Category: news

US punk-metal mainstays Strung Out return to Australia this September to celebrate 30 years of their landmark album Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues with a national run of headline shows. Originally released in 1996, Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues crammed 13 songs into 32 breakneck minutes and became a defining record for a generation of punk fans. […]

Boundaries release their new album, Yearning: the unbeautiful after, on July 17 via Sumerian Records. Today’s announcement comes with the release of Death will follow me and its official video. The track follows last month’s single Skies cast amber black. “This time last year was one of significant sorrow for this band and many others,” […]

Chrome Vanity is the high-octane solo project of veteran Los Angeles bassist and producer Matt Geinitz. A seasoned road warrior, Matt has toured the country providing the low-end thunder for national acts like Six Gun Sal and The Alibi, and currently holds it down for LA punk/metal outfit Sweet Corvette. What began as a personal passion project has rapidly transformed into a breakout success following the viral momentum of the lead single, “The Blackout Parade.” Dropping on March 27th, the 10-track debut album Switchblade Serenade delivers a relentless, “all-killer-no-filler” sonic assault that runs on Matt’s favorite genre of music – pure Swedish sleaze – and the gritty, high-speed adrenaline of Street metal.

Chrome Vanity arrive with a striking, neon-drenched statement of intent on ‘Switchblade Serenade’, an album that feels like it was forged in equal parts glam grit and in your face 80’s Metallic-edged Hard Rock. From the opening riff of the title track, you know what you’re going to get: big hooks, sharper-than-glass riffs, and a sleazy, no frills edge that feels like it belongs on a midnight highway under flickering streetlights. It’s an opener that ticks all of teh boxes if you’re looking for a Harder Edged sleazier Skid Row. It’s a great sound and the production is nice and crisp.

The momentum barely lets up as ‘Dead by Morning’ kicks in, a swaggering slice of Hard Rock decadence that pairs sleazy imagery with arena-sized choruses. There’s a clear nod to classic Sunset Strip aesthetics here, but Chrome Vanity avoid pure nostalgia by injecting a modern, slightly more Metallic bite into the production. The result is a track that feels both familiar and dangerous, lifted by a huge chorus. The guitars and vocals sound great too.

Mid-album, ‘Gutter Royalty’ really picks up the pace. It’s darker, sleazier and has another ripper of a chorus. The guitars do the heavy lifting with a corrosive edge while the vocals drift between grit and melody. It’s one of those tracks that reveals more with each listen, I love it.

‘Blackout Parade’ keeps the high standards up, and you start thinking that this could be up there with the best of Swedish Sleaze, though of course it hails from Los Angeles! It’s a nice thought that there’s a fight back on the way! Matt certainly has an uncanny knack of hitting a huge hook, and the deeper I get in the more impressed I am. It’s all jagged riffs and soaring hooks, built like a love letter written in broken glass.

‘Electric Venom’ broods a little more, there’s a theatrical quality here too that elevates the sound beyond straightforward hard rock—even the spoken word part works beautifully. There’s drama, danger, and melody all locked in combat. It’s easy to imagine absolutely any song here becoming a live staple, fists in the air and sweat dripping from the ceiling. It’s the sound of excess.

‘Daddy’s Little Tragedy’ is more vintage Lizzy Borden meets Endeverafter two great bands of different eras who rode the same highways under the dead of night. But there’s more! ‘Midnight Predators’ adds more of that wonderfully Metallic thrust and melody, it’s fast, loud, and unapologetically messy in all the right ways. It would get a corpse ‘s foot tapping.

And the closing stretch is as gloriously sleazy as it opened. First ‘Whiskey & Cyanide’ might even be my favourite here, it soars and rides a hook so big it could land a school of whales. It’s everything that keeps me coming back to this genre and as big and bold as anything Scandinavia has produced in the last ten years.

There’s less than a second’s respite before ‘Straightjacket Symphony’ speeds in a tears it up, it’s another breakneck love letter to Sleazy Hard Rock . The final word though goes to ‘Bastards of the Boulevard’ and anthem for all of us 80’s Rockers.  It’s glorious.

With Chrome Vanity Matthew has created a classic on Switchblade Serenade, it’s a record that thrives on contrast: beauty and brutality, melody and menace, polish and sleazy abandon. It’s a debut that you don’t often get: a record that is shot through with a quality of songwriting you don’t often hear. I got the same kind of feeling listening to this as I did the first Crashdiet, Endeverafter’s ‘Kiss of Kill’, Bullet and Octane’s ‘In the Mouth of the Young’ and Black Tide’s debut. This is seriously good. Chrome Vanity might not just be another name in the Sleaze Rock scene, but could become one of its defining voices.

9/10

The post ALBUM REVIEW: Chrome Vanity – Switchblade Serenade appeared first on The Rockpit.

The incident is said to have taken place in 2025.

The post Ex-The Amity Affliction Bassist/Vocalist Ahren Stringer Appears In Court Over Charges Of Dangerous Driving, Refusing Drug/Alcohol Testing, Etc. appeared first on Theprp.com.

Godsmack frontman Sully Erna has cleared up what he says was a media misread of his earlier comments about the band’s future, confirming that new music is in the works — with a lineup that no longer includes all four original members.

Speaking on April 23 with Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation, Erna explained (transcribed by Blabbermouth): “I think some press misunderstood that. What I had said was, if I remember correctly — I don’t know; maybe I was a little foggy at the time — but I just said that I was pretty sure that this would be the last full body of work from Godsmack, from the original members, that we wouldn’t be able to do this anymore because these guys [guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin] were gonna kind of take their final curtain call and bow out. And I knew that this was most likely gonna be the last full body of work from the original members.

“But now here we are. Me and [bassist] Robbie [Merrill] had a long talk. We were, like, ‘Well.’ We had a decision to make, and we said, ‘Well, we’ve still got some gas in the tank here. I don’t really wanna hang it up yet.’ And he’s, like, ‘Let’s go around.’ And so we brought in these new guys, and it’s sounding great. So we’re, like, yeah, there’s probably gonna be some new music coming. I mean, it may not hit the streets till early ’27, but we’re gonna do something, for sure. But it just won’t be with all the original members anymore.”

When Trunk pointed out that Erna — as a songwriter — will always find a way to keep creating, Sully agreed: “Yeah, for sure. I mean, I’ll always write music. Even if I don’t tour anymore, even if I never make another record again, I am always gonna write music. I may write, produce, and arrange for other artists. I might just do stuff for solo, collabs, things like that. Music’s in my blood. I’m not giving up music.

“But there’ll be a time and place where I’ll just be, like, ‘Well, maybe it’s…’ And we’ll see how this goes. Listen, Robbie and I even said, hey, if we go out there and this just isn’t feeling good anymore because it’s not our brothers and it’s a bit foreign feeling, then… We made a decision, just like we did when we started this band, to say, ‘Hey, you know what?! We had a good run.’ Give each other a big hug. Neil Peart himself told me ‘nothing great lasts forever’. And that’s kind of how I feel. And so when that day comes, we’ll give each other a big hug and we’ll call it a good run, and we’ll step away from it.

“But right now I don’t think that’s happening. This band sounds better than ever. We have two new guys that are breathing some new life into the energy in this band, and for sure some new music’s gonna come eventually. We’re gonna be doing a bunch of touring, and then we’ll see how it goes, how it feels.”

The two new members are guitarist Sam Koltun — who first toured with the band in Europe in early 2025 — and drummer Wade Murff. Erna introduced them publicly during the interview:

“Sam‘s on board now full-time, and he’s gonna be the new player from this point forward. And the drummer that we chose, his name is Wade Murff. He’s worked with Daughtry and some other acts. A fairly under-the-radar kind of guy. A strong player. A great dude. Really good with attention to details, as Sam is.”

Sully expressed confidence in the rebuilt lineup heading into rehearsals: “I have complete confidence in this, although we start rehearsals next week. I’m just really confident that this is gonna be just as good, if not better than ever, because these guys came in with the right attitude. They honored the catalog, they honored the playing. They came in and played it right, rather than trying to reinvent it. And as you know, a guitar can sound like a guitar, a drum can sound like a drum. Until you replace the vocalist, that’s when the sound really changes. So I really feel that the fans will be able to come and enjoy the music as they have always known it, because it won’t sound foreign to them, like there’s a new singer singing Godsmack stuff.

“And plus their showmanship even elevates it a little bit more. I mean, Shannon‘s hard to replace. He’s the GOAT [Greatest Of All Time]. If you see that dude play, he’s a tough cookie to replicate or replace live visually. But this guy, Wade, he’s strong. He’s got some great chops, and he’s really playing the stuff solid. I’m very happy to take them on tour and introduce them. And this is gonna start the next chapter in our life here, Godsmack 2.0.”

Murff, based in Los Angeles, reportedly started playing drums at age 4. He cites Led Zeppelin‘s John Bonham and Van Halen‘s Alex Van Halen as early rock inspirations, with Slayer‘s Dave Lombardo and Pantera‘s Vinnie Paul Abbott pushing him toward the harder side of the spectrum.

In his own words, Wade described his approach: “Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate technique and precision, but I love seeing drummers that hit hard and play with a lot of heart and physicality. Live, I always want to play on the edge between control and chaos; something could break at any moment, someone might get hurt… especially me. [Laughs] Seriously though, I’m committed to delivering that type of show every night, no excuses.”

Murff has worked live and in the studio with Daughtry, Prong, Sebastian Bach, Orgy, and Doyle of the Misfits.

The band’s most recent studio album, Lighting Up The Sky, came out in February 2023 via BMG, co-produced by Erna and Andrew “Mudrock” Murdock (Avenged Sevenfold, Alice Cooper). Their previous release, When Legends Rise (2018), hit No. 1 on the U.S. Hard Rock, Rock, and Alternative album charts.

Godsmack hits the road this summer for “The Rise Of Rock” 2026 tour, a North American run with support from Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy, promoted by Live Nation.

The post SULLY ERNA Says New GODSMACK Music Is Coming — Just Not With the Classic Lineup: “We’re Gonna Do Something, For Sure.” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

US punk-metal mainstays Strung Out return to Australia this September to celebrate 30 years of their landmark album Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues with a national run of headline shows.

Originally released in 1996, Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues crammed 13 songs into 32 breakneck minutes and became a defining record for a generation of punk fans. From the opening blast of “Firecracker” through to “Wrong Side of the Tracks”, the album’s mix of hook-heavy melodies and high-speed riffs still hits just as hard today.

Across ten albums and countless tours, Strung Out have built a reputation as one of the most explosive live bands in punk rock – loud, tight and direct, with no throwbacks for the sake of it and no wasted moments.

This September, Australian fans will hear Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues celebrated throughout the set, alongside favourites from across the band’s catalogue.

General Onsale: Mon, April 27 @ 10am AEDT
https://sbmpresents.com/tour/strung-out-australia-2026-tour/

The post STRUNG OUT Announce an Australian tour for September 2026 Celebrating 30 Years of “Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues” appeared first on The Rockpit.

Rival Sons vocalist Jay Buchanan has been talking about where the band’s next album might be headed, and it sounds like a rawer, more stripped-back direction could be on the table.

Speaking with the U.K.’s The Sound Lab (transcribed by Blabbermouth), Buchanan acknowledged that some material is already written, but made clear the studio environment will shape where things land: “Yes, I have. And some music has been written, songs have been written. But I think that once we get in there, seeing the type of energy that the music takes on and the songs take on, I think that getting everyone together in the same room and kind of hashing it out, I think, is going to be — that’s really gonna dictate.

“Because the songs are one thing, but also the energy of the band, and when we become greater than the sum of its parts when we’re together, again, at its best,’ he added. “I think that letting that spirit and letting that energy be and do what it needs to do, I think that’s very important. So we’ll see that when we get into the studio. And we’ll do some writing in the studio as well.”

He also addressed the contrast with their last two releases, pointing toward a possible course correction: “In some ways, with the last two records that we put out, [2023’s] Darkfighter and Lightbringer, creatively they were a real stretch. And I’m very proud of those records, because we made some music that doesn’t sound remotely like anybody else. But I think at the same time, I think maybe we might be looking at a little bit of a return to form, like bring it back to a small club sound, a sweaty, small stage, sort of a high-energy sound. So I know I’m definitely gonna be looking to do that on at least a number of songs. But we’ll see about the entire collection. That remains to be seen.”

Back in March, Buchanan — who put out his debut solo album Weapons Of Beauty in February — was asked by SPIN Presents Lipps Service With Scott Lipps whether the next Rival Sons record would go heavier after his quieter solo detour. Jay was direct about it.

“That’s a fair question, because I’ve thought that same thing. I don’t have to just live within the — whatever one ballad we’re gonna have on this next record or whatever. I have a renewed sense of duty in so many ways. I don’t have anything to prove. I wanna have fun with my friends. And it’s crossed my mind many times — I just wanna make a fucking black T-shirt record. That’s it. Something really, really rough, really unrefined, and as close to the bone as possible.

“[Something like The Black Crowes‘ second album, 1992’s] [The] Southern [Harmony And Musical] Companion, like these ones where it’s, like, it’s so raw, it’s almost like toothache raw. Like, ‘Oh.’ I think I would like to do something like that. But at the same time, Scott [Holiday, Rival Sons guitarist] and I — it’s a collaboration. So once we put things together, it’s gonna be that way.”

The post JAY BUCHANAN On RIVAL SONS’ Next Album: “We Want To Bring Back A Small Club Sound, A Sweaty, Small Stage, Sort Of A High-Energy Sound”” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Yngwie Malmsteen has wrapped up recording on his new solo album, the follow-up to 2021’s Parabellum. The Swedish guitar legend spoke with Eddie Trunk at the 2026 Monsters Of Rock festival in São Paulo, Brazil, in early April, giving an update on where things stand.

“I just finished recording a new album,” he said (transcribed by Blabbermouth). “I’ve been in the studio almost five months straight.”

The record will be a mix of vocal and instrumental tracks, and Malmsteen has designed it with vinyl specifically in mind. “I sing about four songs. And then [the rest of it is] instrumental. It’s a mix. But it’s made especially for the vinyl. So it’s exactly 46 minutes [long]. I made it especially so it’s gonna be a vinyl record. It’s gonna come out on everything, but it’s made to fit perfectly on a vinyl LP.”

As for the sound, he kept it straightforward: “It’s very Malmsteen-esque. It will be everything you expect and then some.”

Yngwie talked about his approach to making records — one that favors instinct over deliberate calculation. “I have the luxury of owning my own [recording studio], so I go in when I’m inspired. And I decided a long time ago, I’m not gonna try to do something special, either what other people think I should do or decide [ahead of time which direction to go] — except sometimes [I say], ‘Okay, I’m gonna make a blues album,’ or, ‘I’m gonna make an acoustic album,’ which has happened.

“But when I make the records that are, let’s say, a Yngwie Malmsteen album, I just let it flow. And I come up with maybe a hundred ideas, and I use nine or 10. So I take the best of what I think is the best, the most dramatic stuff, most interesting stuff — not necessarily a decided direction or whatever. It’s just natural, whatever comes out. And this particular album is gonna be very neoclassical.”

On the question of what makes instrumental music connect with audiences, Malmsteen invoked a familiar name. “I decided a long time ago to make honest music. Not to try to do something that’s fashionable or follow a trend or do what other people say. But what I’ve always done is [made] passionate music. As [Italian violinist and composer] Niccolò Paganini said, one must feel strongly to make others feel strongly. So I feel very strongly about the music, and apparently that translates out. So it seems to work.”

Touring-wise, Malmsteen has a busy stretch ahead. “We go to Europe in June, and then we go home a little bit, and then we go back to Europe in July. And then in September, I think we’re in Asia. Then October, November, United States.”

The new album will be his first studio release since Parabellum, which — like the new record — featured vocals on only four tracks. That album’s title is Latin for “Prepare For War.” Yngwie currently handles lead vocals in addition to guitar, backed by keyboardist Nick Marino, bassist Emilio Martinez, and drummer Kevin Klingenschmid.

In April 2025, Malmsteen released Tokyo Live through Music Theories Recordings, capturing a performance at Zepp DiverCity, Tokyo on 05/11/2024, recorded during his 40th-anniversary world tour.

The post YNGWIE MALMSTEEN Wraps Recording On New Solo Album: It’s Gonna Be Very Neoclassical — Everything You Expect And Then Some” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Twice Grammy-nominated band August Burns Red — Jake Luhrs (vocals); JB Brubaker (guitar); Brent Rambler (guitar); Dustin Davidson (bass); and Matt Grenier (drums) — will drop their new album SEASON OF SURRENDER, on June 5 via Fearless Records, the label to which they recently returned.

Now, they share the video for Sonic Salvation, featuring Jamie Hails of Polaris.

With pit-stirring breakdowns, fist-in-the-air, “Hey! Hey! Hey!” singalong choruses, and chunky riffs, it’s a cathartic anthem that speaks directly and forthrightly to the frustrated and disaffected, and serves as the powerful connective tissue between the band and its fans.

“Sonic Salvation was the first song I wrote for Season of Surrender,” says Brubaker. “I set out to write a song that created more space for Jake vocally and leaned a little more into our hardcore influences. I love how this song came out and Jamie’s guest vocal really takes it over the top for me.”

Luhrs says, “Sonic Salvation is about finding power and strength in music. The fact that music can bring us back to a memory, help us decompress from the outside world and how music is what has created our world that is the metal scene.”

The video also features fans singing and playing along to the song — a tip of the cap to ABR’s loyal and dedicated fanbase and the unifying nature of music in general.

Season of Surrender features additional guest appearances from The Devil Wears Prada‘s Mike Hranica and Make Them Suffer.

ABR are currently on a co-headline run with The Amity Affliction in North America, and will return to Australia and New Zealand this September and October for a headline run, supported by Bloom and I Promised The World.

SONIC SALVATION FEAT. JAMIE HAILS – OUT NOW
https://agstbrnsrd.ffm.to/sonic_salvation

SEASON OF SURRENDER – OUT JUNE 5
http://seasonofsurrender.net/

The post August Burns Red Share ‘Sonic Salvation’ (Feat. Jamie Hails Of Polaris) Video appeared first on The Rockpit.

Australian pop icons Bachelor Girl return with the second taste of their forthcoming redux album, Waiting For The Day: Artist Sessions, today unveiling a hypnotic reimagining of Blind, featuring the unmistakable vocals of internationally celebrated Australian artist, Darren Hayes.

Following the acclaimed release of Treat Me Good with Jessica Mauboy, Blind takes a bold sonic turn, transforming the original into brooding, atmospheric electro pop; layered with tension, restraint and emotional depth.

“Blind might just be the most transformed tune from its original big sister on Waiting for the Day,” shares Tania Doko. “I just love the haunting electro vibe James has produced, and it inspired what we coined ‘the girl in the cupboard’ out of me… I’m restrained, a bit tormented and sing/whisper deep betrayal almost through my teeth. It’s all about space and minimalism. Perhaps it’s a metaphor for not needing to shout to be heard (anymore), sometimes saying less, with conviction, is powerful enough.”

A deeply personal and long-awaited collaboration, the track unites Bachelor Girl with Hayes, a friendship forged over decades of shared experiences in music.

“We were hell bent on including our fellow artist buddy Darren Hayes onto the ‘Artist Sessions’ album – our history and friendship spanning decades through shared experiences of being in duos, and our touring together,” Doko continues. “When I sent the new Blind to Darren with just my vocals, he called me immediately, enamoured with it. He recorded his parts in his LA studio, and his MJ-esque adlibs are in my top 3 moments of this entire record!”

Hayes says the decision to join the project was instant and rare. “I get invitations to collaborate with other artists and most of the time, whether it’s timing or simply that I don’t feel like I can bring anything to the project, I politely decline,” says Hayes. “When Tania sent through the demo of their re-imagined version of ‘Blind’, I called her up immediately. And I’m not a phone person. The song was so exciting and inspiring I had to be a part of it. I think the track is incredibly modern and meticulously produced. As a genuine fan of the band, it’s surreal to be a part of this recording.”

Doko adds that Hayes’ contribution elevates the track far beyond a reinterpretation. “His fresh interpretation is unmistakably Darren, where he doesn’t just sing existing parts, but also creates ‘insatiable’ new hooks people won’t be able to forget. More evidence of why Darren is the internationally acclaimed artist and songwriter he is. Lucky us.”

Set for release this June, Waiting For The Day: Artist Sessions is a bold reimagining of Bachelor Girl’s double Platinum debut, featuring an all-star lineup of collaborators across its 15 tracks.

“We (somewhat audaciously!) began to ask some of our favourite Aussie artists and friends if they would lend their voices and/or instrument to our bucket list project,” says Doko. “What started with one, became 14 artists on this 15 track Redux album, and we could not be more chuffed they enthusiastically said yes.”

With Blind, Bachelor Girl continue to push their legacy forward, reinterpreting beloved songs through a contemporary lens while deepening their emotional impact for both longtime fans and a whole new generation.

The duo will be hitting the road for their Waiting For The Day Redux tour which will kick off in their home town of Melbourne at Brunswick Ballroom on August 8, before moving through Brisbane, Adelaide and finishing off in Sydney at The Factory Theatre on October 18. Tickets are on sale now from www.bachelorgirl.com.

Blind featuring Darren Hayes is out now.
Waiting For The Day: Artist Sessions is set for release in June.

STREAM: BLIND FEATURING DARREN HAYES

The post BACHELOR GIRL Unveil Hypnotic New Single ‘BLIND’ Feat. DARREN HAYES, Second Taste of ‘WAITING FOR THE DAY: ARTIST SESSIONS’ appeared first on The Rockpit.