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Saxon is back with a new full-length, and this one leans hard into myth and legend. Gods Of Thunder, the British metal veterans’ 25th studio album, pulls from history, fantasy, horror, ancient mythology and pagan ritual, all wrapped in the band’s trademark rock ‘n’ roll swagger. The record lands via Silver Lining Music on January 22, 2027.

Leading the charge is the title track, out today, an anthemic dive into Celtic mythology.

Saxon frontman Biff Byford had this to say about the new single: “‘Gods Of Thunder’ is a mighty tale of Celtic mythology, packed with the spirit and power of true heavy metal. Turn it up and bang your head!”

Byford produced the album himself, with mixing duties handled by longtime Saxon collaborator and Judas Priest touring guitarist Andy Sneap. The result finds the band operating at peak form, pairing muscular performances with the kind of detailed storytelling Saxon has built a career on. Driving bass and drums, blistering guitar work and Byford‘s instantly recognizable vocals combine into a wall of pure British metal that spans past, present and future. One of the hardest-touring live bands in the genre has brought that same firepower into the studio, delivering what amounts to a career-spanning statement. Every song carries the weight, dynamics and layered arrangement that have defined Saxon‘s sound for decades, and the record holds together as a focused, purposeful whole.

“We had great fun making this album,” says Biff. “This is gonna be one to beat!”

History has always fueled Byford‘s songwriting, and that’s on full display here, with ten tracks bringing figures and moments from the past to life. “The Bloody Tower (The Ballad Of Anne Boleyn)” tackles the fraught execution of Anne Boleyn, while “Medusa” turns toward mythology, built around a tight, hypnotic riff and a relentless tempo. “Remember The Alamo” barrels forward with the kind of fast, urgent energy that recalls early ’80s NWOBHM. Guitarists Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler trade riffs throughout, especially on “Temple Of Rock,” anchored by the rhythm section of Nigel Glockler and Tim “Nibbs” Carter. The record wraps with “MI5,” a headbanger built around the Berlin Wall and Cold War-era espionage.

With the single out and the album on the horizon, tickets for Saxon‘s upcoming U.K. dates are moving quickly. Shows will mix new material with the catalog staples that have kept the band a live force for generations, and more dates on the Gods Of Thunder world tour are expected to follow.

Gods Of Thunder will be available across vinyl variants, CD, bundle packages and digital formats.

The album follows up Hell, Fire And Damnation, which Saxon released via Silver Lining Music in January 2024.

Last October, Byford posted a video update confirming he’d finished his final round of chemotherapy in his fight against bowel cancer.

Biff had initially shared a video message in August 2025 suggesting he’d had surgery to remove “a small tumor” from his “prostate gland,” later clarifying that the actual diagnosis was bowel cancer, a cancer occurring anywhere in the large bowel, including the colon and rectum. He underwent a short course of chemotherapy afterward, which led to the cancelation of a couple of shows and the postponement of several more.

Earlier in 2025, Saxon had already scrapped 10 summer shows and festival dates while Byford recovered from the cancer surgery.

Hailing from South Yorkshire, England, Saxon has sold roughly 23 million albums over its career and built a catalog that includes staples like “Denim And Leather,” “Princess Of The Night,” “Wheels Of Steel” and “Power And Glory.”

The post SAXON Reveals 25th Studio Album, “Gods Of Thunder” & Turns Up The Volume With New Title Track appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Drawing from metal’s perennial fantasy touchstone—Lord of the Rings—with the genre’s new favorite fantasy—the Fromsoftware game catalog¹—Fog Wall make their independent death metal debut with Gloomweaver. Formed by two lifelong friends and Sandvvitch bandmates, vocalist Zak Brady and vocalist/bassist/overall-sound-guy Alex Malmquist (ex-Warbringer) wove Gloomweaver out of “their love of crushing evil riffs and heavy bass tones,” a fondness I’m sure is common among the greater AMG readership. Joined by guitarist Shagrat “Quincy” Gorbag and drummer Logan Griggs, Fog Wall aim to whip up heck with this passion project. But is this a passing thing, Gloomweaver, or does its soul have the strength to keep the fire lit?

If you decide to step through the Fog Wall, you’d best steel yourself; Gloomweaver hits hard and sticks deep. Striking with the old-school grit of Morbid Angel, muscle and immediacy of The Black Dahlia Murder, and the snarling ferocity of Necropanther, Fog Wall punch well above their weight. Many of Gloomweaver’s riffs feel irresponsible. The neanderthalic, brown-noted bulldozer grooves of “Knife, Sting, Tooth,” “Mazarbul (Desolation),” and “Manor of Ensnarement” tap into a primal need for heavy things to hit other heavy things. When “Fleshpot Ritual” hits its breakdown or “Frantic Orb Wielder” reaches its post-sample groove,² heads will roll. Brady and Malmquist’s vocals make for a slobbering two-headed beast, wetly belching screams, gurgles, and growls matched in savagery only by Malmquist’s grotesque, capital-PH PHat bass wreaking havoc across Gloomweaver. Fog Wall is a band that just gets the minutiae of what makes death metal devastating, and are poised to use said minutiae to rip new ones with great urgency via Gloomweaver.

Fog Wall are no mere conjurors of cheap brutality, but come armed with plentiful eccentricity. There’s a blackened edge to Fog Wall—see the twin tremolos of “The Accursed” or the icy synths and blast-beated turn in “Strangling Gloom”—lending a density and sinister bent that’s supercharged by their superb death metal heft. But more surprisingly, the sleazy swing of Type O Negative manifests in musty doom riffing on “Manor of Ensnarement,” muscular group vocal “hoo”s on “Fleshpot Ritual,” and—no duh—the entirety of the Type O cover “The Profit of Doom (Medley).” Gloomweaver can verge into tech-death on speedy, tweedily-dweedily cuts like “Mazarbul (Desolation)” and “Frantic Orb Wielder,” and their Necropantheresque snarl lends a thrashy bite to everything.³ Finally, Fog Wall know how to sample. Clips from the LotR movie trilogy and Fromsoftware games briefly and succinctly establish setting and tone (“Manor of Ensnarement,” “Traverse”) and cue mid-song shifts with serious aplomb [“Mazarbul (Desolation),” “Frantic Orb Wielder”] bolstering Gloomweaver as an artful and thematically rich record as well as a delightfully heavy one.

Fog Wall’s songwriting is tight and thoughtful, but it’s not without its hiccups. Gloomweaver is a well-edited record, with every song focused and impactful and nothing running unbearably long. They even cut “The Profit of Doom (Medley)” almost in half from its original runtime. More importantly, nothing’s cut too short either, as even quick cuts like “Frantic Orb Wielder” and “Strangling Gloom” sound full and fully realized. But both “The Accursed” and “Belching Black Vapors” start strong and somewhat lose steam by the end, with the former lacking as many twists as usual and the latter seemingly entering into its ending phase halfway through. Gloomweaver’s weakest moment unfortunately comes with its finale in “Traverse,” where its slower pace loses much of the album’s previous vitality, and a tastefully doomy bass line and name-dropping “FOG WALL” chorus can’t bring the fire back as hot as on prior tracks. These few pacing issues are worth noting, though in no way do they detract from Fog Wall’s electrifying presence and smartly-written tunes.

Gloomweaver is fire. A gross display of joyously seething deathly goodness, Fog Wall killed it with their debut. Like the stories of their fantasy inspirations, the ordeal of any independent artistic process is long, tiresome, and uphill; this bunch of chums made it look effortless. If you like death metal, you probably like this album. Not all who wander are lost, but if Gloomweaver isn’t where you’re headed, then get it together, step through the Fog Wall, and let them take you to a cold, dark, and decidedly ungentle place today.⁴

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Rating: Great!
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps MP3
Label: Self-Release
Website: fogwallnv.bandcamp.com | facebook.com
Releases Worldwide: September 4th, 2026

The post Fog Wall – Gloomweaver Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.

Troye Sivan released the original version of his song “Easy” on his In A Dream EP way back in 2020. Later that year, he and Kacey Musgraves dropped a revamped version of that song, produced by Mark Ronson. Sivan and Musgraves have evidently been buds for a while, and they had already duetted on Musgraves’ 2019 Amazon Prime Christmas special. But they’d never performed “Easy” live together until last night.

The post Watch Kacey Musgraves & Troye Sivan Perform Their Mark Ronson Collab “Easy” Live For The First Time appeared first on Stereogum.

The ferocious, shapeshifting Vancouver punk band PISS signed to Sub Pop in the spring, and now they’re ready to roll out their first album for the vaunted PNW label. The day before Halloween, Sub Pop (and Paper Bag Records in Canada) will put out you made me / skin on linen. They’re introducing it with “time loop at hot slit,” a frantic outburst about growing up amidst systemic violence that reportedly has emerged as an anthem within the band’s local scene.

The post PISS Announce New Album <em>you made me / skin on linen</em>: Hear “time loop at hot slit” appeared first on Stereogum.

Welsh rock band Scarlet Rebels have announced their first headline tour in three years, with the 2027 UK run kicking off on 11 February. The announcement comes alongside the release of their brand-new single and video, ‘Chains’, the third track to be taken from their forthcoming album ‘Flawed By Design‘, due for release on November […]

The post Scarlet Rebels Announce 2027 Tour & Release New Single & Video ‘Chains’ appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM.

Kai Hansen has dropped the third single from his upcoming solo record Born With A Hammer, and “Wait And See” marks a noticeable shift in tone. Where the previous cut, “Welcome To Life,” leaned into speed and loose, rock ‘n’ roll swagger, this new track digs into the album’s heavier terrain, landing darker, tighter, and considerably more intense.

The song rides on sharp riffing and a rhythm section that never lets up, with a faint electronic pulse humming underneath the whole thing. That touch of electronics doesn’t dull the weight of the track, it just gives it a slightly more modern, restless edge. Once the chorus kicks in, it’s classic Hansen: a blend of power, hook and bite that’s defined his songwriting for decades.

What really sells “Wait And See” is how unforced it sounds. Hansen isn’t chasing nostalgia or trying to prove he’s still got it. The riffs, the electronic flourishes and the sheer directness of the performance all come across as instinctive rather than calculated. He’s not just capable of this kind of intensity, he’s clearly still hungry for it.

That’s what gives the track its edge within the record: it’s one of the harder, more aggressive moments on Born With A Hammer, yet the shifting textures, electronic accents and melodic backbone keep it from ever flattening into one dimension.

Alongside the single, Hansen has released a video shot during a trip to Slovakia. Ditching the usual stage footage, it catches him behind the wheel of a Mustang, cruising through the countryside and putting in time at the studio, a rare look at the person off the concert riser.

Born With A Hammer pulls together every angle of Hansen‘s musical identity across 10 tracks, raw and rebellious in equal measure. The record swings between heavy metal muscle, punk energy, hard rock swagger, melodic hooks and pure guitar firepower, all anchored by the songwriting instincts and unmistakable voice that have made Kai Hansen one of metal’s most recognizable figures. Built without compromise and driven by an unfiltered love of heavy music, the album finds Hansen operating at full strength: direct, alive and thoroughly metal.

Eike Freese produced the record and also plays guitar in the backing band, which brings serious pedigree to the sessions. Alexander Dietz of Heaven Shall Burn handles guitar duties alongside Freese, while Dan Wilding of Carcass sits behind the kit, both having already worked with Hansen on XXX – Three Decades In Metal. Tim Hansenof Induction rounds out the guitar section.

The album arrives on the heels of Helloween‘s reunion era and the world touring that came with it, opening a new chapter for Kai Hansen as a solo artist while carrying that same momentum into a record built to stand on its own.

Born in Hamburg, West Germany, in 1963, Hansen first made a name for himself as a founding member of power metal pioneers Helloween. His career began in 1978 when he teamed up with future Iron Saviour co-founder and producer Piet Sielck in the band Gentry. He went on to co-found Helloween in 1983 with guitarist Michael Weikath, staying with the band until 1989 and contributing to one EP and three studio albums, among them the genre-defining Keeper Of The Seven Keys parts 1 and 2. After leaving Helloween, he launched Gamma Ray, which went on to become one of German metal’s most consistently active bands. Along the way, he’s shared stages and studios with the likes of Blind Guardian, Angra, former Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske, Hammerfall, Storm Warrior and Unisonic. Hansen rejoined Helloween in 2016 and has since returned to the world’s biggest stages, with Born With A Hammer now showing another side of his creative range.

The post HELLOWEEN Icon KAI HANSEN Drops Darker, Heavier Cut From Solo Album “Born With A Hammer” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

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Independent artists and touring acts are discovering that cracking the social algorithm requires far more than dropping Spotify links into a bio; learning how musicians can get more followers on Instagram demands a calculated mix of raw behind-the-scenes storytelling, optimized video clips, and high-conversion fan acquisition.

Instagram gives musicians more than a place to promote new releases. It allows them to introduce their personalities, share their creative process, and build lasting connections with listeners. However, gaining followers requires more than occasionally uploading a song clip. Musicians need a consistent strategy that turns casual viewers into engaged fans.

Create a Recognizable Artist Profile

A strong profile should immediately communicate who the artist is and what kind of music they create. Musicians should use a clear profile image, write a concise biography, and include a link to their latest release, website, or streaming page.

The visual identity should also remain consistent. Similar colors, fonts, photography styles, and graphics can make an account easier to recognize. When someone discovers a Reel and visits the profile, the overall presentation should feel professional and connected to the artist’s sound.

Share More Than Finished Songs

Constantly asking followers to stream a song can make an account feel overly promotional. Instead, musicians should create content that gives audiences a closer look at the person and process behind the music.

Recording sessions, songwriting ideas, rehearsals, tour preparation, equipment demonstrations, and stories about particular lyrics can all become engaging posts. Artists can also share acoustic performances, alternate versions of songs, or unfinished demos. This type of content gives followers something valuable while strengthening their connection to the artist. Along with that, you can buy followers on instagram that are engaged with your content & make it go viral with high ration engagement.

Use Reels to Reach New Listeners

Reels are particularly useful for reaching people who do not already follow an account. A musician can turn the strongest section of a song into several short videos instead of relying on a single promotional post. One Reel might show a live performance, while another explains the meaning behind the lyrics.

The same track could also support a studio clip, a humorous video, or a fan-created trend. Testing different formats helps musicians discover which presentation attracts the most attention. The opening seconds matter. Each video should begin with an interesting visual, lyric, statement, or question that gives viewers a reason to continue watching.

Post Consistently Without Sacrificing Quality

Musicians do not need to publish several times every day, but long periods of inactivity can slow growth. A realistic schedule of several weekly posts is usually more sustainable than uploading frequently for a short period and then disappearing.

Content can be planned in batches to reduce pressure. One rehearsal or studio session may produce multiple Reels, photographs, Stories, and behind-the-scenes clips. This approach helps artists remain visible without allowing Instagram to interfere with their music.

Collaborate With Other Creators

Collaboration can introduce an artist to an established and relevant audience. Musicians can work with other performers, producers, dancers, videographers, music reviewers, or lifestyle creators whose followers may appreciate their sound.

Instagram’s collaboration feature allows one post to appear on multiple profiles, increasing its potential reach. The partnership should still feel natural. A smaller creator with an active, music-focused community may provide better results than a large but unrelated account.

Turn Followers Into a Community

Audience growth depends on interaction, not only exposure. Musicians should respond to thoughtful comments, acknowledge fan posts, ask questions through Stories, and invite followers to participate in decisions.

Fans might vote on cover artwork, choose between two song previews, or suggest tracks for an acoustic performance. When followers feel included in an artist’s journey, they are more likely to comment, share releases, and recommend the account to others.

Review Performance and Keep Adapting

Instagram Insights can reveal which posts generate the most reach, profile visits, shares, saves, and follows. Musicians should use this information to identify patterns and refine their strategy.

Growing an audience takes time, but steady progress is possible. By combining memorable music with consistent content, genuine interaction, and smart collaboration, musicians can build an Instagram following that supports their wider career.

The post How Musicians Can Get More Followers on Instagram to Explode Their Fanbase Overnight appeared first on Loaded Radio.

Nothing is more fulfilling than rolling down the windows, feeling that summer breeze, and escaping down an open highway. In a world filled with traffic and chaos, finding a roadway where you can put the pedal to the metal is wonderful. What tops it all off are some great tunes that help you relax and feel alive. We all know how it feels to drive down a beautiful stretch of road without any traffic and listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd on the radio. Remember the days when we made mixtapes to pop into that 8-track or cassette deck? There was nothing

The post Top 10 Classic Rock Songs About The Open Road appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

Review: Michael Bormann’s Jaded Hard – South West RMB Records – October 2nd, 2026 Reviewer – Jason Hopper Michael Bormann’s Jaded Hard is back with their third album ‘South West‘. Being a fan of his since the late 90s, I always look forward to hearing his voice on anything, having recently been pleased with his contributions […]

The post Review: Michael Bormann’s Jaded Hard – South West appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SIX STRING REVOLVER Unleashes Hard-Hitting New Single and Video “Sick Mind”
Southern Utah Hard Rock Powerhouse Takes a Stand Against Internet Predators With an Unapologetic New Anthem

HURRICANE, UT – August 25, 2026 – American hard rock powerhouse SIX STRING REVOLVER is turning up the volume and shining a light into some of the darkest corners of the internet with the release of their powerful new single and video, “Sick Mind,” available now via Ragebreed Records and Earache Digital Distribution .
Released August 21, “Sick Mind” is more than another hard rock anthem. It is a direct confrontation of internet predators and sexual deviants who hide behind screens while exploiting vulnerable people. With its heavy riffs, thunderous groove, commanding vocals, and unapologetic message, SIX STRING REVOLVER delivers a song designed not only to make listeners move, but to make them pay attention.


“Sick Mind” is a statement song confronting internet predators and sexual deviants who hide behind screens to exploit others. This song was written to expose the predators who perpetrate these heinous acts and to shine a light into some of the darkest corners of the internet.


The band continues:


“When we witness evil in this world, we believe we have a responsibility to speak up and expose it. Six String Revolver will never hesitate to stand against abuse, exploitation, or those who prey upon the innocent.”


Musically, “Sick Mind” captures everything SIX STRING REVOLVER stands for: loud guitars, honest lyrics, massive grooves, and the kind of hard rock attitude that refuses to disappear. The band combines classic rock swagger with modern intensity, creating a sound that feels equally at home blasting from a stage or through a pair of headphones.
The track was produced by Peggy Foster and Robert Cantu and mixed by Tom Chandler at Elite Studios in Hollywood, California .
A HARD ROCK FORCE BUILT ON EXPERIENCE

Based in Hurricane, Utah, SIX STRING REVOLVER has quickly established itself as a Southern Utah hard rock force built on grit, soul, musicianship, and an old-school commitment to putting on a killer rock show.
At the front of the band is Raven Cain , whose life story and musical career have shaped him into the charismatic driving force behind SIX STRING REVOLVER. A vocalist, occasional guitarist, songwriter, and veteran touring musician, Cain has performed alongside major acts including Henry Rollins, L.A. Guns, Sevendust, Ratt, Saliva, Faster Pussycat, BulletBoys, and Hed PE .
Cain’s career has also included work with major labels including Universal Music Group, multiple #1 hits on the 365 Music Charts, and appearances as the subject of books, television programs, and educational films. His soulful delivery and introspective, hard-hitting songwriting provide the emotional core of SIX STRING REVOLVER.
On lead guitar, Hawkeye Pearce brings years of experience, technical firepower, and arena-sized melodic instincts to the band. Pearce has opened for legendary artists including Alice Cooper, Sammy Hagar, Great White, Nazareth, and Rick Derringer , while also performing with a Las Vegas Best Entertainer-nominated act.
Bill “Ash” Dent anchors the low end with a combination of precision, power, and decades of experience as a bassist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, session musician, and audio engineer. His massive grooves provide the foundation for the band’s relentless sound.
Behind the kit is Robert “Monster” Cantu , a high-octane drummer whose influences range from John Bonham, Buddy Rich, and Peter Criss to modern masters Mike Mangini and Matt Garstka. A veteran of venues including the Whisky a Go Go, The Troubadour, The Roxy, and Galaxy Theatre, Cantu has toured extensively and shared bills with King’s X, Fates Warning, and George Lynch .
Together, these four seasoned musicians have created a band that is less interested in following trends and more interested in keeping real rock music alive.
SIX STRING REVOLVER doesn’t follow trends. They load the chamber, pull the trigger, and let the music speak.
For Fans Of:

Shinedown, Godsmack, Saving Abel
“Sick Mind” Is Available Now


Listen / Watch / Follow SIX STRING REVOLVER:
https://linktr.ee/sixstringrevolver

Connect With SIX STRING REVOLVER

https://linktr.ee/sixstringrevolver
Band: SIX STRING REVOLVER
Genre: Hard Rock
Label: Ragebreed Records
Digital Distribution: Earache Digital Distribution
Management: Karina Sher
Contact: Raven Cain
Email: kaiso@ravenselfdefense.com
Media & Booking:
zach@metaldevastationradio.net