Category: news

  • The Pretty Reckless Announce New Album ‘Dear God’ And Massive 2026 World Tour

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    What Do We Know About The Pretty Reckless Album Dear God?

    The Pretty Reckless will release their fifth studio album Dear God on June 26, alongside a global headlining tour and the explosive new single “When I Wake Up.”

    TL;DR

    • The Pretty Reckless have announced their fifth studio album Dear God
    • The album arrives June 26 via Fearless Records
    • New single “When I Wake Up” introduces the band’s next era
    • A major 2026 world tour will support the release
    • The band continues one of modern rock’s most successful chart runs

    For nearly fifteen years, The Pretty Reckless have built a reputation as one of the most dominant modern rock bands.

    Now they’re entering a new chapter.

    A New Era Begins With Dear God

    Fronted by Taylor Momsen, The Pretty Reckless have officially announced their fifth studio album Dear God, arriving June 26.

    The record follows the band’s critically praised 2021 album Death By Rock And Roll, which delivered multiple rock radio hits and drove home the fact that this badass band was among modern hard rock’s most reliable chart performers.

    With Dear God, the group says they aimed to push themselves creatively.

    The record reportedly embraces vulnerability and raw songwriting while still delivering the explosive guitars and massive choruses fans expect.

    Momsen described the lead single as a story about the darker side of excess.

    “When I Wake Up is the story of a dream becoming a nightmare,” she explained. “When a life of excess leads you on a rollercoaster that is doomed to crash but you just can’t see it.”

    New Single “When I Wake Up” Kicks Off The Album Cycle

    The band launched the album announcement alongside the new single “When I Wake Up.”

    The track blends the band’s signature elements:

    • searing guitar riffs
    • thunderous drums
    • Momsen’s unmistakable vocal intensity

    While longtime fans will recognize the band’s sound immediately, the single also hints at a slightly broader sonic palette heading into this album cycle.

    The release marks the start of what is shaping up to be a massive year for the band.

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    The Dear God World Tour Is Coming In 2026

    Alongside the album announcement, The Pretty Reckless revealed plans for an extensive 2026 world tour.

    The trek begins in North America before heading overseas to Europe and the UK.

    Tour Dates:

    U.S. Leg 1:
    Fri, July 10th – Ritz Raleigh, Raleigh, NC
    Fri, July 17th – Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL
    Tue, July 21st – Midland, Kansas City, MO
    Thu, July 23rd – ACL Live at the Moody Theater, Austin, TX
    Sat, July 25th – House of Blues, Dallas, TX
    Fri, July 31st – Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
    Sun, Aug 2nd – Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ
    Fri, Aug 7th – Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
    Tue, Aug 11th – The Palace, Calgary, AB, CA
    Sat, Aug 15th – The Moore, Seattle, WA

    U.S. Leg 2:
    Fri, Aug 28th – Avondale Brewery, Birmingham, AL
    Sat, Aug 29th – House of Blues, New Orleans, LA
    Thu, Sep 3rd – The Ryman, Nashville, TN
    Wed, Sep 9th – Egyptian Room, Indianapolis, IN
    Thu, Sep 10th – House of Blues, Cleveland, OH
    Sun, Sep 13th – History, Ottawa, ON, CA
    Sat, Sep 19th – The Fillmore, Detroit, MI
    Tue, Sep 22nd – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NH
    Thu, Sep 24th – House of Blues, Boston, MA
    Sat, Sep 26th – The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD

    EU/UK Leg:
    Mon, Nov 9th – La Riviera, Madrid, ES
    Tue, Nov 10th – Razzmatazz, Barcelona, ES
    Sat, Nov 14th – Fabrique, Milan, IT
    Mon, Nov 16th – Forum Karlín, Prague, CZ
    Wed, Nov 18th – Huxleys, Berlin, DE
    Sat, Nov 21st – Carlswerk Victoria, Cologne, DE
    Mon, Nov 23rd – AFAS Live, Amsterdam, NL
    Tue, Nov 24th – Zénith, Paris, FR
    Thu, Nov 26th – The Prospect Building, Bristol, UK
    Fri, Nov 27th – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK
    Sun, Nov 29th – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, UK
    Tue, Dec 1st – O2 Academy Brixton, London, UK
    Thu, Dec 3rd – Barrowland, Glasgow, UK

    The tour then returns for a second North American leg before heading to Europe later in the year.

    Fans interested in attending upcoming shows can find tickets at this location.

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    A Band That Keeps Breaking Records

    The Pretty Reckless have quietly built one of the most impressive chart runs in modern rock.

    Since their debut album Light Me Up, the band has achieved a remarkable milestone.

    They became the first female-fronted band to score eight No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.

    Over the years, they’ve also shared stages with legendary artists including:

    • AC/DC
    • The Rolling Stones
    • Soundgarden

    Most recently, the band spent two years touring globally with AC/DC on the PWR UP Tour, exposing them to massive arena audiences worldwide.

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    A Major Year For Taylor Momsen

    The past year has been especially high-profile for Taylor Momsen.

    She performed at the 2026 MusiCares Person Of The Year Gala, honoring Mariah Carey alongside acts like Foo Fighters.

    Momsen also appeared during the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony, performing with Soundgarden during their induction tribute.

    The band also released a holiday EP titled Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas, which revisited the song “Where Are You Christmas?” and reignited nostalgia among longtime fans.

    Dear God Tracklist

    The upcoming album features fourteen songs:

    Life Evermore Pt. 2
    For I Am Death
    When I Wake Up
    Love Me
    Dragonfire
    Dear God
    Life Evermore Pt. 3
    About You
    Spell On You
    Rollercoaster Of Life
    Eye Of The Storm
    Devil In Disguise (Michelle’s Song)
    Dark Days
    Life Evermore Pt. 1

    the-pretty-reckless-dear-god

    The title itself hints at a thematic arc running throughout the album.

    Multiple “Life Evermore” entries suggest a larger conceptual thread connecting the songs.

    Why This Album Could Be Their Biggest Yet

    The Pretty Reckless have steadily expanded their audience over the past decade.

    Their ability to bridge hard rock radio, festival crowds, and modern streaming audiences has made them one of the few rock bands still breaking through to younger listeners.

    With a new album, a fresh single, and a global tour all arriving in the same year, Dear God could represent the band’s biggest moment yet.

    For rock fans watching the genre’s evolution in 2026, this rollout feels like one of the year’s major stories.

    FAQ

    When does The Pretty Reckless album Dear God come out?
    The album will be released June 26.

    What is the first single from Dear God?
    The band has released “When I Wake Up” as the lead single.

    Will The Pretty Reckless tour in 2026?
    Yes, the band has announced a global headlining tour supporting the album.

    About The Pretty Reckless

    Formed in New York, The Pretty Reckless rose to prominence with their debut album Light Me Up. Led by Taylor Momsen, the band has become one of modern rock’s most successful acts, combining arena-sized hooks with dark, emotionally charged songwriting.

    The post The Pretty Reckless Announce New Album ‘Dear God’ And Massive 2026 World Tour appeared first on Loaded Radio.

  • Listen To Ms Ray’s Splendid Melt EP

    Last month London vocalist Ms Ray released a very good song “Miss You” with Nourished By Time. That song was a preview of her forthcoming EP Melt, which is out today. The five tracks are geometric pop song, drawing from R&B, dream-pop, and synth-pop. Some moments remind me of Cate Le Bon or Sade. Melt…

    The post Listen To Ms Ray’s Splendid <em>Melt</em> EP appeared first on Stereogum.

  • When Rivers Meet Release New Single & Video, New Album ‘Rhythm Rust & Static’ Out May 29th

    At the confluence of alternative rock and gritty blues, award-winning duo When Rivers Meet make music from the heart that’s food for the soul.   As intuitive as they’re instinctive, this finely tuned husband and wife team is fiercely autonomous and unflinchingly bold.   One of a handful of fully independent UK artists to have […]

    The post When Rivers Meet Release New Single & Video, New Album ‘Rhythm Rust & Static’ Out May 29th appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM!.

  • Suzy Clue – “Love Me The Same”

    “Love Me The Same,” the latest single from Suzy Clue, has an incredible mid-song avalanche of distortion. The press release described the Albania-born, NYC-raised musician’s sound as “if Britney Spears grew up listening to Deftones,” and I’d say that’s pretty accurate. Her vocals are hushed, nearly secretive as she divulges emotional turmoil. “I’m searching for…

    The post Suzy Clue – “Love Me The Same” appeared first on Stereogum.

  • DISSENTIENCE: “KAIJU”

    (Here’s DGR’s enthusiastic review of a new EP released last month by Pennsylvania’s Dissentience.) For being such a short month, February was a wildly creative time for heavy metal. Perhaps, for all our prognosticating and bullshit being pulled from a hat in regards to how the year was starting, it was time for the dam […]

    The post DISSENTIENCE: “KAIJU” appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.

  • Preparing the Garrison: Fortress Festival 2026 Preview

    This article was brought to you by new Seattle-based occasional columnist, KAOS_agent, who is making it a point to make his way to some of the more unique metal festivals out there. 

    A little over a decade ago, I started noticing a trend in the American metal scene and festivals as a whole: the necessity to create something of a spectacle. Whether it’s assembling a bunch of stoner rock bands to play in a casino, a cavalcade of genres on a cruise ship, or performing animistic rituals in the Cascadian wilderness, festivals have been attempting, with varying levels of success, to create unique and memorable backdrops that justify the difficulty and viability of attracting some of Europe’s best acts. We certainly aren’t making things easier for overseas bands to tour these days.

    At a certain point, I got tired of waiting for the density of European metal talent to come stateside, which is how Fortress Festival 2026 caught my eye. Now in its fourth year, Fortress continues to bring together exclusive and relatively obscure performances in a venue with a black metal aesthetic; a Victorian-era building located on the shores of Scarborough, UK. 

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    Photo Credit: Acidolka

    From its inception, founder Gary Stephenson had a clear vision for Fortress: to coax some of the world’s most eccentric names in black metal to the small seaside town of 60,000. Unlike many festivals, as the lineup gradually trickled out, a couple of eyebrow raisers made me utter, “Well, that’s interesting.”

    As the festival has grown, it has also shown a willingness to take risks, including full-album exclusive sets and specialty stages, with this year introducing a dedicated dungeon synth seated theater third stage.

    Whether I am right or wrong in this, I think making sure this festival has those worldwide exclusives, live debut performances and rare appearances from acts you thought you would never see live, are crucial.

    -Gary Stephenson, Curator & Founder


    Fortress Festival takes place this year on May 30-31, and attendees also have the advantage of getting access to a pre-show the night before at The Cask & Keg (I’m very happy to finally see Wode for that). Tickets are in low supply and most likely will sell out, so make sure to keep an eye on what Reaper Agency is up to, including a newly announced beer-fueled festival, Tynebound. Read on for a small selection of tracks from bands that I’m particularly excited to be seeing, and I’m sure I’ll be getting an education on dungeon synth as well.

    Fluisteraars – “Zijsselt”


    Aeon Winds “Molpir”


    Vespéral – “IV – Lorsqu’une Chandelle S’atténue”


    A Forest of Stars – “Drawing Down the Rain”


    Mesarthim – “Interstellar”


    Gallowbraid – “Ashen Eidolon”


    Dødheimsgard – “Et smelter”


    Whoredom Rife – “Pilgrim”


    Misþyrming – “Algleymi”


    –KAOS_agent

    The rest of the Fortress Festival line-up is as follows:

    • Abigail Williams
    • Akercocke (performing Choronzon in full)
    • Antrisch
    • Atlantean Sword
    • Black Cilice
    • Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult
    • Darkenhöld
    • Emyn Muil
    • Gate Master
    • Groza
    • Midnight Odyssey
    • Mortiis
    • Old Man’s Child
    • Old Sorcery
    • Ossaert
    • This Gift Is A Curse
    • Totenwache
    • Vinterland (celebrating 30 years of Welcome My Last Chapter and performing it in full)

    Fortress Festival tickets are available here.

  • DEICIDE Headline Shows & Festivals – April/May 2026 | Dates, Cities & Venues Listed

    DEICIDE – HEADLINING SHOWS & FESTIVALS
    w/ support from Rotting Christ & Immolation:

    4/09 – Baton Rouge LA – Chelsea’s Live
    4/10 – Houston TX – White Oak Music Hall
    4/11 – San Antonio TX – Vibes Event Center
    4/13 – Las Vegas NV – Fremont Country Club
    5/01 – Reading PA – Club Reverb*
    5/03 – Albany NY – Empire Live
    5/07 – Daytona Beach FL – Welcome To Rockville #
    5/14 – Columbus OH – Sonic Temple After-Party
    5/22 – Tucson AZ – The Rialto #^
    5/23 – El Paso TX – Rockhouse Bar & Grill #
    5/24 – Albuquerque NM – Sunshine Theater #
    5/26 – Little Rock AR – The Hall #

    *Deicide only

    #No Rotting Christ

    ^With Cattle Decapitation

    Source: Deicide Facebook

  • Elegant Weapons / New Single Bridges Burn Previews New Album Evolution

    Elegant Weapons have released new single Bridges Burn after signing with Exciter Records

    Elegant Weapons have unveiled their new single Bridges Burn after signing with Exciter Records, with the band’s second album Evolution scheduled for release on 24 April 2026.

    “This record represents growth in every sense,” Richie Faulkner told us. “When the four of us come together, we sound like Elegant Weapons. We’ve spent time on the road, we’ve developed a chemistry, and you can hear that evolution in the performances. I’m proud of what we’ve built, and I’m excited to begin this next chapter with Exciter Records.”

    Led by Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner, the hard rock and Heavy Metal outfit also features vocalist Ronnie Romero, bassist Dave Rimmer and drummer Christopher Williams. Evolution will be released digitally and on CD on 24 April, with a special edition vinyl pressing due later in the year.

    “Richie Faulkner is not only one of the most respected guitarists as a member of Judas Priest, but he is also a leader in forming and developing Elegant Weapons,” Michael Closter, Founder and President of Exciter Records, said. “Signing Elegant Weapons is a natural step for Exciter Records as we continue to honour metal’s heritage while investing in its future.”

    The album includes tracks such as Evil Eyes, Generation Me, Bridges Burn and the instrumental Rupture, which was inspired in part by Faulkner’s life-threatening onstage medical emergency in 2021. Evolution was co-produced by Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap, with recording taking place in Nashville, Europe and France.

    You can pre-save and pre-order Evolution from https://exciter-records.ffm.to/elegantweapons-evolution.

    Elegant Weapons Evolution - Out 24 April 2026 via Exciter Records
    Elegant Weapons Evolution – Out 24 April 2026 via Exciter Records

    Elegant Weapons – Evolution track listing

    1. Evil Eyes
    2. Generation Me
    3. Bridges Burn
    4. Holy Roller
    5. Come Back to Me
    6. The Devil Calls
    7. Thrown to the Wolves
    8. Shooting Shadows
    9. Rupture
    10. Mercy of the Fallen
    11. Keeper of the Keys

    The post Elegant Weapons / New Single Bridges Burn Previews New Album Evolution first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.