Category: news

Belgian atmospheric black/doom metal band SPLENDIDULA have released a lyric video for “Donkerte”, a track carrying a particularly personal connection to their late bassist Peter Chromiak. The song appears on the band’s fourth album, Absentia, released in April 2026 through ARGONAUTA RECORDS. The foundations of “Donkerte” were written by Chromiak before his death in 2022, […]

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Palermo-based one-man black metal project LEPER DIVINE have released “Pathway Of Dark Seasons”, the third and final single from debut full-length Ascension Of Plagued Souls. The album was released on 29 September 2026 through BROKEN BONES PROMOTION & PRODUCTIONS. The track follows two earlier singles from the record and arrives with its own lyric video, […]

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Following on from an eclectic 2026 edition which featured the likes of Bring Me The Horizon, The Cure, and Architects, Austria’s Nova Rock festival has now announced the first wave of acts for 2027. And it’s going to be a big one.

With a roster that includes Evanescence, The Smashing Pumpkins, Neck Deep, and Speed, it’s easy to see how the much-anticipated event holds the title of Austria’s biggest rock and metal festival and a major place in the European festival calendar.

A genre-spanning list of names which brings together bands from all across the rock and metal spectrum, the announcement also reveals Faith No More, Simple Plan, Billy Talent, and Killswitch Engage will al be in attendance in 2027.

From pop-punk to post-hardcore, it’s a lineup which leaves very little room for doubt about Nova Rock’s credentials or commitment to showcasing the full breadth of alternative music.

With tickets for the 2027 festival now available directly from Nova Rock’s website, take a look at the poster below for a glimpse at the undeniably stacked list of first-wave names.

The post Nova Rock Festival Reveals First Names for 2027 appeared first on Rock Sound.

Rick Ross was arrested by Miami Beach police early this morning on domestic violence charges, CBS News reports. The rapper, born William Leonard Roberts II, faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery, both classified as domestic violence. Ross, 50, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m. today.

The post Rick Ross Arrested On Felony Domestic Violence Charge appeared first on Stereogum.

Last year, Stereogum faves Grumpy released their Piebald EP, and this very website presented the record release show at the Queens venue TV Eye. Since then, Grumpy have gone from being Heaven Schmitt’s solo project to full-band status, and they’ll release their much-anticipated new album Unfindable Ring later this month. We’ve posted the early singles “Twenty Five,” “OBL,” and the D.A. Crimson collab “The Whale.” Now, Stereogum is once again presenting Grumpy’s record release show.

The post Stereogum Presents Grumpy’s <em>Unfindable Ring</em> Release Show Next Month appeared first on Stereogum.

Blues rock singer-songwriter Eliza Neals has released a music video for “Wicked Heart,” the third single from the well-received Thunder in the House.

Following the emotional weight of “Love Will,” Neals takes a darker and more urgent approach with “Wicked Heart,” channeling frustration with a troubled world into a hard-hitting blues rock statement.

Built around the refrain, “Wicked heart, tearing me apart,” the song draws a parallel between a destructive relationship and the turmoil unfolding across society. Neals tackles themes of greed, corruption, exploitation, rising costs, war and human suffering while framing them through the familiar pain and betrayal of a toxic love affair.

The result is a song that works on two levels. “Wicked Heart” can be heard as the story of a relationship with someone whose actions continually cause pain, but Neals expands that idea into something much bigger, using the “wicked heart” as a reflection of the forces she sees dividing and hurting people around the world.

Musically, “Wicked Heart” wastes little time building intensity. Neals brings the commanding vocal presence and blues rock edge that have become hallmarks of her work, pushing the song toward a fever pitch as its message becomes increasingly urgent.

The new music video gives “Wicked Heart” another visual dimension while continuing to spotlight Thunder in the House, Neals’ latest collection of postmodern blues.

“Wicked Heart” is available now. Fans can purchase the track directly through Eliza Neals’ Bandcamp page.

The post Eliza Neals unleashes “Wicked Heart” appeared first on Blues Rock Review.

(Here is a new monthly roundup of album reviews by Daniel Barkasi, which includes recommendations for six albums released in September 2026.) With the fall season having officially started, the cool air has been refreshing. With that comes the start of football season – well, no, the other kind of football for this fella. The […]

The post OBSCURITIES – VOLUME XXXII: 99.130%… GUILTY appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.

Slipknot guitarist Jim Root has become the first member of the band to respond to fans angry about Marilyn Manson’s spot on the 2027 stadium tour, and his answer is that he doesn’t know who the band is touring with. The Jim Root Marilyn Manson exchange happened on Instagram, two days after the comment sections under the tour announcement filled with fans vowing to skip the six Manson dates.

Replying to a fan who said they were disappointed Slipknot would share a stage with Manson, Root wrote: ‘I stay out of the logistics of touring and all that. I concentrate on writing and being a guitarist, so forgive my ignorance about who we do shows with.’ Manson has denied every allegation made against him, and the Los Angeles District Attorney closed a four-year investigation in January 2025 without filing charges. Neither Corey Taylor, Clown, nor Manson himself has said anything.

STREAM THE METAL BREAKDOWN DAILY NOW:

Scott Penfold opens today’s Metal Breakdown Daily with Jim Root’s reply — what he actually said, the one line that’s the real answer, and why the fans in that comment section weren’t asking about logistics. Plus Pete Sandoval walks out of I Am Morbid, and Alice Cooper on the drug that nearly killed him. Download the free Loaded Radio App on Apple iOS and Google Play and stream the show now.

What Jim Root Said

The full reply:

‘I stay out of the logistics of touring and all that. I concentrate on writing and being a guitarist, so forgive my ignorance about who we do shows with. There are other people with much bigger brains than I that coordinate all that and I honestly don’t keep up with new bands or new music.’

Then a detour into how he listens: ‘I’m stuck listening to the same music my parents listened to when I was forming myself as a little human. And I purposely don’t listen to or pay attention to what’s ‘trending’ or what’s happening at the moment as to not get influenced by anything.’

And the close: ‘If one is a part of the family, they will come along for the journey that started 26-plus years ago… even before I was a part of the story.’

That’s it. No mention of Manson by name. No mention of the allegations. No mention of the fans who said they’d skip his dates.

The Line That’s Actually The Answer

Strip out the logistics and the listening habits, and the reply is the last sentence. If you’re part of the family, you’ll come along.

That’s a real position, and it’s worth taking seriously rather than dismissing. Slipknot have always sold loyalty as much as music. Maggots. The nine. A family that started in Des Moines before Root joined in 1999, which is what the ‘even before I was a part of the story’ bit is about. He’s saying the bond between the band and its fans is bigger than any one opener on any one date.

The problem is that the fans commenting under the announcement weren’t questioning the family. They were asking whether the family had thought about this. And the first answer from inside it is: not my department.

Why It Had To Be Root

If any member of Slipknot was going to say something, it was always going to be Jim Root, and that’s exactly why this reply disappoints.

Root is the one who talks. He’s the one who told fans this week that the next album is going to hurt some feelings, and agreed with a fan who begged for heavy, not Stone Sour. He’s the one who said more than he should have about Sid Wilson and then walked it back, in public, like a person. Of the nine, he’s the closest thing to a straight answer.

So when Root, of all people, reaches for ‘forgive my ignorance,’ it tells you one of two things. Either he really doesn’t know, which, for a founding-era member of a band about to play nineteen stadiums, is a remarkable thing to admit. Or he knows, and he’s decided this is the one subject where he’s not going to be the straight answer. I think it’s the second. I don’t blame him for it. But it isn’t what the fans asked.

The Record

Because it keeps getting flattened, here it is again in one paragraph.

Multiple women have accused Marilyn Manson of sexual assault and abuse since 2021. He has denied every allegation and says the relationships were consensual. After a four-year investigation, the Los Angeles County District Attorney declined to file criminal charges in January 2025, citing the statute of limitations and insufficient evidence. No criminal charge has ever been filed. A civil lawsuit brought by a former personal assistant is scheduled for a jury trial on November 15, 2027; Manson’s lawyers say it will never reach a courtroom. He has defenders — Sharon Osbourne went on her podcast in August to call him a friend and say she doesn’t believe the allegations — and he has a stadium slot at Wembley on July 3, 2027, four and a half months before that trial date.

Who Still Hasn’t Said Anything

Everyone else.

Corey Taylor, who has an opinion on most things, hasn’t touched it. Clown, who speaks for the band on matters of philosophy, hasn’t either. Nothing from (sic)est Records, nothing from management, nothing from Live Nation. Manson’s camp has been silent since the poster dropped.

And the routing still says what it said on Monday: Manson is on Wembley and the five South American dates, and not one of the thirteen North American stadiums. Root says people with bigger brains coordinate that. Whoever they are, they put the most controversial name on the tour as far from its loudest critics as geography allows. That’s not ignorance. That’s a decision.

What Happens Next

The presale ran Tuesday. General on-sale is Friday, October 2, at 10am local. Nothing about Root’s reply changes that, and nothing suggests the band intends to change the bill.

What might change is who speaks next. Root has now made it harder for the rest of the band to stay quiet, because the only answer on the record is a guitarist saying he doesn’t know. Corey Taylor will be asked about it at the first microphone he walks past. When he is, we’ll have the real response. Until then, this is it.

This is a band remaking itself in public — new drummer, Sid gone, their own label, a surprise single, a record that’s going to hurt feelings. Root clearly wants the conversation to be about that. For a lot of fans this week, it isn’t.

TL;DR

• Jim Root is the first Slipknot member to respond to the Marilyn Manson backlash, replying to a disappointed fan on Instagram.
• His answer: he stays out of touring logistics, doesn’t know who they do shows with, and leaves that to ‘people with much bigger brains.’
• The real answer is his last line — if you’re part of the family, you’ll come along for the journey.
• Manson denies all allegations; the LA District Attorney filed no charges in January 2025; a civil trial is set for November 2027, four months after Wembley.
• Corey Taylor, Clown, the label and Manson have all stayed silent. General on-sale is Friday, October 2.

FAQ

Is Root’s answer honest, or is it the band’s way of saying nothing? Tell us what you think in the comments. Follow Loaded Radio for daily rock and metal news.

The post Slipknot’s Jim Root Answers The Marilyn Manson Backlash, And It’s A Shrug appeared first on Loaded Radio.

US black metal duo STORMRULER will return with their new full-length, Morning Nautical Twilight, on 4 December via DISTORTION MUSIC GROUP (DMG), powered by Reigning Phoenix Music. The announcement arrives alongside first single “Chapter II: In The Eye Of Umbria”, which opens the door to the album’s expansive fantasy narrative. The record is structured as […]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SECOND BRAIN UNLEASH NEW SINGLE “ABOVE AND BELOW” AHEAD OF UPCOMING ALBUM BLACKSHINE

Rome’s Dark Thrash / Progressive Metal Trio Reveal First Taste of Their New Chapter With Atmospheric New Single and Official Visualizer

For Fans Of: Coroner, Kreator, Melechesh
ROME, ITALY — Rome’s Second Brain have officially unleashed “Above and Below,” the first single from their upcoming third full-length album, Blackshine , due for independent release on December 10, 2026 .
Marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Italian trio, “Above and Below” captures Second Brain’s distinctive collision of dark thrash and death metal riffing, atmospheric synths, progressive rock elements, and an eclectic melodic sensibility. The single offers the first full glimpse into Blackshine , an album built around contrast, complexity, and the dichotomous nature of reality.
LISTEN TO “ABOVE AND BELOW”

Stream / Listen: https://ditto.fm/blackshine
WATCH THE OFFICIAL VISUALIZER

“Above and Below” Official Visualizer:

The accompanying visualizer expands upon the dark and atmospheric character of the track, providing a visual introduction to the world Second Brain have created around Blackshine .
Originally formed in Rome in 2010 by guitarist, vocalist, and programmer Agravain alongside co-vocalist Lala Gabarth , Second Brain released their debut album, Synthesis , in 2014. The band expanded its lineup with bassist Anagoor , drummer Mishu, and rotating lead guitarists before making their live debut in 2015. A series of performances throughout central Italy followed through 2018.
In January 2020, Second Brain released their second full-length, The Mind Awakes . The album was followed almost immediately by a hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. By late 2023, Agravain, Anagoor, and Gabarth had reformed Second Brain as a three-piece, using the opportunity to refine their musical identity and develop a new body of material.
That evolution ultimately became Blackshine .
The forthcoming album explores the dichotomous nature of reality , pairing aggressive and intricate metal foundations with atmospheric textures and progressive arrangements. Rather than confining themselves to a single stylistic lane, Second Brain embrace contrast as a fundamental part of their identity, moving between dark and forceful riffing, melodic passages, electronic atmosphere, and expansive progressive territory.


“With Blackshine, we feel we’ve created an album that truly captures Second Brain’s diverse and complex artistic identity. It’s dark, eclectic, melodic yet powerful. It’s a statement about who we are as a band and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter.”


The album was mixed and mastered by Alex Ecker at Pearlsound Studio in Germany , with Ecker also contributing additional drum arrangements. The striking cover artwork comes from renowned visionary artist Costin Chioreanu , whose work has become closely associated with the darker and more experimental corners of the international metal scene.
With “Above and Below,” Second Brain begin the road toward Blackshine , introducing a record that reflects both the band’s history and its evolution into its current three-piece incarnation.
The full album, Blackshine , will arrive independently on December 10, 2026 .
BLACKSHINE

Second Brain
Independent Release
December 10, 2026
First Single: “Above and Below”
Single Release Date: October 1, 2026
Stream / Listen: https://ditto.fm/blackshine
CURRENT LINEUP

Agravain – Vocals, Rhythm & Lead Guitars, Programming
Anagoor – Bass
Lala Gabarth – Vocals, Synth
PRODUCTION

Mixed & Mastered by Alex Ecker at Pearlsound Studio, Germany
Additional Drum Arrangements by Alex Ecker
Artwork by Costin Chioreanu
For Fans Of: Coroner, Kreator, Melechesh
Above and Below by Second Brain


Connect: 



https://www.facebook.com/secondbrainband/
https://www.instagram.com/sekbrain/
https://ditto.fm/blackshine
https://secondbrain.bandcamp.com
Contact: sekbrain@gmail.com