Category: news

With her new single “Bring Me Silence,” released today via REVAMP Music / Warner Music, Floor Jansen returns to a more powerful, metal-influenced sound, ushering in a new chapter in her solo career. She also announces her new studio album, Hytress, set for release on January 15, 2027. You can watch the video for “Bring… Continue Reading →

Since this past Thursday, the PiercingMetal High Command has been in attendance at the always awesome Anime NYC convention which was being held at the Javits Center and taking over … Continue reading Anime NYC 2026 Takes Over The PiercingMetal Instagram →

Donate blood and receive an exclusive Wacken T-shirt: The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) and Wacken Open Air (W:O:A) are continuing their joint blood donation activity. On Saturday, August 22, the UKE and W:O:A invite you to “Blood Donation Day” on the UKE campus. As a special guest, the Heavy METALCHOR e.V. will perform a… Continue Reading →

One thing I’ll never tire of is well-executed bubblegum pop-punk. Denmark’s Thomas Stubgaard, whom you may remember from Tommy and the Rockets, has a new band called The Batter Ups going that could not be any more up my alley. This one-man operation combines a distinctly European (meaning very pop-leaning) style of pop-punk with a heavy dose of comic book and sci-fi fandom. Before I’d even heard a note of the music, the band slogan “Fast songs; Catchy hooks; Awkward crushes; Questionable decisions” had me won over! Mixed and mastered by the great Perry Leenhouts, new single “Cailee” is a love letter to the actress Cailee Spaeny. What a catchy tune! It’s a perfect pop-punk song that wears its sci-fi geek heart on its sleeve. The song is taken from the forthcoming album Interstellar Crush, and you can bet I’m stoked to hear it! If you like “Cailee,” be sure to check out the other tracks already posted on The Batter Ups’ Bandcamp — one of which is a Green Day cover!

August 21, 2026 marks a new chapter for Dutch melodic black/death metal band Embers of Oblivion, with the release of their new single, “Drawn into a Night Immortal.”

Following their previous releases, the band continues to build on new material that blends aggression and melody into a powerful and distinctive sound. “Drawn into a Night Immortal” follows the band’s earlier singles, with more new material currently being recorded and scheduled for release soon.

Lyrically, the song takes the listener on a dark journey toward eternal sleep. The story revolves around the inevitable allure of the unknown, where pain, torment, and inner struggle gradually take control. A suffocating force pulls you ever deeper into a darkness from which escape no longer seems possible.

Musically, Embers of Oblivion delivers exactly what fans of melodic extreme metal are looking for: crushing riffs, relentless drums, the band’s signature dual vocal approach, soaring twin-guitar harmonies, and a blistering guitar solo. Combining the aggression of black metal with the melodic foundations of Scandinavian death metal, the band has crafted a sound that is both familiar and uniquely their own.

With several live performances currently in preparation, Embers of Oblivion is looking far beyond the studio. The coming months will focus on new releases and bringing this fresh material to the stage.

“With Drawn Into A Night Immortal, we take the listener on a suffocating journey toward eternal sleep. Expect crushing riffs, dark melodies, dual vocals, and everything that defines Embers of Oblivion.”

– Embers of Oblivion

FFO: At The Gates, Dissection, Insomnium, Immortal, Dark Tranquillity and Necrophobic

“Drawn Into A Night Immortal” is available on all digital platforms. Stream at:

embersofoblivion.bandcamp.com/track/drawn-into-a-night-immortal

music.apple.com/us/album/drawn-into-a-night-immortal-single/6802878579

open.spotify.com/album/4WZ9ZczWXALGEmOyXir5QI

music.youtube.com/watch?v=ImrhJZVD12A&si=4rNabRRiQI3bX-dF

Embers of Oblivion:

Marco de Riet – Drums and Vocals
Maarten Jungschläger – (lead) Guitar
Simon van der Putten – Bass and Vocals
Lennert Visser – Guitar

Credits:

Recorded by Embers of Oblivion.
Mixing and mastering by Joey Ouwerkerk of J.O. Music production.
Artwork by Marco den Riet.

facebook.com/EmbersofOblivion

instagram.com/embersofoblivion

embersofoblivion.bandcamp.com

open.spotify.com/artist/712QNwdOOvYPiUhqpw01Fl

music.apple.com/us/artist/embers-of-oblivion/1016387615

Source: ClawHammer PR

It seems like only yesterday that JEM Records launched its Celebrates series with a stunning tribute to John Lennon. But the math tells me that that was almost six years ago, and here we are now with the 7th installment, JEM Records Celebrates Bob Dylan. The fact that Marty Scott and JEM’s talented roster of bands have kept this project going all this time and produced a new album every single year is beyond impressive. That shows a tremendous commitment — and I can’t even begin to imagine how much works goes into bringing these albums into existence. I know not everyone is on the tribute album train; however, I love the idea of celebrating great songwriting and enrichening the legacy of great songs. In the case of Bob Dylan, we’re talking about perhaps the greatest American songwriter of the rock ‘n’ roll era. You could do a triple album of Dylan covers and not even scratch the surface of his most essential work. So song selection was going to be critical here. JEM Records Celebrates Bob Dylan does an excellent job of choosing some of the obvious classics but also going outside the box a few times. And, as we’ve come to expect in this series, none of these bands/artists settle for a note-for-note cover. Marty Scott gives them all free reign to make these songs their own, and they do just that. 

The earlier JEM Records Celebrates installments seemed like such no-brainers because they involved such core influences (Beatles, Kinks, Who, Beach Boys) on the label’s roster. But with these last two albums (Dylan and David Bowie), we’re really starting to see what makes this project interesting. It’s clear that all these artists are big Dylan fans, but you might not always notice it in their own music. So to hear them take these classic songs and put their own signatures on them is very exciting. 

The Half/Cubes come the closest to a “straight” cover with their version of “The Mighty Quinn,” but still they interpret the song through the lens of power pop and classic guitar pop. The Airport 77s make “It Ain’t Me, Babe” sound like, well, The Airport 77s! The Midnight Callers give 1965’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” a fresh makeover that brings to mind Big Star and Badfinger. The Weeklings tackle one of Dylan’s most iconic songs, “Rainy Day Woman #12 and 35,” and completely transform it with their master class harmonies. Similarly, The Grip Weeds and The Anderson Council make “This Wheels On Fire” and “Queen Jane Approximately” sound like classic slices of later ’60s UK guitar pop. The On and Ons imbue “Meet Me In The Morning” with a vintage garage rock feel, while The High Frequencies reimagine “Subterranean Homesick Blues” as an early ’80s new wave hit. It’s no surprise that Paul Collins (covering “Stuck in Mobile with The Memphis Blues Again”) and Nick Piunti (covering “Mr. Tambourine Man”) both knock it out of the park. Then there are the two curveballs. The Jive, making its debut for JEM, has at “I Ain’t Gonna Go To Hell for Anybody” from Dylan’s gospel period. It’s both a surprising selection and a surprisingly sophisticated performance — sounding completely unlike what I would have expected from The Jive. I feel like I’ve walked into a room and found the class clown solving the impossible math equation that the teacher left on the board. Perhaps the album’s most extraordinary cut is The Cynz’s rocking take on the extremely controversial “Neighborhood Bully.” The song has been a fixture on The Underground Garage this summer, and hats off to Marty Scott for having the guts to back up the band’s song choice.

Like its six predecessors in this series, JEM Records Celebrates Bob Dylan does exactly what it aims to do: celebrate an artist who changed music. In the liner notes, Richard Barone writes, “Does the world really need another Bob Dylan tribute album? The answer, at least for the foreseeable future, will always be ‘Yes.'” I could not agree more. You don’t even have to be a huge Dylan fan to enjoy this album. The songs speak for themselves, but what these artists have done with the source material is remarkable in its own right. If you view a cover song not as act of generating filler but as an act of love and admiration, I think you’d have to say these JEM Celebrates albums demonstrate how it ought to be done. Great songs ought to be both played forever and re-made forever. Even hardcore Bob Dylan fans, who will surely listen to this record critically, will have a hard denying that these 12 bands and artists truly get it.

German heavy metal torchbearers Mystic Prophecy have announced their brand-new studio album, In Metal, set for release on November 27, 2026, via PERCEPTION – Powered by Reigning Phoenix Music. Marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the band, the album announcement arrives alongside the release of its first single, “Robots,” accompanied by an official… Continue Reading →

 

Hitting the scene back in 2019, FREIGHTLINER quickly carved out a name for themselves everywhere from gritty dive bars to major festival stages like CMW, NXNE, and Gussapolooza. Now rolling as a four-piece, fronted by songwriter Innes Wilson alongside Brandon Barbeau, Joshua Osmond, and Liam Vickery, the band is stepping into a hard-hitting Southern rock sound built on whiskey-fuelled bangers and danceable, heart-on-your-sleeve anthems.

Catching the ear of Juno-nominated, Emmy-winning producer Ross Hayes Citrullo to work on their latest singles, FREIGHTLINER is gearing up for their biggest chapter yet with massive sing-along hooks made for crowded rooms.

Their new track Big Freightliner features a catchy chorus, a beautiful solo section and a classy arrangement. The vocals will get stuck in your head and I find the song enjoyable from start to finish, thanks also to a great production (Emmy winning producer Ross Hays Citrullo behind the console). 

A quality release, give it a go by clicking on the Spotify player below and follow FREIGHTLINER if you like what you hear.  

https://instagram.com/freightlinertheband 

Our Top 10 David Essex Songs list features the best David Essex songs, including “Rock On,” “Gonna Make You a Star,” “Hold Me Close,” and more. Born David Albert Cook on July 23, 1947, the English actor, singer, and songwriter is better known by his fans as David Essex. He is the same man who earned international success as a recording artist, winning over a flurry of fans in the 1970s. Long before becoming David Essex, the young man grew up in East London, hoping to become a professional soccer player one day. For a while, he played for the

The post Top 10 David Essex Songs appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

Spread .

The post Spread Eagle unleash video for their cover of UFO’s “Pushed To The Limit” first appeared on Sleaze Roxx.