Author: Editorial Team

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.

The post KRISTOFFER GILDENLÖW Shares Music Video For “The Almosts” From Upcoming Album “Humanised” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

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.

The post TESTAMENT Releases Mini-Documentary From Opening Night Of “Thrash Of The Titans” World Tour appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

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.

The post JOEL HOEKSTRA Is Set To Join STEPHEN PEARCY’s Solo Band For 2026 Tour appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

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.

The post SAMMY HAGAR Revamps 2026 U.K. Tour With More Intimate, Tech-Driven Venues appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

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.

The post ACID REIGN Drops “Fantastic Passion” From Upcoming “Daze Of The Week” Album appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

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.

Queensrÿche vocalist Todd La Torre and guitarist Michael Wilton sat down with SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk” on April 16 to give fans a progress report on the band’s next studio album, the follow-up to 2022’s Digital Noise Alliance.

La Torre laid out where things stand (transcribed by Blabbermouth): “There’s a ton of songs that I have to write lyrics and melodies for, which I’ve been doing some of that at home, tracking ideas, showing the guys some stuff. So we’ve got songs in demo form. Really good stuff, really exciting stuff that I’m looking forward to digging in when we get home. But, yeah, [we’re] just working on a new record.”

He went on to address the challenge of writing while keeping a full touring schedule: “You know how it goes — [we’re doing lots of] fly dates [in between working on new music]. The days when you could take a year off and just focus on an album, those don’t exist anymore. So you’re trying to write in these little pockets of time and then have a home life and decompress your ears and chill out for a little bit. I can’t believe we’re already this far into the year. But, yeah, [we’re] just working on a new record. [We have] lots of fly dates [scheduled for later this year] and a European tour.”

Wilton backed that up, pointing to the relentless live calendar as the main obstacle: “We are so busy. And Todd said it right. It’s, like, every week you’ve got a show, you’ve got a show. You don’t have the time off — especially for Todd. In the ’80s and early ’90s and stuff, you had breaks of time where the vocalists could rest his voice. And it’s hard because hard rock bands, metal bands, whatever, these days, and the situation with the media and everything, you have to tour to stay alive… And so that being said, you’re always touring. We’re trying to write a record.”

“Plus, you have to coordinate with who’s recording the record, because [the producer is] busy, because all the other bands are in the same situation as we are. They’re touring and taking a week, 10 days off, and recording and then going back out on the road. So it’s a bit challenging. But this year we’re not doing any major USA ground tours. So we’re really concentrating on the record and then going to Europe.”

The band is once again working with producer Chris “Zeuss” Harris, who handled Condition Hüman (2015), The Verdict (2019), and Digital Noise Alliance. Wilton confirmed this back in January in a conversation with Mark Strigl.

On the musical direction of the new material, Wilton had this to say: “Well, we’re pushing the envelope. We don’t get a lot of standard radio play, so we’re just going for it. We’re keeping the progressive element, the melodic element, the heavy metal element. So it’s gonna be a killer album. But we’re trying to make it a little bit different than the previous one. So, fingers crossed.”

As for where they are in the process, Wilton said the band is somewhere between pre-production and actual recording: “Well, it’s a bit of both. We’re at a point where we know our sounds, so if it’s kept in the arrangement of the song, then you’re halfway there. But yeah, Queensrÿche likes to come up with, in the writing process at least, 15 to 20 songs. So that’s kind of where we are right now. We’re probably on the 13th idea right now. So we’re kicking ass.”

Wilton also spoke about the collaborative dynamic with fellow guitarist Mike Stone: “We’re both in the room with Zeuss, our producer. And if I have a song, I play my idea. We document it, get it recorded, and then I go, ‘Mike, it needs another part on top,’ and he comes up with something, and it complements, and then we just work together and just build the song. It’s great because you can bounce ideas off each other, and it’s not just one person saying, ‘It’s my way or the highway.’ It’s about getting the vibe and getting the right flavors of the music, and I’ll tell you what: Mike Stone does a great job. He can understand what I’m playing, and he knows that what we call Rÿche-ian sound.”

The post QUEENSRŸCHE’s MICHAEL WILTON & TODD LATORRE Talk Progress & Musical Direction Of New Album: “We’re Pushing The Envelope, Keeping The Melodic, Progressive & Heavy Metal Elements” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

After numerous world tours, 10 full-length albums, and globally recognized acclaim, unstoppable groove metal legends Devildriver remain full speed ahead in their second decade of decimation. Today, the band announces their explosive eleventh full-length, Strike and Kill, out July 10 via Napalm Records.

With the all-star lineup of frontman and mastermind Dez Fafara, virtuoso guitar duo of Alex Lee and Gabe Mangold, eruptive drummer Davier Ortega Perez, and the return of founding bass legend Jon Miller, Strike and Kill sees Devildriver return to their carnivorous origin, reigniting the incendiary sound that founded their legacy, a must-listen for all fans of the genre.

Dez Fafara on Strike and Kill: “My headspace hasn’t changed, I have not become complacent or soft in my view of the world or in my music. Metal is our outlet as listeners and writers, so on this record, we focused on ‘getting it all out’ lyrically and backing those lyrics with savage, relentless music that fuels the heavy California groove like no other. Devildriver has never sounded like any other band; we do our own thing in our own way, and I’m most proud of that. I’m so proud of these musicians, this music, and the vibe around this record. DevilDriver sounds like no one else out there right now, we are here to Strike and Kill!”

Alongside today’s announcement, they unleash the fierce album opener upon the masses. Debuting yesterday on SXM’s Liquid Metal, “Dig Your Own Grave” is a vitriolic onslaught of machine gun riffs and uncompromising aggression, lyrically lambasting fools responsible for their own undesirable fates. Full of piss and vinegar, this is Devildriver at maximum ferocity, giving listeners just a taste of the unspeakable carnage waiting within Strike and Kill.

About the track, Fafara states: “‘Dig Your Own Grave’ is about how one wrong decision, one wrong move can see your whole world turned upside down, effectively ‘digging’ your own grave… It’s that simple. It can also refer to how your decisions can fuck someone else. This is why there’s the line ‘Six feet ain’t deep enough for you,’ because only a deep, deep hole is fitting for what you’ve done or tried to do to others. Be careful when you choose to make decisions at midnight.”

Pre-order the album here.

The post DEVILDRIVER Announce New Album “Strike and Kill”, Stream Lead Single “Dig Your Own Grave” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

The Summer Of ’99 & Beyond Cruise is returning in 2027, and Scott Stapp and company have put together their most stacked lineup yet for what will be the fifth sailing of the fan-favourite rock event at sea.

In partnership with Sixthman, the leader in festivals and music cruises for more than two decades, and set for April 17–21, 2027, the cruise departs from Miami aboard the Norwegian Joy, bound for Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas — and this time, very special guests Breaking Benjamin will join Creed at the top of a bill that reads like a greatest-hits playlist of late-’90s and early-2000s hard rock.

Sevendust, Hoobastank, Our Lady Peace, Hinder, Fuel, Drowning Pool, Fastball, Sponge, The Flys, and Ashes Of Billy round out the announcement, with more names still to come. Zach Myers of Shinedown will also appear, while Eddie Trunk and DJ Rock Feed return as hosts.

Creed — Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall, and Scott Phillips — will headline with two pool deck sets. Given that all four previous editions sold out completely, anyone with even a passing interest in nabbing a cabin should move fast.

Alumni pre-sales open April 30–May 1 and May 4–5. First-round presale signups close May 4 at 11:59 p.m. ET, with final-round signups wrapping May 11. Public on-sale begins May 13 at 2:00 p.m. ET at summerof99cruise.com. A $100 saving is available during the presale window, with prices rising on May 13.

The first 850 cabins booked also get a choice of perks: an exclusive 30-minute Creed acoustic set, a photo with the band, or a 30-minute Q&A with Breaking Benjamin — subject to availability.

Beyond the onboard experience, cruisers will have the chance to enjoy a shore excursion to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, an idyllic private island paradise known for its white sand beaches and clear blue waters. Guests who purchase a beverage package will be able to use it for all-inclusive drinks on Great Stirrup Cay. Please note: Shore excursions will not be available until 4-6 weeks before sailing. Cruisers will be able to book an excursion upon receipt of their reservation number.

Creed‘s post-reunion momentum has been impossible to ignore. Since officially reforming in July 2023, the band logged more than 60 dates in 2024, another 30 in 2025, and headlined their own two-day land festival — all while pulling record crowds. Their catalogue remains extraordinary on paper: Human Clay (1999) is RIAA diamond-certified with over 11 million U.S. sales, placing them in company with Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica. Weathered (2001) debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. A reunion that hasn’t been about nostalgia, but more about a genuine return to form.

The cruise format suits them perfectly. It gives the band room to breathe, and gives fans a weekend-long immersive experience that a standard arena show simply can’t replicate.

The post CREED Announces 2027 Summer Of ’99 & Beyond Cruise, Featuring BREAKING BENJAMIN, SEVENDUST, HOOBASTANK & More appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.