Category: news

  • Nerve Star White Hot Review

    White Hot is the debut album from Nerve Star. And it’s one of the most crushingly heavy albums you’ll hear. The booklet notes state that they play a blend of hard rock, heavy metal, NWOBHM and some punk with the aim of an album of unrelenting riffs, big drums, thumping bass and loud guitars all […]

    The post Nerve Star White Hot Review first appeared on New Wave of British Heavy Metal.
  • Virginmarys Announce Beyond The House Of Fires Album And Tour

    The Virginmarys - O2 Academy Islington - 7 March 2025

    Alt-rock power duo Virginmarys have announced a new album, Beyond The House Of Fires, due out on 15 May 2026, alongside a run of UK tour dates.

    The record is a bold, atmospheric reinterpretation of the band’s 2024 release The House Beyond The Fires. By stripping away much of the distortion, the new version places greater focus on songwriting, mood and emotion, reshaping familiar songs into immersive new forms.

    “Growing up in the ’90s,” Frontman Ally Dickaty says, “we used to really love the MTV unplugged albums that the big rock bands would release, showcasing a completely different and more intimate side of the songs, often with different instrumentation.

    “This is what we’ve done with Beyond The House Of Fires, and it’s been great to bring all those influences we’ve often cited, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, Peter Green, more to the forefront. I am extremely proud of this piece of work, and I hope the fans love it as much as we do.”

    The band will also hit the road with a UK tour starting in Edinburgh on 28 May, recreating the intimacy of 90’s unplugged shows. Guitarist Gareth Price will join, while Dickaty will play piano throughout the set.

    “This will a be tour unlike any we have done before,” Ally says, “recreating the intimacy of the ’90s MTV unplugged shows and showcasing all the songs from the upcoming album.” We’ll also be joined by one of our favourite guitar players ‘Gareth Price’ whilst I will be playing.”

    For tour tickets and pre-orders of Beyond The House Of Fires, visit thevirginmarys.com.

    May

    28may7:30 pmVirginmarys, EdinburghThe Mash House

    29may7:30 pmVirginmarys, NorthwichSalty Dog

    30may7:30 pmVirginmarys, WolverhamptonThe Giffard

    31may7:30 pmVirginmarys, LeedsHyde Park Book Club

    June

    31may7:30 pmVirginmarys, LeedsHyde Park Book Club

    01jun7:30 pmVirginmarys, BarnoldswickBarnoldswick Arts Centre

    04jun7:30 pmVirginmarys, Tunbridge WellsThe Forum

    05jun7:30 pmVirginmarys, NorwichWaterfront Studio

    06jun7:30 pmVirginmarys, LondonThe Grace

    07jun7:30 pmVirginmarys, St AlbansThe Horn

    Virginmarys - Beyond The House Of Fires Tour Poster
    Virginmarys – Beyond The House Of Fires Tour Poster

    European tour highlights: 16 April (Arnhem, Luxor Live); 17 April (Paris, Le Klub); 27 April (Berlin, Badehaus); 29 April (Copenhagen, Rahuset); 5 May (Ittre, Zik-Zak).

    The post Virginmarys Announce Beyond The House Of Fires Album And Tour first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.
  • VIRGINMARYS Announce New Album ‘Beyond The House Of Fires’ and UK Tour

    Photo: Debbie Ellis

    Alt-rock power duo Virginmarys have announced the release of their new album, Beyond The House Of Fires, arriving 15 May. The record is a bold and atmospheric reinterpretation of the band’s most personal 2024 album The House Beyond The Fires. Stripping away the heavy distortion that defined their previous release, this new version reveals the craft beneath the power. With a greater focus on songwriting, mood and emotion, Beyond The House Of Fires places the band’s raw musicality and storytelling firmly in the spotlight.

    The original album, The House Beyond The Fires, received strong critical acclaim, with KERRANG! calling it “full-blooded, cathartic brilliance,” while Classic Rock Magazine praised the record, stating “Crucially, it all absolutely rocks.”

    While the original captured the raw force of the band’s rebirth as a two-piece, Beyond The House Of Fires explores new sonic territory. The album leans into depth, space and texture, reshaping familiar songs into powerful and immersive new forms. The result is a striking companion piece that uncovers fresh layers of vulnerability while reinforcing the strength of the material at its core.

    Frontman Ally Dickaty explains: “Growing up in the 90’s, we used to really love the MTV unplugged albums that the big rock bands would release, showcasing a completely different and more intimate side of the songs, often with different instrumentation. This is what we’ve done with ‘Beyond The House Of Fires’ and it’s been great to bring all those influences we’ve often cited, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, Peter Green, more to the forefront. I am extremely proud of this piece of work and I hope the fans love it as much as we do.”

    Alongside the album announcement, the band have revealed a UK tour, beginning in Edinburgh on 28 May.

    Ally adds: “This will a be tour unlike any we have done before, recreating the intimacy of the 90’s MTV unplugged shows and showcasing all the songs from the upcoming album. We’ll also be joined by one of our favourite guitar players ‘Gareth Price’ whilst I will be playing piano throughout the set.”

    The UK tour will follow an extensive 15 date headline tour around Europe and before hitting the main stage at 2000 Trees later in the summer.  In other news, the band have recently signed with MaxMusic Publishing who work with acts like The Reytons and big brands such as Versace.

    2026 TOUR
    20 March – Crumlin, Wales – The Patriot

    EUROPEAN TOUR 2026
    16 April – Arnhem, Netherlands – Luxor Live
    17 April – Paris, France – Le Klub
    18 April – Venlo, Netherlands – Grenswerk
    20 April – Hannover, Germany – LUX
    21 April – Cologne, Germany – Blue Shell
    22 April – Hamburg, Germany – Molotow Club
    23 April – Dresden, Germany – Groove Station
    25 April – Warsaw, Poland – Chmury
    26 April – Prague, Czech Rep – Rock Cafe
    27 April – Berlin, Germany – Badehaus
    29 April – Copenhagen, Denmark – Råhuset
    30 April – Trollhättan, Sweden – Backstage Rockbar
    1 May – Västerås, Sweden – Carlsson Påkajen
    2 May – Motala, Sweden – Bomber Bar
    5 May – Ittre, Belgium – Zik-Zak
    7 May – Southampton, United Kingdom – Joiners
    8 May – Doncaster, United Kingdom – Ey Up Mi Duck Festival
    9 May – Stalybridge, United Kingdom – Stalyfest
    16 May – Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom – Just Push Play Festival
    22 May – Beuvry, France – Beaverfest
    24 May – Kings Norton, United Kingdom – Breaking Bands Fest

    Tickets https://www.thevirginmarys.com/tour

    Pre-order the album:
    https://www.thevirginmarys.com/store

    More information:
    https://www.thevirginmarys.com/

    The post VIRGINMARYS Announce New Album ‘Beyond The House Of Fires’ and UK Tour appeared first on The Rockpit.

  • Killswitch Engage – To Headline US Tour In June

    In coming June, Killswitch Engage will be touring over the United Sates. This 18-date run (excluding festival appearances) will feature support from Machine Head, Iron Reagan, and Havok.
    Read more…
  • Vanderlust – ‘Golden Shackles’ Single Debuts

    Italians Vanderlust are debuting a lyric video for their newest single, “Golden Shackles”, which is part of the group’s forthcoming sophomore album The Human Farm. The latter will hit the streets on April 17th.
    Read more…
  • “I’m on a pyre, a monk sentences me to death, and I will burn. Burn, burn, burn.” Why you should probably go and see Powerwolf this week

    German metallers Powerwolf gear up for their biggest ever UK show at Wembley on Saturday, and promise some surprises
  • The Quill – Back With New Album Announcement

    Swedish veterans The Quill are all set to unleash their next studio record, Master Of The Skies, on May 8th 2026 through Metalville. The band once again teamed up with Erik Nilsson at 491 Studios.
    Read more…
  • Airbourne Hit The Roundhouse Like A Bar Fight In A Cyclone

    Airbourne - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    The Airbourne Gutsy Tour rolled into London and blew away the winter cobwebs, injecting a full dose of spring‑loaded chaos into the Victorian‑era Roundhouse. Avalanche and Asomvel were the perfect warm‑up, two bands cut from the same beer‑soaked bar cloth as Airbourne, priming the venue for a night of pure, fist‑pumping rock ‘n’ roll.

    Airbourne – Asomvel – Avalanche

    Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026

    Words: Rhys Tagg

    Photography: Robert Sutton

    The heaving, pint‑sloshing, denim‑and‑leather‑clad crowd was packed tight into the Roundhouse, the air buzzing like a live wire underfoot. After Ralph Robinson closed the Asmovel carnage with The Nightmare Ain’t Over, by then the Roundhouse felt like it was bleeding.

    Airbourne - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Airbourne – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    And what do we know about Airbourne? If it bleeds, they can rock it, and they hit the Roundhouse like a bar fight in a cyclone.

    Airbourne

    Airbourne exploded onto the stage like they had been blasted out of a cannon, all sweat, riffs, and unfiltered Aussie mayhem. With pyro and fire erupting during opener Gutsy, there was never any doubt they would kick off the Gutsy Tour with anything else.

    Airbourne - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Airbourne – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    They tore headlong into a set built for maximum velocity. A barrage of classics Hungry, Back In The Game and crowd‑killers like Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast and Breakin’ Outta Hell landed with that trademark, lager‑sprayed ferocity.

    The riffs felt like they were trying to punch straight through your ribcage. It was Airbourne doing what they do better than anyone in turning a venue into a pressure cooker and daring it to survive the night.

    Airbourne - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Airbourne – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    Beer flew through the air, the crowd surged with wild energy, and at one point, even a jumper was being tossed around like a beach ball. Whoever lost it probably went home freezing, but the Roundhouse temperature more than made up for it.

    Midway through the set, they unveiled a new track, Alive After Death. Joel O’Keeffe addressed the online chatter, the criticism that Airbourne have played the same set for a decade. But is that not the beauty of Airbourne?

    Airbourne - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Airbourne – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    You know exactly what you are signing up for. Joel will dive into the crowd for Raise The Flag and shred from the middle of the chaos. A can will get smashed against his head. Anthems will roar out of one of the largest Marshall amp walls you will ever see, and your ears will ring for days thanks to the grit, the energy, and the sweat‑on‑the‑walls atmosphere.

    Airbourne - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Airbourne – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    At the Roundhouse, he pushed it even further. During encore Ready To Rock, he climbed onto the balcony, stopped beside a fan, and delivered a personal, face‑melting solo before handing over a plectrum they will probably frame. Pure reckless Joel charm, Aussie showmanship and total devotion to the crowd.

    Airbourne - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Airbourne – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    Airbourne closed with Running Wild, leaving the stage the same way they arrived, full throttle, no brakes, no apologies. The crowd stood there grinning, drenched, breathless, and absolutely wrecked in the best possible way.

    Say what you like about the setlist, nights like this prove why it does not need to change. When Airbourne roll through town, you do not come for surprises. You come for the chaos, the carnage, the beer‑in‑the‑air madness, and that unstoppable Aussie spirit.

    Airbourne - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Airbourne – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    Walking out into the cool London air, ears ringing and clothes sticking to your skin, you realise the truth. Gigs like this do not just stay with you. They cling to you like sweat long after the lights go out.

    Airbourne - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Airbourne – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    Avalanche

    Show openers Avalanche, a four‑piece rock ‘n’ roll act from Sydney, hit like a pipe bomb, a blast of youthful fire that snapped the Roundhouse to attention.

    Avalanche - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Avalanche – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    A shirtless Steven Campbell and the wild, unstoppable Veronica Campbell channelled their inner Joel O’Keeffe, with Veronica getting down into the pit mid‑set to shred On The Bags Again as the crowd swarmed around her.

    Avalanche - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Avalanche – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    Thick riffs and heavy hooks propelled the pub rockers into full‑force, brewery‑sized swagger, turning the Roundhouse into a sweat‑slicked blowout. From opener Blondie to the closing roar of Ride Or Die, they cruised through a set that felt far too short. You could watch Veronica tear through those monster riffs all night.

    Avalanche - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Avalanche – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    Asomvel

    If Avalanche shook the walls, Asomvel tried to bring them down. With a setlist boasting Born To Rock ‘N’ Roll and If It’s Too Loud, You’re Too Old, you knew exactly what kind of night you were in for.

    Asomvel - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Asomvel – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    The leather‑clad main support tore into King Of The World and never let up, fast ‘n’ dirty, heavy and loud, the kind of rock that rattles your sternum.

    Asomvel - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Asomvel – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk

    Crowd‑pleaser Luck Is For Losers hit like a steel‑toed boot, and somewhere around newer tracks Light’ Em Up and Take You to Hell, a beer‑drenched mosh pit erupted, lager flying everywhere.

    Asomvel - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Asomvel – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Airbourne - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Airbourne – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Avalanche - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Avalanche – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Avalanche - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Avalanche – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Asomvel - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Asomvel – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Asomvel - Roundhouse, London - 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    Asomvel – Roundhouse, London – 28 February 2026. Photo Robert Sutton/MetalTalk
    The post Airbourne Hit The Roundhouse Like A Bar Fight In A Cyclone first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.
  • Southpaw FLHC Drop Video for “TTG”

    Those who are “trained to go” are those who get ahead in life, thanks to the singular focus that is implicit in being such. Fast-rising hardcore band SOUTHPAW FLHC — Alan King, guitar; Harrison Linder, drums; Marc Laroche, bass; and Daryn LaMontagne, vocals — have today dropped the video for explosive new single “TTG.”  The song clocks in under three minutes but […]
  • Southpaw FLHC Drop Video for “TTG”

    Those who are “trained to go” are those who get ahead in life, thanks to the singular focus that is implicit in being such. Fast-rising hardcore band SOUTHPAW FLHC — Alan King, guitar; Harrison Linder, drums; Marc Laroche, bass; and Daryn LaMontagne, vocals — have today dropped the video for explosive new single “TTG.”  The song clocks in under three minutes but […]