Northlane are well and truly back and once again pushing and pulling at sonic boundaries in a way that only they can.
Their new track is called ‘Evian’ and sees the band dipping their toes even deeper into their love for electronic music. Channelling the shimmering euphoria of trance and melding it with a caustic metalcore battery, the result is absolutely beautiful and brutal in equal measure. A sensational blend of worlds and emotions that is only possible when your understanding of both is as vast and respectful as they have in their ranks. As much a dancefloor filler as a mosh pit sweller, it’s a whole new world and a whole new set of ambitions for a band that never settles.
Vocalist Marcus Bridge had this to say about what it represents for the band, stating, “Evian is about self-improvement through confronting trauma then finding your way back to someone from a healthier place. It explores the choice to grow on your own rather than dragging others down with you, making a conscious effort to heal before your struggles start affecting the people you care about.”
Northlane are set to make their return to the UK this Summer with an appearance at Bloodstock Festival. They join Lamb of God, Judas Priest, Bleed From Within, Body Count, Fit For An Autopsy, Graphic Nature and many more over the weekend of 6-9 August at Catton Park, Derbyshire.
In the pursuit of pushing my musical tastes as far and wide as possible, I couldn’t resist passing up the opportunity of an album that blends hardcore punk and metal with dark wave and jazz. It’s an intriguing mix of genres, and as the band themselves say, they “aim to be a dissonant and out of tune note in the paradoxically homogenous and artificially harmonious chorus of protest music”.
The band are called Sconfitta, and hail from Genoa, Italy, with Simone on bass/vocals, Giorgio covering guitars/piano/effects and Enrico on drums and… proofreading! They’ve got seven songs, and don’t give you much time to stop and think, as it’s about twenty one minutes long, so strap yourself in, as it’s one hell of a ride.
As I’m reading the press notes, I’m sensing some dark humour from the trio, as the band was “born from a (bad) idea by Simeone” after he failed at almost all his others musical projects. Opening with “Sconfitta” you can sense their displeasure with the world as they begin their aural assault with a hard-hitting rhythm before a softer direction slowly builds up the tempo, resulting in an explosion of noise in the final minute.
“Brucia Sempre Cosi” continues their angry ways, with an enjoyable vocal and bruising bass line from Simone. I’m no expert in Italian, but the lyrics are political, as the band go between feelings of “anger, introspection, indignation and reflection”. There’s something different with “Senza Esempi” a curious beginning that gives way to some tremendous punk noise. They temper their anger with moments of clarity and impressive musicianship, before battering your body once again.
There’s more excellent drumming on “Buio Nella Mente” as Enrico sets the pace for the other two to keep up with. The songs are short, sharp blasts that reflect what the trio stand for, but with a name meaning defeat, they are poking their collective fingers at a society which sees only victory as the primary measure of excellence. They are more reflective on the acoustic “Lunghe Ombre” with soothes hearts and minds before they return to their belligerent selves with “Non un Vizio di Formo” with its stop start sound which gets under your skin.
The album title track is the final song on an album which the band describe as “schizophrenic music against standardized dissent” and is for people “who place the nobility of failure before success at al costs”. It’s abrasive in nature but wrapped around some subtle notes juxtaposing their uncompromising styles, which hints at early Minor Threat in places, and is worth a listen or two.
Citizen have revealed the details of their new full-length album, the follow-up to 2023’s ‘Calling The Dogs’.
It’s set to be called ‘Halycon Blues’ and will be unleashed on August 07 via Run For Cover Records.
The artwork looks like this:
Whilst the tracklisting is more like this:
1. Good Fortune 2. I Can See You From Here 3. Halcyon Blues 4. Is It In My Brain 5. Always the Last One To Leave 6. Either Way 7. Matador 8. Ether 9. Smooth Talker 10. Highs and Lows 11. Anne
The band have also shared the first piece of it in the form of ‘Highs and Lows’, a song that feels like a culmination of so many facets of the band’s journey up to this point, all beautifully squeezed together. Shimmering indie rock intent, atmospherically dense emotion and dancefloor-filling beats, it’s a patient and pointed song that feels like nobody else. A uniquely compelling and audaciously ambitious first step, it bodes well for this being yet another definitive listening experience from a band that keeps on pushing all the right buttons.
Citizen will also be returning to the UK in support of the record with a string of headline shows in the Autumn. Here are the dates you need to know:
OCTOBER
24 – LONDON Earth Hall 25 – LEEDS Stylus 27- GLASGOW SWG3 Studio 28 – MANCHESTER Academy 2 29 – BRISTOL The Prospect Building
Finnish melodic metal band Blackment is set to release their second studio album on June 12th. The sophomore full length is preceded by two more singles. The first of them ‘In Motion‘ is out now! Listen on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube Music etc.): here “’In Motion‘ is a concentrated burst of energy […]
Tonight, as fans are packed to the brim of a sold-out OVO Arena Wembley, the massive space feels as if it has shrunk to a packed, sweaty dance floor. This is because The Prodigy are about to hit the stage.
Keyboardist Liam Howlett and frontman Maxim are flying high off the back of a massive 2025, which saw the band headline festivals across the world from Summersonic in Japan to Coachella in the US and even a massive, era-defining headline performance back in the UK at Glastonbury.
The Prodigy – OVO Arena Wembley – 25 April 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch/MetalTalk
As the lights go down and the band launch into pulsing club industrial anthem Omen, the dance pit turns into a combination of rave and mosh pit, with everyone surging forward and bouncing along to the beat.
The Prodigy – OVO Arena Wembley – 25 April 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch/MetalTalk
As the Prodigy close in on their 36th year, the energy levels on stage have not diminished in the slightest. It is actually astounding to watch Maxim walk his way into the crowd singing all the while, before climbing back up and bouncing across stage like the Duracell Bunny.
Keyboardist Liam Howlett and front man Maxim are themselves approaching 60 but their audience seems to be getting younger if anything. Tonight’s crowd is genuinely all ages and mix of everything from old time ravers to punk rockers.
The Prodigy – OVO Arena Wembley – 25 April 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch/MetalTalk
It is also impressive to see how far and deep The Prodigy’s music is resonating in 2026. The heavy-hitting floor fillers Invaders Must Die sends the standing crowd into total pandemonium, and it is followed by synth-heavy raver Roadblox.
Honouring the memory of the late Keith Flint, whose spirit is still very much felt live on stage, the band perform a medley of Claustrophobic Sting and Firestarter. Flint’s iconic spiky mohawk is silhouetted on the screen by lasers. It’s a worthy tribute to a much-missed frontman.
The Prodigy – OVO Arena Wembley – 25 April 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch/MetalTalk
The encore begins with Breathe. This is the ultimate combo of dance, rave, goth and industrial packed into sub three minutes. With lasers pouring over the crowd and everyone jumping, it feels like falling backwards into The Matrix film. It is followed by the robotic hypno acid of Take Me To The Hospital.
“Taking it way back for all my old school ravers here,” says Maxim before launching into the next song, “Gen Z don’t know this shit!”
Performing Ruff In The Jungle Style live for the first time since 1993 is a surprise treat for the veterans here, and it gives the younger fans an idea of the impact that The Prodigy had on the rave scene and club music as a whole. It is followed by the old school hip hop of Diesel Power.
The Prodigy – OVO Arena Wembley – 25 April 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch/MetalTalk
The band return to the stage for their second and final encore to rip through the aggressive stop-start of Comanche. This is the perfect end to a tremendous show.
The Prodigy – Milton Keynes Bowl
The Prodigy will bring their huge headline performance to four massive outdoor UK shows for summer 2026 including a return to Milton Keynes Bowl which they last played in 2010. This will see their Warriors Dance experience, along with new production and their sonically attacking wall of sound.
2026 is set to be their biggest year yet in an impressive new high for a 35 year strong career full of many life-altering highs and lows. These massive live dates will be bolstered by a stellar support lineup.
The Prodigy – OVO Arena Wembley – 25 April 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch/MetalTalk
This event will create history, bringing The Prodigy together with four masters of the rave and electronic music for the first time. The legendary Carl Cox, the king of drum & bass Andy C and then the big-league authority on all that is reggae, Mr David “Ram Jam” Rodigan, bringing the opening vibes at all four shows. Adding in riotous sets from the best of the underground with Japanese DJ/Producer ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U and the UKs own Trap Metal pioneer SCARLXRD.
If tonight’s show at Wembley is anything to go by, you do not want to miss those Summer shows. The Prodigy are still at the peak of the mountain and nobody is coming to claim their spot any time soon.
The Prodigy – OVO Arena Wembley – 25 April 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch/MetalTalk
Warriors Dance – August 2026
Thu 20 – Dublin, Irish Museum of Modern Art
Sat 22 – Milton Keynes, The National Bowl
Sat 29 – Edinburgh, Summer Sessions, Royal Highland Showgrounds
