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  • Ram – Bassist Leaves, Introduce Replacement

    Swedish heavy metal collective Ram announced that bassist Tobias “Tobbe” Petterson has decided to leave the ranks after 17 years. He is going to be replaced by Simon Oscar Claezon aka Desekrator from Stormdeath and Voodus.
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  • Methane – Unleash ‘Demolate’ Track

    Swedish groove thrashers Methane have shared a Hans Karlin-produced/edited video for “Demolate”, the latest single taken from their upcoming studio album Demolate.
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  • The Scepter – Shadows In The Tower Review

    [Album artwork by Alexander Roivainen]

    Release date: July 24, 2026. Label: No Remorse Records.
    There are apparently a great many music playing scepters in this world but this The Scepter is from Canada and plays heavy metal in the traditional sense–not unlike fellow countrymen Traveler who, sadly, are no more but, as luck would have it, also featured one Jean-Pierre Abboud on vocals. Shadows in the Tower is the band’s first full length, courtesy of No Remorse Records.

    Truth be told, it wasn’t love at first sight. Or sound. Its eight songs clocking in at just under thirty minutes, Shadows in the Tower make a good enough first impression. The opener is punchy. The cover art catches your eye. The twin guitar attack element is cool. The songs never overstay their welcome. And Abboud’s singing is, as always, pretty great. But it felt a little “in one ear and out the other.” I wasn’t sure there was much to it aside from a fun listen.

    It wasn’t until the third or fourth spin that Shadows clicked. It’s a smooth record. And I often feel compelled to give smooth records a little extra time to work their charm. If it’s checking every other box, give it the benefit of the doubt–and benefit of time–to see where it lands.

    Fortunately, the smoke cleared, the dust settled, and my appreciation for what Shadows in the Tower offers grew. I am still not hearing the power metal influence that I’ve read elsewhere. But I do think the band does an admirable job of maintaining a certain pace without dipping their feet fully into speed. They really do not let their feet off the gas. That, if nothing else, is The Scepter’s calling card. Well, that and the generally impressive riffs.

    There isn’t a dud on Shadows but there are some notable highlights. Namely, Abboud absolutely owns “Where Art Thou.” And the generally impressive riffs are more specifically impressive on “Protector of the Skies,” “Burn Bundy Burn” (which sounds very much like Blazon Stone), and the closing title track. It is true that speedy The Scepter is best The Scepter. The twin guitar element can’t really hit peak form outside of that joint cause. Perhaps the band should have dipped their feet fully into speed, after all. Regardless, I appreciate that The Scepter varies the pace without ever truly slowing things down.

    The post The Scepter – Shadows In The Tower Review appeared first on Last Rites.

  • Din of Celestial Birds – Takeoffs & Landings (Review)

    This is the second album from UK post-rock band Din of Celestial Birds. The three-guitar, (and synths), post-rock approach of Din of Celestial Birds is back, with the 41-minute Takeoffs & Landings. 2023’s The Night Is for Dreamers made a decent splash in post-rock waters, so Takeoffs & Landings comes with a certain amount of … Continue reading “Din of Celestial Birds – Takeoffs & Landings (Review)”

  • Interview with Rose Tattoo

    During Wacken Open Air, we got the opportunity to interview the legendary Mick Arnold and Ronnie Simmons of Rose Tattoo about the festival, women in metal, and more.

    Benedetta

    I’m here with the legendary Rose Tattoo. How are you doing, guys?

    Rose Tattoo

    Good, thank you.

    Benedetta

    Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me. So, how does it feel to play at the legendary Wacken Opera on its 35th anniversary?

    Rose Tattoo

    It feels good. It’s an honour.

    Benedetta

    And for a legendary band such as yourselves, I guess that it’s even more special to be here. Also because, I’m a new fan of yours, so I can’t wait to see you all on stage.

    Rose Tattoo

    It’s been great to be a part of the whole thing, you know. 50 years of Rose Tattoo as well. 1976 to 2026 and here we are.

    Benedetta

    Yeah, definitely. So, since you have such an incredible experience, both with live shows and music recordings, do you think that the life of an artist is lonely?

    Rose Tattoo

    In a good way. I’d say high highs and low lows. It’s all part of it.

    Benedetta

    Do you think that in 2026 will we ever get some sort of equality between men and women in metal?

    Rose Tattoo

    I think it’s easier for women to get a foot in. Yeah, look at bands like Thundermother. They were great. They’re really making waves. They’re a great band. They can rock just as hard as the boys. You know what I mean? Look at all the guitarists that are out there. What’s her name? Oh, Nita Strauss. Yeah, she’s a great guitarist. They can outplay most men. There’s no real issue there.

    Benedetta

    I know, but isn’t it a bit unfair that, for example, this year at Wacken it’s just all male male bands headlining, like Judas Priest, Def Leppard and so on?

    Rose Tattoo

    That’s a bit unfair, I think. It’ll come. It’ll turn, yeah. The way I see it is it doesn’t matter what you have between your legs. It’s if you rock or not. I don’t see it as gender. It’s just a matter of just being good, rock hard, play from the heart. Yeah, in the pop side of things, the women dominate. Look at Taylor Swift, Beyonce. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

    Benedetta

    So, this AI thing that is going on at the moment, do you think that it will affect the music in such a way that we won’t recognise what is human and what is artificial?

    Rose Tattoo

    It’ll get lost. But there’s no true emotion. They can emulate it closely, but to nail it 100%, you know, at the moment, I don’t think so. But there’s issues there, you know. You can use it as a tool to help you, you know, say write a song or whatever, but, you know, to rely on it 100%, I don’t think that’s good.

    Benedetta

    Guys, thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me. Do you have anything else to add to our readers?

    Rose Tattoo

    Long live rock’n’roll!

    The post Interview with Rose Tattoo first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.

  • “It’s heavy as ****!” Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson gives update on new solo album

    Iron Maiden legend Bruce Dickinson has offered fans a tantalising insight into his upcoming new solo album, which is expected some time early next year. Speaking to VSX, the singer promises that the follow-up to 2024’s well-received The Mandrake Project will be a heavy affair, though it will in no way be a direct sequel to that album.

    ‘I’ve got a new record coming out next year, new solo album,” he confirms (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “It’s kind of standalone. There’s one song that has a bit of something to do with Mandrake. The album is heavy as shit.”

    Explaining why he didn’t simply want to churn out a Mandrake Part 2, Bruce continues: “I try to not repeat – not because it’s bad. You want to move on and put different nuances on things. It’s like, I would say, if you have an amazing girlfriend and you start thinking, ‘Yeah, I’m getting a little bit bored’…just turn the lights down and turn it a different way, and you see a side that you think, ‘Oh, my God, she’s absolutely incredible.’ Just the red light there or the green or whatever, and you see the same person in a different day, in a different light.

    “Music is something which you try not to stick too much of a format,” he continues. “I’m within a particular style, for sure. But I try and vary it as much as I can.”

    The Mandrake Project marked Bruce’s first solo album in almost 20 years following 2005’s Tyranny Of Souls, meaning that he’s operating at a relatively prolific pace as a solo artist right now. That’s on top of Iron Maiden’s ongoing Run For Your Lives world tour, which finished up its latest European leg at a spectacular show at Knebworth in the UK last month, with North American, South and Central American, Asian and Australasian dates still due to take place across the rest of the year.

  • Ten Cent Tiger – Autophobia

     

    Ten Cent Tiger are a punchy indie-punk outfit roaring out of Boorloo/Perth. Since forming in 2022, the band has built a fierce local reputation on intricate guitar work, infectious hooks, and raw melodic urgency.

    Following their 2024 debut EP, Moments, the band pushed their sonic boundaries in 2025 with the breakout singles “Growing Pains” and “Autophobia.” Balancing high-energy guitar friction with deeply honest lyricism, “Autophobia” captures the frantic anxiety of self-isolation, a cathartic release that earned the band a nomination for WAM Song of the Year.

    I love the pace and the mood, no frills and pure energy with a fantastic performance by the band. The guitars are very inspired and the rhythm section is very creative. It’s a super solid tune, straight to the point, energetic and catchy, with a quality production as well. 

    Give â€œAutophobia” a go by clicking on the Spotify player below and follow Ten Cent Tiger on social media, if you like what you hear. 

    https://instagram.com/tencenttiger
    https://facebook.com/tencenttiger

     

  • The Linda Lindas Unleash Devastating New Track ‘Blood On Our Hands’

    The Linda Lindas have shared one of their most crushing tracks to date, which is set to appear on their upcoming album dropping later this month.

    Titled ‘Blood On Our Hands’, it is a track that matches its sound to the subject, with lyrical turns around the downright evil way that the world is feeling right now. Not holding back in calling out the injustice and incompetence, it delivers its message via downtuned and devilish hardcore, the sort that would make the likes of Terror nod along in agreement.

    It’s the sort of release that showcases just how broad the band’s influence within punk and alternative music stretches, and will have plenty a pit swelling every time it is played live.

    Bassist Elouise Wong had this to say about it:

    ​”We’re living in very dark times and it’s really easy to feel hopeless,” says Eloise Wong. “‘Blood On Our Hands’ is about doing what you can, not just on national boycott days and marches, but thinking every day about where your money goes and what you put your money towards, and we have to do our best to support each other.”

    The track is set to appear on the band’s new full-length ‘Gotta Get Out’, which will be released on August 28 via Reprise/Warner Records.

    It will also feature ‘Closer’, which features a guest appearance from Hayley Williams:

    The post The Linda Lindas Unleash Devastating New Track ‘Blood On Our Hands’ appeared first on Rock Sound.

  • Classic Rock’s Tracks Of The Week: August 10, 2026

    Anyone unconvinced by Greta Van Fleet’s return to action, pay heed, for their return to action has now been augmented by a hard-fought victory in our most recent Tracks Of The Week fracas. This historic triumph is despite the close attention of London’s one-man rock’n’roll phenomenon Cam Cole, who finished second. So congratulations to them. And indeed, to him.

    Third place was swallowed up by Hannah Wicklund, so congratulations to her, too. And now? We start again, with eight new candidates lined up to assume legendary status. We hope you enjoy them.

    Lightning bolt page divider

    Sweat – Hilary

    A loose-limbed, glam-booted banger with highly melodic feet in the camps of Heart and Cheap Trick, the latest single from these Pittsburgh rockers is a joyous thing to ingest. Also a strident calling card for their new album, In Dreams, which comes out in September. “Hilary lands in the sweet spot between glittering glam rock and late-’70s power pop,” the band say. “It’s a loud tribute to the friendships that become lifelines and the people who stay when things get messy, heavy, and uncomfortable — the ones who always show up when it matters most.”

    Kris Barras Band – Beautiful Lie

    The MMA fighting, blues noodling, hard-rocking singer/guitarist has the black attire and full sleeve tattoos of a metalcore star, but on Beautiful Lie he’s all about the oomphy yet tender hard rock with a moody, melodious heart under all the heavy, riffed-up muscle. Not long now til the release of its parent album, Monsters We Made – in fact, it’s out this week, accompanied by an in-store tour across the UK, with a full headline tour to come in October.

    The Bites – Whenever You’re Ready

    One of those rock’n’roll party-ready cheesefests whose substance sneaks up on you, Whenever You’re Ready put us in a great mood – it’s merrily, even proudly Route One lyrics (‘son of a gun / on the run’ etc etc) bounding into a warm, swinging pop rock chorus. Simple but effective harmonies complete the picture. Almost McFly-esque, but with more old-school heft. Feeling a little off today? Stick this on, turn it up and get some of those denim-clad Californian sunrays into your soul.

    Grace Bowers – Eat Shit And Live

    Earlier this year Grace Bowers quit Youtube, stating “I’m deeply uncomfortable with the amount of old men here. I’m no longer interested in playing blues or whatever the hell keeps attracting yall. I’m done.” It was a sad reflection of a certain portion of the online world (even if dismissing the blues itself feels a little reductive), but now she’s back with a bright, snappy bang – singing and playing on this taste of her next chapter. As a singer Bowers has something of a young Gwen Stefani going on, and her guitar chops here are full of punk rock teeth, sort of like the Runaways meeting Tom Morello for a jam.

    The Pineapple Thief – New World Order

    New World Order is the opening track of the British progressive quartet’s new album, Far And Wide, and it’s a biting, punchy beast with a note of dystopian menace. Still imbued with the moodiness and light, clever touches we expect from them, but packing an extra level of hard-hitting edge that nods to the increasingly big stages and globe-trotting adventures they’ve had in recent years (including successful first South America shows and an expanded US live presence).

    Frenzee – Unapologetically Me

    Need some proper, no-bullshit punk rock’n’roll with a feminist kick in your life this week? Meet Frenzee, the Greek-Australian siblings with Bikini Kill, Motorhead and Amyl & The Sniffers in their hearts and sweaty gigs written into their DNA (not to mention the marathon traditional Greek folk sets that guitarist Adonis and drummer Nikos cut their teeth in as kids). Unapologetically Me is fast, furious, over in about two and a half minutes and bursting with beefy, riffy fire – a strong showcase for these guys, in other words.

    Jack J Hutchinson – Rise Again

    Kicking straight in with an absolute ripper of a riff (conjured up one soundcheck), Jack J Hutchinson’s new track finds him channeling his blues-come-southern foundations into a big, upward-punching rocker – laced with the richness and grit of his heroes. “I told my producer Josiah that I wanted to write a track that sounded like a mix between Blackberry Smoke and Led Zep,” Jack explains, “with a melodic chorus like Neil Young’s anthemic rockers.”

    Crossbone Skully – Thunder Love feat. Phil Collen

    In which Crossbone Skully mainman Tommy Henriksen continues his apparent quest to create music for people who think it’s all been downhill since Def Leppard finished touring Hysteria. There are gang vocals and booming drums and a euphoric chorus and executive production from “Mutt” Lange, and just in case that isn’t enough, Leppard’s very own Phil Collen guests on guitar and backing vocals. Oh, and there’s a girl wearing a Pyromania t-shirt in the video. The Leppard vibe is recreated so perfectly it feels churlish to call out any lack of originality, and besides, we’re enjoying the results too much to complain.

  • How Shania Twain Won Over Gen Z

    The pop-country megastar is still thrilling young audiences and influencing a new generation of musicians.