Rock fans are in for a surprising reunion as Creed and Limp Bizkit, two multi-platinum acts with a famously tense history dating back to the early 2000s, prepare to headline the third annual Summer Of ’99 And Beyond Festival. The event takes place Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19, at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Illinois.

The festival, now in its third consecutive year and coming off two previous sell-outs, once again brings together an extensive lineup of rock heavyweights and emerging acts. On Saturday, July 18, Limp Bizkit leads the “Higher” main stage, joined by Cypress Hill, Sevendust, Kittie, and Puddle Of Mudd. The “Are You Ready” side stage will showcase Magnolia Park, The Pretty Wild, Slay Squad, and several others.

Sunday, July 19, shifts the spotlight to Creed, who will close out the festival with a main-stage bill that includes Bush, Mammoth, Candlebox, and Hoobastank. Day two of the “Are You Ready” side stage will feature sets from Sleep Theory, Big Wreck, The Verve Pipe, and Ashes Of Billy.

Two-day passes go on sale beginning with the artist presale on Tuesday, December 16 at 10 a.m. CST. Additional presales roll out through the week, with general onsale opening Friday, December 19 at 10 a.m. CST HERE.

Fans seeking an elevated experience can opt for VIP upgrades, which include access to a private lounge with specialty bars, an exclusive merchandise area, commemorative laminate, charging stations, and a 360-degree photo booth. VIP ticketholders will also receive Red Carpet Entry with a photo opportunity, concierge text support throughout the weekend, and additional perks designed to enhance the festival atmosphere.

As anticipation builds, the Summer Of ’99 And Beyond Festival continues to cement its reputation as a must-attend event for dedicated rock listeners — and this year, the reunion of Creed and Limp Bizkit is set to make it the most talked-about edition yet.

The post CREED Will Be Joined By LIMP BIZKIT As Co-Headliners For Their Third Annual “Summer Of ‘99 And Beyond Festival” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

The legendary English rock collective Asia is preparing to release a new live recording titled Asia – Live In England, arriving March 13, 2026 through Frontiers Music Srl. To mark the announcement, the group has shared a live rendition of their hit “Heat Of The Moment,” accompanied by a performance video.

This upcoming release captures the band during the first of three shows at Trading Boundaries in Sussex in April 2025. The performance features Asia playing their full 1982 debut Asia along with a selection of fan-favorite tracks. The current lineup includes Geoff Downes on keyboards, Virgil Donati on drums (formerly of Planet X), John Mitchell handling guitar duties (Arena, It Bites), and Harry Whitley on bass and vocals. Together, they revisit the foundational material with a mix of respect and renewed energy.

The setlist includes well-known pieces such as “Heat Of The Moment,” “Only Time Will Tell,” “Sole Survivor,” “One Step Closer,” and “Time Again.” It also incorporates songs tied to the band’s video and bonus track era, including “Ride Easy,” “Video Killed The Radio Star,” “The Heat Goes On,” and “Daylight.”

Geoff Downes reflected on the origins of the track at the heart of the announcement: “”Heat Of The Moment” has an interesting story behind it. It was actually the final track John and I wrote for the Asia album, and it ended up being the opening track and lead-off single. We threw it together in one afternoon. I had the verse, John had the chorus, although this was a guitar picking country-style piece in 3/4 time. We straightened it all out and bingo, there it was! A couple of days later we wrote the middle 8 section, rehearsed it in the studio and recorded it straight down with band. Ironically, it still remains our most famous track to this day. Without it, I doubt the album would have been as big as it was, so I am very grateful to have been a part of the creation of “Heat Of The Moment”. It’s still a really fun track to play live, and I hope it will bring back memories, and give pleasure to the listeners and fans all over the world for many years to come”.

Harry Whitley also spoke about performing the song: “Playing “Heat Of The Moment” live is always such an incredible experience. It’s always electrifying, and this recording was no different. It was such an exciting night and a thrill to revisit all of Asia’s catalog over the three nights. We’re really looking forward to fans hearing this whole live album and the others to follow…”

Virgil Donati shared his own thoughts: “This song carries decades of history – every note, every moment – and we hope listeners feel the same passion we pour into it night after night”.

John Mitchell added his perspective on the track: “”Heat Of The Moment” is a very dear song close to my heart. Having performed it a vast number of times over the years both previously with the John Wetton solo band and with John and Geoff in ICON, from the quiet introspective acoustic version at The Borderline to the full band amped up version in front of 12000 strong in St Petersburg, it is both an uplifting anthem and a quiet tonic for the soul which never fails to bring warmth to the many”.

With more than four decades of musical history—spanning multi-platinum releases such as Asia, Alpha, and Astra—the group’s current incarnation continues to revisit significant moments from their catalog while appealing to a new audience. This live album marks the first of three releases from the Trading Boundaries shows, each dedicated to one album from the band’s early trilogy.

Geoff Downes reflected further on revisiting their debut: “Revisiting the entire first Asia album brought all the great memories flooding back from 43 years ago. In the studio with John, Steve, Carl and, of course, the great Mike Stone at the production helm. I think at the time we knew we’d made a good album but could not have predicted the enormous success that followed, that made the band a household name across the world, and particularly in America. That said, it was a result of much hard work and effort from everyone involved. So, when I had the opportunity to put together the live album with the current and fantastic lineup of Asia and in collaboration with Frontiers Music, it was really a no-brainer”.

He continued: “I was reminded of what a collection of great songs and performances made up the album — variety and musical dynamics to the fore. When we recorded it again earlier this year, I was drawn to some of the less featured tracks and realized how much they played an important part of overall album, in addition of course to the signature tracks such as “Heat Of The Moment”, “Only Time Will Tell”, etc”.

Downes added one final note: “We did this for you, the fans, and hope you really enjoy hearing these songs in the live setting performed in their entirety once again and enjoy it as much as we did creating and performing it”.

The post ASIA Announces New Live Album “Live In England” And Shares Live Video For “Heat Of The Moment” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Bochum-based guitarist and composer Axel Rudi Pell is gearing up to release his next studio album, Ghost Town, arriving March 20, 2026 through SPV/Steamhammer.

The new record continues the sound that has defined Pell’s long career: a blend of heavy, driving guitar riffs paired with memorable melodies, all delivered by his longtime band — American vocalist Johnny Gioeli, former Rainbow drummer Bobby Rondinelli, bassist Volker Krawczak, and keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg. Even after more than three and a half decades, Pell still finds ways to add fresh moments or unexpected collaborations, and Ghost Town follows that tradition with eleven new tracks.

One of the most notable songs is “Breaking Seals”, which features a standout duet between frontman Gioeli and German metal icon Udo Dirkschneider. It marks the first time Pell has paired these voices together, further highlighting the respect he commands within the rock and metal community.

Pell handled production duties on Ghost Town, while Tommy Geiger — known for work with Blind Guardian and Helloween — recorded and mixed the album at Blind Guardian Studios in Grefrath, helping shape its overall sound.

The record’s first single, the title track “Ghost Town”, offers a strong introduction to the album. It’s an energetic and tightly written piece that recalls the spirit of classic early Rainbow material, giving listeners a clear sense of what they can expect from Pell’s latest chapter.

Ghost Town will be released in the following configurations and it can now be pre-ordered here.

• CD DigiPak incl. poster
• CD Jewel case
• 2LP Gatefold, 140 g, black vinyl, padded inner sleeves, colored insert
• Exclusive CD/2LP Bundles with a shirt and exclusive vinyl only at the Steamhammer shop
• 2LP Gatefold exclusive coloured edition only at the Napalm shop
• 2LP Gatefold exclusive coloured edition only at the EMP shop
• Download + Streaming

The post AXEL RUDI PELL Shares Title Track From Upcoming Album “Ghost Town” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

DD Verni & The Cadillac Band are known for marrying rock ‘n roll’s visceral energy and succinct songwriting to suave, swinging throwback arrangements and aesthetics. Yesterday, December 10, they’ve released a new video for “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas.” Taken from their current and second album Buckle Up (Deko, 2025), the high-energy song has a red-hot arrangement with searing guitar lines, galloping rhythm, pumping horns, and infectious female backing vocals. “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas” follows the album’s previous singles “So Long”, “Two Of A Kind”, and “Lucky 13”.

“Whenever you’re doing big band music, especially when it’s fused with 50’s style rock n roll, you have to consider doing a Christmas song,” the singer, songwriter, and guitarist explains about the song that was originally made famous by the 10-year-old Gayla Peevy back in 1953. “I had seen my niece do this song at a holiday concert when she was 4 or 5 years old—it was the first time I heard it and thought she was so damn cute. I got to thinking about how I could do a rockin’ big band version of it. Putting on a guitar and singing along to a new arrangement just came together quickly, and with Kingston and Greystar in the band adding female vocals, it just kind of made the whole thing make sense.”

For the recording of the song, DD did a demo mix of the song and sent it to the great Jim McMillen to create the horn arrangements. He just picked up on it very quickly and it all gelled together,” he explains. “Since he had done some Christmas songs in the past, Jim had a good feel for what types of arrangements would make it feel more like a holiday song. He had some great ideas for some of the background vocals,” adds DD. “The girls and I were screaming his name quite a bit as we were doing them. There are a ton of harmonies and in interesting spots…we had a lot of fun trying to put them together. And I mean c’mon, how can you be smiling when you’re singing you have a two-car garage to keep your hippo in ??!!”

When it came to creating the video, DD says he knew it had to be pure fun. “We wanted the spirt of NYC on the holidays, so we filmed all over Manhattan. Our video people had a great costumer, and we had our Hippo mascot (named Peevy, a tribute to Gayla Peevy who sang the song like 70 years ago) made to accompany us all around the city. We just had a night of laughter and fun. I love the holidays and having our own song and video to roll out each year as time goes on is a really cool thing. And there is nowhere like NYC at Christmas. I have been all over the world, to all the great Christmas Markets in Europe, but NYC is still the benchmark.”

“I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas” marks the second holiday song by DD Verni & The Cadillac Band; it follows the group’s 2023 release “We’re A Couple of Misfits”. “I wanted to do a Christmas song that had not been done so many times,” DD says of the song that was featured in the 1964 Rankin/Bass Christmas special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” “At the heart of a lot of Christmas music is a blues progression on the chords which lends itself great to what we do. We had a friend come and do a rocking video for it and it’s a song we now play now at our holiday shows, so very very fun.”

For DD, the holidays have always revolved around family. “I have so many wonderful Christmas memories—I have seven brothers and sisters, so growing up Christmas was a madhouse at the Verni house. Tearing open boxes, just mayhem, and we loved it. I can remember one year when I was maybe 14 or so. We used to put albums we wanted on our Christmas list and my mom would go to Tower Records and ask the clerk and get the records we wanted. Well, that year I put down Black Sabbath’s We Sold Our Souls for Rock n Roll and Nazareth’s Expect No Mercy and got em both! Now my mom, God rest her soul, could not have been pleased to be making those purchases, but wanted me to have a great day and so I got ‘em. With my own kids,” he adds, “I carried on so many family traditions. We did the typical things. Every year I’d take my kids to pick out a real tree and we’d stuff it in the car and bring it home. My kids are grown but we still do stockings every year. I live at the beach now so there are different things available in a beach town rather than in the suburbs where I grew up, but it’s still pretty traditional. Of course, there’s always a massive spread of Italian food on Christmas day.”

The post DD VERNI & THE CADILLAC BAND Releases High-Energy Holiday Single And Video For “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Alan ‘Smudger’ Smith (26 August 1943 – 4 November 2025)

Beloved roadie, colleague, mentor, and friend.

Alan ‘Smudger’ Smith, an unshakeable presence in the world of live music production and a longtime roadie for The Who, passed away peacefully on 4 November. He was 82.

Born with an instinctive knack for all things mechanical and musical, Smudger found his calling early on the road – long before touring became the highly engineered enterprise it is today. He joined The Who’s crew in the 1970s, becoming part of the tight-knit family that helped deliver the band’s legendary sound to audiences across continents. He was Pete Townshend’s guitar tech in the early 70s before another Alan (Rogan) took over. Smudger could look after, repair and tune a guitar, but couldn’t actually play the instrument! Through the 1970s and into the 80s, Smudger was known for his steady hand, calm mind, and uncanny ability to fix anything – often in the dark, under pressure, and with thousands waiting for the next explosive chord.

Smudger brought this same dedication and expertise to The Who’s production company, ML Executives Ltd based at Shepperton Studios, where, along with Roger Searle, Mick Double, Dick Hayes, Ronnie Turpie, Paula Rosewell and the rest of the team, he looked after The Who’s touring equipment with the same pride he’d carried on the road. He became an essential part of the operation, the person everyone trusted to know the gear, the history, and the standards required for a band whose live shows have always been larger than life. Colleagues remember him being a veritable encyclopaedia of know-how, meticulous in his work, and endlessly generous with his time.

Beyond his technical skill, Smudger will be remembered for his warmth, his wicked sense of humour, and the stories he could tell – usually over a cup of tea, often beginning with “So there we were in [fill in name of city] on the such-and-such tour . . .” He made people feel welcome, whether they were rock legends, fellow crew members, or the newest kid trying to learn the ropes.

Alan ‘Smudger’ Smith is survived by his wife Jennifer, his daughters Mig (above) and Aimee, his family and friends, plus a vast community of musicians and crew whose lives he touched over several remarkable decades in live music. His legacy lives on in countless shows, memories, and the quiet confidence he instilled in those who worked beside him.

The stage won’t be the same without him.

We’ll leave the last word to Peter ‘Dougal’ Butler, Keith Moon’s long-suffering PA . . .

“Well, it’s with great sadness that we have lost one of our great road crew guys from the 70’s – Alan ‘Smudger’ Smith. A lovely guy. I recall Pete paid to have his teeth fixed, and we did have some laughs. Rest in peace, Alan. Our thoughts are with you and the family.”

Alan and Jennifer

 

The post R.I.P. Alan ‘Smudger’ Smith appeared first on The Who.

On the heels of a wildly successful Australian tour with sold-out shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide, Sebastian Bach announces his 2026 North American headlining tour, The Party Never Ends, kicking off February 26 in Highland, California at Yaamava’ Casino.

The tour will bring Bach’s unmistakable voice as he delivers the iconic hits from his days in Skid Row, alongside fan favorites from his expansive solo catalog, including material from his latest album, Child Within the Man, hailed by Metal Hammer as “an unapologetic celebration of what Sebastian Bach does best,” with Associated Press saying “…it shows a fierce performer in prime fighting form…his vocals remain sharp and his songwriting talents as cunning as ever,” In addition, “(Hold On) To the Dream” track was included in Consequence’s 30 Best Metal & Hard Rock Songs of 2024 which described the song as “…a career masterpiece from the former Skid Row singer. Baz hits some of the highest notes of his career on the sweeping ballad, an inspiring anthem about perseverance.”

Joining the tour as direct support are modern rock standouts Stitched Up Heart. handpicked by Sebastian Bach for his 2020 tour celebrating the debut Skid Row album. That tour was ultimately cancelled due to COVID, making this long-awaited pairing finally come full circle.

Local presales begin December 11 at 10 AM local time, followed by the general onsale on December 12 at 10 AM local time. VIP Meet & Greet packages will be available as well. For full details and ticket links, visit here.

Additionally, Sebastian Bach has also dropped a new “Car Wash Hot Wax” edit of the single “What Do I Got to Lose?”, delivering a hotter, extended bikini car wash performance by none other than his wife, Suzanne. “What Do I Got to Lose?” made an immediate splash at radio, debuting as the #1 Most Added track upon release, bridging Sebastian Bach’s iconic legacy with his modern solo relevance.

Sebastian Bach North American Headlining Dates:

Feb 26 – Highland, CA – Yaamava Casino*
Feb 27 – Fresno, CA – Tower Theatre
Feb 28 – Oroville, CA – Feather Falls Casino*
Mar 02 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theatre
Mar 04 – Victoria, BC – Capital Ballroom
Mar 06 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall
Mar 07 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
Mar 09 – Billings, MT – The Pub Station Ballroom
Mar 10 – Minot, ND – The Original
Mar 13 – Des Plaines, IL – Des Plaines Theatre
Mar 14 – Florence, IN – Belterra Resort Casino*
Mar 15 – Wyandotte, MI – District 142
Mar 18 – Marion, IL – Marion Culture Civic Center
Mar 20 – Millvale, PA – Mr. Smalls
Mar 21 – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak*
Mar 22 – Hampton Beach, NH – Wally’s
Mar 24 – Albany, NY – Empire Live
Mar 25 – Harrisburg, PA – Capitol City Music Hall
Mar 27 – Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater
Mar 28 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room
Mar 29 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
Mar 31 – Jacksonville, FL – Five
Apr 02 – Sebastian, FL – Capt Hirams Hall
Apr 03 – St. Petersburg, FL – Ferg’s Entertainment Center*
Apr 04 – Destin, FL – Club LA
Apr 06 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Hall
Apr 10 – West Wendover, NV – Peppermill Casino*

*no Stitched Up Heart

Additional One Off Dates:

2025
Dec 12 – West Siloam Springs, OK – Cherokee Hotel & Casino*
Dec 13 – Roland, OK – Cherokee Casino and Hotel
Dec 27 – Airway Heights, WA – Pend Oreille Pavilion at Northern Quest Resort & Casino

2026
Jan 7 – Snoqualmie, WA – Snoqualmie Casino
Jan 17 – Lincoln City, OR – Chinook Winds Casino Resort
Jan 24 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena w/ Tesla
Feb 21 – Newton, NC – Newton Performing Arts Center
Feb 26 – Highland, CA – Yaamava’ Theater*
Mar 14 – Florence, IN – Belterra Casino Resort
Mar 21 – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak
May 31- Lake Charles, LA – L’Auberge Casino
Aug 21 – Gatlinburg, TN – The Mountain Festival 2026
Oct 3 – Saint Charles, MO – The Family Arena w/ Great White and Quiet Riot

The post SEBASTIAN BACH Announces Spring 2026 North American Tour With STITCHED UP HEART As Support appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Legendary metal titans Megadeth and Trafalgar Releasing have revealed the trailer for Megadeth: Behind the Mask, a cinematic legacy event that will debut on screens worldwide on Thursday, January 22.

Tickets are now on sale for the film that will screen in over 1,000 cinemas across 35+ countries on the eve of the release of the band’s final studio album out January 23. To get tickets, and for more information and to sign up for updates, fans can visit here.

In Megadeth: Behind the Mask, Dave Mustaine pulls back the curtain on 40 years of Megadeth, sharing untold stories of the band’s past and the creative fire that drives them. Interwoven throughout, audiences will get to experience the world premiere of Megadeth‘s new self-titled album in full, brought to life with a 40-year retrospective career-spanning interview and Mustaine’s own track-by-track reflections about the band’s final studio album. This one-night-only listening event will provide a first-listen to this landmark project. Megadeth: Behind the Mask is an immersive celebration of one of the most influential bands in metal history, capturing their legacy while heralding a powerful new chapter.

Leading up to the album and film’s debut, Megadeth—Dave Mustaine, Teemu Mäntysaari on lead, rhythm, and acoustic guitars, James LoMenzo on bass guitar, and Dirk Verbeuren on drums—have released two tracks: “I Don’t Care” and “Tipping Point,” the album’s first single. Megadeth have also announced a very special bonus track from the album: a reimagined version of “Ride The Lightning,” which Mustaine co-wrote with Metallica’s James Hetfield, Cliff Burton, and Lars Ulrich and was the title track from the group’s 1984 album. Pre-order the album, via Dave Mustaine‘s Tradecraft imprint in partnership with Frontiers Label Group’s new BLKIIBLK label, here. Read more about the album’s full track listing here.

The post MEGADETH Shares Official Trailer For “Megadeth: Behind The Mask” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Symphonic metal titans Epica proudly release their explosive new single “Avatar – The Final Incarnation”, a track that deals with the final incarnation (Avatar) to rid the world of unrighteousness and restore truth and purity. The single is accompanied by a stunning visualizer featuring artwork taken directly from the band’s forthcoming Epica Oracle Card Set, launching worldwide on January 7th.

Mark Jansen shares insight into the inspiration behind the track: “In Hindu philosophy, Kalki represents the final avatar who restores balance at the end of the age. That idea of breaking free from cycles—through self-realization, detachment from desires, and inner transformation—resonates deeply with me. ‘Avatar’ channels that journey toward liberation, something both powerful and universal.”

Simone Simons adds: “We absolutely can’t wait to kick off the European tour. Sharing the stage with our incredible fans night after night is the heartbeat of what we do, and this new song will definitely warm you up for the journey we’re about to take together.”

From January till March, Epica will embark on ‘The Arcane Dimensions’ European Tour with Amaranthe and Charlotte Wessels’ The Obsession, that brings three of the genre’s most dynamic forces together for an unforgettable live experience.

But more is more: On January 7th, the band will release the Aspiral Oracle, a beautifully crafted deluxe boxset containing a 12 card oracle deck (one card per song title and one extra artist card called ‘The Map’), a handbook with an in-depth rule-sheet and a stunning incense holder, all designed and sculpted by Hedi Xandt who previously created the artwork for Aspiral. This boxset is a true must have that will give you deeper insights into the meaning of all the Aspiral songs, but can also serve as a tool that can give you guidance in your personal journey.

You can now pre-order it here.

The post EPICA Unveils New Single “Avatar – The Final Incarnation” In Support Of Their Upcoming European Tour appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Good Day Noir Family,
“Modern Life” by Strutter carries a moody charm that settles into the listener’s mind with surprising ease.

Modern Life is Strutter’s Single Out Now

The track opens with a guitar tone soaked in chorus, a choice that frames the song with a lightly nostalgic haze.

It feels familiar, as if it sits somewhere between early-2000s alternative and a dusk-lit Americana drive. Moreover, the band leans into that mood with confidence, giving the song a strong identity from the first phrases onward.

The vocal delivery deepens the track’s character. The singer’s lower timbre adds weight to every line, shaping the story with a sense of quiet urgency. Nothing is overstated. Instead, the voice guides us through a landscape that feels introspective but never heavy. As the arrangement grows, the guitars expand around the central melody, creating a feeling of motion that suits the song’s restless energy.

Additionally, the rhythm section deserves attention for its steady pulse. The drums keep the song moving without ever overwhelming the dynamics, while the bass fills the spaces with subtle tension. Together, they provide the backbone for a track that invites listeners to drift, think, and travel—literally or mentally. There is a twilight quality to the entire piece, a sense of being halfway between day and night, future and past, desire and doubt.

The chorus opens the horizon even further. Here, Strutter reveals their ability to build emotion through simplicity: open chords, rising melodies, and a tone that brushes against the style of early Stereophonics without losing originality. The hook sticks with you, not because it shouts, but because it resonates in a deeply human way. It feels like a moment of clarity arriving quietly during a long drive.

“Modern Life” stands out as a thoughtful and atmospheric alternative-rock track, shaped by strong songwriting and an instinctive emotional touch. Strutter show a clear artistic identity, and this single hints at a promising future filled with heartfelt, nocturnal, road-ready music.

Modern Life is Strutter’s Single Out Now!

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Hypnotic!

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Strutter are an Irish 4-piece alternative rock band formed in 2019. Their sound crosses alternative, rock, rap, blues, funk and dream pop genres in exploring emotions – delivered often tenderly and always viscerally. Drawing on influences including 1970’s icons such as Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and Thin Lizzy; Strutter morph a modern sound that ranges from ballad to all out rock swagger complete with smoky vocals, infectious grooves and stadium sized licks

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Find Strutter Here:

Spotify
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Discover New Bands Click Here

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The post Modern Life is Strutter’s Single Out Now appeared first on Edgar Allan Poets – Noir Rock Band.

– December 11th, 2025 –

Announce European headlining Tour for March/April 2026!

LIK, the modern-day purveyors of classic Swedish death metal, gloriously return to action with a video for “They“, taken from their latest full-length Necro which was released last April. Directed by the band’s own Joakim Antman, you can check out the video HERE.

LIK will return to stages next March when they kick off the Necrofeeling Over Europe Tour 2026! Comments the band: “In March & April we drag NECRO across European soil – a procession of stinking, rotten, & unspeakable volume. Join the march or be buried beneath it.”

NECROFEELING OVER EUROPE
26/3 Brewgata, Oslo, NO
27/3 Östgötaslakt, Linköping, SE
29/3 Monument, Gothenburg, SE
31/3 Voodoo, Warsaw, PL
1/4 Zascianek, Krakow, PL
3/4 Kabinet Muz, Brno, CZ
4/4 Modra Vopize, Prague, CZ
5/4 Dark Easter MetalMeeting, Munich, DE
7/4 Urban Spree, Berlin, DE
9/4 Stengade, Copenhagen, DK
11/4 BD Riots, Borlänge, SE
12/4 Kollektivet Livet, Stockholm

Other festivals
14-15/8 Blasphemy Festival, SK

Purchase tickets, vinyl, CDs and shirts at: metalblade.com/lik

Standing loud and proud over so many imitators, Necro is the musical equivalent of a classic shock-horror movie that’s drenched in blood and gore and packed with over-the-top extremities. Delve beyond the zombified cover art created by Stockholm-based tattooist and artist Jens Olsson (Ink Fanatics), Necro serves as a reminder of just how special and exciting the genre is: packed with blood-curdling fantasy stories about war, death, zombies, world apocalypse, and murder all stacked with disgustingly-good rotten riffs.

Once again using uber-producer Lawrence Mackrory (Meshuggah, Katatonia, High Parasite, Decapitated), all music was recorded live over a three-day period, before vocalist/guitarist Tomas Åkvik headed to Uppsala to record his vocals at Mackrory’s Rorysound Studios. Mackrory has worked with LIK – whose name translates to “corpse” in Swedish – since their 2015 debut Mass Funeral Evocation and throughout their Metal Blade Records’ career that started with 2018′s Carnage.

Within Necro‘s ten tracks, LIK has created a seamless album, diverse in tempo but without losing any of their blood-soaked intensity and relentless in-your-face-attitude listeners have come to expect. There are twists and turns that keep LIK on a progressive path without straying from their old-school trademark sounds inspired by the godfathers Dismember, At The Gates and, of course, Entombed.

“We didn’t really want to repeat ourselves, but of course we wanted the LIK sound,” explains Åkvik on the writing trajectory of Necro.

“This album is fucking crushing! Everything else is shit!” – Nick Holmes, Paradise Lost/Bloodbath

“Vicious and raw, sick and heavy, perfect embodiment of the brutality of classic Swedish death metal.” – Matti Kärki, Dismember

“This is non-processed death metal magic, just like it was meant to be. It brings me right back to the school bus in the ’90s, where it seemed I discovered a new killer band from Stockholm every week in my Walkman, on my way to school. It often made me want to stand up and bang my head off while in motion and rip the bus seats to shreds. Yet LIK fills a void in today’s death metal scene and sound surprisingly refreshing. This time around, aside from the speed, they also bring extra sludgy heaviness to the necro table. An absolute must have!” – Björn “Speed” Strid, Soilwork

“I got to hear the new album Necro from my friends in LIK and what a ferocious onslaught I was presented with! Relentless pounding á la Stockholm City with the perfect nods to the heydays of death metal!” – Jonas Renkse, Katatonia

“The essence of Swedish death metal – LIK at their finest! Necro sets the genre’s benchmark for 2025 with killer hook lines, cutting leads, and riffs straight outta hell!” – Ben Liepelt, Endseeker

LIK:
Tomas Åkvik – vocals, guitar
Niklas “Nille” Sandin – guitar
Chris Barkensjö – drums
Joakim Antman – bass

https://www.facebook.com/LIKofficial
https://www.instagram.com/lik_official

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