Category: news

Koyo and Initiate will open that trek.

The post Senses Fail Seemingly Part Ways With Guitarist Jason Milbank, Announce Fall “Still Searching” 20th Anniversary Tour appeared first on Theprp.com.

The immortal legacy of grunge pioneer Chris Cornell has been given a massive, analog-fueled resurgence as the star-studded tribute project King Ultramega officially dropped a blistering new cover of Soundgarden’s 1989 classic anthem, Loud Love. Spearheaded by Metal Allegiance architect Mark Menghi, the elite collective has united Halestorm vocal powerhouse Lzzy Hale, Testament guitar wizard Alex Skolnick, and legendary original Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen for a raw, tape-saturated studio session that doubles as a premium charity release for the global rock community.

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KING ULTRAMEGA: THE “LOUD LOVE” PRODUCTION MATRIX

The Lost Art Form: Tracking Soundgarden Classics Live to Tape

The King Ultramega project has long stood as the definitive playground for elite hard rock and heavy metal musicians looking to pay homage to the late, great Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Chris Cornell. In past iterations, project mastermind Mark Menghi has successfully recruited personnel from Mastodon, Anthrax, Big Wreck, and even core members of Soundgarden itself.

For this latest installment, Menghi set his sights on “Loud Love”—the revolutionary breakout single that originally served as the commercial spearhead for Soundgarden’s sophomore 1989 studio album, Louder Than Love.

Rejecting the cold, fragmented nature of modern digital music production, Menghi insisted on bringing the all-star roster into the exact same room to capture the track completely live. The band bypassed modern computers entirely, blasting real amplifiers directly onto vintage, analog reel-to-reel tape machines to encapsulate the genuine warmth, bleeding microphones, and spontaneous energy of late-80s rock records.

Stealing the Soul: Lzzy Hale Channels an Animalistic Range

Stepping into the vocal boots of Chris Cornell is widely regarded as one of the most intimidating challenges in modern rock music, but Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale approached the microphone with fierce artistic independence.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been a good imitator, but I did try to put myself in Chris’ shoes,” Hale reflected regarding the intensive recording process. “It’s more about placing yourself inside the song so you can steal its soul. I like to imagine I am the writer and then go about making it my own whilst honoring the original… I’m inspired by his control over his animalistic vocal range, and his poetry, but also how honestly he sings.”

Hale’s powerhouse delivery is flanked by the intricate fretwork of Alex Skolnick. The Testament icon paid careful attention to the legendary styling of Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil, working deliberately to maintain Thayil’s signature raw, heavy drone groove while seamlessly injecting his own world-renowned solo identity into the analog framework.

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Seattle Roots: Dave Krusen Relives the Historic Era

The rhythmic anchor of the cover carries direct genetic links to the birth of the original Seattle grunge movement. Drummer Dave Krusen, the percussionist behind Pearl Jam’s diamond-certified masterpiece Ten, was brought in to command the kit.

Krusen noted that the invitation brought his career completely full circle, recalling the turbulent late-80s and early-90s landscape when Pearl Jam was tracking Ten alongside Cornell and Matt Cameron’s historic Temple of the Dog tracking blocks. Krusen admitted to feeling immense pressure tackling the complex patterns originally tracked by Cameron, but credited the live, collaborative environment for capturing a truly pure performance.

Beyond serving as a staggering displays of classic rock musicianship, the release functions as a mission of mercy. A significant portion of all financial proceeds generated from the digital streaming, tracking, and sales of King Ultramega’s “Loud Love” will be channeled directly into MusiCares—the leading industry non-profit foundation providing critical health, medical, and human services directly to struggling independent music creators.

Also – Grunge’s Grunge-iest: 13 Bands That Defined the Genre

FAQ: King Ultramega ‘Loud Love’ Soundgarden Cover Details

Who plays on the King Ultramega cover of Loud Love? The tracking lineup consists of Mark Menghi (bass), Lzzy Hale (vocals), Alex Skolnick (guitars), and Dave Krusen (drums).

Was the King Ultramega Soundgarden cover recorded digitally? No. To replicate the exact 1989 production vibe of the Louder Than Love sessions, the entire tracking layout was recorded completely live to analog, reel-to-reel tape in a shared studio space.

Where do the financial proceeds from this track go? A designated portion of all streaming royalties and digital purchase profits are piped directly to MusiCares to support music industry professionals in need.

Also Recommended – SOUNDGARDEN Guitarist KIM THAYIL Says This Band Was The ‘Embodiment’ Of Grunge

TL;DR

• The Project: Mark Menghi’s Chris Cornell tribute vehicle, King Ultramega, has dropped a brand-new cover of Soundgarden’s 1989 track “Loud Love”.
• The Star Power: The special tracking run enlists Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, Testament’s Alex Skolnick, and original Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen.
• The Production: The cover was captured completely live using old-school, analog reel-to-reel tape machines to capture a vintage sonic warmth.
• The Cause: A percentage of all revenue generated by the independent release is being donated directly to the MusiCares charity foundation.

The analog machines have stopped spinning, but the staggering weight of Chris Cornell’s poetry lives on through a whole new generation of metal royalty.

What is your honest assessment of Lzzy Hale’s take on this legendary vocal run? Do you think more modern metal bands need to ditch digital software and get back to recording raw, live tracking to tape in the same room, or is digital convenience superior? Sound off with your tracking thoughts and reviews in the comments section below!

The post Listen To Halestorm Singer Lzzy Hale, Testament’s Alex Skolnick & Others Join Forces for Powerful Soundgarden Cover appeared first on Loaded Radio.

The Adelaide, Australia indie rock band Swapmeet recently made a bunch of noise with their singles “I Know!,” “Sand,” and “2 C U,” and they’re one month away from the release of their full-length debut Mount Zero. Today, they announce a North American tour and share the skittering, whispery new single “Halfway.” It sounds like circa-now bedroom-pop, but with just the slightest hint of old-school post-punk skronk. Below, check out the Mayah Slayter-directed video and Swapmeet’s upcoming tour dates.

The post Swapmeet – “Halfway” appeared first on Stereogum.

The lineup remains pending.

The post Dates Set For 2027 ‘Sonic Temple’ Festival, Presales To Roll Out This Week appeared first on Theprp.com.

Alleycat .

The post Alleycat Scratch’s debut album reimagined, remixed, remastered and available on June 30th first appeared on Sleaze Roxx.

Finnish symphonic metal band AMBERIAN DAWN push into their new era with an invocation to the ‘Moon‘. The fourth single off of their upcoming album, ‘Temptation’s Gates‘, shows yet another facet of their fresh sound, turning up the speed to blast beat intensity. Still, ‘Moon‘ which features prominent keyboard and guitar solos, remains magical up until […]

The post AMBERIAN DAWN Share New Single, ‘Moon’ + Video appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM.

Delve into the chaos of the cosmos with “Limitless,” the new single release from the US and Mexico based melodic death metal band FALSIMONIAN. The quartet’s dynamic heavy sound is influenced by Mexican folk and Latin-American roots music, as well as progressive elements and jazz. FALSIMONIAN‘s forthcoming EP For Survival is set to arrive independently on November 7, 2026.

Drawing inspiration from concepts such as autotheism, the big bang, and relativity, the band takes a more abstract approach with their lyrics in “Limitless”. The track’s narrative is positioned from the perspective of a celestial being, leaning into the cosmic horror realm, which is a personified form of the universe.

A chaotic mood emerges from “Limitless” which begins with an onslaught of sharp and aggressive rhythmic stabs. The violent intensity creates a sense of disturbance and discomfort. Stylistically, “Limitless” is rooted in melodic death metal though progressive sections and groove passages are incorporated across the track. This song also features the first guitar solo heard by Cesar Robles on the upcoming EP in a display that is initially melodic before developing into intricate, technical shredding. 

Presented through the lens of a fictional, dystopian world, the EP considers the everyday impact onto individuals who are living under the threat and fear of a world-ending catastrophe. “Limitless” is a key moment for the narrative’s protagonist in which, through a moment of introspection, they decide to take action against the imposing darkness. 

For Survival was produced by Jesus Fuentes Valverde, with mixing and mastering by Gil Andrade. Drums engineering was undertaken by Ruben Sanchez at Urvn Studios, with guitars and keyboards recorded by Jesus Fuentes Valverde and vocals recorded by Erick Valverde. Guitar and vocal editing, and bass programming, was by Jesus Fuentes Valverde. Additional guitars on “Limitless”, “Judgment” and “For Survival” were recorded and edited by Cesar Robles. 

For Survival Track-list:

1. Freefall – 3:57
2. The Enemy – 4:02
3. Limitless – 3:44
4. Judgment – 4:48
5. For Survival – 5:05

All artwork photography for the EP and single releases are from X-Rays Erick Valverde has taken over the last 10 years. The artworks utilize original photographs of a colorful sunset as the light source behind the X-Rays. These colors are commonly seen in the desert skies of the US/Mexico border. Ariadne Willis, adjusted the photographs for the layout and design of the EP and single covers. Erick’s accidents and health struggles have also indirectly influenced the overall theme of the EP. Additional photography by Rancho Creativo Studios. 

FALSIMONIAN:

Erick Valverde – Vocals
Jesus Fuentes Valverde – Guitars, Keyboards
Cesar Robles Sanchez – Lead Guitars
Mauricio “Moritz” Gonzalez – Drums

Official Website: https://falsimonian.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/falsimonian

Instagram: https://instagram.com/falsimonian

Source: C Squared Music

For many years, singer-songwriter Chelsea Wolfe has been making dark, rapturous goth-folk. You can put on her music, and even if you aren’t actively listening, it can reshape the atmosphere of a room, the way that a burning incense stick might. Wolfe’s most recent album She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She came out in 2024. These days, Wolfe is still working on new music, but now she’s also reshaping your environment thought different senses. She’s in the fragrance game now, baby!

The post Chelsea Wolfe Shares Spectral New Songs, Fragrance appeared first on Stereogum.

(written by Islander) At the end of this week, on June 26th, Time To Kill Records will release Filth Majesty, the debut album of the Finnish band Hoc Est Bellum. That name means This Is War, and as a sign of what their music sounds like, it is absolutely accurate. As you know, we prefer […]

The post AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE (AND A REVIEW): HOC EST BELLUM — “FILTH MAJESTY” appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.

Lohner and Pennie will be back for leg two.

The post The Black Queen Announce Fall U.S. “Fever Daydream” 10th Anniversary Tour appeared first on Theprp.com.