Did you see any of the videos of the Nine Inch Noize set at Coachella? It looked fucking awesome. As expected, the show was an expansion from the mini-sets that Nine Inch Nails played with dance producer Boys Noize at their Peel It Back arena tour. The group did clubby spins on a bunch of NIN classics, with a specially designed futuristic stage set, and it’s incredibly cool to hear those old songs in new ways. Before the show, NIN announced a Nine Inch Noize record on a Coachella billboard. That album is out Friday, and now we can say exactly what it is.
I first encountered Einar Solberg’s extraordinary talent when I bought “Coal”, 2013’s third album by Norwegian progressive metal band Leprous. I’d never heard of Leprous – it was a spontaneous purchase made purely because of the startling album artwork. With music to match the imagery, I was immediately entranced by the band’s melodramatic sound, mastery of dynamic contrast and superb musicianship. Songs like “Chronic” and “The Cloak” totally blew me away. The vocals were unlike any other I’d heard before: incredible range, astonishing power, ethereal grace and palpable emotion – ladies and gentlemen, the incomparable Einar Solberg! More recently, Leprous albums “Pitfalls” and “Aphelion” rank among my favourite of recent years, and their 2025 live album “An Evening of Atonement” is a ‘must listen’.
Solberg, twice winner of Prog magazine’s Best Vocalist of the Year award, launched a parallel solo career in 2023, with the acclaimed album “16”. With a diverse sonic palette embracing electronic and orchestral textures, pop sensibility and even a burst of rap, Prog Report’s review hailed the album as “compelling” and praised Solberg’s “poignant vocal delivery and dynamic technical display”.
It’s already clear that Solberg has established a rich musical pedigree and a towering reputation across the progressive music scene. Now, “Vox Occulta”, his second solo album, aims to enhance this further. Unashamedly proclaimed as “bold, heavy and symphonic”, Solberg makes no secret of his passion for making thrilling music. “I want to be seen as the cinematic person in prog,” he declares. “I want to completely own that. This is a very cinematic album, and that’s what I was aiming at: to make it bigger, but also more fragile and emotional at other moments.”
Objective achieved! “Vox Occulta” has eight songs and a nearly 55-minute runtime. Each track has its own character, but there’s a musical cohesiveness and the album flows well. It exhibits all of the qualities proudly announced in the publicity and plenty more besides. Make no mistake: this is truly awesome music!
The lyrics are personal and provide a portrait of Solberg and how he views the world in 2026. The title track, Latin for ‘hidden voice’, is about his “worst impulses and worst feelings”. Other themes explored in the album are the fragility of life, envy, and finding peace after hardship. I found the lyrics to be vivid, relatable, and thought-provoking.
Other than Solberg himself, the star of the album is the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. They infuse each song with rich sonic texture, eerie atmospherics, and sensational melodies. The orchestra’s musicians complement the rock instrumentation remarkably well. As a lover of symphonic rock (ELO is my favourite band) it’s a great joy to hear orchestral, rock, and metal sounds fused so symbiotically and effectively.
Opening song, “Stella Mortua,” is a splendid exemplar. In the opening seconds, ominous strings and tribal drums conjure up an image of legions of Orcs sweeping terrifyingly across the landscape to engage in battle. Strings float and an initially restrained, delicate vocal builds tension before the epic chorus with bursts of trademark Solberg falsetto. The song boasts doom metal riffs and gorgeous orchestral flourishes – the listener is transported to a world evoking Fantasia’s “Night on Bald Mountain” sequence. Cinematic, indeed!
“Medulla” has funky guitar riffage and is blessed by a truly catchy radio-friendly chorus. Possibly the most accessible song on the album, it’s a masterclass in hook-filled excitement with lyrics to match: “My marrow is strong / every shadow I outlast, every pain now in the past…it’s over” is genuinely hair-raising stuff.
The eight-minute title track makes fabulous use of the orchestra and at times reminds me of ELO’s peerless instrumental “Fire On High”. The song has a varied, fascinating arrangement, with many contrasting moods, and the orchestra is used brilliantly. It’s lyrically striking, too (“I believe in second chances / I’m not chained to what I’ve done”). A musical odyssey over eight minutes, it climaxes with dramatic brass and guitar riffage and an electrifying Solberg vocal.
“Liberatio” begins with swirling strings over heavy riffage and the song contains some of the album’s proggiest moments, cleverly combined with a stirring chorus, and again, I love the lyrics: “I see the tigers run at night / I go unbound / I see the shadows flood with light / am I profound?”. Wow! The chorus is repeated later in the song as are the musical themes from the early part of the song. It’s a major strength of the album that each song has diverse arrangements, yes, but always cohere with repeated musical motifs, delivering an enthralling and satisfying listening experience.
Solberg sounds at his most vulnerable on “Serenitas”. Charming orchestra arpeggios underpin his plaintive vocals in the first half of the song, after which there’s a superbly crafted slow-build and a powerful pay off. A highlight of this track is Pierre Danel’s beautiful guitar solo.
“Vita Fragilis” showcases Solberg’s amazing vocal range. I’m no expert but his voice must span several octaves, and the tunes here and throughout the album feature striking melodic intervals. The song features the orchestra most prominently and it’s a genuine ‘symphonic prog’ banger of a track.
The album’s longest song, “Grex” is in true epic territory at nearly twelve minutes long. Like most tracks here, there are multiple movements to enjoy. In the first half of the song, Danel contributes the best guitar solo on the album. His playing is marvellous and manages to fuse the sublime tone of Rothery with the dextrous virtuosity of Petrucci. It’s a standout achievement. The second half of the song is another slow build masterclass bookended by an eight-note earworm. I guarantee you’ll be humming this in idle moments! Soaring into a full band and orchestra spectacular outro, powerful bursts of Solberg’s vocals hammer home a widescreen experience. Almost simultaneously, he roars with a devastating fury and sings with a choirboy’s innocence – it’s quite exceptional. It’s my favourite song on the album.
Album closer “Anima Lucis” is a soothing musical warm-down, with Solberg at his most poignant amid sweeping adagio orchestra textures. The music makes me imagine a battle-scarred hero wandering alone into the sunset, thankful at having defeated the evil enemy but mourning the tragic loss of his comrades. There are many other possible interpretations! A major achievement of this album is the ability to transport the listener to another world. And isn’t that what we need at the moment?
I’ve been a lover of progressive music for 45 years. I feel like I’ve heard most things before and I crave music that is different, fresh and interesting. “Vox Occulta” absolutely delivers this in emphatic, imperious style. It’s as cinematic an album as any you could wish to hear, and the performances, by Einar Solberg, Pierre Danel, drummer Keli Guðjónsson and the omnipresent Norwegian Radio Orchestra, are nothing short of sensational.
In “Vox Occulta”, Einar Solberg cements his well-earned reputation as one of the most important talents in modern progressive music. He has a vision and he’s executed it in majestic fashion. And as terrific as the scope, instrumentation, sonic quality and performances undoubtedly are, ultimately it’s the sheer quality of the tunes that shine through. This is classical music for the modern era, and I shall be amazed if I hear anything better than this in 2026.
Tracklist:
1. Stella Mortua 05:28
2. Medulla 05:31
3. Vox Occulta 07:58
4. Liberatio 04:41
5. Serenitas 06:44
6. Vita Fragilis 05:27
7. Grex 11:49
8. Anima Lucis 07:05
Personnel:
Einar Solberg – vocals, piano, keyboards
Keli Guðjónsson – drums
Chris Baum – violin
Jed Lingat – bass
Pierre Danel – guitar
John Browne – guitar
Ben Levin – guitar
Norwegian Radio Orchestra
Co-produced by Einar Solberg and David Castillo
Mixed by Adam Noble
Mastered by Robin Schmidt
LAS VEGAS, NV — The 2026 American Music Awards nominees are officially out, and while the major categories remain heavily skewed toward pop and country, the “Rock/Alternative” fields have become a battleground for the most influential names in heavy music. In a rare mainstream acknowledgment of the genre’s current dominance, Sleep Token, Linkin Park, and Deftones have all secured major nominations for this year’s ceremony at the MGM Grand.
Sleep Token’s “Arcadia” Dominance
Perhaps the biggest story of the 2026 nominations is the sweeping presence of Sleep Token. The masked collective hasn’t just been nominated for their music; their massive “Even In Arcadia” U.S. headlining tour—famous for its towering, Castle Grayskull-inspired stage motif—has earned a nod for Breakout Tour.
This puts the band in direct competition with mainstream juggernauts like Benson Boone and Kali Uchis, signaling that the “masked metal” aesthetic has officially breached the top tier of American touring culture.
Following their massive 2025/2026 global comeback, Linkin Park continues their award-season run with a nomination for Best Rock/Alternative Song for the hit “Up From The Bottom.” Meanwhile, the enduring influence of Deftones remains undeniable, as the Sacramento innovators land a spot in the Best Rock/Alternative Artist category alongside Twenty One Pilots and The Marias.
Information Gain: The Las Vegas Factor
The decision to hold the 2026 AMAs at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas is a calculated move. With Vegas now serving as the “New Mecca” for rock festivals like Sick New World and When We Were Young, the industry is bracing for a much heavier presence on the red carpet than in previous years.
TL;DR: AMA 2026 Essentials
The Date: Winners will be announced Monday, May 25th, in Las Vegas, NV.
Voting: Fan voting is live right now at voteamas.com.
The Sleeper Hit: Sleep Token’s Even In Arcadia is the only high-output heavy album to crack the Best Rock/Alternative Album category this year.
The Trend: While pop acts like Zach Bryan and Tame Impala are favored by mainstream critics, the digital velocity of the Linkin Park and Sleep Token fanbases makes them the heavy favorites to sweep the fan-voted categories.
Afterlife have kickstarted a new adventure, revealing their signing to Mascot Records and celebrated with a song that showcases everything that makes them so sensational.
Titled ‘Bad Habits’, it’s a song that deals in as much soaring melody as it does technically compelling brutality. A slick and savage piece of modern metalcore that feels ready-made for arenas, it sways between vulnerable admissions and pit-swelling bellows like it is second nature. A wonderful sense of control over both sides of their shape-shifting sound, demonstrating that they are going into this next chapter with pride, power, and perseverance at the forefront.
Vocalist Tyler Leverson had this to say about the track, stating, “‘Bad Habits’ is about realizing that your behavior or vices are negatively impacting the people around you. It captures the struggle between denial and self-awareness, ultimately becoming a cry for help. As people, we all struggle with life and the unfortunate circumstances it brings. Sometimes the ways we cope, the ways we ‘get by’ can become harmful, not only to ourselves but to those around us.”
The track is the first piece of music from the band in two years, following on from their standalone independent single ‘Bleed You Dry’. That sounds a lot like this.
How do you feel about a new Madonna album in 2026? The last few have been rough going, but it would be truly cool to see Madonna end her cold streak and reassert herself as the blueprint for present-day pop stardom. For a while, Madonna has been teasing a sequel to 2005’s Confessions On A Dance Floor, widely considered the last great Madonna album. Today, Madonna makes it official: Confessions II is out in July.
GOTHENBURG, SEEDEN — The architects of the “Gothenburg Sound” have officially announced their return to the stage. The Halo Effect is set to headline a massive European tour in 2027. Fresh off the momentum of their industrial-tinged single “Lest We Fall,” the Swedish five-piece is bringing along gothic metal icons Lacuna Coil and melodic death frontrunners Omnium Gatherum for what is already being hailed as the premier melodeath trek of next year.
Niclas Engelin: “We Can’t Wait to be Back”
For a band comprised of In Flames alumni and Dark Tranquillity’s Mikael Stanne, the 2027 run is more than just a tour—it’s a celebration of the genre they helped define in the 1990s. Guitarist Niclas Engelin shared his excitement for the upcoming run:
“Halos in Europe, we can’t wait to be back on the road in 2027! This time we bring the almighty Lacuna Coil and Omnium Gatherum with us, who we have been friends with for a long time. We look forward to an amazing time with you all!”
Since their 2021 debut, The Halo Effect has shifted from a “nostalgia project” to a dominant force in the 2026 metal landscape. The recent standalone single “Lest We Fall” proved the band isn’t afraid to evolve, featuring guest spots from Marcus Bischoff (Heaven Shall Burn) and Brian Eschbach (The Black Dahlia Murder).
The inclusion of Lacuna Coil on this bill is a strategic masterstroke for the 2027 circuit. While The Halo Effect anchors the traditional death metal crowd, Lacuna Coil brings a gothic, melodic crossover appeal that ensures these larger venues like Paris’s Elysee Montmartre and Munich’s Backstage will be at capacity.
Stay tuned to Loaded Radio for more tour updates and metal news. Stream us 24/7 here.
photos by Ekaterina Yakyamseva (Comrade Aleks has brought us many good interviews for many years, all of them worth some attention, but some stand well forward of others, and this discussion with Johan from Rikets is one of them. Read it and you’ll see why.) The debut album by Swedish death metallers Riket was released […]
Jen Mize & The Rough N’ Tumble’s new tune is a dose of feel-good medicine aiming to remind people there are responses to the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness experienced in these sorry times. ‘Greater Good’ is a call to the community to seek out friendship & understanding, to raise up kindness and compassion in all our interactions. ‘Greater Good’ asks ‘What happens if we try some patience and vulnerability? What happens when we look for the greater good?’
Starting with a simmering tremolo guitar, the groove hits and Mize comes out of the gate with a fearless and soulful first verse. Delivered like those late 1960’s East Village beat poetry readings – a narrative encounter with a ‘good friend of mine’ who has all the worries of the world weighing on his mind, Jen is sharing her ear, ‘gettin’ in deep’ and something clicks and she says ‘Man, I think I know what you mean!’
Written by Mize and Jeremy Edwards, ‘Greater Good’ sees the Australian band taking some risks, both musically and walking-out-on-the-edge philosophically. ‘We don’t envision ourselves gurus by any stretch of the imagination.’ says Mize ‘We’re not here to preach to people or change their beliefs, we just hope that we can help people find a way to better get along, despite any differences they have.’
Laughing, she continues, We’re attempting to do our version of what Woody Guthrie said a folk singer’s job is ’To comfort disturbed people and to disturb comfortable people’ The Rough N’ Tumble’s ‘Greater Good’ is a rough-around-the-edges-2am-stoner-philosophy version of that – delivered with plenty of warmth and lashings of joy.
‘Greater Good‘ follows on from ‘Double Talk’ – the first single lifted from the band’s new album ‘Tilt’ – due out later this year.
Greater Good is out today, April 14 via Pathfinder Music
We are thrilled to host an exclusive premiere stream for Sun Fall Down’s debut album, Burn. You can listen to the full record ahead of its official release by scrolling down to the end. Some more information, though, if you need convinced! Hailing from Milan, modern alternative dark metal project Sun Fall Down are set … Continue reading Exclusive: Premiere stream of Sun Fall Down’s debut album “Burn”
TL;DR: AMA 2026 Essentials
