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It seems forever since 2023’s ‘Screamin’ at the Sky’ which eschewed ballads, rocked hard and delivered 12 blistering tracks, unless that is you bought the special digital limited edition which also included bonus track “Love Somebody” and covers of “Burning Love” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, making 15 new recordings is all. Three years on we are looking at a sleeker new offering – a new EP with just 7 tracks and one of them a cover of  Simple Minds “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” featuring  Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman.

If you’ve already checked out the lead single ‘Neon Eyes’ and second single and title track ‘Celebrate’ then you’ve already heard the best of the original material here. To make matters slightly worse for fans and collectors it appears that this will be a digital only release from Mascot. Now as a long time fan of the band who has managed to collect every release the band has put out so far (including all the promo singles over the years) all of a sudden there’s a gap. But frustrating as that may be for some like me this is all about the music and Black Stone Cherry is a band that never lets you down.

Digitally available on 6th March 2026 via Mascot Records there’s not long to wait and it all yet again underlines that these guys are the perfect storm of a melting pot that takes in rock, metal, roots, blues and soul , and unlike many they get even better with age. Chris Robertson sums it up: “I look at these songs on the EP as a culmination of everything we’ve lived since Screamin’ At The Sky.”

Looking at it track by track…

‘Celebrate’ of course has a great video and is all about what it’s like to be stuck in something, whether that be a boring job or maybe stuck in your own head, and how any little opportunity can lead to a small victory! It’s a song about celebrating every little thing in life, even if it’s just making it through the day. It’s the type of fist-pumping banger that Black Stone Cherry does so well and destined to be a fan favourite from the moment the crawling riff buzzes in and Chris vocals soar to the chorus. The more you play it the more addictive it gets.

‘Neon Eyes’ adds a an almost funky, floating counter-punch that has a trance-like refrain that has you nodding knowingly. It’s these contrasts that Black Stone Cherry do so well.

‘Caught Up In The Up Down’ is back to that heavy groove as Chris almost raps the verse and shows that BSC are the kings of dynamics. The groove nails it

In a way the EP sounds like a great collection of new ideas, offering a sneak into what we might expect on the next full length. The press release notes “a dreamily woozy, Nirvana-laced grunge singalong (on) ‘I’m Fine‘” but in reality there’s more BSC thrust in the mix, and I hear far mor AIC than Seattle’s best know ‘Grungers’. However you hear it, there’s no doubt it’s a very cool song. 

Now whilst ‘Screaming at the Sky’ had nothing close to a balled the heart wrenching ‘Deep’ shows you just what we were missing. This is a real highlight here, a bonafide ‘lighters in the air’ moment that anyone who has lost a love can relate to. Going out on a limb it might just be my current favourite here. 

On an EP that doesn’t put a foot wrong ‘What You’re Made Of’ might just be the heaviest. Man those melodies just hit the right note and the muscular guitar just works perfectly in the mix stabbing against Chris’ vocal and ending in a fiery solo that has three parts. This is just so cool and made to be played loud!

The final track comes as another curveball: ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me) ft. Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman’ might not be the most obvious cover, with teh original all 80’s pop excess and pomposity, but in the hands of BSC and with the help of Tyler Connolly (Theory Of A Deadman) it becomes more of an anthem than it ever was. This cover has some real grunt, great guitars and the all too familiar chorus is well and truly nailed. It’s inspired! I can already hear this being played live! It will be lapped up…

Produced by the band themselves, Celebrate is an EP of contrasts and a nice addition to the band’s rich catalogue. And as always they always leave you wanting more!

Even between albums BSC show why they are the masters of modern hard and heavy music. You will love this even if you will (maybe) never get to hold it.

9/10

Track Listing

1. Celebrate
2. Neon Eyes
3. Caught Up In The Up Down
4. I’m Fine
5. Deep
6. What You’re Made Of
7. Don’t You (Forget About Me) ft. Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman

The post ALBUM REVIEW: Black Stone Cherry – Celebrate appeared first on The Rockpit.

General Information

Personnel:

Austen Starr – vocals
Joel Hoekstra – guitar
Chris Collier – bass and drums
Steve Ferlazzo – keyboards
Chloe Lowery – background vocals

Release Date: February 13, 2026

Label: Frontiers Music Srl

Setting the Scene

I Am The Enemy is the debut album from Austen Starr. The release introduces a contemporary rock sound that draws from classic hard rock influences and 90s nostalgia. It features collaboration with guitarist Joel Hoekstra, who performs all guitar parts on the recording. This album marks Starr’s first full-length entry into the rock genre.

First Impression

From the fast, heavy opening of “Remain Unseen”, it is clear the album completely bypasses new-wave electronic trends in favor of pure, guitar-driven rock. The momentum builds immediately, pulling you in with massive, catchy choruses that just feel incredibly good to listen to. By the time the 90s nostalgia and anthemic energy of the title track hit, the record establishes a deeply engaging grip that grabs your attention and refuses to let go.

Similar Sounds

If you’re into any of these artists, this album should be on your radar.

HalestormDorothyThe Warning

Visual Vibes

The artwork for I Am The Enemy mirrors the album’s core energy, blending authentic rock vibes with more theatrical elements. By surrounding herself with symbolic imagery like the skull, mirror, and scattered roses, Starr visually anchors the album’s themes of introspection and defiance.

Track on Repeat

“I Am The Enemy” hits with a heavy dose of early 00s vibes, anchored by a killer opening riff, a great chorus, and captivating lyrics.

In-depth Notes

Musical Shape 🎸

The album strikes a perfect balance between heavy, fast-paced riffs and calmer, romantic rock moments that let the instruments breathe. Joel Hoekstra’s guitar work drives the record, delivering everything from massive solos on “I am the Enemy” to beautiful, clean playing on slower, softer tracks like “The Light”. It completely ditches new-wave electronic elements in favor of real, tangible instrumentation that keeps the energy authentic from front to back.

Vocal Performance 🎤

Austen Starr delivers a vocal performance that is instantly distinguishable. She shines on tracks like “Medusa”, where her precise intonation stands out just as much as her actual tone. Whether she is driving massive, catchy choruses or dialing it back for softer songs like “The Light”, her delivery remains consistently powerful and memorable.

Production Quality 🎧

While the album leans away from using atmospheric soundscapes between tracks, it still manages to stay completely engaging. It keeps the momentum going through smart track sequencing and a constant shift in speed and heaviness, ensuring the listening experience never gets monotonous. Backed by a solid mix, every single instrument comes through with perfect clarity.

Themes and Concepts 💭

I Am The Enemy dives into deeply personal territory, tackling inner turmoil, self-deprecation, and the painful reality of doomed relationships. Aside from addressing these concepts head-on with her lyrics, Starr also uses imagery from familiar myths and stories, delivering its heavy emotional themes with depth and focus.

Final Verdict

★★★★★★★★☆☆

With I Am The Enemy, Austen Starr delivers a highly impressive and cohesive debut album that commands attention from start to finish with its memorable songs and impressive themes.

Mood Meter

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Intensity

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Melancholy

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Darkness

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Emotional

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Serenity

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Energy

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Romance

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Joyfulness

Perfect For…

 

Emotional turmoil	Driving	Working in flow
	Night walks

Get the Album

Frontiers US

Frontiers UK

Frontiers Worldwide

The post Austen Starr – “I Am The Enemy” (ALBUM REVIEW) first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.

Are you ready for a high-concept 112-track sampledelic glitch-pop album about, among other things, the commodification of folk music? Some background on folx, the new album from the project known as friends&: In 2015, under the name tirestires, a Toronto musician by the name of jc grame released a self-described “brainrotted bedroom pop” album called…

The post friends&’s <em>folx</em> Is A Maximalist Manifesto About Folk Music, Capitalism, Family, Labor, The Internet, And More appeared first on Stereogum.

Did A Former Seattle Police Captain Just Challenge The Official Ruling On Kurt Cobain’s Death?

Yes. Retired Seattle Police captain Neil Low says he believes Kurt Cobain’s death was a homicide and argues the case should be reopened, despite the department reaffirming its long-held suicide ruling.

TL;DR

• Retired Seattle Police captain Neil Low says he is “not buying” the suicide conclusion
• Low audited the case in 2005 and claims investigative abnormalities
• He points to blood evidence concerns, scene photos, and autopsy inconsistencies
• Seattle Police Department maintains Cobain died by suicide
• Low published a book on the case titled Crazy Love in 2024

I’ve covered enough rock history, investigations, and posthumous controversies to know when a story moves from rumor to something more serious — and this is one of those moments.

A former Seattle Police captain has publicly stated he believes Kurt Cobain’s death was not a suicide, adding new fuel to one of the most debated tragedies in music history.

And importantly — this isn’t coming from a conspiracy forum or documentary filmmaker.

It’s coming from someone who spent 50 years inside the Seattle Police Department.

Who Is Neil Low And Why His Opinion Carries Weight

Neil Low retired in 2018 after a half-century career with the Seattle Police Department. While he did not work the original 1994 investigation, he was later asked by his chief to audit the Cobain case in 2005.

Audits are not reinvestigations. They exist to:

• Verify policy compliance
• Check evidence handling
• Identify procedural errors
• Preserve case integrity

They are not designed to overturn conclusions.

Yet Low now says that after reviewing the full death file, he reached a different view.

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What Neil Low Said About Kurt Cobain’s Death

Low told Daily Mail: “I just am not buying that Kurt did that to himself.”

He further claimed the original investigation was:

• “Botched”
• Possibly staged to resemble suicide

Low cited:

• Alleged abnormalities in blood evidence
• Inconsistencies between autopsy and police reports
• Missing notes
• Conflicting investigative details

He also acknowledged human error as a factor in report writing, stating: “Misheard, misunderstood, transposed thoughts and forgotten details.”

But Low ultimately landed on a stronger assertion: “Now I think it’s a homicide… the evidence says not suicide.”

The Death Scene Observations Raising Questions

According to Low, photographs from the scene stood out to him.

He claimed:

• Cobain’s hands appeared unusually clean
• Blood spatter patterns were inconsistent with a close-range shotgun wound

Low argued that such an impact should have produced: “A significant spray… a large spray.”

He stated that while pellets were accounted for, the visible evidence did not align with what he expected from that type of trauma.

The Heroin Toxicology Claim

Low also referenced toxicology findings, stating Cobain’s system allegedly contained:

• Approximately three times a lethal heroin dose

His argument:

That level of intoxication would have made it difficult for Cobain to operate a shotgun.

This claim has long circulated in debates surrounding the case, though it remains disputed and controversial among forensic experts.

Seattle Police Department’s Official Position

The Seattle Police Department has not shifted.

Their statement to Daily Mail: “Kurt Cobain died by suicide in 1994. This continues to be the position held by the Seattle Police Department.”

Even after reviewing a recent report from independent investigators suggesting homicide, the department declined to reopen the case.

A Book That Reignited The Conversation

Low published a book in 2024 titled:

Crazy Love

The book details his perspective on the Cobain case and his concerns regarding the investigation.

Regardless of where readers land, the publication ensured one thing:

The debate did not fade quietly into history.

Why This Story Still Resonates Decades Later

Because Kurt Cobain wasn’t just another musician.

Kurt Cobain became the defining voice of a generation, reshaping rock through Nirvana and helping cement Seattle’s place in music mythology.

Alongside Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice In Chains, Nirvana formed the cultural backbone of the “Big 4” grunge movement.

Cobain’s death wasn’t simply personal tragedy.

It became:

• A cultural fracture point
• A symbol of fame’s darker side
• A permanently contested narrative

Check This Out – Best Grunge Albums Ranked: The 13 Most Essential Pillars of the Seattle Sound

The Reality Check That Matters Most

Low’s statements represent opinion, not a legal ruling.

No official change has been made.

No reopening has occurred.

But when a former senior officer publicly challenges one of the most scrutinized cases in rock history…

People listen.

Where Do You Stand?

Three decades later, this case still divides fans, journalists, and investigators.

Do you believe:

• The official conclusion is settled?
• Or unresolved questions remain?

Because this conversation clearly isn’t over.

FAQ

Did Seattle Police reopen the Kurt Cobain case?
No. The department has reaffirmed its suicide ruling.

Did Neil Low work the original 1994 investigation?
No. He audited the case in 2005.

What is Neil Low’s claim?
He believes the death was a homicide and the investigation flawed.

What book did Neil Low write?
Crazy Love (published 2024).

Artist Snapshot: Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain was the singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Nirvana. Emerging from Aberdeen, Washington, Cobain became the reluctant icon of the grunge explosion with albums like Nevermind and In Utero. His songwriting blended raw vulnerability, melodic instinct, and punk aggression, leaving a permanent imprint on alternative rock.

The post Former Seattle Police Captain Says Kurt Cobain Case Should Be Reopened And Calls Death “Not Suicide” appeared first on Loaded Radio.

Swiss garage psych-punks The Jackets have been setting stages ablaze with their rock n’ roll energy and striking visuals for 18 years. This week they finally get to show us here in Australia what we’ve been missing out on – and they have a brand new vinyl collection to share with us too. Before they finished packing to fly out, we managed to chat with the amazing singer and vocalist Jackie Brutsche.

JACKIE BRUTSCHE: Good morning! It’s morning here.

LOUD!: It’s early evening here. It’s just after 6.30 here.

JB: You’re in the future!

L: Yes, we are a long, long way apart. But we’ll be much closer soon because you’ll be touring here soon for the first time! So what’s taken you so long?

JB: I don’t know! I don’t know… maybe it was – Yes, it was COVID. We were supposed to come in 2020, and it all got stopped.

L: Yeah everything got canned then for a while. It’s good that you’ve finally been able to make your way down here, at last. You must be pretty excited about having the opportunity to tour here finally?

JB: We are so super excited, totally. It’s a big highlight in our band lifetime, for sure. A year ago we were in Japan, so we were closer. And there we met a lot of Australian people and bands, and now it’s happening and we are super excited.

L: We’ve had plenty of time to get excited for you too, so that’s good.

JB: Yes that is good. It’s a great place for rock and roll, of course. A huge place for rock n roll!

L: Everyone says that, but Switzerland’s a great place too. There’s some amazing rock and roll bands to have come from there, so there must be some kind of kinship, there?

JB: Yes! It’s collecting. The world is coming together with rock and roll.

L: We’ve got to have something to bring us together. So apart from actually playing here – being here and playing is one thing, what else are you looking forward to about coming to Australia?

JB: Well we probably don’t have so much time to do more than that. See the country, the cities, the culture. Be back in summer! Just to see the other side of the world and travel, that’s what we love about touring. It’s not like travel as a tourist. You get to meet people and bands,and I really always find it fascinating how this music world connects and your family extends. We are very open and excited.

L: It’s coming up very soon. But also, you’re going to have new music as well. Tell us about that.

JB: It arrived yesterday [waves vinyl around] and we’re going to bring it. It was our idea to put… I mean we’ve existed for 18 years, we have six records, and we decided to put out ten key songs from our catalogue and add two new songs. So you get the best songs, and two new ones.

L: Two new songs seems natural to put them on there, but when you think about it, 18 years, six records – obviously there’s songs you know are favourites. But how do you go about choosing just ten songs? It must be like choosing your favourite children, or something.

JB: [laughs] That was very difficult, of course. And on vinyl you’re very limited. So we knew some songs had to be on there, but a lot of fans will definitely say ‘No, this song’ or ‘No, that song!’ But we wanted a good collection that works as a record as songs that we play, and songs that are on vinyls that are sold out and not re-pressed, so now they’re available on this record. It was very hard, yes, because even in the band… but it was more what the audience would like, I think, to be honest.

L: I guess in some ways it’s the audience who makes your decisions for you with something like that. Is in also the audience who decides what you play each night, as well?

JB: Oh no, we do what works for us! Because when it works well and we have fun playing, then everything else works well too. What we do with a show it that we have to have a good time and be excited. Everyone has to love to play the songs, so we have to be totally into the songs. So we have to decide what we’re into and what we feel like, and then the energy will go over. What we do is to have a good time and put this energy and have this moment with the audience. So it’s not about others or even about being liked. It’s about celebrating this moment, this chemistry.

L: How different is it for you as a performer to be in front of crowds who may not have seen you before?

JB: Well that happens a lot. I like that, actually. We play a lot of festivals, garage weekenders, and you meet people you’ve met many times. And then sometimes you play open airs where it’s all kinds of music and genres mixed together, and there’s a lot of people who’ve never heard a rock n’ roll concert. If they’re excited, and they come up later and say ‘Hey what was that! It was great!’ then I love that people have discovered something they haven’t encountered yet. But of course, it’s a new country, it’s very, very special for sure. And it’s great to be in a place where so many great bands have come from, plus the first time it’s even more exciting. And it’s super far away! We’ve never been on the other side of the world that far. It will give us even more energy and excitement.

Brian Giffin

That run had been booked for April/May.

The post Thrice Cancel Australian/New Zealand Tour appeared first on Theprp.com.

When British extreme metal legends CRADLE OF FILTH and American metal titans DEVILDRIVER, two of heavy music’s most iconic and ferocious bands – each with a stellar reputation for incredible live shows – joined forces for a North American tour in 2023 the results were predictably amazing and the synergy undeniable.

“a face-grinding heavy package that lived up to the hype and left fans ecstatic” Ghost Cult Magazine

“a triumphant collision of American and British heavy metal, leaving the audience drenched in adrenaline” South Florida Insider.

Now Australia will  finally experience this much lauded team-up in July of this year as the two titans bring full headline sets packed with classics, to deliver a night of unrelenting intensity, theatrical horror, and crushing grooves.

Cradle of Filth, led by the inimitable Dani Filth, continue to reign as the most influential and enduring name in extreme metal. Their reputation as a singular artistic force and as one of the most insanely entertaining live acts metal has ever produced remains unchallenged. Fresh off the success of their acclaimed 14th studio album The Screaming of the Valkyries, the band is ready to unleash their signature blend of blackened gothic metal, orchestral grandeur, and venomous lyricism on Australian fans who in turn rewarded the band with a fully sold-out tour on their last visit.

DevilDriver, spearheaded by the powerhouse Dez Fafara, bring their signature groove-laden modern metal assault. Known for their punishing riffs, ferocious energy, and anthemic songwriting, the band will deliver a career defining set from early crushers to recent heavy-hitters. DevilDriver have spent two decades forging a sound built on chaos and catharsis, with a brooding ritualistic intensity all delivered with the kind of conviction only a band at the top of their game can command.

Tickets:
Pre-sale: Thursday February 26th @ 9:00am Local
General Public On Sale: Monday March 2nd @ 9:00am Local
From: https://thephoenix.au/cradle-of-filth-and-devildriver/
or https://metropolistouring.com/cradle-of-filth-uk-and-devil-driver-us-2026/

The post CRADLE OF FILTH and DEVILDRIVER Announce July 2026 Co-headline Australian Tour appeared first on The Rockpit.