Category: news

Today, Italian folk / black metallers Duirstream the entirety of their highly anticipated second album, Catarsi, in advance of its release. Set for international release on June 26th via AOP Records, hear Duir‘s Catarsi in its entirety HERE at AOP Records‘ official YouTube channel. Duir is an atmospheric folk / black metal band formed in 2013 by MK, aiming to blend personal influences with folk and black metal […]

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Happy midsummer all, and the warmest welcome to my new subscribers. Thank you. Last weekend marked Father’s Day here in the UK, always a mixed bag for me. My beautiful children gifted me the newly remastered Arthur Russell compilation for which I’m enormously grateful.

I’ve had a fun few days preparing a streaming only EP comprising singles and rare tracks recorded back in 2024. It’ll be out come the autumn, in the meantime here’s a video of me performing a few of those songs in my living room last year. I’d been out of the game for a while and possibly drank a little too much to calm my nerves…

Additionally, I’ve been putting the finishing touches on my new mini album, which I’m planning to release early next year. I guess it’s a little bit of a departure from my previous work, I’m excited for folk to hear it when the time is right.

Current Listening:

Yea-Ming and The Rumours – Residue

Tara Clerkin Trio – Somewhere Good

Arthur Russell – Love Is Overtaking Me

Lastly, I finally got around to freshening up my Linktree. If you’re enjoying what I’m doing musically, it’s probably the only resource you need. You can check it out here.

Much love x

Chelsea Wolfe has two new songs out today! The American folk musician just premiered two new tunes, without detailing if it’s for a future album or some other release. You can check out “Death Is Not The End” and “The Dark” below. Furthermore, she also announced a new tour with U.S. and European dates disclosed.
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Polish black metallers Azels Mountain have released an advance stream of their upcoming third full-length album, “Echa Krwi”,  which will arrive this Friday, 26th June via Pagan Records. Listen to “Echa Krwi”: https://youtu.be/bePqxZwDGOc This follows the recent release of the music video to the track “Bezdroża Jałowe“. Pre-orders are still available via Pagan Records – On this new album, Azels […]

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Italian band INNER SHRINE will release their new album, The Ninth Crusade, on 15 July 2025. A teaser for the upcoming record is already available, offering a glimpse into the album’s dark, solemn, and monumental atmosphere. The Ninth Crusade serves as the second chapter in the band’s trilogy centered on the concept of power. With […]

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They're supporting their new album, 'Mission of Mercy.' Continue reading…

Mannequin Pussy and Wednesday are two of our finest indie rock bands. Both of them tour relentlessly, and both of them absolutely kick ass live. If you go see either one of them, you’re pretty much guaranteed a good time. This fall, you might get to see both of them in the same night, since they’ve just announced plans to cross the American South on what they’re calling the Bitch Cabal Tour.

The post Mannequin Pussy & Wednesday Announce Bitch Cabal Tour appeared first on Stereogum.

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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Want an immediate, deep-dive into the latest hard rock and metal news? Host Scott Penfold breaks down the latest on today’s episode of the Metal Breakdown Daily! Catch the full broadcast by streaming directly inside the free Loaded Radio App available on Apple iOS and Google Play.

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.

Check This Out – THE NORTHWEST INVASION: Best Grunge Albums Ranked – The 13 Most Essential Pillars of the Seattle Sound

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.