I didn’t see Dave Lombardo play at Big Ears. When I was figuring out a way to get myself to Knoxville for the city’s annual modern and experimental music festival, the former Slayer drummer’s appearances with a pair of different John Zorn projects figured heavily into my thinking. I decided that I’d go down to Tennessee to listen to heavy music, wherever I could find it, and the guy who played on Reign In Blood seemed like a pretty good place to start. The first Zorn/Lombardo combo, Awakening Ground, was set to perform at midnight of an already long Friday, so I decided I’d see Cobra the following day at noon. No luck — I pulled up about 45 minutes early, but the line was already wrapped around the building, and parking on that side of downtown was scarce and expensive. I gave up, made it to Haley Heynderickx’s 12 o’clock set with time to spare, and started writing this paragraph in my head.
Have you seen David Byrne on his current tour? I have. It’s something to see. I’d never seen Byrne live before last year, though I’d crushed a whole lot of film of his performances over the decades. Byrne’s current live show is a truly staggering ensemble act. There’s nothing stationary. Everyone keeps moving, and everyone has headset mics. The backup singers are also dancers, and Byrne and the musicians do choreography with them. The drummers all have marching-band rigs. The whole stage is a screen, with different song-appropriate footage absolutely surrounding the performers. The tour comes to theaters that would usually host touring musicals. When they do Talking Heads songs, I felt my soul levitating. Last night’s episode of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show had a version of that live show, with that ensemble.
Swedish garage punk band The Hives just finished a brief US East Coast tour, with their last stop at Chicago’s Salt Shed on March 26th. Joining them are Australian punk sensations The Chats!
The Australian “shed rockers” can be appreciated by fans of all ages with their old school punk rock sound reminiscent to being in high school again.
A surprise appearance was made tonight by Sarah Greenwell of Rhode Island punk band Gymshorts for a cover of their song “Heaps of New York“.
The Hives prove to be an essential part of rock and roll history, providing the standard of what a live show should be; intense, theatrical, engaging, a blast to your face non-stop energetic party that gives you the post-concert blues when it is over. This sold-out night at The Salt Shed was exactly that, leaving fans begging for more.
Crystal Lake have announced that in hopes of creating a “healthier balance in his life and music career”, they are parting ways with their vocalist, John Robert Centorrino.
Photo by Jesse Kojima
John joined the band in 2023, following the band’s search for a new vocalist throughan open audition process. In the years that have followed, the band have been working on their album ‘The Weight Of Sound’, which was released in February this year via Century Media Records.
The band also just completed a UK and European tour as a co-headliner with Miss May I.
Crystal Lake have released an all-encompassing statement explaining the reasoning for the departure, which you can read below.
“We have an announcement to share.
It has been an incredibly busy few years leading up to the release of our album, The Weight Of Sound. We started the year on a high, releasing the record in January and having a great time together with fans across Europe and the UK. 2026 is shaping up to be one of the busiest years we’ve ever had.
Last year was also nonstop for Crystal Lake. We were writing and recording while moving from continent to continent, playing some of the biggest shows of our career. During this busy time creating The Weight Of Sound album, John welcomed his child into the world. That brought a deeper meaning to the core idea behind the song and album title, the weight that comes with balancing life, family and being in a touring band.
Some of us in the band and on our team are fathers, so we understand both the joy of those short moments at home and the challenge of being away for long periods of time. John has given everything to make it work for us and his daughter, but the international distances and schedule demands have made it increasingly difficult for him to balance the two.
So, it is with a heavy heart that we are announcing the mutual decision to part ways so John can focus on a path that allows him a healthier balance in his life and music career. We truly want this for John, and, as hard as it is for both of us, we know it is the right decision.
We want to thank John for the past three years and for everything he has brought to Crystal Lake. We are also grateful to all of you who welcomed him into this band, as well as our team and partners who continue to stand with us through every step.
Crystal Lake has no intention of stopping. Our band is fortunate to have talented friends, and some of them have offered to fill in until we find our new singer.
John remains part of our extended family, and we know you will continue to support him in whatever comes next.
For all currently confirmed shows, we will continue playing with special guest vocalists filling in and remain more active than ever.
We hope to see you out there as we continue our tour through Japan, Asia, Indonesia, Australia, the United States, and back to Europe later this year.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ETHEREAL DARKNESS CROWNED BAND OF THE MONTH AFTER DOMINATING WITH 339,768 VOTES
Belgium — Rising melodic doom force ETHEREAL DARKNESS have been officially crowned Battle of the Bands Champions and Band of the Month for April 2026, racking up a massive 339,768 votes in a decisive victory fueled by overwhelming fan support worldwide.
What started as a one-man project has now evolved into a full-fledged band ready to take on the global stage. Helmed by mastermind Lars, ETHEREAL DARKNESS first turned heads with their independently released debut Smoke and Shadows , showcasing a deeply atmospheric blend of melancholic doom and melodic death metal. Now, with their latest release Echoes , the band has elevated their sound to towering new heights.
Released March 20, 2026, Echoes is a sprawling, 60-minute journey through crushing melodoom landscapes, combining emotional depth with cinematic scale. Featuring production by legendary producer Dan Swanö and artwork by renowned artist Adam Burke, the album represents a significant leap forward in both ambition and execution.
Critics have taken notice. A standout review from Angry Metal Guy praised the album as “a sumptuous feast for the ears and mind,” highlighting its massive compositions, immersive atmosphere, and standout tracks like “Gone With the Tide” and “The Cycle.” Drawing comparisons to genre heavyweights such as Insomnium, Be’lakor, and Before the Dawn, ETHEREAL DARKNESS have firmly planted themselves among the modern elite of melodic doom and death metal.
The album blends soaring clean vocals, punishing death growls, and carefully layered instrumentation, with Lars handling guitars, bass, keyboards, and harsh vocals. The addition of live musicians, including acoustic guitarist and clean vocalist Brecht and drummer Peter, brings a newfound depth and organic power to the band’s sound.
With Echoes , ETHEREAL DARKNESS deliver an experience that is as expansive as it is emotionally gripping. From sweeping epics to blackened bursts of intensity, the record pushes boundaries while staying rooted in the traditions that define the genre.
This overwhelming victory, with nearly 340,000 votes, marks a major milestone for ETHEREAL DARKNESS and signals their arrival as a serious force in the metal underground. The band’s rapid ascent is a testament to both their musical vision and the dedication of a growing global fanbase hungry for substance and authenticity.
ETHEREAL DARKNESS is:
Lars – Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Harsh Vocals Brecht – Acoustic Guitar, Clean Vocals Peter – Drums
Echoes is available now worldwide.
Support and follow ETHEREAL DARKNESS: https://etherealdarkness.bandcamp.com https://facebook.com/etherealplace https://instagram.com/etherealdarknessband
Former Electric Light Orchestra members Melvyn Gale, Bev Bevan and Mik Kaminski appeared at Birmingham City University to honour former ELO keyboard player Richard Tandy
Former Electric Light Orchestra members Melvyn Gale, Bev Bevan and Mik Kaminski appeared at Birmingham City University to honour former ELO keyboard player Richard Tandy
