And they’re back! Sydney-based garage punk sensations Itchy & The Nits, authors of my 16th-ranked album of 2024, return with that rare just-as-good-as-its-predecessor sophomore long player. While Itchy & The Nits have graduated from the no-budget minimalist production of their debut EP, they’ve managed to retain all that charm from that initial release. Out on Anti Fade Records in Australia and Total Punk Records in the U.S., Greetings From… blasts through 12 tracks of quintessential garage punk in less than 22 minutes. Simple, catchy, and fun is a formula that does not need to be messed with, and these three gals pull it off with unbeatable snap, crackle, and pop. Who doesn’t love songs about smelly boys, nude beaches, television, and fortune tellers? And what’s the only thing better than a rock ‘n’ roll band with a theme song? A rock ‘n’ roll band with two theme songs! Even in times as dark as these, an album like Greetings From… is sure to make you smile. It will also have you tapping your toes to a frantic degree and singing along like your life depended on it. Is it possible that the band that gave us classic songs like “Beat It Bozo!” and “Crabs” has gotten even better? My ears tell me the answer is yes!

One of my favorite things that Rum Bar Records does is to re-introduce the world to amazing music. The Over/Thru EP is a compilation of four previously released tracks from Minneapolis rebel rousers High On Stress. I can imagine Lou coming across some of these tracks and just knowing this band needed to be part of the Rum Bar family. One connection is that drummer Mark Devaraj is in Cindy Lawson’s amazing band. Another is that singer/guitarist Nick Leet sounds like he could be Tom Baker’s brother from another mother. And so Lou has assembled a four-song sampler that will turn just about anyone (myself included) into an instant High On Stress fan. These four tracks sit at the intersection of power pop and no-frills heartland rock ‘n’ roll, and of course that’s a sweet spot for me. If you dig hooky, heart-on-sleeve songwriting that doesn’t apologize for worshipping at the Church of Westerberg, you will find a lot to like here (and in the band’s full catalog). The fact that one of these tracks is a cover of Tommy Keene’s “Nothing Can Change You” gives you a further glimpse into the soul of High On Stress. Great find, Lou!

Miss Eliana (aka Eliana Cargnelutti) Zwischen Weihnachten und Neujahr 2025 war ich an einem Gig einer Band namens Strange Kind Of Women im Z7 in

Out Now Via Century Media Records Words by: Courtney Stark Mayhem. The name alone is a summons. That logo — a sigil of shadow — is enough to divide, provoke, haunt, and even start a conversation in the line at any metal show. Without Mayhem, Norwegian black metal might never have taken its true form. […]

Words by: Scotty D Out February 13, 2026 Via Run For Cover Records/Civilians Let me start off by saying since I’ve been writing for HEAVY I’ve had the the pleasure of listening to more bands than I usually would, becoming a fan of bands I never would of otherwise, and this is the case in […]

Melbourne rock crew Freya and The Vikings aren’t here to play nice, and Eyeliner proves it. This is their second swing in the lead-up to a full-throttle 15-track album later this year, and it lands with grit under its nails and sweat on its collar. From the jump, Eyeliner punches hard. The guitars snarl, the […]

Canberra rockers Hands Like Houses are out on the road with Dream On Dreamer in April, with an eight date national tour.

In an effort to give back to the scene that raised them, the lads are seeking local bands to open for them each night. Acts can apply using this form, or through the band’s socials.

Tickets for the shows are available here.

Kyiv-based alternative metal band OnesteP released their new single “Terminated” on January 9, 2026. The song marks the band’s first release since vocalist Brood joined the lineup in 2024. Her arrival introduced female vocals in place of male ones, a decision the band has described as radical. With Brood now handling vocals and lyrics, the band’s sound has expanded, presenting their music from new perspectives.

Formed in 2011, OnesteP build their music around elements drawn from the alternative scenes of the 1990s and 2000s, approached through a contemporary lens. Their discography includes the EP Haunting Satellites (2017), the album Eternal Beauty of Destruction (2019), and the single “Zero Gravity” (2023). The band has already recorded several new songs with Brood and plans to release them gradually throughout 2026.

• OnesteP
• Brood

The post New Blood: OnesteP Enter a New Chapter with Brood first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.

Twisted Sister has called off every previously announced 2026 reunion show, citing what the camp described as “a series of health challenges” affecting frontman Dee Snider.

Behind the cancellation is a long physical toll from decades of high-intensity performance. According to the announcement, Dee Snider has been managing degenerative arthritis, has already gone through multiple surgeries, and has recently learned that the same all-out pace also impacted his heart. The message is clear: he can no longer perform at the level he built his name on.

In a public statement posted by Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda on behalf of management, the band shared: “With regrets, Twisted Sister cancels 50th anniversary celebration performance. Due to the sudden and unexpected resignation of Twisted Sister‘s lead singer Dee Snider brought on by a series of health challenges, the band has been forced to cancel all shows scheduled, beginning 04/25 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and continuing through the summer. The future of Twisted Sister will be determined in the next several weeks. Stay tuned for updates.”

Dee Snider also issued his own statement: “I don’t know of any other way to rock. The idea of slowing down is unacceptable to me. I’d rather walk away than be a shadow of my former self.”

Before this change, the 2026 run was set to include three core members: Dee Snider, Jay Jay French, and Eddie Ojeda. Mark “The Animal” Mendoza was not part of the planned reunion lineup. Russell Pzütto was set to handle bass duties, and Joe Franco was slated for drums in place of late drummer A.J. Pero.

The post DEE SNIDER Issues Statement As TWISTED SISTER Cancel 2026 Reunion Tour: “I’d Rather Walk Away Than Be A Shadow Of My Former Self” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Good Day Noir Family,
There is something immediately transportive about Goodbye To All That, the latest album from Mark Vennis & Different Place, an album that feels less like a collection of songs and more like a drifting narrative shaped by rhythm, atmosphere, and intent.

Goodbye To All That is Mark Vennis & Different Place’s Album out Now

 Rather than chasing immediacy, this record invites patience; it rewards careful listening.

The opening track, “The Beating of the Drum,” paves the way with a pulse that suggests movement and release. The rhythm feels loose yet deliberate, while the guitars lean into a slightly psychedelic folk character. The song feels like the beginning of a journey rather than a destination. Shortly after, “This Nation’s Ghosts” shifts the mood. Here, subtle sonic textures and a faint megaphone-style vocal effect create a sense of unease. The track carries deep intensity without sounding preachy, relying instead on atmosphere and suggestion.

Meanwhile, “All Points South” introduces brushed drums and spacious guitar lines that evoke desert imagery. The pacing slows, and therefore the song breathes with a cinematic quality. In contrast, “There Is No Way Back” uses tremolo guitar work to induce a hypnotic state. The repetition never feels lazy; instead, it reinforces the sense of inevitability running through the album.

“An English Tragedy” brings subtle ska inflections into the mix. However, it never turns playful. Instead, the rhythm drives the song forward with restraint, keeping the reflective mood intact. Similarly, “Just Another Campaign” stands out for its unusual guitar effect, which hints at Eastern tonalities. Moreover, the vocal delivery carries a detached, observational quality that recalls classic art-rock storytelling.

The closing track, “Requiem,” feels like a quiet exhale. Its gentle pacing and understated melody allow the album to conclude without dramatic gestures. Instead, it fades thoughtfully, reinforcing the idea that this record values atmosphere over excess.

Goodbye To All That succeeds because it trusts its own vision. Rather than chasing trends, Mark Vennis & Different Place craft an album rooted in mood, texture, and narrative flow. It feels timeless, reflective, and deeply human, offering listeners space to wander rather than instructions on where to go.

Goodbye To All That is Mark Vennis & Different Place’s Album out Now!

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The post Goodbye To All That is Mark Vennis & Different Place’s Album out Now appeared first on Edgar Allan Poets – Noir Rock Band.