Frog Fortress’ Hardcore Band is a punchy, tongue-in-cheek alt-rock/pop punk hybrid that blends crunchy guitars with irresistible hooks. Channeling the nerdy charm of Weezer, the track balances playful energy with tight, melodic songwriting. Beneath its lighthearted exterior lies a solid sense of structure, with driving rhythms and catchy vocal lines that stick instantly. There’s a nostalgic edge here, but it never feels dated—just comfortably familiar.
Hardcore Band thrives on its personality, delivering a fun, riff-heavy ride that doesn’t take itself too seriously while still hitting all the right notes.
Signal-23’s Pillars (Ambient) is a deeply immersive rework that trades rhythm for pure atmosphere, unfolding like a slow, weightless drift through sound. Built on expansive pads and shimmering reverb, the track creates a sense of suspension—timeless, almost meditative. Subtle shifts in texture and tone give it a cinematic quality, allowing emotion to emerge gradually rather than forcefully. There’s a quiet, spiritual undercurrent running throughout, as warmth builds in delicate layers.
It’s less about movement and more about presence—a beautifully restrained ambient piece that invites full surrender.
Lysne’s Venn Eller Fiende is a sharp-edged alt-rock cut infused with a catchy pop-punk flavor that adds urgency to its emotional core. Driven by gritty guitars and a punchy, hook-forward structure, the track balances tension with an infectious melodic edge. The bilingual delivery enhances its authenticity, grounding themes of betrayal and disillusionment in something both personal and relatable. Beneath its energetic surface lies a sense of confrontation and clarity, as trust unravels in real time.
It’s raw yet accessible and poppy—blending bite and catchiness into a compelling, replay-worthy release.
Simon Opp’s SAVE MY SOUL is a polished folky, pop-rock offering that leans into emotional urgency without losing its melodic appeal. Built around a steady, radio-friendly structure, the track gradually intensifies, leading to a standout final chorus that delivers on its promise. Opp’s vocals carry a sense of longing and inner conflict, giving weight to the song’s plea for redemption and connection. The production remains clean and accessible, allowing the lyrics to take center stage.
It’s a heartfelt, anthemic cut that balances vulnerability with mainstream sensibility, leaving a lasting impression.
Lex Legion — the new band featuring four of the five musicians from King Diamond’s classic late-‘80s lineup — have released the official video for debut single “Sleep Eternally,” directed by Patric Ullaeus. The group brings together Andy La Rocque (guitar), Pete Blakk (guitar), Hal Patino (bass), and Mikkey Dee (drums) — all of whom appeared together on King Diamond’s Them and Conspiracy albums — alongside vocalist Nils K. Rue of Pagan’s Mind.
La Rocque traced the band’s long origin in an interview with The Metal Crypt: “The story is kind of long because it started back in 2008 when Pete and I talked about maybe doing something together. Maybe just put together an album and start writing some songs. We started to write a few songs back in 2008. We had a few riffs here and there, and then it just turned into nothing because we were kind of busy with other things. Then, many years later, I think this was during the pandemic, Pete continued writing a few riffs, and he played some of the riffs and songs for Mikkey, who thought, ‘This sounds really good. I want to be a part of this.’ Then Pete said, ‘Yes, maybe we should ask Andy too, but I guess he’s too busy with King Diamond and everything.’”
“At the time, during the pandemic, nothing was really happening. They called me and asked me if I wanted to join that project. I said, ‘Sure, man. We’re doing nothing really with King Diamond because we have a pandemic now, and let’s do it.’ During that time, we put together a few more songs, and that’s how it started. Then Hal Patino was also asked during that period. It took us about — I don’t know — many years. If you count it from 2008 up until now, that’s many years. For the final maybe three or four years, we put everything together. In the very end, everything went quite fast. We got a record deal, and everything was really smooth in the very end.”
La Rocque was emphatic about keeping Lex Legion distinct from his other band: “The response has been absolutely overwhelming. I also think it’s important to say here that the songs we write and the songs from my side of it, it’s nothing that — it’s no leftovers from the King Diamond songwriting, if you know what I mean, from the library I have with King Diamond. This is completely different and has nothing to do with King Diamond in that sense. King Diamond is King Diamond, and I write songs for King Diamond, and then I write songs for Lex Legion. I don’t want people to believe that, oh, he has some songs that were intended for King Diamond that he’s using here. No, not at all. It’s not the other way around, either. It’s two very different and separate things.”
A second single, “Gypsy Tears,” is due in May. On the choice of “Sleep Eternally” as the debut, La Rocque said the label and band aligned on the selection, and that listeners who’ve already heard the follow-up have called it even stronger: “People who have heard that say, ‘No, I like the second one even better.’”
La Rocque has described the sound this way: “This is totally unique. No one is writing this kind of music, and there’s a big hole for us to fill. The album is a journey, and every song is like the beat of a movie. I want listeners to travel back. The song style is different [to King Diamond] but still from the same era. The riffs are different, and the arrangements are a little less progressive and a little more straightforward.”
The self-titled Lex Legion debut arrives June 2026 via MNRK Music Group.
Thoran James’ Maribel is a slow-building, emotionally charged centerpiece that blends folk intimacy with indie electronic depth. Rooted in a delicate, narrative-driven core, the track gradually expands, layering subtle textures that mirror the weight of its story—love, separation, and difficult choices. James’ vocals feel fragile yet resolute, carrying the emotional tension with quiet intensity. As the song unfolds, anticipation builds steadily, culminating in a powerful, cathartic release around its final stretch.
It’s cinematic without excess, heartfelt without sentimentality—a beautifully paced journey that lingers well beyond its closing moments.
Six Feet Under have released a music video for “Mister Blood And Guts,” a track from their fifteenth album Next To Die, out now on Metal Blade Records.
Jack Owen explained the concept: “When I was young, local TV stations always had a show where a creepy host would show campy cult movies and dress up and tell you tidbits about the film. This continues today with a show hosted by the creepiest of hosts, Svengoolie. ‘Mister Blood And Guts’ is about a film you might see on one of these shows, albeit with a much more violent plot. Our villain is a black-clad, caped phantom with a top hat who attacks unsuspecting moviegoers, leaving the aisles filled with blood and the seats filled with heads! This is another song that I wrote the music for after having the lyrics in my head for a few days.”
Next To Die — the band’s fifteenth album since 1995’s Haunted — is structured across two halves: “Death” and “Groove.” The record was produced by Owen and vocalist Chris Barnes, mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis at MRL Studios in Nashville, with cover art by Sandy Rezalmi. Barnes recorded his vocals at Criteria Recording Studios in Miami, where he’s tracked 90% of his Six Feet Under work.
Six Feet Under will return to European stages this June with support from Embryonic Autopsy. In July, the band will kick off a North American headlining tour with support from Kataklysm and Wormhole.
The band’s current line-up is made of Chris Barnes (vocals), Jack Owen (guitar), Ray Suhy (lead guitar), Jeff Hughell (bass), Marco Pitruzzella (drums).
Accept are marking 50 years in metal with an album that pulls together half a century’s worth of the genre’s heaviest names. Teutonic Titans 1976–2026 arrives September 4 via Napalm Records, featuring 50 guest performers across 19 reimagined versions of classic Accept tracks.
Guitarist Wolf Hoffmann commented, “There is no better way to celebrate this 50-year anniversary than to have our musical peers, friends, and inspirations come together with us to record these classic Accept songs, which I am honored and proud to share with the world. I hope everyone enjoys this very special record as much as we all enjoyed making it.”
Chronologically progressing through albums from their formative years, from I’m a Rebel(1980) toEat the Heat (1989), Accept present their songs with an all-new, all-star lineup, alongside the signature voice of Mark Tornillo and Wolf Hoffmann‘s unmistakable riffs. By enlisting a Who’s Who of metal, no two songs on Teutonic Titans 1976-2026 are the same. Every track features a different combination of vocals, guitars, bass, and drums, giving each classic a fresh edge.
The guest list is extensive. Rob Halford of Judas Priest delivers a commanding performance on “Balls To The Wall,” joined by Matthias Jabs of Scorpions on guitar. Philip Anselmo of Pantera, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, and Mikkey Dee of Scorpions tear through “Fast As A Shark.” Tobias Forge of Ghost handles “Save Us” alongside Ray Luzier on drums. “Love Child” features Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins and David Ellefson of Megadeth.
Further guests include K.K. Downing (Judas Priest), Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth (Overkill), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), Chris Jericho (Fozzy), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big), Ola Englund (The Haunted), and Jeff Loomis (Nevermore). A re-recording of “Hellhammer” features the current Accept lineup — Hoffmann, bassist Martin Motnik, guitarist Philip Shouse, and drummer Christopher Williams — joined by Jason McMaster of Dangerous Toys on vocals.
The album moves chronologically through the catalog from 1980 to 1989, with no two tracks sharing the same lineup. Full track listing:
Fast As A Shark
Balls To The Wall
Aiming High
Run If You Can
Hellhammer
Metal Heart
Losers And Winners
Save Us
Up To The Limit
Wrong Is Right
Starlight
Fight It Back
Love Child
Breaker
Demon’s Night
T.V. War
London Leatherboys
Monsterman
Restless And Wild
Mark Tornillo joined Accept in 2009 as the replacement for founding vocalist Udo Dirkschneider and is now the band’s longest-serving frontman. The Hoffmann–Tornillo partnership has produced six studio albums together.
Stefan J. Selbert’s Scrub Jays is a loose, off-kilter indie folk cut that thrives on its unpolished charm. There’s a playful unpredictability in the arrangement, especially in its “wonky” shifts, giving the track a DIY spirit that feels refreshingly unfiltered. Guitars carry a slightly warped edge—likely enhanced by that accidental signal-chain twist—adding character rather than flaw. Beneath the quirks lies a laid-back, sunbaked vibe that hints at wide-open spaces and casual storytelling. It’s rough around the edges in the best way, turning imperfections into personality and spontaneity into its main appeal.
“Demonic Depression” has reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart, giving Volbeat their 13th chart-topper and extending their own record for the most No. 1s on that chart by any act originating outside of North America. The Danish band is now tied sixth overall alongside Van Halen, Godsmack, Disturbed, Linkin Park, and Papa Roach.
“Demonic Depression” is the third No. 1 from Volbeat‘s ninth album, God Of Angels Trust (June 2025), following “By A Monster’s Hand” and “Time Will Heal.” The band first set the non-North American record in March 2020 with “Die To Live” (featuring Neil Fallon of Clutch), which was their eighth No. 1 at the time.
“The Hangman’s Body Count” (Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies)
“Lola Montez” (Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies)
“The Devil’s Bleeding Crown” (Seal The Deal & Let’s Boogie)
“Black Rose (feat. Danko Jones)” (Seal The Deal & Let’s Boogie)
“Last Day Under The Sun” (Rewind, Replay, Rebound)
“Die To Live (feat. Neil Fallon)” (Rewind, Replay, Rebound)
“Wait A Minute My Girl” (Servant of the Mind)
“Shotgun Blues” (Servant of the Mind)
“By A Monster’s Hand” (God Of Angels Trust)
“Time Will Heal” (God Of Angels Trust)
Volbeat have accumulated more than 145 gold and platinum certifications worldwide and hold a Grammy nomination for “Best Metal Performance” for “Room 24” (featuring King Diamond). The band — Michael Poulsen (vocals/guitar), Jon Larsen (drums), Kaspar Boye Larsen (bass), and Flemming C Lund (lead guitar) — will soon kick off the fourth leg of the “Greatest Of All Tours Worldwide” across Europe.
