Guitarist Joel Hoekstra is set to join Stephen Pearcy on the road for the singer’s Undercover 2026 tour, adding another experienced player to a lineup already rooted in classic hard rock and metal.

Pearcy, best known as the voice of Ratt, is currently marking 40 years of Dancing Undercover, the band’s third album released in 1986. The tour leans heavily on that era, with a set packed with recognizable ’80s material.

The current touring lineup includes drummer Blas Elias (Slaughter, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), bassist Matt Thorne (Rough Cutt, Ratt), and guitarist Erik Ferentinos. With Hoekstra stepping in, the band gains a player known for both technical ability and a long list of high-profile gigs.

Joel Hoekstra will make his first appearance with Pearcy on May 9 at the Adventist Health Amphitheatre in Tulare, California.

Based in New York, Hoekstra is currently part of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and has built a career working across multiple major acts. His résumé includes Whitesnake, Night Ranger, and Cher, along with time spent in the Broadway production Rock Of Ages. He has also filled in with Foreigner and Accept, appeared regularly on the Monsters Of Rock cruise, and contributed to projects like Revolution Saints and Iconic.

Outside of touring, Hoekstra has been involved in a range of collaborations, including online performances with Dino Jelusick, Arnel Pineda, Mike Portnoy, and Billy Sheehan, as well as acoustic shows alongside Brandon Gibbs.

With Dancing Undercover at the center of the setlist and Hoekstra now in the mix, Stephen Pearcy’s 2026 run continues to lean into the legacy of Ratt while bringing in players with deep ties to the genre.

Check for current Dancing Undercover tour dates here.

The post JOEL HOEKSTRA Is Set To Join STEPHEN PEARCY’s Solo Band For 2026 Tour appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Journey into the fire with a new ritual collective featuring Kai Uwe Faust and members of the Heilung warrior choir Formed in 2025, Kriigerkvlt is a new collective that features Heilung founding member Kai Uwe Faust and members of the Heilung warrior choir. The collective debuted live on stage in Copenhagen alongside industrial doom raver […]

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Today, Portuguese true metallers Toxikull stream the entirety of their highly anticipated fourth album, Turbulence, at Decibel magazine’s website. Set for international release on April 24th via Dying Victims Productions, hear Toxikull’s Turbulence in its entirety exclusively HERE. Formed in 2016, Portugal’s Toxikull have established themselves as one of the most unrelenting forces in the European heavy metal scene. Known for a high-energy blend of traditional heavy metal and […]

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Earlier this month, Evanescence released its first new single in five years when they released “Who Will You Follow” when announcing their new album Sanctuary. It’s their sixth studio album and the follow up to 2021’s The Bitter Truth, so it’s got a lot riding on it for the band.

During a recent interview with Audacy Music (as transccribed by Blabbermouth), Evanescence’s Amy Lee explained to Kevin Ryder the meaning behind both the track and the album’s title. More specifically, it’s about the atmosphere of deceit that exists in the world today.

“It’s about something. God — it’s where we’re at. It’s about, what is real? Breaking through the lies. I feel like we are just inundated with so much information now, with people that have a stake in what we believe, and it feels like truth is for sale. And so this for me is kind of — this is about breaking through that into the real world.

“And the album, it’s called Sanctuary. It’s like that — it’s a sanctuary, not an escape from this chaotic, surreal violent time, but escape from the lies, saying that we’re not living in that crazy time. It is a sanctuary of truth — and community.”

As for the album, Sanctuary reflects how the music isn’t an escape from reality’s insanity, but rather a safe harbor for anyone looking for one.

“Moving from the song to the album, I just feel like this music is a sanctuary for me — it has been. It is every time. Last time we made an album, it was the pandemic hitting all around us at the same time and kind of wondering what’s next and how do we go on tour, and will things ever be normal again? And I think when we’re in these big — in my life — powerful and painful and difficult moments, and also in the outside world, going through these wild moments where we feel like we don’t have control and things are slipping through our fingers, the music is a place for me to be able to say anything — no censorship, no holding back. Nobody’s telling me I can’t — anything. It’s our world, and it just feels so beautiful also to give somebody else something that gives them joy.”

In addition to the single and album talk, Lee spoke about the lyrics she contributed this time around. During the chat, she discussed where the words to this new album’s songs originated from and how this album in particular impacted her as an artist.

“I feel like I have been just in this lyric cave of my mind, like an animal busting out of a cage this whole year until very recently when I finally got it all done. I don’t know — I kind of have to go underground to get all of it, especially this time. The lyrics are kind of the thing where I feel like they matter more than ever.

“It’s all been happening kind of random, but the vocals are one of the last things to get thrown down. As we’re building the songs, I have lyrics, I have bits, I have the point, we’ve got the center of of most of things. But it’s, like, ‘Cool, cool, cool. I’ll write that verse later.’ And then it comes down to it. It’s, like, you really gotta write it and it’s gotta be epic, ’cause at this point the music sounds killer.”

Sanctuary will be released on June 5 via BMG, but you can preorder your copy today.

The post Evanescence’s Amy Lee Says Latest Single Reflects Modern Times: “It Feels Like Truth is for Sale” appeared first on MetalSucks.

Music today is no longer experienced purely through audio. As visuals, short-form content and digital storytelling become central to how artists present their work, the music experience has evolved. A modern release typically includes music videos, teasers, live visuals, and social media edits, all of which influence how a track is perceived beyond just streaming … Continue reading Sound design is shaping how modern music content delivers intensity

Sammy Hagar has reworked his upcoming U.K. run, scaling things down in size but upgrading the overall experience. The revised dates for the Best Of All Worlds tour focus on smaller, tech-driven venues, drawing directly from the setup used during his recent Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live.

The July 2026 shows will now take place at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall, Manchester’s O2 Apollo, and a multi-night stand in London at the new British Airways ARC. The London run, scheduled for July 9–12, will see the band among the first to headline the venue.

The lineup remains a heavyweight mix: Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Kenny Aronoff. Together, they bring a set built around decades of material, including a strong focus on Van Halen-era songs.

Hagar explained the reasoning behind the shift: “After waiting 30 years to come back, we really wanted to get this right. Several factors pushed us toward revising this tour, but after wrapping our Las Vegas residency last month at Dolby Live, where the sound, the technology, and the more intimate size really lets us connect with the audiences, it was clear that we wanted to deliver an experience like that for our fans in England.”

He continued: “When I heard our promoter was opening a similar tech-forward venue in London, that really sealed the deal for me. Three nights, a fresh set every night, and I get to stay in London, one of my favorite cities in the world, for a week. That’s the Best of All Worlds!”

This marks Sammy Hagar’s first U.K. tour since 1996. The setlist is expected to pull heavily from across his career, with tracks like “Why Can’t This Be Love”, “5150”, “Best Of Both Worlds”, and “I Can’t Drive 55” all in the mix. It also brings something U.K. fans haven’t seen in decades — Hagar performing Van Halen material live, something he last did there during the band’s Wembley Stadium shows 30 years ago.

Tickets go on sale April 24 here, with fans who bought tickets for the original dates receiving priority presale access and a 10% merchandise offer for the new shows.

With the updated approach, the focus is clear: tighter rooms, better sound, and a closer connection between band and crowd.

The post SAMMY HAGAR Revamps 2026 U.K. Tour With More Intimate, Tech-Driven Venues appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

It’s been 24 years since Beck released Sea Change, his bummed-out acoustic masterpiece. It’s been 12 since he released the album’s spiritual sequel, the more serene companion piece Morning Phase, a surprise Album Of The Year winner at the 2015 Grammys. Does that mean we’re due for the third installment in a trilogy? I don’t…

The post Beck – “Ride Lonesome” appeared first on Stereogum.

Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest returns to Denver for its fifth round, tapping the Fillmore Auditorium as home of the world’s loudest, heaviest, most extreme craft beer festival on Friday and Saturday, December 4-5, 2026.

Southern doom supergroup Down make their first Denver appearance in over 12 years to headline Saturday night (December 5), while crossover thrash metal legends Suicidal Tendencies will unleash their first Denver headline performance in over eight years on Friday night (December 4).

The full band and brewery lineup will be revealed in the coming months, but 2-day and 3-day “Early Bird” passes—which include admittance to a special Pre-Fest at Ratio Beerworks (Larimer Street location) on December 3—go on sale this Friday, April 24 at 10am MT!

But look for the following special pre-sales starting at 10am MT:

• Down pre-sale begins April 22 at 10am MT (use code: TEMPTATIONSWINGS)

• 3 Floyds pre-sale begins Thursday, April 23 at 10am MT (use code: THREEFLOYDS)

• Decibel pre-sale begins Thursday, April 23 at 10am MT (use code: BEER ME)

• Ratio Beerworks pre-sale begins Thursday, April 23 at 10am MT (use code: NOSHADE)

• KBPI pre-sale begins Thursday, April 23 at 10am MT (use code: LETITFLOW)

• Live Nation pre-sale begins Thursday, April 23 at 10am MT (use code: DENVER)

ALL AVAILABLE TICKET LINKS ARE BELOW:

TWO-DAY TICKETS
THREE-DAY TICKETS (INCLUDES PRE-FEST)

“Just Metal” Ticket (21+)

Admittance to the day’s event, but as the name suggests, you just get to see the show—no beer samples.

“Metal & Beer” Ticket (21+)

Admittance to the day’s event plus unlimited* sampling from our diverse lineup of breweries presented by 3 Floyds Brewing. Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Denver 2026 sampling cups provided.

Limited tickets are also still available for Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly on May 2-3 at the Fillmore in Philadelphia, featuring the return of Power Trip, special sets from Municipal Waste (The Art of Partying), Cryptopsy (None So Vile) and Cro-Mags (The Age of Quarrel) as well as killer performances from Kylesa, Necrot and more! Daily lineups and all ticket option details for Metal & Beer Fest Philly 2026 can be found below:

MAY 2 TICKETS
MAY 3 TICKETS
TWO-DAY TICKETS

MAY 2
Municipal Waste (special The Art of Partying set)
Cro-Mags (special The Age of Quarrel set)
Kylesa
Haggus
No/Más 

MAY 3
Power Trip
Cryptopsy (special None So Vile set)
Necrot
Fulci
Blood Monolith 

The post DOWN & SUICIDAL TENDENCIES to Headline Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Denver 2026! Early Bird Ticket Pre-Sales Begin Wed, April 22 at 10am MT! appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

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