates tied to the 40th anniversary of Reign In Blood, with the album played front-to-back at both shows. One of them marks the band’s first Los Angeles appearance in seven years.

• 09/04 — Shakopee, MN @ Mystic Lake Amphitheater
• 11/13 — Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum

A limited number of VIP experiences and curated Travel Packages for those journeying to see a show will also be available. The pre-sale details are as follows:

• Citi Presale: Tuesday, 4/21 at 12 pm Local Time
• Artist Presale: Wednesday, 4/22 at 10 am Local Time (PW: RIB2026)
• On Sale: Friday, 4/24 at 10 am Local Time

These are the only U.S. headline shows where Slayer will perform Reign In Blood in its entirety. Festival sets throughout the year will be different. Down, Suicidal Tendencies, and Hatebreed will support in Shakopee; Cannibal Corpse, Cavalera, and Crowbar will open the Los Angeles show.

Slayer‘s current lineup is the same one that closed out the band’s farewell run in 2019: guitarists Kerry King and Gary Holt, bassist/vocalist Tom Araya, and drummer Paul Bostaph. Their recent activity has included major festival appearances in the U.K. and Canada, an East Coast U.S. show at Hersheypark Stadium, and a six-song set at Black Sabbath‘s final concert, “Back To The Beginning,” on 07/05/2025 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England.

Reign In Blood came out on October 7, 1986, through Def Jam Recordings — the band’s first record with producer Rick Rubin. Kerrang! called it “the heaviest album of all time,” and it remains a defining record in the history of thrash and speed metal.

The album’s release was held up due to concerns over its artwork and lyrics. Opening track “Angel Of Death” — which documents the atrocities carried out by Nazi physician Josef Mengele at Auschwitz — drew accusations of Nazism, which the band consistently denied.

Former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo shared his perspective on the album in a 2021 interview with Metal Injection: “I look at that album as a masterpiece. And it’s one of those albums that will stand the test of time. It’s brilliant. The fire, the energy that that album has. I don’t hear that in other records. I don’t know if it’s because I’m listening to a band that I was part of, but I have this perspective that’s objective.”

“But you know, it’s brilliant, and I’m very appreciative… I think that album will forever be like the epitome of thrash music and part of a historic time in music history… Slayer had a certain energy that’s unlike anything else. And so that definitely is for me one of the greatest metal records ever made,” he added.

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Melodic rockers Frontline have unveiled a new single, “After You’re Gone”, along with an official video, ahead of the release of their new studio album, Rebirth, out on May 15, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.

The band stated: “The song shows a more emotional and reflective side of Rebirth. It’s about that moment when the pain begins to clear, when silence replaces the noise, and you finally see things for what they are. There are both sadness and strength in it, relief, and a sense of moving forward. For us, it’s a song about letting go without losing what was real, wrapped in the kind of melody and atmosphere that has always been part of Frontline’s identity.”

With Rebirth, German melodic rock pioneers Frontline return with a powerful and emotional statement, opening a new chapter in a career that has helped define European AOR since the late 1980s.

The band commented on the record, by saying: “Rebirth truly reflects what this album stands for. After more than 20 years of silence, it’s our resurrection as a band. We wanted to honor our legacy and, most importantly, the fans who kept Frontline alive all these years, while bringing our signature melodies, hooks, and emotions into the present. This album opens a new chapter without forgetting where we come from”.

Founded in Nuremberg in 1989, Frontline quickly established themselves as one of the genre’s leading acts, built around the unmistakable voice of Stephan Kämmerer and a songwriting approach rooted in strong melodies, big hooks and album-oriented vision.

Over the years, Frontline released a string of acclaimed albums including the genre-defining debut The State Of Rock (1994), followed by Two Faced, Heroes, Right Attitude, Against The World, The Seventh Sign, and Circles, earning an international reputation as one of Germany’s most respected AOR exports. Their sound blends soaring vocals, melodic guitar work and polished production, inspired by the golden era of late ’80s and early ’90s hard rock, with a distinct European character.

Following the passing of guitarist and songwriter Robby Böbel in 2022, Rebirth represents both a tribute to the band’s legacy and a step forward into new creative territory. The album features the original singer Stephan Kämmerer alongside new guitarist and producer Christian Mühlroth, whose fresh energy and musical vision play a key role in shaping this new era of Frontline.

Comprised of 14 brand new AOR tracks, Rebirth delivers a direct, no frills melodic rock approach, driven by anthemic, uplifting and sparkling choruses, emotional performances and confident songwriting. The singles “Two Tickets To The Afterglow”, “Burning Horizon” and “After You’re Gone” highlight the band’s ability to balance classic AOR values with renewed intensity and focus.

Rebirth is more than a comeback – it is a reaffirmation of Frontline’s identity and a celebration of melody, emotion and the timeless spirit of AOR, reborn for today and ready for the future.

Pre-order Rebirth here.

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Dutch-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kristoffer Gildenlöw returns with a new solo record, Humanised, due May 29 via New Joke Music on LP, CD, and all major streaming platforms.

To mark the announcement, the video for the first single “The Almosts” has been released.

The track is presented as a focused, stripped-down rock piece, both musically and visually. The video features Lilo on bass, Dirk Bruinenberg on drums, and Kristoffer Gildenlöw on guitar and vocals. On the studio recording, drums are handled by Leo Margarit, while Gildenlöw performs all other instruments.

A straight-forward rock track built on only two chords, “The Almosts” relies on gradual dynamics and layered arrangements rather than complexity for its impact. The lyrical theme centers on people who exist outside conventional systems and expectations.

“The lyrics empower outcasts, minorities, and others who tend to fall slightly outside the strict structures of the modern system; people who don’t fit through the square hole. People who are looked down on, frowned upon, or simply ignored and left to the waves. But in the darkness below the surface, beneath the concrete, roots are growing, and an undertow is becoming a rip current of change.”

The song closes with a direct dedication: “The Almosts – Dedicated to everyone who failed or succeeded in being themselves,” framing it as a statement about identity and acceptance rather than distance or separation.

Best known as the original bassist in Pain Of Salvation, Kristoffer Gildenlöw has also collaborated with Neal Morse, Damian Wilson, and Lana Lane, among others, building a career that moves between progressive rock and heavier solo material.

Since his 2012 debut Rust, followed by The Rain (2016), Homebound (2020), Let Me Be A Ghost (2021), and Empty (2024), he has kept a consistent approach to songwriting that blends personal themes with a recognizable production style and vocal tone.

With Humanised, Gildenlöw shifts into heavier territory again: “Everything has its time and place and now was the time to write a heavier album. Some of the songs have been with me for many years, just waiting to be recorded and released… and now I was ready for it.” – Kristoffer Gildenlöw

The album brings back elements tied to his progressive metal background, including seven-string guitar work, heavier riffing, and shifting time signatures. Alongside that, it pulls in influences from sleaze rock, art rock, prog, and doom, built into a cohesive flow rather than separated styles.

Instead of following a strict narrative concept, Gildenlöw structures his albums around broader themes. Each track captures a different angle on human behavior, forming a collection of snapshots rather than a linear story.

Humanised is described as a reflection of modern behavior and culture, examining excess, consumption, and contradiction in contemporary life.

Fans can access exclusive LP and CD editions ahead of release through US Webshop here and World Wide Webshop here.

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After back-to-back weekends at Coachella, California hardcore punk outfit Ceremony have dropped a new track titled “Other Hells”, marking their first new material in more than five years.

Running just over two minutes, “Other Hells” moves fast and hits hard. The track leans into the band’s hardcore roots, with driving drums and chaotic guitars pushing the pace from start to finish.

Frontman Ross Farrar explained the ideas behind the song: “‘Other Hells’ started as a meditation on the dualistic arts and the interplay of opposing forces in our lives: awake/asleep, physical/ spiritual, inhale/ exhale,” says vocalist Ross Farrar.

He continued: “This is a constant theme in the work of Ceremony; beauty juxtaposed with the intensity of aggressive music, seeking to create a single, cohesive work through audible, visual, and structural elements. Amid the ongoing rise in politics that lean on tribalism and polarizing rhetoric in an attempt to divide, the song responds by aiming to unify, using punk’s great liberatory force: the slam.”

Earlier this year, Ceremony also released their first live album, Live At The Hollywood Palladium, through Relapse Records. The record arrived two years after their 2024 performance celebrating Rohnert Park, one of the band’s defining releases.

Live At The Hollywood Palladium captures a full set along with an encore, pulling from across the band’s catalog and reflecting their evolution within hardcore and punk. The album was mixed by Taylor Young and mastered by Brad Boatright, keeping the focus on the band’s raw live sound.

With “Other Hells”, Ceremony tap back into their aggressive side while continuing to build on the themes that have shaped their music from the start.

The post CEREMONY Returns With New Single “Other Hells” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Bay Area thrash veterans Testament have released an official mini-documentary capturing the opening night of the U.S. leg of their Thrash Of The Titans world tour. The run, which kicked off in March, brought together Testament, Overkill, and Destruction, forming a lineup that leaned heavily into classic thrash roots while delivering a high-energy live experience.

The tour launched on March 14 in Portland, Oregon, and wrapped up on April 10 in Berkeley, California, with Testament closing out every night as headliners.

The band continues to tour in support of their latest record, Para Bellum, released in October 2025 through Nuclear Blast. The album was tracked with producer Juan Urteaga, while Jens Bogren handled mixing duties for the first time on a Testament release. Artwork once again came from Eliran Kantor, maintaining a visual style longtime fans will recognize.

When Para Bellum was first announced in August 2025, the band introduced it with the single “Infanticide A.I.”, paired with a music video directed by Joey Durango.

One of the key shifts on Para Bellum is behind the kit. Drummer Chris Dovas brought a different level of precision and speed, adding a sharper edge to the material. His involvement went beyond performance, as he worked closely with guitarist Eric Peterson during the writing phase, helping refine arrangements and push the overall pace of the sessions.

Dovas joined Testament in 2023, stepping in after Dave Lombardo (Slayer), and has since become a central part of the band’s current direction.

With the Thrash Of The Titans tour and the release of Para Bellum, Testament continue to reinforce their place in the thrash scene while adjusting their sound with a lineup that keeps evolving.

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Guitarist Joel Hoekstra is set to join Stephen Pearcy on the road for the singer’s Undercover 2026 tour, adding another experienced player to a lineup already rooted in classic hard rock and metal.

Pearcy, best known as the voice of Ratt, is currently marking 40 years of Dancing Undercover, the band’s third album released in 1986. The tour leans heavily on that era, with a set packed with recognizable ’80s material.

The current touring lineup includes drummer Blas Elias (Slaughter, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), bassist Matt Thorne (Rough Cutt, Ratt), and guitarist Erik Ferentinos. With Hoekstra stepping in, the band gains a player known for both technical ability and a long list of high-profile gigs.

Joel Hoekstra will make his first appearance with Pearcy on May 9 at the Adventist Health Amphitheatre in Tulare, California.

Based in New York, Hoekstra is currently part of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and has built a career working across multiple major acts. His résumé includes Whitesnake, Night Ranger, and Cher, along with time spent in the Broadway production Rock Of Ages. He has also filled in with Foreigner and Accept, appeared regularly on the Monsters Of Rock cruise, and contributed to projects like Revolution Saints and Iconic.

Outside of touring, Hoekstra has been involved in a range of collaborations, including online performances with Dino Jelusick, Arnel Pineda, Mike Portnoy, and Billy Sheehan, as well as acoustic shows alongside Brandon Gibbs.

With Dancing Undercover at the center of the setlist and Hoekstra now in the mix, Stephen Pearcy’s 2026 run continues to lean into the legacy of Ratt while bringing in players with deep ties to the genre.

Check for current Dancing Undercover tour dates here.

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Sammy Hagar has reworked his upcoming U.K. run, scaling things down in size but upgrading the overall experience. The revised dates for the Best Of All Worlds tour focus on smaller, tech-driven venues, drawing directly from the setup used during his recent Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live.

The July 2026 shows will now take place at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall, Manchester’s O2 Apollo, and a multi-night stand in London at the new British Airways ARC. The London run, scheduled for July 9–12, will see the band among the first to headline the venue.

The lineup remains a heavyweight mix: Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Kenny Aronoff. Together, they bring a set built around decades of material, including a strong focus on Van Halen-era songs.

Hagar explained the reasoning behind the shift: “After waiting 30 years to come back, we really wanted to get this right. Several factors pushed us toward revising this tour, but after wrapping our Las Vegas residency last month at Dolby Live, where the sound, the technology, and the more intimate size really lets us connect with the audiences, it was clear that we wanted to deliver an experience like that for our fans in England.”

He continued: “When I heard our promoter was opening a similar tech-forward venue in London, that really sealed the deal for me. Three nights, a fresh set every night, and I get to stay in London, one of my favorite cities in the world, for a week. That’s the Best of All Worlds!”

This marks Sammy Hagar’s first U.K. tour since 1996. The setlist is expected to pull heavily from across his career, with tracks like “Why Can’t This Be Love”, “5150”, “Best Of Both Worlds”, and “I Can’t Drive 55” all in the mix. It also brings something U.K. fans haven’t seen in decades — Hagar performing Van Halen material live, something he last did there during the band’s Wembley Stadium shows 30 years ago.

Tickets go on sale April 24 here, with fans who bought tickets for the original dates receiving priority presale access and a 10% merchandise offer for the new shows.

With the updated approach, the focus is clear: tighter rooms, better sound, and a closer connection between band and crowd.

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U.K. thrash veterans Acid Reign are set to return with a new record, Daze Of The Week, arriving May 15 through Back On Black. It marks their first full-length release since 2019’s The Age Of Entitlement and continues the band’s second chapter after their long hiatus.

The first taste of the album comes in the form of the single “Fantastic Passion”, which is now available to stream.

Frontman Howard “H” Smith, the only remaining original member, spoke openly about the process behind the new material: “In all my 41 years in this band — yes 41! — I have never been more excited by the prospect of anything than releasing ‘Daze Of The Week’ on the unsuspecting thrash metal public. It’s been two years in the making and at times I thought it might never even see the light of day. Every note of every performance in every song has been lovingly captured by our sixth member producer Jayce Lewis and we couldn’t be happier with the results.”

He continued: “This one is for every single thrasher around the world who thought that albums like this couldn’t be made anymore. They can, we have, you’re welcome.”

Formed in 1985, Acid Reign built their name as part of the U.K. thrash scene’s so-called “Big Four,” alongside Onslaught, Sabbat, and Xentrix. Their early run included releases like The Fear, Obnoxious, and the debut mini-album Moshkinstein, before closing that era with The Worst Of Acid Reign.

Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s, the band shared stages with acts such as Nuclear Assault, Dark Angel, Exodus, Flotsam And Jetsam, Death Angel, and Candlemass. Their initial run came to an end in 1991 after a final show at the London Marquee, as the U.K. thrash scene slowed down.

After re-emerging from a 24-year break, Acid Reign wasted no time getting active again. Tracks like “Plan Of The Damned” and “The Man Who Became Himself” helped reintroduce them, while constant touring across the U.K. and Europe rebuilt their reputation. Their performance at Bloodstock 2016, headlining the Sophie Stage, became a standout moment, reinforcing their status as a high-energy live act known for chaotic pits and constant stage diving.

Lineup changes have reshaped the band since The Age Of Entitlement. Guitarists Paul Chanter and Cooky, along with drummer Marc Jackson, have all exited. The current version of the band features lead guitarist Matt Smith, drummer Johnny Grimley (formerly of Shrapnel), and rhythm guitarist Darren Mcgillivray, a longtime fan who previously supported the band with Wrath Of Man. Alongside H and bassist Pete Dee, this lineup forms what the band refers to as Acid Reign 3.0.

Producer Jayce Lewis returned once again, traveling from New York to work on the album. He described the sessions as “a chance to work with a band that sounded reborn.”

That sense of renewal wasn’t guaranteed. H addressed the uncertainty surrounding the lineup shakeups: “There were times, specifically when Marc and Cooky left at the same time, I really did wonder if it was time to call it quits. That was quickly followed by, ‘No way. No way am I letting circumstance dictate when this band’s career ends. We will decide.’”

With Daze Of The Week, Acid Reign push forward with a refreshed lineup and a clear intent: deliver thrash that feels current without losing its roots.

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Foreigner have released a new version of “Feels Like The First Time” as the lead single from In The Eye Of The Storm, the official soundtrack to their upcoming 50th-anniversary concert film. The album is set for release on 07/17 via Sun Records/Virgin Records.

What makes this recording stand out is who’s on it: three generations of Foreigner frontmen sharing the same track. Original vocalist Lou Gramm, twenty-year veteran Kelly Hansen, and current lead singer Luis Maldonado all appear, making it a rare snapshot of the band’s vocal history across five decades. An accompanying video features footage from the forthcoming concert film.

The film itself was captured at Ellis Island and Brooklyn’s DUMBO House, with the Statue of Liberty looming in the background. Produced by Vertigo Live Productions, it’s headed to theaters worldwide in summer 2026 — but it nearly fell apart before a note was played. As the band was ready to take the stage, a storm swept across New York Harbor, bringing torrential rain, thunder, and lightning. They pushed through it anyway, and the result is what the band is calling one of the most charged performances of their career.

Foreigner also announced limited-edition anniversary merchandise to coincide with the single’s release.

On the same day the single dropped, Foreigner‘s new musical, “Feels Like The First Time – The Foreigner Musical,” opened at the Little Theater on Long Island University’s Post campus, where it will run for 11 performances.

The vocalist situation in Foreigner has seen considerable change in recent years. Hansen announced his departure last May during the band’s appearance on the season finale of NBC’s “The Voice,” where he also introduced Luis Maldonado as his replacement. Before joining Foreigner, Maldonado was best known as the guitarist for Train and for his work with Lisa Marie Presley. Hansen had been with the band since 2005, when he replaced founding singer Lou Gramm.

Founding guitarist Mick Jones, the only remaining original member, has been absent from the band’s live shows since 2022. He revealed in February 2024 that he is dealing with Parkinson’s disease, following earlier health issues that included heart surgery in 2012.

Over their career, Foreigner has moved more than 80 million albums worldwide. Their catalog includes “Hot Blooded,” “Juke Box Hero,” “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” “Cold As Ice,” “Urgent,” “Feels Like The First Time,” and the global chart-topper “I Want To Know What Love Is.”

The post FOREIGNER Reunites Three Generations Of Singers For New “Feels Like The First Time” Recording, Off Upcoming Concert Film “Foreigner 50: In The Eye Of The Storm” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.