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French heavy metal band Sins of Shadows set to release their third album – The Last Frontier – on 5 May 2026. Guitarist Nicolas Jacon messaged me to ask if I’d be interested in reviewing the album and kindly sent it to me along with some background information about the band. Being the type of […]

The post Sins of Shadows: The Last Frontier Review first appeared on New Wave of British Heavy Metal.

Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien shares a visualiser for the title track of his new album Blue Morpho as he puts his full name to a solo album for the first time

It’s always the same, isn’t it? You wait fifteen years for a band to release a record and then two turn up at once. After last year’s stunning comeback record, it’s time to hop aboard the Mclusky bus for their new EP – ‘I Sure Am Getting Sick Of This Bowling Alley’. It’s quite a ride.

Last year’s ‘The World Is Still Here And So Are We’ came as a surprise. It was fresh, focused, stunningly produced and better than anyone could have hoped for; especially from a band who aren’t exactly spring chickens. This new EP is precisely none of these things. It’s strange, noisy, intimate and every bit as sprawling as its title. Yet, it’s easy to recommend. So, what gives?

If you haven’t sampled Mcluksy before then this probably isn’t where to start. Although their last album was relatively straightforward, the approach here is best described as ‘weird’. All five songs are abrasive and off-putting in all kinds of ways, but they’re interesting ways. It’s shot through with panache – the flair that has you humming the repeating chorus: ‘In the piranha was another piranha’, long after hearing it, despite it seeming so off-kilter and odd. To understand why, we have to talk about Andrew Falkous. As a vocalist and lead songwriter, his choices define Mcluksy’s sound, approach and sense of humour, all of which are distinctive. Without a doubt, he is both an artist and a self-sabotaging genius who expresses himself though music. In Mclusky, he is accompanied by bassist Damien Sayell and drummer Jack Eggleston, who also share this affliction. If ‘The World Is Still Here And So Are We’ proved they could still make great music, this EP proves they still have no interest in compromise. And this is what makes it so good.

In many ways the EP has more in common with Falkous’ solo work, released under the moniker Christian Fitness. As a sort of ‘subscriber-only’ project with no need to write singles or play shows, he was able to sing honest and intimate songs, as well as explore unsettling soundscapes that literally prompt nightmares. That’s what is happening here, even when it’s abstract. Singing the title of ‘This Is My Brain On Elves’ over a badly strung guitar is haunting and weirdly honest. Indeed each song is striking, peculiar and built upon interesting ideas. ‘I Know Computer’ is not powered by a wandering bassline, but a scuttling one. It moves around in strange circles, dipping in and out, and pinching like a lobster at a picnic. The guitars on ‘As A Dad’ are scratchy and insistent, as if desperate to intrude upon the vocals. The softer, less abrasive ‘Hi! We’re On Strike’ buzzes like a piece of tracing paper wrapped around a comb, only for it to contort into a machine driven by pistons. Every choice is vivid; every song brilliant.

It’s a tough sell unless you’re already on Mcluksy’s wavelength. But ‘I Sure Am Getting Sick Of This Bowling Alley’ is a slice of unhinged genius.

IAN KENWORTHY

Genre-bending duo Lakeview have shared latest single ‘Matches’, a fiery country-rock ode to revenge.

After making history as the first country act ever to perform at Germany’s iconic metal festival Wacken Open Air in 2025, the new single comes ahead of Lakeview’s headline European tour this June – which includes a stop off at Download Festival.

Add to that the fact that they’ve also recently been announced to play the Orlando and Long Beach dates of Warped Tour, and it’s clear that 2026 is gearing up to be huge for the pair.

A defiant anthem that showcases Lakeview’s penchant for gritty storytelling and hard-hitting singalongs, take a listen to ‘Matches’ below:

Set to bring their unique blend of metal, pop, and country back to Europe again this summer, here’s what the band had to say about the news:

“This is the biggest international tour we’ve ever done and we’re stoked! We’re playing some of our favourite cities and a few new ones we’ve never been to before. We’re working on a brand new show with new music mixed in. This will be a level up from what we’ve been able to do the past couple of years.” 

Check out the dates below:

JUNE
5: OSLO John Dee
6: GOTHENBURG Sweden Rock Festival *
8: DUBLIN Grand Social
9: BELFAST The Limelight 2
11: GLASGOW King Tut’s
12: DONINGTON Download Festival *
13: LONDON 229
14: BRISTOL Exchange
16: ZURICH Exil Club
17: COLOGNE Club Volta
18: DESSEL Graspop *
20: NATZ Alpen Flair Festival *
21: MUNICH Ampere

* Festival appearance

The post Lakeview Share Fiery New Track ‘Matches’ appeared first on Rock Sound.

Although it was a Sunday night, that did not stop Toronto rock music fans from making their way down to The Danforth Music Hall for a night of live music. Eagerly lined up outside under the marquee on a beautiful March evening, keen fans were hoping to grab the perfect spot at the front of the stage for Mammoth, 10 Years and James And The Cold Gun.

Mammoth – 10 Years – James And The Cold Gun

Danforth Music Hall, Toronto – 8 March 2026

Words And Photography: Taylor Cameron

Closing out the night were none other than Wolfgang Van Halen’s Mammoth, the moment the crowd had been all waiting for. An eruption of cheers echoed throughout the venue as Van Halen and his band of uber-talented musicians took the stage.

One Of A Kind, the opening track from the band’s latest release, The End, started off the set strongly. Warm coloured lightning lit up the stage, and a giant screen hung in the background, graphics customised to each song played in tandem with the band.

Bringing a real arena rock feel to the show that took place in a theatre, Wolfgang knew how to make a small room feel big.

Playing a plethora of tracks from the new album that translated seamlessly to the live stage, the crowd sang along to every word. From The Spell and Happy, to Something New and I Really Wanna, the set was curated perfectly to keep the audience’s attention in their grasp.

From heavy moments that rattled the walls to soft moments that were emotional enough to raise goosebumps, a Mammoth show is one that is always worth catching. 

Although being a musician himself, Wolfgang is known for being a huge music fan. Taking inspiration from Nine Inch Nails, Wolfie stepped over to the keyboard for a reworked intro to their track Stone, adding a fun sense of dimension to the music.

A crowd favourite of the night was Resolve, an acoustic-driven alternative ballad off Mammoth’s debut album. This is a track that the band has brought back into the set in the last year.

Keeping the mood tender, Distance followed, a song written in dedication to Wolfgang’s late-great father, Eddie Van Halen. Old home movies of the pair played on the screen behind him, evoking intense emotion from the crowd. I am sure there were not many dry eyes left in the room.

Take A Bow, which included the intro from Tool’s Right In Two, and I Really Wanna closed out the set on an incredible high, leaving the crowd hungry for more.

“Mammoth” was repeated like a chant throughout the audience, not ready for the show to end just yet.

Emerging from the darkness, the band stepped back onstage. “We did the thing,” Wolfgang laughed into the mic, “where we pretend it’s over, but you know it’s not because we didn’t play the song yet. It’s like peekaboo.” 

Encoring with Don’t Back Down and The End, the band left everything on the stage. Wolfgang channelled his father with an incredible tapping intro and solo that had the crowd roaring in cheers during The End.

A perfect way to close out an incredible night of live music. 

James And The Cold Gun

Kicking off the show were a band hailing from Wales, England, James And The Cold Gun. Setting the bar incredibly high for the night, they took the stage like a bat out of hell.

High energy oozed from the stage, the crowd hyped within minutes. With a vintage hard rock sound and a British punk rock attitude, all eyes were on them.

Gaining a plethora of new fans, including myself, although only playing for thirty minutes, they utilised every second, making the show their own without overpowering the headliner. 

10 Years

Next up were Knoxville, Tennessee’s alternative Metal band, 10 Years. Bringing a different vibe to the show, with their heavy sound and edginess, 10 Years kept a tight grip on the audience’s attention.

Dirty bass lines, punchy guitar riffs and growling vocals filled the room, and the energy of the crowd shifted to match the bands. Heads banging and fists thrown high in the air, 10 Years kept the crowd on their toes and fully immersed in the music.

From their fan favourites Wasteland, Novacaine and Fix, to a cover of Nirvana’s Heart-Shaped Box, 10 Years’ grungy-alt sound brought diversity to the night that kept things fresh and interesting.

The post Mammoth / A Powerful Toronto Evening With 10 Years & James And The Cold Gun first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.

Awake For Days return with their new single “WAKE UP!”, available from March 11th on all digital platforms. The track officially marks

With Around Me, Mark Weatherley taps into a clear Burial debut-era mood, shaping a track that feels intimate, nocturnal, and emotionally restrained. Soft, ghostlike textures hover over minimal breakbeats, while the production leans into space and subtle imperfection rather than gloss.

The vocals sit low in the mix, blending into the atmosphere instead of leading it, reinforcing that sense of distance and introspection. It’s a slow-burn piece, unfolding patiently and letting its details emerge over time.

More about feeling than structure, Around Me captures that solitary, late-night headspace with quiet precision.

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The band have six other songs in Spotify’s elite Billions Club

Indie rock titans and eight-time GRAMMY nominees Death Cab for Cutie announce their 11th studio album. I Built You A

Posted on March 17th 2026, 11:15a.m.