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  • Cool new proggy sounds from Arthur Brown, North Sea Echoes, Alex Henry Foster and more in Prog’s brand new Tracks Of The Week

    Welcome to Prog‘s brand new Tracks Of The Week! This week we’ve got six more new and diverse slices of progressively inclined music for you to enjoy.

    The return of math rockers a-tota-so and their new single Death Rattle Soaper, ran out triumphant last week, well done guys! A very respectable second place to Brighton prog metal trio Redshift, with Haken coming in third.

    The premise is simple – we’ve collated a batch of new releases by bands falling under the progressive umbrella, and collated them together in one post for you – makes it so much easier than having to dip in and out of various individual posts, doesn’t it?

    The idea is to watch the videos (or listen if it’s a stream), enjoy (or not) and also to vote for your favourite in the voting form at the bottom of this post. Couldn’t be easier, could it? We’ll be bringing you Tracks Of The Week, as the title implies, each week. Next week we’ll update you with this week’s winner and present a host of new prog music for you to enjoy.

    If you’re a band and you want to be featured in Prog‘s Tracks Of The Week, send your video (as a YouTube link) or track embed, band photo and biog to us here.

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    NORTH SEA ECHOES – ENJOY THE VIEW

    North Sea Echoes is the Fates Warning offshoot featuring guitarist Jim Matheos and vocalist Ray Alder. Musically, the band’s 2024 debut, Really Good Terrible Things, steered a different course from Fates, dipping into more atmospheric post-rock. Second album, How To Cast A Shadow, which is out through Metal Blade on September 24, bridges the gap between the two.

    “This record is a bit heavier, with several more songs featuring real drums, played by Dennis Leeflang,” explains Matheos. “It wasn‘t necessarily intentional or planned, just the way things shaped up and how they emerged this time.”

    “[A track like] I‘ll Leave A Light On is much heavier than anything on Really Good Terrible Things,” adds Alder. “It has a darker, melancholic feel that fits well on this album. I loosely based the lyrics on a character from my favourite sci-fi series. I won’t say which, but they do use the quote ’out there in the black.‘”

    ARTHUR BROWN – NATURE

    Even at 83-years old, there’s a sprightly feel to Arthur Brown’s new single, Nature. You can almost hear the twinkle in the God Of Hellfire’s eye, even. Nature is also the title track of Brown’s upcoming album, which is released through Prophecy Productions on September 4.

    “This is a time of confusion and choice”, muses Brown. “Deep inside us is a consciousness, which is the basis of everything. Can we find a way to know ourselves as being it? At the moment all our social structures, our laws, education system, everything in our culture are no longer using the parts of our brain that can care for the world in its totality. From this comes our discomfort in our living. All our problems arise from this dualistic world image. We need to find a way to stand before this ‘consciousness’ and drop all our current ‘answers’.”

    CINDER WELL – BEYOND THE PALE

    Fans of Mackenzie Crook’s recent and quite excellent TV series Small Prophets will recognise the name Cinder Well, as she provided the theme tune, in keeping with the acid folk musical vibe that Crook is clearly a fan of and features in much of his work. LA-based songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Amelia Baker is the face behind Cinder Well, and she releases her new album, A Blooming Body, through Hen House Studios on July 17, from which comes Beyond The Pale.

    “A hangover, a break-up, a migraine, a confessional, this song features the legendary Greg Cohen (Tom Waits, John Zorn) on bass, alongside my dear friend Phillip Rogers (Hayley Hendrickx) on drums,” says Baker. “The music video concept came to me in a dream, and as I relayed it aloud in the morning, I figured it was weird enough to actually try. Thanks to Cheech for making the video come to life, and for running around Los Angeles carrying a box full of water with me.”

    OUTRUN THE SUNLIGHT – PROTECTOR

    US prog metal quintet Outrun The Sunlight return with a brand new single, Protector, which the band are calling “the beginning of a new era” for the band. It certainly packs in a lot into its seven minutes and twenty-one seconds, covering quite a few musical bases, from atmospheric prog rock to no-nonsense metalcore assault, touching on most bases in between. Some of the more aggressive vocals might be a bit much for those with more sensitive ears, but we’re digging the sound.

    “The song explores themes of resilience, responsibility, and becoming a source of strength for others during difficult times,” the band say. “Musically, it draws from progressive metal, post-rock, and modern metalcore, resulting in what we believe is our most focused and emotionally direct material to date.”

    ALEX HENRY FOSTER – SPRINGTIME

    Canadian musician Alex Henry Foster has shared a video for their brand-new single, Springtime. It’s the first taster for the band’s upcoming album, The Fragile Beauty (Of New Morning Hopes), which will be released through Hopeful Tragedy Records on October 23. Foster and his band will be touring Europe, but sadly not the UK, in November and December, before which he headlines Festival Taragalte, a nomadic music and culture festival held annually in the sand dunes of M’Hamihd El Ghizlane in Morocco.

    “The song echoes the late Palestinian poet and writer Mahmoud Darwish’s references about the metaphoric nature of spring as the juxtaposing struggle between our personal faith in the profound longing for intangible evolution and the collective desire to experience a palpable long-awaited rebirth,” explains Foster.

    UNTOLD STORIES – PALE HORIZONS

    Untold Stories are a Bulgarian progressive and art rock band formed in late 2022. The band released their debut album, Wind And Memories, in early 2025, and Pale Horizons is a brand-new single that begins the cycle for the band’s second album, which they hope to release in Spring 2027. Like the debut, it will form part of a bigger conceptual piece. Watch this space..

    Pale Horizons is an atmospheric, introspective progressive/art-rock piece built on cold textures, evolving motifs and cinematic minimalism,” the band say. “The track explores themes of distance, memory and inner landscapes — those moments when the world feels stretched, distant and almost suspended in time.”

  • Cool new proggy sounds from Arthur Brown, North Sea Echoes, Alex Henry Foster and more in Prog’s brand new Tracks Of The Week

    Top new prog you must hear from Cinder Well, Outrun The Sunlight, Untold Stories and more in all new Tracks Of The Week
  • Listening Now : The Devil Is Real – Boleskine House Blues

    The Devil Is Real‘s Boleskine House Blues is a swaggering blast of goth-punk energy that balances occult mystique with irresistible rock ‘n’ roll momentum. Fueled by razor-sharp riffs, driving rhythms, and a chorus built for singalongs in dimly lit clubs, the track channels the spirit of classic acts like The Damned and Bauhaus while injecting a modern punch of adrenaline. King Dude and Justin Pittney craft an atmosphere that’s equal parts sinister and exhilarating, transforming the legendary mythology of Boleskine House into a hook-laden anthem drenched in attitude. Dark, infectious, and unapologetically fun, Boleskine House Blues feels destined to soundtrack the summer’s most delightfully wicked nights.

    Connect:

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  • Fanny Alexandra Funeral (For The Girl I Was) Review

    Fanny Alexandra Funeral (For The Girl I Was) Review

    The song opens with a delicate piano, reaching deep into one’s soul. Soon after, the artist’s introspective voice emerges softly.  At first, it may seem calm and gentle. However, the energy shifts dramatically around forty-five seconds in. The drums begin to beat more powerfully, creating a dynamic atmosphere. Distorted guitars join in, adding a syncopated rhythm that enhances the intensity. This moment encapsulates a surge of emotion.

    Fanny Alexandra Funeral (For The Girl I Was)

    As we transition back to the second verse, the rhythm picks up considerably. It almost inspires movement, blending nostalgia with a lively flow. This song articulates the artist’s desire for redemption. It highlights the struggle involved in letting go of a past self. The theme revolves around the necessity of change, even when one feels resistant to it.

    The artist captures the internal conflict of transformation perfectly through her music. The contrasting moments of intimacy and energy reflect this emotional ebb and flow. Each section of the song showcases her artistic expression, which ranges from tender to powerful. This versatility reveals her strong personality, allowing for the creation of impactful music.

    Funeral (For The Girl I Was) – Sound and Atmosphere

    The expressive voice engages the listener, drawing them into her world. The rich instrumentation complements the emotional themes conveyed in the lyrics. With every note, the song feels like an exploration of personal growth and resilience. It represents the struggle of embracing new beginnings while mourning what has been lost.

    Throughout the composition, one can sense a constant battle between vulnerability and strength. It invites deep reflection on the nature of change and the pain that often accompanies it.

    Funeral (For The Girl I Was) – Performance and Production

    The artistry involved in marrying lyrics and music ensures an immersive listening experience.

    The closing of the song provides a sense of resolution. It embodies acceptance of one’s past while looking toward a hopeful future. The emotional resonance allows the audience to leave with a feeling of empowerment. Fanny Alexandra has crafted a piece that highlights the intricacies of human emotions.

    The balance of emotional intensity and rhythmic energy ensures that this track will not be easily forgotten. As listeners venture through the labyrinth of emotions, they are left inspired by her raw honesty.



    Intense

    🔥 If you love this music: Discover More


    Find Fanny Alexandra here:
    Spotify | Instagram

    The post Fanny Alexandra Funeral (For The Girl I Was) Review appeared first on Edgar Allan Poets – Noir Rock Band.

  • Hollow Shift WAR Review

    Hollow Shift WAR Review

    The mini EP opens with “Hephaestus,” a track that greets the listener with a relentless rhythm and the dark, gothic atmosphere that defines Hollow Shift’s world. Jessica Bell’s ethereal vocals create a hypnotic aura, wrapping the song in a cybernetic melodrama that recalls the foggy tension of Carpenter’s cinema. Her voice feels distant and magnetic at the same time, as if it were guiding the listener through a machine-lit ritual.

    Hollow Shift WAR

    As the song progresses, the instrumentation rises and swells, echoing themes of conflict and inner struggle. The pulse of the track becomes a driving force, pushing the listener deeper into its tension. Each layer adds weight, urgency, and atmosphere. Bell’s vocal delivery carries a haunting quality that perfectly complements the dense instrumentation underneath.

    After “Hephaestus,” the journey continues with “Nothing Dies Quietly,” a song that begins with an almost tribal rhythm before a steady kick enters and gives the piece a subtle techno pulse. The voice, reverberated and oracular, seems to arrive from another dimension. It pulls the listener once again into the fascinating darkness of this sonic project, where the body wants to move while the mind drifts somewhere stranger.

    “Nothing Dies Quietly” feels like a song to dance to with the lights turned off. It has that rare ability to be physical and spectral at the same time. The beat keeps the track alive, but the atmosphere keeps it mysterious. Hollow Shift manages to create a space where darkness does not feel static. It breathes, moves, and slowly surrounds you.

    The third track, “Frequencies Will Stumble,” opens with keys that sound vintage and futuristic at once. The voice enters in a fade, almost like a signal becoming clearer through static, before the groove arrives with a slower but deeply engaging cadence. There is something sinister in the way the vocals sometimes descend, as if pulling the listener down into a shadowed interior space.

    What makes “Frequencies Will Stumble” especially interesting is the contrast between its darker passages and those moments where the melody seems to reach toward something more hopeful. The song does not simply remain in the abyss. It moves through it. This tension gives the track emotional depth and once again confirms the strong artistic vision behind Hollow Shift.

    WAR – Sound and Atmosphere

    To fully appreciate “WAR,” it is also important to consider two previous singles: “Hades” and “Without Darkness Souls Won’t Move.” “Hades” plunges listeners into the band’s core vibes, serving as a necessary introduction to their ritualistic sound. This track carries an emotional weight that helps establish the themes running through the EP.

    In contrast, “Without Darkness Souls Won’t Move” introduces a slightly more ethereal quality without losing the band’s fascination with the abyss. The song offers a more introspective perspective, with dreamy overtones that guide the listener through the murky depths of human experience. Its atmospheric elements, combined with Bell’s voice, evoke vivid and cathartic visions.

    The arrangements crafted by Alexander Zamparas are a crucial aspect of the EP’s impact. His vision aligns perfectly with the band’s overall aesthetic, revealing the details that elevate the music beyond simple darkwave atmosphere. The production quality is impressive, with each layer carefully placed to enhance the experience. The instrumentation supports the vocals but also stands strongly on its own.

    As “WAR” unfolds, it shows a powerful balance between intensity and introspection. Hollow Shift blend urgent rhythms, haunting melodies, and cinematic textures with confidence. Each song contributes to a cohesive narrative that explores conflict, identity, darkness, and transformation.

    WAR – Performance and Production

    Listening to this mini EP feels like entering a carefully built nocturnal space. Every track invites the audience to confront emotion without losing its physical energy. The music remains engaging, dynamic, and atmospheric, but it also leaves room for reflection. Hollow Shift understand how to create tension without overcrowding the songs.

    “WAR” is a fantastic collection from Hollow Shift. Their blend of gothic influences, emotional intensity, electronic pulse, and expert musicianship creates a listening experience that feels immersive. This is a project shaped by a clear artistic vision.

    Overall, this EP confirms the potential of the band and marks another significant step in their growing catalog. Anyone seeking music that invites exploration into the darker facets of existence should listen to “WAR.”



    Crepuscular

    🔥 If you love this music: Discover More


    Find Hollow Shift here:
    SpotifyInstagram

    The post Hollow Shift WAR Review appeared first on Edgar Allan Poets – Noir Rock Band.

  • Melodic Rockers Diamond Rain Release ‘Naked City’ Single & Video

    A bold new force in melodic rock emerges with soaring hooks, dramatic atmosphere, and unforgettable anthems. Drawing inspiration from legendary acts like Blue Öyster Cult, Roxette, and KISS, Diamond Rain is preparing to unveil its debut release Chapter One on October 23rd through Pride & Joy Music. Centered around the enigmatic figure known only as […]

    The post Melodic Rockers Diamond Rain Release ‘Naked City’ Single & Video appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM.

  • Stream The Alchemist’s New EP Liquid Form Feat. Kool G Rap, 2 Chainz, Conway The Machine, & Boldy James

    If you’re under 30, then the Alchemist has been making heady deep-concentration rap beats for longer than you’ve been alive. He’s a one-man institution, and he continues to do incredible work in his own personal lane. Last year, he teamed up with Armand Hammer on Mercy, his second collaborative album with the duo, and he got together with Curren$y and Larry June on the Spiral Staircases EP earlier this year. Maybe we’ll get to hear that Erykah Badu album one day, too. Today, Uncle Al releases a new EP that includes four songs with four different rappers.

    The post Stream The Alchemist’s New EP <em>Liquid Form</em> Feat. Kool G Rap, 2 Chainz, Conway The Machine, & Boldy James appeared first on Stereogum.

  • Keith Richards Casts Doubt on Future Rolling Stones Tours

    As the group gets set to release a new album, the guitarist shares his thoughts on what might be possible. Continue reading…
  • Alice Cooper Proves Nobody Does Shock Rock Better At Hellfest 2026

    Alice Cooper - Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk

    Hellfest 2026, Clisson, France. Thursday. Papa Roach’s Last Resort is still echoing across from the other main stage as the ultimate Metal showman, Alice Cooper, arrives on stage, top hat,  spinning a cane in his hand and a heavily medalled jacket. 

    The sheer insanity of the packed sardine crowd for Roach gives way to a more breathable, appreciative crowd tempo. Opening with No More Mr Nice Guy, the massive high definition screens show every year of the six-piece band’s career writ across their faces.

    Alice Cooper - Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk
    Alice Cooper – Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk

    Still loving the party, they delivered what long-time fans and those less deeply entwined with their traditional, theatrical, high-energy rock spectacle expected.

    With many songs based on horror themes, this is a bloody affair. We are treated to Frankenstein in bloody overalls, and a strait-jacketed Alice breaking free and murdering a life-sized stuffed doll of a woman, who, in the next song, is seeking revenge.

    Alice Cooper - Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk
    Alice Cooper – Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk

    Then, a real-life dancer/actress has Alice beheaded by a guillotine and parades the severed head around the stage. There is macabre humour too, with a photographer annoying each band member during Hey Stoopid being stabbed for his efforts and pulled off stage. 

    The band are a mix of rock veterans and the younger, glamorous lead guitarist, Nita Strauss, an ace lead shredder. Ryan Roxie particularly stood out, providing some of the more complicated, technical playing underpinning the band’s rock anthem sound.

    Alice Cooper - Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk
    Alice Cooper – Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk

    Visually striking moments for the band are provided when they present themselves in tableau, a neat use of theatre, each multi-guitarist pose iconic. 

    The classic songs Poison and School’s Out go down a storm. Keeping it fresh, School’s Out blends in with Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2, which is a curious mash-up for the lovers of both bands.

    The real surprise is finishing, not with an Alice Cooper song but Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit. The crowd instantly connect and this leaves everyone buzzing as the legendary band and man take their bows from  the enthusiastic crowd, who know they have seen something unique that will not be there forever.

    Alice Cooper - Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk
    Alice Cooper – Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk

    HELLFEST 2026

    Prepare to be consumed by the relentless energy of the most influential bands in Heavy Metal as they ignite the Hellfest stages with blistering performances. The immersive atmosphere of Clisson will immerse you in a dark, captivating experience like no other.

    With its unparalleled lineup and unwavering commitment to the spirit of metal, Hellfest 2026 promises an unforgettable journey into the depths of sonic mayhem.

    Read all the Heavy Metal News at MetalTalk.

    MetalTalk Hellfest 2026 coverage can be found at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2026.

    This year’s MetalTalk team is:

    Bogdan Bele

    Sean Titley

    Photography: 

    Luke Vaughan

    For Hellfest 2025, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2025.

    For Hellfest 2024, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2024.

    For Hellfest 2023, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2023.

    For Hellfest 2022, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2022.

    The post Alice Cooper Proves Nobody Does Shock Rock Better At Hellfest 2026 first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.
  • Hellfest 2026 / Deep Purple Show Clisson That 80 Is Just A Number

    Deep Purple - Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk

    Hellfest 2026, Clisson, France. Thursday. Deep Purple are hard to fault. They start with Highway Star and they show why they are one of the most consistent institutions of rock music. Ever.

    Is Gillan’s voice what it used to be? Of course it is not. But the man is 80 and still sounds very good. Also, new recruit Simon McBride (well, not that new) shows why they got him. He slots in impeccably and also has a beautiful solo moment at one point. He goes from feeling-driven to technical and shows you why he has the job.

    Yes, Deep Purple extend the instrumental sections, maybe more than they should, to allow their singer to breathe, but that phenomenal rhythm section of Glover on bass and Paice on drums is a thing to behold. And so is that oh-so-characteristic for Purple Hammond organ tone, where Don Airey excels like the Jon Lord days.

    Deep Purple - Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk
    Deep Purple – Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk

    And when Gillan comes in, like on Into The Fire, boy, does he come in. He even plays harmonica, with gusto, at one point.

    They are not scared to go into the newer material. It ties in perfectly with the old and, furthermore. It is rather brave, since being a legacy act, with their history, it is not uncomfortable.

    Is the crowd reaction ecstatic, with a mosh pit and the like? Of course it is not. But people of all ages listen carefully to one of the most legendary bands ever to exist. And no more is needed.

    Deep Purple - Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk
    Deep Purple – Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk

    When they do When A Blind Man Cries, if you can fault this, you should not be here. This is one of the places where it all started. And when Gillan, who has 30 per cent eyesight, sings this, there is a poignancy to it that you can not be affected by.

    Black Night and Smoke On The Water are at the end of the set. Deep Purple kick major ass. As they should do.


    HELLFEST 2026

    Prepare to be consumed by the relentless energy of the most influential bands in Heavy Metal as they ignite the Hellfest stages with blistering performances. The immersive atmosphere of Clisson will immerse you in a dark, captivating experience like no other.

    With its unparalleled lineup and unwavering commitment to the spirit of metal, Hellfest 2026 promises an unforgettable journey into the depths of sonic mayhem.

    Read all the Heavy Metal News at MetalTalk.

    MetalTalk Hellfest 2026 coverage can be found at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2026.

    This year’s MetalTalk team is:

    Bogdan Bele

    Sean Titley

    Photography: 

    Luke Vaughan

    For Hellfest 2025, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2025.

    For Hellfest 2024, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2024.

    For Hellfest 2023, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2023.

    For Hellfest 2022, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2022.

    The post Hellfest 2026 / Deep Purple Show Clisson That 80 Is Just A Number first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.