Jamie Lenman has made a triumphant return to music with the announcement of a new record, completely funded via his Patreon.
Titled ‘Puke’, it’s set to be released on August 07.
Jamie had this to say about how it came to be:
“I made this album completely by accident and really, it’s not an album, although it is unified by the fact that nothing took more than a day to make, and I didn’t do more than three takes of anything. That method lends itself to a punkier, more aggressive sound, so it does have a certain accidental cohesion. I spent a lot of time really crafting my last album, and this is a response to that process.
And he had this to say about how it was made completely through funds generated by his Patreon:
“This entire project, from the actual sessions to my train fare and even the sandwiches I bring with me, has been funded by the subscriptions from my Patreon. That’s revolutionary for me, a totally new way of working without the pressures and expectations of a traditional label-artist setup and has resulted in my falling back in love with the studio.
“It was never my intention to use those funds to make a new album, but I found I had a small sum left over from paying the bills, so I was able to use it for that purpose and here we are. I rely on my Patrons and they get the best of everything – not just first dibs on all the new material, but unheard demos, artwork, videos, everything. It’s a total game-changer for me”
The artwork looks like this:
The record will include the previously shared ‘Not Likely’, and also the freshly dropped ‘You’re Nothing’. A seething, raging, tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek tour de force, the sort that Lenman is a dab hand at producing, it’s the sort of song made for the screaming into the void. Gritty, raw and beautifully heavy, you’re going to love it.
Jamie had this to say about it:
“Lyrically ‘You’re Nothing’ is about putting people away, especially people who seem to think their views are in some way clever or important. Really I’m talking about the kind of bigot who absolutely can’t help themselves from spouting hurtful nonsense, or someone giving it the big I Am – I’m just trying to take these people down a peg. You know, why should we listen to you? Sit down mate.”
KINGDOM OF GIANTS return with the video for new single RESPAWN. Buckle up because you are about to get throttled. The track boasts thick grooves, buzzsaw riffs, and pulses with kind of raw kinetic energy that could power an entire continent.
The song marks the start of a thrilling new chapter for the California band, as it’s the first to feature the band’s new lineup, which now includes JT Gutierrez on bass and vocals.
“Respawn is the start of a new chapter for the band — and for me stepping in,” Gutierrez enthuses. “I’ve been working for 15 years trying to get to where I am today, and joining this band marks a turning point in my life that I will forever be grateful for. Working with the guys has been an incredibly smooth transition and they have become a very important part of my life. I couldn’t be more excited for what’s next.”
Singer Dana Willax also weighs in, saying, “Respawn is my favorite KOG track in as long as I can remember and I’m so excited to have JT be a part of it. I absolutely love how diverse his voice is and how well we work together and contrast each other simultaneously. Respawn dives deep into a relationship that you know is wrong and unhealthy, yet you let that person back in for another chance even when they have proven themselves untrustworthy with something that is so close and important to you, and yet again, they let you down.”
A new Kingdom of Giants era is upon us, with more new music on the way in due course. The band will be heading to Australia this August supporting Holding Absence.
KINGDOM OF GIANTS ARE:
Dana Willax — Vocals | JT Gutierrez — Bass + Vocals | Truman Berlin — Drums
Max Bremer — Guitar | Julian Perez — Guitar
Faerie Ring are sharing both a streaming link and a live video for their latest single, “New Gods.” The song is from their forthcoming, self-titled album, out August 21 via King Volume Records.
“Our last album, Weary Traveler, was happy-go-lucky,” says band guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter James Wallwork. “But so much has happened since that came out in 2023, both in our personal lives and in the rest of the world. Songs like ‘Lost Boy’ reflect the furious, “I don’t even care” attitude I felt after my divorce, while ‘Gargoyle’ is a doomed-out perspective of realizing you’ll grow old alone. ‘No Surrender,’ meanwhile, was inspired by the latest Israel-Palestine conflict, and it’s written from the perspective of someone living in Gaza during the war. Ultimately, Faerie Ring is a cathartic album that acknowledges that death is real, but so is love. This is an album about love and triumph in a time of existential dread.”
Adding Torche guitarist Jonathan Nuñez to the mastering process proved equally impactful. “I’ve been a lifelong fan of Torche,” says Wallwork, “so having him involved is insane to me. He drastically changed this record. It’s much more akin to how we present ourselves live.” Huglus agrees: “Listening to his mastering was like hearing the album for the first time. We loved the original version of the record, but he completely changed it for the better.”
“I’ve got the blinders up to everything I don’t need,” says lead guitarist Kyle Hulgus about the debut song. “It’s just me in a tunnel, and the only way out is through. The belief in myself is what will get me there. Believe in electric guitar, and it will believe in you.
Sludgy noise superstars CHAT PILE have just sold out their Melbourne headline show & announced the supports for their first ever Australia and New Zealand tour for June 2026.
Fusing elements of post-punk, nu metal, grunge, they have earned a cult following for their eclectic take on what they simply deem ‘noise rock.’
The complete lineups for each show are very much in the same vein.
Joining Chat Pile in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland and Wellington is Kiwi sludge metal band BEASTWARS. The veteran group originally formed in the late 1980s and have abided by one steadfast maxim ever since: obey the riff.
Local supports will include Spacerhead (Perth), Hence Confetti (Sydney), Bentham’s Head (Melbourne), Slowcut (Brisbane) & Rocky’s Pride and Joy (Adelaide).
Having already sold out two shows at Hobart’s Dark Mofo Festival upon announce, the seven year old quartet has now sold out their headline show at Max Watts Melbourne. They will also play dates in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Auckland and Wellington, with tickets running low for Sydney & Wellington.
Formed in 2019, the band took their name from piles of chat, byproducts of mining which are commonly found throughout northeast Oklahoma. Their adopted stage names Raygun Busch, Luther Manhole, Stin and Cap’n Ron were conjured as a way of avoiding identification from previous employers.
Following the band’s self-released debut ‘This Dungeon Earth’, they were signed to The Flenser in 2020 and released their debut album ‘God’s Country’. The album received broad acclaim, including ‘Best New Music’ on Pitchfork.
Their second full-length record ‘Cool World’ was releasing in 2024. They went on to headline Roadburn Festival 2025 and tour extensively, earning a reputation for an incendiary live show.
Foxy Shazam have announced the support acts for their first ever headline Australian tour for June 2026 after releasing their latest critically acclaimed album Box Of Magic late last year. It marks the band’s first Australian shows in 15 years since performing at Soundwave Festival 2011.
Support for all shows comes from 80s glam revivalists BIG RED FIRE TRUCK, following their debut Japan and European tours, featuring pro wrestler Digby Robinson.
Local openers include WHITTS END (Brisbane), STARCRAZY (Sydney) & ABLAZE (Melbourne). Each known for their vivacious live performances, they complete a top to bottom lineup of enthralling rock n roll, glam, soul, indie, pop and more with loads of swagger.
FOXY SHAZAM have enjoyed a mammoth resurgence of late, performing sold out tours, with their track ‘Oh Lord’ featuring heavily in John Cena’s HBO Max show ‘Peacemaker’. Famed director and DC Comics head James Gunn not only chose the song to open each episode, but the show cumulates in a full Foxy Shazam live performance to close out the hit series’ second season.
Gunn, declaring that “Foxy Shazam are objectively the greatest rock and roll band in the world”, featured more of their music in last summer’s blockbuster movie ‘Superman’. He even tapped lead singer Eric Nally for a cameo and brought him on to help create the theme song for the fictitious DC Comics band of lore, The Mighty Crabjoys, unsurprisingly also featuring members of Foxy Shazam.
Formed in 2004 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the band quickly became known for their glam-infused stage theatrics, energetic live performances and swaggering rock and roll anthems. Their songs are flexible and performance-driven, with an emphasis on showmanship. By blending glam, funk, soul, and theatrical rock, the band became more than just a traditional rock act, earning the avid devotion of their loyal fans, and garnering comparisons from Alternative Press to Queen, My Chemical Romance and previous tour-mates and collaborators The Darkness.
The band’s current lineup consists of Eric Nally (lead vocals), Schuyler “Sky” White (keys), Alex Nauth (trumpet/backing vocals), Devin Williams (guitar), Misster Universe (bass), and Teddy Atkins (drums). Like fellow Cincinnatian Bootsy Collins and Bootsy’s Rubber Band, Foxy Shazam is, for all intents and purposes, a rock collective with multiple talented members, each with a distinct look and personality who contribute beyond standard, stereotypical roles.
Foxy Shazam’s Eric Nally was famously featured singing on the song and in the video for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ worldwide hit ‘Downtown,’ a song he also co-wrote. “Downtown” has surpassed 8x platinum sales in Australia alone, while topping the radio charts globally. Nally has joined Macklemore as a featured guest performer on three separate Australian tours, headlining multiple arenas and festivals.
Finally in 2026, Foxy Shazam will make dreams come true for Australian fans with their first shows back down under in 15 years.
Linkin Park in Hamburg: Emotionen, Energie und ein Stadion voller Erinnerungen
Volksparkstadion Hamburg, 1. Juni 2026
Manche Konzerte sind groß. Andere sind bedeutend. Und dann gibt es Abende wie diesen, an denen beides zusammenkommt. Als Linkin Park am 1. Juni 2026 die Bühne des Hamburger Volksparkstadions betreten, wird schnell klar, dass die Band auch nach mehr als 25 Jahren nichts von ihrer Anziehungskraft verloren hat. Rund 50.000 Fans je Abend feiern die Rückkehr einer der prägendsten Rockbands des 21. Jahrhunderts. Die „From Zero World Tour“ führt Linkin Park erneut nach Deutschland und Hamburg erlebt dabei einen Abend, der gleichermaßen von Nostalgie, Aufbruch und musikalischer Wucht geprägt ist.
Ein neues Kapitel mit vertrauter Energie
Seit dem tragischen Tod von Chester Bennington stand lange die Frage im Raum, ob und wie es mit Linkin Park weitergehen würde. Die Antwort liefert die Band seit ihrem Comeback eindrucksvoll auf den großen Bühnen der Welt. Mit Sängerin Emily Armstrong haben Mike Shinoda und seine Mitstreiter eine Frontfrau gefunden, die weder versucht, Chester zu kopieren, noch dessen Vermächtnis zu verdrängen. Wir haben im Rockcast mehrfach über die ReUnion und das neue Album gesprochen. Hammer, was dort produziert wurde. Und mal ehrlich: Emily ist eine Hammer-Sängerin der es gelingt, den Songs eine eigene Note zu geben und gleichzeitig den emotionalen Kern der Klassiker zu bewahren. Besonders bei „Crawling“, „Numb“, „Breaking The Habit“ und „In The End“ wird deutlich, wie stark die Verbindung zwischen Band und Publikum weiterhin ist.
Von „Hybrid Theory“ bis „From Zero“
Die Setlist schlägt gekonnt die Brücke zwischen Vergangenheit und Gegenwart. Früh im Konzert zünden Linkin Park mit „Lying From You“, „Crawling“ und „New Divide“ die ersten Highlights. Später folgen mit „Papercut“, „One Step Closer“, „Faint“ und „Bleed It Out“ weitere Hymnen, die das Stadion in einen riesigen Chor verwandeln. Gleichzeitig erhalten die Songs des aktuellen Albums „From Zero“ viel Raum. Titel wie „The Emptiness Machine“, „Up From The Bottom“ oder „Overflow“ fügen sich nahtlos in das Programm ein und zeigen, dass Linkin Park nicht von der Vergangenheit lebt, sondern weiterhin kreativ arbeitet. Nachfolgend ein offizieller Mitschnitt aus dem Konzert in Wembley.
Mike Shinoda als Herzstück der Show
Mike Shinoda führt mit sichtbarer Freude durch den Abend. Mal als Sänger, mal als Rapper, mal als Entertainer. Seine Kommunikation mit dem Publikum ist absolut locker und authentisch. Immer wieder bedankt er sich für die Unterstützung der Fans, die die Band auch durch die schwierigen Jahre getragen haben. Die Atmosphäre im Volksparkstadion ist dabei bemerkenswert. Vom Innenraum bis auf die obersten Ränge wird jede Zeile mitgesungen. Selbst in den ruhigeren Momenten bleibt die Spannung greifbar.
Eine Produktion auf Stadionniveau
Auch technisch liefert die Band eine Show auf höchstem Niveau. Riesige LED-Wände, eindrucksvolle Lichtinstallationen und ein druckvoller Sound sorgen dafür, dass die Musik in jeder Ecke des Stadions ankommt. Dabei verzichtet die Produktion auf übertriebene Effekte und stellt die Songs in den Mittelpunkt, bringt aber an der einen oder anderen Stelle mit Laser und durch´s Stadion fliegende Papierschnipsel immer wieder auch visuelle Überraschungen.
Genau das macht den Reiz des Abends aus. Linkin Park benötigen keine Showelemente, um zu überzeugen. Die Musik allein reicht aus, um Zehntausende Menschen in ihren Bann zu ziehen.
Die Setlist des Abends
Lying From You Crawling Up From the Bottom New Divide The Emptiness Machine The Catalyst Burn It Down Stained Where’d You Go Waiting for the End A Place for My Head Two Faced Empty Spaces When They Come for Me / Remember the Name Unshatter One Step Closer Lost Breaking the Habit Good Things Go What I’ve Done Overflow Over Each Other Numb In the End Faint
Zugabe:
Papercut Heavy Is the Crown Bleed It Out
Der zweite Hamburg-Abend bestätigt den Erfolg!
Wie groß die Nachfrage nach Linkin Park aktuell ist, zeigte bereits die Ankündigung des Zusatzkonzerts am 3. Juni. Nachdem der erste Termin enorme Resonanz ausgelöst hatte, strömten erneut um die 50.000 Fans ins Volksparkstadion. Der zweite Hamburg-Abend entwickelte sich ebenfalls zu einem vollen Erfolg und bestätigte eindrucksvoll, dass Linkin Park auch 2026 zu den größten Live-Acts der Rockwelt gehören. Zwei nahezu ausverkaufte Stadionkonzerte innerhalb weniger Tage sprechen eine deutliche Sprache, bevor die Band dann abrauschte um die Gigs bei Rock am Ring und Rock im Park zu spielen..
Fazit
Das Konzert am 1. Juni 2026 war weit mehr als eine weitere Station der „From Zero World Tour“. Es war der Beweis dafür, dass Linkin Park auch nach einem tiefen Einschnitt in ihrer Geschichte eine außergewöhnliche Live-Band geblieben sind.
Die Mischung aus Klassikern, neuen Songs, emotionalen Momenten und einer beeindruckenden Bühnenpräsenz machte den Abend zu einem der Konzert-Highlights des Jahres. Hamburg bekam nicht nur ein Konzert. Hamburg bekam ein Statement.
Linkin Park sind zurück. Und die Reaktion der Fans zeigt deutlich: Sie wurden nie wirklich vermisst, weil sie nie wirklich vergessen waren.
In meinen Augen eines der besten Konzerte der letzten Jahre. Sofern Du die Möglichkeit hast, unbedingt hingehen!
