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Swedish thrash metal band Dead Sleep release a new single and music video for “Children of the Blade”, taken from their forthcoming EP Repulsion, due out June 26, 2026. Following the release of the title track “Repulsion”, the band continues the rollout of the EP with their second single, “Children of the Blade”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb-jzq9gXu8 The song “Children of the Blade” is musically a merge between […]

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Swedish melodic death metal pioneers At The Gates are releasing their new studio album “The Ghost of a Future Dead”, worldwide today via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2021’s wildly adventurous “The Nightmare of Being”, this upcoming At The Gates album “The Ghost of a Future Dead” marks a special tribute to frontman Tomas Lindberg, who tragically […]

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Robert Plant and Santana collaborator reveals complaints about his recent DVDs, the possibility of revisiting his 80s heyday, and why it was time to explore his difficult childhood on new album England’s Tales Of The Council House Kid

Sweden’s sleaze/metal stalwarts Confess are back with their fourth studio album, ‘Metalmorphosis’, set for release on May 15, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl. To give a taste of what’s to come, the band unleashed the first single ‘Wicked Temptations’ last month, along with an official video. As the band themselves said: ‘Wicked Temptations’ can be described as a classic Confess anthem. It’s a song about releasing the inner animal and just “Go for it!”

But how is the rest of the album? Let’s dig in and find out…

Swedish sleaze-metal outfit Confess return with their fourth full-length Metalmorphosis, and if ever there was a record title that nailed its own intent, this is it. This is not a cautious step forward but a full-on reshaping of the band’s identity—still rooted in grit and attitude, but now sharpened, polished, and engineered for bigger stages. Mixed and mastered by Erik Mårtensson of Eclipse, the sound has been elevated without sanding off the band’s trademark bite.

The album opens with ‘Colorvision’, a punchy statement that immediately signals the expanded scope of the record. There’s a glossy edge to the production, but the riffing still carries that Stockholm Sleaze feel with a Metal sting, setting up a record that wants both hooks and heaviness in equal measure. It’s followed by ‘The Warriors’, which leans harder into anthemic territory and sounds more Motley Crue than that band has in years—with a big, stomping rhythm and a chorus clearly built for shouted live crowds to revel in.

‘Wicked Temptations’ sees Confess at their most dangerously melodic, threading sharp guitar lines through a chorus that sticks far longer than it has any right to. Then comes the title track ‘Metalmorphosis’, and this is where the album truly locks in its identity. After a gentle opening it just bursts forth fully formed and rocking. It’s anthem of a song—with a nice heaviness, arena-sized vocal delivery, and a pace that just sweeps you up. I love the keyboard flourishes underpinning the start of teh solo too!

Frontman John Elliot—also known for his work with Crashdïet—delivers one of his most controlled yet commanding performances across the record. His voice sits right at the intersection of Sleaze and Hard Rock sophistication, especially on tracks like ‘Beat Of My Heart’, which pushes further into commercial Melodic Rock without losing its edge. The rhythm section of Samuel Samael and Lucky keeps everything grounded, while guitarists Ludwig Nordlander and Asser Hakala constantly balance the dynamic range between shred and atmosphere.

Later highlights like the Power Metal flourish of the tale of ‘Pursuit Of The Jenny Haniver’ (go on look it up) and the contrast of the hugely commercial Hard Rock of  ‘The Other Side’ which shows the band has a huge depth to their songwriting. This is becoming a classic. The final run—led by the fiery Priest-like rocker ‘Running To My Death’, is incredible, and as solid as the opening run. ‘Plague Of Steel’, another favourite gets cinematic again and balances the heavier attack with the album’s lushest melodies. It works so well.

Closer ‘Silvermalen’—brings the album home with a sweeping cinematic soundscape, a tale of conquest and battle, it’s  a song that reinforces the idea that Metalmorphosis is as much about evolution as it is about expectation. By the end of teh record, Confess sound like a band that has fully embraced expansion without abandoning their core identity. It’s sleaze-metal with ambition, polish with bite. It’s confidence without compromise—exactly the kind of statement record that separates survivors from contenders.

Confess has an already impressive back catalogue and this may well be their best yet.

9/10

“Metalmorphosis” Tracklist: 1. Colorvision | 2. The Warriors | 3. Wicked Temptations | 4. Metalmorphosis | 5. Beat Of My Heart | 6. Pursuit Of The Jenny Haniver | 7. The Other Side | 8. Running To My Death | 9. Plague Of Steel | 10. Silvermalen

Line Up: John Elliot – Vocals | Samuel Samael – Drums | Ludwig Nordlander – Guitars | Asser Hakala – Guitars | Lucky – Bass

Follow CONFESS: Website | Facebook | Instagram

The post ALBUM REVIEW: Confess – Metalmorphosis appeared first on The Rockpit.

The Swedish singer spent a decade toiling outside the spotlight. But a PinkPantheress remix, a rainbow-streaked dolphin and an ability to roll with the punches brought her back.

Nieves González, a 29-year-old painter, once worked in relative obscurity in Andalusia. Her picture of the British singer Lily Allen changed that.

Brick Briscoe 2026 Digging into the depths of existential dramas, a Hoosier singer-songwriter discovers wondrously moving, and often optimistic, details behind the veil of sorrow. Brick Briscoe may reside in Indiana, but all of his albums contain songs whose titles … Continue reading →

The post BRICK BRISCOE – Found Footage appeared first on DMME.net.

Traditional heavy metal force SULPHUR AND MERCURY unveil their new single “Sulphur Eternal”, marking another step forward in the band’s evolving path.

Built upon their unmistakable foundation of occult-tinged classic metal, the track carries a renewed sense of purpose, shaped by the band’s reconfigured line-up and a sharpened creative direction.

“Sulphur Eternal” blends brooding atmospheres with riff-driven intensity, drawing from the spirit of late ’80s heavy metal while forging a distinct identity. The result is a dark, immersive composition that balances melody, weight, and arcane mood, reaffirming SULPHUR AND MERCURY as a compelling force for those drawn to the more esoteric side of traditional metal.

The band comments:

“‘Sulphur Eternal’ is our anthem – an unabashed affirmation of our dedication to the trade and task of sonic metallurgy. We wanted to make a triumphant ode to the classics of metal’s yesteryear, but also a song we could call ‘our own’ – a battle cry of sorts. Melodic passages and exultant choruses combine to make it an instant call to arms. Under the fist of Mercury, the sulphur legions unite!”.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/psvLHPXSVNI

Streaming: https://ffm.to/sulphur-and-mercury-sulphur-eternal

SULPHUR AND MERCURY:

https://sulphurandmercury.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/sulphurandmercury

https://www.instagram.com/sulphurandmercury1987/

Time To Kill Records:

https://timetokillrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/timetokillrecords/

https://www.facebook.com/timetokillrecords/

https://timetokillrecords.com/

Venom are certainly one of the most influential bands in heavy metal. They set the standard for raw and devilish metal with their first albums, which are now considered classics. Albums like “Welcome to Hell” and “At War with Satan” defined a whole new genre, which was also given a name with the “Black Metal”… Continue Reading →

Von Groove return from a more than two-decade silence with Born To Rock, and to be honest I’ve waited a long time for this. Von Groove was in my estimation one of the very best Melodic Hard Rock bands of the 90’s, and with this return they go straight for the throat – kicking the door off its hinges and demanding to be heard. Reuniting the classic lineup of Mladen, Michael Shotton, and Matthew Gerrard, this feels so right – it’s the sound of a band remembering exactly why they mattered in the first place.

The opening title track “Born To Rock” sets the tone immediately: big, unapologetic, and dripping with classic Hard Rocking swagger. It’s fun, references time travel and tells the well worn story us of us Rockers share. The chorus is so huge you can’t even see over it, and during the first play you’ll be singing along. If you loved this band before then you will be amazed by how great this comeback sounds. There’s a knowing wink to their own legacy here, with a nod to ‘Once Is Not Enough” ‘oven into the fabric of the song, which feels like a statement of survival—Von Groove reasserting their identity with blazing guitars, punchy rhythm work, and a chorus built for fists-in-the-air moments. It’s the sound of a band not just returning, but reawakening.

From there, ‘Fearless’ is pure ‘blue sky’ shimmering Melodic Rock and ‘Champion’ keeps the momentum locked in, leaning hard into the record’s core strength: melodic Hard Rock with real tenacity behind the rock solid hooks. Shotton’s dual role on drums and vocals gives the album a tight, cohesive drive, while Gerrard’s bass work keeps everything anchored in a solid, radio-ready groove. But there’s plenty of contrast ‘Fearless’ has more urgency, and ‘summer day’ energy, while ‘Champion’ opens things up into something more Metallic, a little harder and anthem-like, with a touch of vintage Bonfire  or Dio, it was built for big stages and has a more ‘European’ feel. Both are stunning.

Mid-album cuts like ‘Adrenaline’, ‘Angela’, and ‘Undefeated’ show just how comfortably Von Groove slide back into the sound of their glory days without being afraid to give it an edge. They effortlessly hit that Hard Rocking sweet spot without sounding frozen in time. ‘Adrenaline’ lives up to its name with a sharper edge and just a little darker, with a more understated chorus that just works. Contrastingly ‘Angela’ brings the pace down, a stuttering, deliberate slower number shot with melodies, giving an emotional pull that intensifies the feeling of loss in the lyric of lost love. But it’s ‘Undefeated’ in particular feels like a mission statement—it soars, defiant, hook-heavy, and steeped in that classic melodic Hard Rock optimism that keeps us all going and refusing to quit. It’s a highlight as big and bold as the opener, but like ‘Champion’ a little harder-edged, without giving up an ounce of melody.

The heart of the record opens up further with the Def Leppard-like Melodic gem ‘Do It All Over Again’ and the hugely uplifting ‘Heart Of Forgiveness’, where the band lean into a Billy Squier-like groove and top that great groove with one of the best choruses on the record! There’s a maturity here that comes naturally after such a long gap—less about proving anything and more about reaffirming why this sound still matters. ‘Do It All Over Again’ in particular feels like Von Groove looking back without regret, while still driving forward with intent. This is a seriously great album.

The closing stretch comes too soon —‘Dreams’, ‘Waiting For The Sky To Fall’, and ‘Always Endlessly’—tie everything together with a strong sense of all you loved about Von Groove and all you will love about this album. ‘Dreams’ rides a funky bassline that makes you think of Tyketto, and keeps the melodic flame burning bright, ‘Waiting For The Sky To Fall’ the real big ballad here adds an emotional edge in it’s orchestration, which is lush but not overblown, letting the lyric take centre place. Final track ‘Always Endlessly’ was a huge surprise, I mean after a ballad like that the last thing you expect is another ballad! What it shows is how great these guys are at pouring emotion into a song, this one is even bigger, more orchestrated, absolutely AOR, and feels like a real jolt back in time. It is huge. Ending with two ballads might just be the next big thing!

By the end of ‘Born To Rock’, you sit exhausted, grinning from ear to ear. This is wonderful. Von Groove haven’t just revisited their past—they’ve reaffirmed their place in the present. It’s polished, powerful, and packed with conviction: a comeback album that actually earns the word comeback and sees them right back at the top of the tree. I have to go now, I have to play it again… and again…

This is a solid 9 /10 – what a return!

The post ALBUM REVIEW: VON GROOVE – BORN TO ROCK appeared first on The Rockpit.