Sue Cahill transforms profound personal loss into a deeply moving work on June February, an elegant blend of contemporary jazz and chamber-like intimacy. Guided by Cahill’s expressive double bass, the trio crafts a spacious, emotionally rich landscape where piano, vocals, and understated percussion interact with remarkable sensitivity. The composition unfolds with quiet grace, balancing moments of fragility with an enduring sense of hope and resilience. Every note feels intentional, allowing the emotional weight to emerge naturally rather than through excess. Thoughtful, refined, and deeply affecting, June February is a beautiful testament to music’s ability to honor grief while gently illuminating the path toward healing.
TUOMAS ROUNAKARI Announces New Official Video for ‘Bear Awakening’ Celebrating Day of the Bear & Natural Point of Midsummer!
Renowned
Finnish violinist, composer, and ethnomusicologist TUOMAS ROUNAKARI has
announced his new official video for ‘Bear Awakening’ celebrating the
Day of the Bear & Natural Point of Midsummer!
Tuomas shared: “I
am so pleased to announce the premiere of a new music video! It
will be released on July 13th, which was traditionally considered the
day of the Bear, the natural point of Midsummer. Solstices were
celebrated separately. Here in the Nordic countries solstice is early,
summer has only began, birds still nesting, many flowers not yet in
bloom. But instead, July 13th is the midpoint of summer on the land
based calendar. For us, that calendar used to follow the bear in
pre-Christian times. The video production began when Antti
Pentikäinen filmed my live performance of the Bear Awakening song First
Morning at an ancient ritual ground. The concert took place at the
Heinäveden Muinaisviikot Festival in Finland last July. This video
is finally something that catches the essence of my art and animist
spirituality. I am so grateful for the work Antti Pentikäinen put
together, in the most effortless of productions ever. This video wanted
to manifest itself. The video includes also footage with a bear, filmed
in Sweden in 2014 by Björn Ola Lind and Torkel Lundgren, the same bear
that appeared on the images of the Bear Awakener album. Looking forward to joining you in this unique moment! Love, Tuomas Rounakari”
Video production, filming and editing by Antti Pentikäinen Bear images: Björn Ola Lind and Torkel Lundberg (2014) Sound recording: Patrick Tubin McGinley at Heinäveden Muinaisviikot, July 29th 2025 Field recording of birds: Jyrki Portin (2022)
More information on Tuomas:
Tuomas
Rounakari is a Finnish violinist, composer, and ethnomusicologist known
for his trance-inducing solo performances that blend violin, vocals,
stomping, and ankle bells into a visceral one-man ritual. A former
member of Korpiklaani (2012–2022) and collaborator in Yasuharu
Takanashi’s Far East Groove, Tuomas also plays the traditional Khanty
bowed instrument Ning-juh.
His doctoral research (2024) focuses
on altered states of consciousness through music—a phenomenon tied to
sacred song traditions worldwide. This inquiry informs his performance
style, which often crosses into trance and ceremony.
Tuomas draws
inspiration from dialogues between humanity and nature, the visible and the invisible, the ancient and the future. His debut solo album
Shamanviolin was born from studying early 20th-century wax-cylinder
recordings from Siberia. Performing these songs with the Indigenous
communities from which they originated led to long-term collaborations
with Khanty, Mansi, Sámi, and Greenlandic artists.
With over 30
albums to his name—including two solo records and four with Korpiklaani
(over 34 million Spotify streams annually)—his work spans folk, metal,
blues, free jazz, and avant-garde electroacoustic soundscapes.
His
latest solo album, Bear Awakener (2022), is a sonic invocation, an
awakening of the wild spirit within. Each track stirs ancient memory,
calling forth the slumbering forces of nature, myth, and spirit. The
album centers on bear-related ceremonial songs from Khanty, Mansi,
Karelian, and Finnish traditions. These songs carry the resonance of
ancestors who lived in deep, reciprocal relationships with the
land—cultures rooted in sustainability, self-sufficiency, and sacred
balance. For Tuomas, they are living teachings, not just songs. Rooted
in ancestral songlines and shaped by trance, Bear Awakener invites
listeners into deeper dialogue with the unseen, the more-than-human, and
the mythic. It is a reawakening of spirit and a reconnection to
something older than memory, yet urgently needed in our time.
Def Leppard show everyone present in The O2 Arena what they are among the best in the world at. Rocking an arena to the rafters. All this while sounding incredible. And those vocal harmonies.
Def Leppard – The O2 Arena, London – 2 July 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch
Def Leppard is one of those bands that I have been listening to pretty much all my life. I grew up listening to cassettes of Adrenalize, Hysteria, Pyromania, On Through The Night and High ‘n’ Dry, courtesy of my uncle.
And I continued on that path, pretty much listening to their entire recorded output as it came out. While I did not necessarily love everything they have put out, they always had a special place for me.
Def Leppard – The O2 Arena, London – 2 July 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch
Later, I had the chance to see them live, and that happened a few times over the years. I was truly shocked to hear how, apart from being a really solid live act, they were able to reproduce those vocal harmonies to perfection. But even with that background, nothing could ever prepare me for Thursday evening in London’s The O2 Arena.
By the time Def Leppard hit the stage of an arena that is almost at capacity (and I am talking full capacity, not just the first ring), they are in full swing with their current tour. They have already played a Las Vegas residency in the USA, been to India, and played a number of festivals and headline shows in Europe.
Def Leppard – The O2 Arena, London – 2 July 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch
After an energetic Extreme performance (details about that a bit later), the band starts promptly with their most recent single, Rejoice, as the stage, with a pyramid-like lighting rig, inspired by the cover of their massive opus Hysteria, lights up.
It is a perfect opener, showcasing the band’s fine voices already. They waste no time and start what will be a night of, as frontman Joe Elliott puts it, “something old, something new, something borrowed…” But mostly hits.
The first one of the night is Animal, and by this point, everyone is shouting the chorus, band and crowd, in perfect synergy. Mr Elliott is in fine voice, and so is the band. And the whole crowd.
Def Leppard – The O2 Arena, London – 2 July 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch
The stage set is what one should have for an arena show of this size. The moving light rig, as well as the massive screen behind them and the two side ones, full of very well-done visuals, makes sure that one feels part of the whole thing, wherever they might be seated in the cavernous space.
And next comes something borrowed, a cover of Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus. I checked out the setlist beforehand, and I was honestly wondering what the point was, despite liking the studio version, when a band has that many hits they could play instead.
Well, the point was that it sounded great, especially with the effect on the singer’s voice and the church-like grey tone visuals.
Def Leppard – The O2 Arena, London – 2 July 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch
They go into one of the things they are very good at, ballads, early on, with Bringin’ On The Heartbreak, and the twin guitars of Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell truly shine on this and instrumental Switch 625. It is hard to find a guitarist duo that fits together this well, truly allowing one another to shine.
For something new, we get Just Like ’73, and this is the point where, if you had any doubt, you realise that Def Leppard never forgot how to write very catchy and that their recent output lives up to past glories. With this nice nod to the glam rock era that they love so much, of course.
Def Leppard – The O2 Arena, London – 2 July 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch
They get back into the classics and Hysteria’s Rocket, with appropriate visuals, followed by David Essex cover Rock On, preceded by a very good solo bass moment by Rick Savage. Not before the frontman talks about how he and Savage met, some 39 years ago, and they have done alright.
In the meantime, as we listen to Mr Savage’s bass, the singer pops up high in the stands, because that is where you should be singing that song from. White Lightning’s long intro is, presumably, so he can actually get back on stage.
It is followed by the title track of a record that some people only warm up to now. I am talking, of course, about Slang and it has a surprise appearance from Extreme guitarist extraordinaire Nuno Bettencourt. Joe decided, yet again, that taking a walk through the crowd would be a good idea, at the end of which he mentions that someone grabbed his arse.
And he would like to thank them for it.
Def Leppard – The O2 Arena, London – 2 July 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch
We get to the last part of the show and, since I mentioned those vocal harmonies, the band plays an a cappella intro to Promises. Just in case anyone even imagined that there are any pre-recorded vocal tracks. It sounds amazing, and so does Armageddon It.
I even end up doing something I would not recommend. I take out my ear protections, “just to see what it sounds like”, as well as to feel the atmosphere. I generally would not do this in a place like The O2 Arena, as the echoey tendencies of such venues, as well as the sheer volume, make proper quality earplugs a better idea sound-wise, not to mention the little issue of protecting your hearing.
Def Leppard – The O2 Arena, London – 2 July 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch
However, in tonight’s case, I am absolutely shocked at how perfect it all sounds, and also how loud that crowd is throughout. And it is, for the record, really loud, but their sound technician deserves all the plaudits. I do not think I heard a band sound this good here.
They end with Rock of Ages and Photograph, both sounding fantastic.
Some things you cannot avoid, so they come back for an encore of When Love And Hate Collide, Hysteria and, of course, a Pour Some Sugar On Me that, if you were not voiceless by this point, definitely rendered you that way.
The conclusion? If there were a university degree in playing arena shows, these guys would be tenured professors. And one more thing. Despite playing so many absolute bangers over the course of almost two hours, they have so many more of those left out that you will inevitably g: “I would have also liked X and Y songs”.
In my case, Two Steps Behind and Heaven Is. But those are for next time.
Because, as Joe Elliott puts it at the end of their shows, “there will be a next time”.
Def Leppard – The O2 Arena, London – 2 July 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch
Extreme: The More Than Worthy Special Guests
First of all, if you are reducing Extreme to “the More Than Words” band, I am happy for you. Because you will now go to whatever streaming service you use, and listen to at least all of Extreme II: Pornograffitti in full.
Come back after you have done that, although by this point you are most likely checking out everything else.
Extreme – The O2 Arena, London – 2 July 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch
I will bow my head to Def Leppard, and no, I am not in the wrong section of the article. Having a band as good as Extreme as a special guest takes some balls. Because the Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt outfit are simply a phenomenal live act.
They have a very sparse stage set compared to tonight’s headliners, with just the huge back screen showing visuals and some stage lights and LEDs. But that does not stop them from giving an energetic performance.
Extreme – The O2 Arena, London – 2 July 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch
Their set goes from tracks of their newest album, 2023’s SIX, to some of their classics, including Decadence Dance or Get The Funk Out. What I always loved about Extreme was their funkiness, evident on tracks like the latter.
Cherone is a livewire, going all over that stage, and Bettencourt is, without doubt, one of the best guitarists out there. He was one of the most important parts of Ozzy’s farewell concert at Villa Park, and Extreme pays tribute to the great man with a medley of I Don’t Know, Bark At The Moon, and Crazy Train.
Extreme – The O2 Arena, London – 2 July 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch
While that great bit is what ends their set, they play More Than Words as well, sung by the whole arena.
The only less fortunate part is the fact that, not being shown on the big screens at the sides of the stage, it is slightly difficult for them to properly reach the further parts of the huge space.
Dead Horse explode out of the gates with Dynamite, a thrilling collision of noise rock, garage punk, and post-punk attitude. Jagged guitar riffs, manic saxophone bursts, and relentless rhythms fuel a track that thrives on unpredictability without ever losing its infectious momentum. The band’s sharp sense of chaos is matched by an energetic vocal performance and clever, offbeat lyricism, resulting in a sound that’s both abrasive and irresistibly fun. Wild, fearless, and packed with personality, Dynamite captures the exhilaration of controlled musical mayhem, making for a bold statement from a band confidently embracing its own wonderfully unhinged identity.
European deathcore outfit Distant have announced that their new studio album, “Into Despair,” will be released on November 6th through Century Media Records. The 13-track record follows a string of preview singles, with the latest, “All Will Be (N)One,” now available. The track features a guest appearance from Suffocation vocalist Ricky Myers a… Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com
Italian Progressive Rockers Revealing Chaos return with new video single ‘Empty Words‘, taking on the dark reality of emotional manipulation! Available now on all digital platforms, ‘Empty Words‘ is the latest single from Revealing Chaos, released via Volcano Records. Also watch the videos for the previous singles ‘Dark Side‘ – here ‘Sailing Away From Here‘ […]
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