Category: news

The group expect to get back out in October.

The post Earshot Cancel Immediate Shows Due To A Member Departing Mid-Tour appeared first on Theprp.com.

Their first new song with guitarist Victoria Villarreal, ahead of their upcoming North American tour

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Tony Kruszka has been sidelined by illness, while Ed Cuozzo has exited the band.

The post Cold Announce A Pair Of Lineup Changes appeared first on Theprp.com.

Stream the title track

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This is the second album by UK extreme metal band Burner. Burner bring us 48 minutes of material to abandon all hope to on No One Is Coming to Save Us. Playing a hybrid style that’s as effective as it is unexpectedly multifaceted, Burner’s new record is a real powerhouse. No One Is Coming to … Continue reading “Burner – No One Is Coming to Save Us (Review)”

Taking place at Beyond The Streets in Los Angeles from October 13-18

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Apocalyptica has released “Upperhand,” a song built for the video game Control Resonant, with Katrine Stenbekk of Norwegian alternative folk band Kalandra on vocals. The track grew out of the instrumental main theme the Finnish cello rockers wrote for the upcoming title from Remedy Entertainment.

The song draws on the game’s eerie, paranatural setting and turns its tension into a dark, cinematic metal anthem. Mournful cellos and heavy rhythms collide with Stenbekk‘s airy vocals, giving the track a sound that would suit a film score just as well as a concert stage.

Eicca Toppinen, the founder of Apocalyptica, explained where the song began: “The first version of “Upperhand” was written as intro music for the game’s opening sequence. It reflects the uneasy emotions of the main character in transition to the unknown.

“I wanted to expand it into a full song with lyrics, and we were so lucky to get Katrine from Kalandra with her unique voice to carry this where it was supposed to go.”

Toppinen added that shaping the band’s signature strengths to fit the world of Control took some effort, but the payoff was worth it.

“This song combines multiple special qualities of Apocalyptica, and getting those qualities to serve the world of Control was a challenging but exciting and rewarding journey. I truly hope Control and Apocalyptica fans will find this as special as we do.”

“Upperhand” sits on the line between fear and curiosity that defines Control Resonant. Sweeping cellos, murky textures and Kalandra‘s otherworldly vocals bring the game’s mysterious universe to life and show Apocalyptica at its most cinematic and emotional.

The band came together in 1993 at Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy, where classically trained players started out with the oddball idea of covering Metallica on cellos. The 1996 debut, Plays Metallica By Four Cellos, caught on fast enough that the group was opening for Metallica within months.

Nine albums and more than six million records later, Apocalyptica has carved out its own identity and taken it to festival stages around the world. Collaborators have included Ville Valo of Him, Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Bullet For My Valentine and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo. The bond with Metallica has grown from admiration into friendship, and Apocalyptica played the band’s 30th-anniversary shows in 2011. Its latest album, Plays Metallica, Vol. 2, closes the loop with guest spots from Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo and frontman James Hetfield.

Control Resonant follows Remedy Entertainment‘s multi-award-winning Control. The story unfolds in a surreal, reality-warping New York, where Dylan Faden wields paranatural abilities and transforms the Aberrant to face powerful enemies and bosses. Remedy designed the plot to welcome newcomers while taking returning fans deeper into the universe.

Remedy Entertainment developed and published the game, with Annapurna Pictures as co-financier and co-producer. Control Resonant arrives digitally Sept. 24, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and the Epic Games Store. Petri Alanko composed the original score, while Apocalyptica wrote “Upperhand” for the opening sequence.

The post APOCALYPTICA Turns a Reality-Bending Video Game Into a Cello-Powered Metal Nightmare With “Upperhand” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

“Patient zero” has long been associated with virus outbreaks and fictional health investigations. It was coined in the 1980s, by accident.

Enthroned for all eternity, He presides!

There are many tests that can determine greatness, but few are as sure as tenacity, and with 43 years of plugging away in the heavy metal scene while occupying a very unique niche, Orange County, California’s own Stryper exemplify this fact all but to a fault.

Like many stalwarts of the 80s that ended up falling on hard times during the subsequent decade that shall not be named, they’ve enjoyed a highly fruitful and prolific renaissance since the turn of the millennium, forging a sound in keeping with the modern conventions of the present, but still holding true to the old-school hard rock and heavy metal stylings that put them on the map when The Yellow And Black Attack first hit store shelves. Of particular note has been their longstanding run with Italian metal and AOR label Frontiers Records, which has seen a highly consistent qualitative output since 2013’s Second Coming and has now seen Stryper land on their 18^th career studio LP with Throne Of Thorns.

True to their roots, this finely-tuned metallic quartet matches uplifting lyrical content with a hard, aggressive bite that betrays a greater affinity for the likes of Judas Priest and W.A.S.P. than the lighter glam bands they were often associated with in the past. The twin guitar assault of helmsman Michael Sweet and Oz Fox follows a similarly dynamic scheme to the one pioneered by Tipton & Downing, featuring a crisp, rock-solid riff foundation with flashy dueling solo segments that reminisce heavily upon the extravagance of the mid-1980s.

Bolstered by a massive drumming display out of brother and co-founder Robert Sweet that channels the power and pizzazz of Vinnie Appice and the steady bass grooves of de facto new guy Perry Richardson, the rhythm section of this outfit wants for very little. But the lynchpin that ties this holy package together and gives it its distinctive flair is the Dennis DeYoung meets Dio display out of Michael Sweet at the microphone, bringing an air of theatricality to an arrangement already bursting at the seams with pomp and fury.

In contrast to the elaborate showcases often trotted out by the competition, Stryper opts to play it straight and to the point from the very start. The opening foray of riff-happy power and title song “Throne Of Thorns” enters the fray with a swift drum fill out of Robert before landing on a swift, shuffling stride like it’s 1984 all over again. One can’t help but be immediately captivated by the massive wall of harmonized voices accompanying Michael’s dynamic roar during the chorus as well, adding a hymn-like quality to what is otherwise an Iron Maiden-oriented up-tempo romp.

Other fast-paced banger entries like “I’m Alright (I’m Okay)” and “Beautifully Broken” play up more of a straight rocking vibe while still painting the fringes of the arrangement with plenty of consonant choral flourishes like the procession of a Lutheran service; meanwhile, the somewhat less speedy assault of “Carry The Flame” lands in heavier territory and matches a chunky riffing display with a double-kick and fill-happy drumming performance.

Though generally sticking to a more stripped-down display of guitars, bass, drums and a variety of vocal devices, the manner in which these elements are employed is fairly eclectic. Much like the genre’s progenitors Black Sabbath, Sweet and company are not averse to pulling the tempo back to a slower pace and trading flash for heaviness, with the deep-trudging banger “Here In Your Heart” and the Heaven And Hell-inspired epic march of “Hollywood” ramming the point home with a rich assortment of infectious hooks and crafty melodic guitar lines.

The downtempo end of the spectrum sees another crushing metallic anthem in “Falling” trading blows with more modern rock-tinged entries like the partly acoustic semi-ballad “Ashes To Roses” and the full-on saccharine-steeped power balladry of “Waiting For You”, each one coming with its own sense of charm and never slouching when it comes to singing voices trading blows with singing lead guitars. But when all is said and done, Stryper seals the deal by going full Judas Priest mode with a blazing speed anthem in “Shadowbreaker” to close things out on a killer note; bringing new meaning to the concept of saving the best for last.

In the grand scheme of Stryper’s more than 4 decades-long career, Throne Of Thorns stands tall amid the latter-day entries of their catalog, and manages to hold a respectable candle to the magnum opus that was their 1985 debut LP Soldiers Under Command. Insofar as older bands associated with the high period of the Sunset Strip go, they are still pulling zero punches and bringing the fire in a manner that the likes of Skid Row and Mötley Crüe would struggle to match at present.

Whether one chalks it up to clean living, accidentally coming into contact with the mythical fountain of youth, or the enduring power of The Holy Spirit, this is a band that has been going full steam ahead for well over 20 years now and shows zero signs of slowing down. Those amenable to or otherwise unbothered by the message will find an inspiring experience in 11 parts, while all the rest should check it out anyway for the full-on melodic metal master class that it brings to the table.

Release Date: September 25th, 2026
Record Label: Frontiers Music SRL
Genre: Melodic Metal/ Hard Rock

Musicians:

• Michael Sweet / Lead Vocals, Lead and Rhythm Guitar
• Robert Sweet / Drums and Percussion
• Oz Fox / Backing Vocals, Lead and Rhythm Guitar
• Perry Richardson / Backing Vocals and Bass

Throne Of Thorns Tracklist:

1. Throne of Thorns
2. Here In Your Heart
3. Falling
4. I’m Alright (I’m Okay)
5. Waiting For You
6. Carry The Flame
7. Hollywood
8. Beautifully Broken
9. Ashes To Roses
10. Alone Again
11. Shadowbreaker

Order the album here.

The post STRYPER – Throne Of Thorns (Album Review) appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Nickelback has released “Make Me Love You,” the third single from its upcoming album, Everything Under The Sun. The song premiered on BBC Radio 2, and the record arrives Oct. 30 through Virgin Music Group.

The single comes after “Rattle The Cage,” which features John 5, and “Leave Me Behind.” According to the band, “Make Me Love You” ranks among its most personal songwriting yet. It looks inward at the doubt and exposure that come with letting someone in.

The song sits in the narrow gap between hope and heartbreak, where the chance of something real can be thrilling and terrifying at once. It makes the case that leaving your heart open is as risky as shutting it down, and the track lives inside that tension.

Each single shows a different side of the record. “Rattle The Cage” opened the album era with heavy riffs and arena-sized energy. “Leave Me Behind” told a vulnerable story of loyalty, perseverance and letting go. “Make Me Love You” turns to romance and the anxiety of wanting affection while knowing it might hurt.

That range runs through the whole album. Everything Under The Sun treats love with the same candor it gives heartbreak, resilience and reflection, and it keeps the big melodies and unmistakable sound that have defined Nickelback for more than three decades.

“Leave Me Behind” served as a counterweight to the chart-topping “Rattle The Cage.” Both trail “Bones For The Crows,” a No. 1 single that was the band’s first new music since 2022’s “Get Rollin’” and the first taste of the album.

Together, the three tracks preview an album that lives up to its title. Expect towering arena anthems, huge guitars, hooks that stick, reflective lyrics and the chemistry that made Nickelback one of the biggest rock bands on the planet.

The band started out in Hanna, Alberta, and grew into one of the most successful rock acts of the 21st century. Silver Side Up and the era-defining “How You Remind Me” launched it worldwide, and the catalog has since piled up Grammy Award nominations, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and JUNO Awards.

Nickelback has sold nearly 60 million albums worldwide and pulls in billions of streams and more than 50 million monthly listeners. Its music keeps landing with new generations, and a loyal fanbase has packed arenas for over two decades.

Everything Under The Sun builds on that momentum while facing forward. It works as a victory lap and as proof that the band’s creative fire still burns. It also marks the group’s first release with Virgin Music Group, a global partner to independent labels, artists and entrepreneurs.

Jacqueline Saturn, president of Virgin Music Group North America, welcomed the band to the roster. “Nickelback have built one of the most remarkable careers in music, and it’s a huge honor for everyone at Virgin Music Group to work alongside a band with such an enduring legacy and global impact.

“We’re thrilled to partner with them as they begin this exciting new chapter and can’t wait for fans to experience Everything Under The Sun.”

Over 30 years into its run, Nickelback keeps evolving without giving up the sound that made it a defining name in modern rock. With Everything Under The Sun, the band makes a case that its biggest moments could still be ahead.

The post NICKELBACK Drops Third Single “Everything Under The Sun” From Upcoming Album “Everything Under The Sun” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.