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Canadian progressive rock duo Crown Lands have steadily emerged as one of the genre’s most ambitious modern voices. Now, the band deliver their new studio album Apocalypse, their most demanding and fully realized work to date, set for release on the 15th May 2026.

Today the band launch their new single ‘Through The Looking Glass’, alongside another evocative video clip from collaborator Luke Paron.

Kevin comments:
“Through the Looking Glass features rolling 12-string arpeggios, Mellotrons, and a 7/8 bridge featuring Moog Leads full proggy fun while also serving up a big chorus. I love this one.

We wanted this song to show the might of the Dragon-Riders before the arrival of the Syndicate on Fearless’ planet. Is there anything cooler than heavy rock ballads about dragons? I think not.”

Cody adds:
“This song is one of my favorites we’ve written of this new record. It was a song that came together with our good friend Nick Raskulinecz at his studio in Nashville. We had such a blast writing and recording the whole thing from start to finish and hope y’all enjoy the journey through Karagon’s past!”

Watch the band perform the epic title track ‘Apocalypse’, live and in full, here: https://youtu.be/AE8nWVT0EQk

Musically and creatively, Apocalypse marks a clear turning point. After completing Rituals entirely in their home studio, the band gained the confidence to take near-total control of the production process. Guitarist/bassist/keyboardist Kevin Comeau explains, “That record gave us the confidence to realize we could make a Crown Lands album in our own space, without a major-label budget or a big, fancy studio.” That confidence carried directly into Apocalypse, with much of the album written and recorded in the same room the band has worked in since 2020. To enhance the album’s most crucial moments, Crown Lands selectively collaborated with producers Nick Raskulinecz and David Bottrill.

Apocalypse’ will be released as a Ltd CD Edition, Gatefold Neon Yellow LP, Limited Gatefold Neon Green LP & as Digital Album.

Pre-order now here:
https://crownlandsmusic.lnk.to/Apocalypse-Bio

1. Proclamation I 1:22
2. Foot Soldiers of the Syndicate 4:20
3. Through the Looking Glass 3:45
4. Blackstar 4:00
5. The Fall 4:31
6. The Revenants I 5:29
7. Apocalypse. 19:01

****

MAR 20 – Kingston, ON – Kingston Grand Theatre
MAR 21 – Milton, ON – FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton
MAR 24 – Ottawa, ON – Shenkman Arts Centre
MAR 25 – North Bay, ON – Capitol Centre
MAR 27 – Guelph, ON – River Run Centre
MAR 28 – London, ON – Wolf Performance Hall
MAR 31 – Richmond Hill, ON – Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
APR 1 – Oakville, ON – The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts
JUL 4 – Miramachi, NB – New Maritime Music Festival

The post Crown Lands release new single ‘Through The Looking Glass’ appeared first on The Prog Report.

The UK progressive death metal band return May 1 with their fourth LP, embracing a rawer sound and a major lineup shift.

The post COGNIZANCE Streams Steamrolling New Single "A Game Of Proliferation" appeared first on Metal Injection.

Bettina Köster, formidable and trailblazing vocalist, songwriter, saxophonist, actress, and producer, has passed away on March 16th at age 66.

Köster began her music career in 1978, playing saxophone for an early lineup of Berlin-based avant-garde electronic band Din A Testbild, where she met like-minded musician Gudrun Gut. Koster was a member of German art collective genius dilettantes, members of which collaborated across several bands in a short period of time. During this time period, Köster and Gut would open Eisengrau, a shop that celebrated underground fashions, distributed fanzines, screened experimental films, and served as a hot spot for the genius dilettantes members to exchange ideas and conversation.

In the heat of the budding Neue Deutsche Welle movement, Köster and Gut (along with Beate Bartel, Karin Luner, and Eva-Maria Gößling) founded the project Mania D., a deeply influential collective that recorded a single in 1980, drawing on the experimental sides of post-punk, industrial, and music concrete. Around this time period, Köster would also record with Nachdenkliche Wehrpflichtige and Liebesgier (the latter also with Gut). After performing in New York and releasing a live record that same year, Mania D. went their separate ways. While Gößling would join an early lineup of Die Krupps and Bartel would record with Einstürzende Neubauten, Liaisons Dangereuses, and later Matador, Gut and Köster would quickly form Malaria! in 1981.

Malaria! served as a figurehead of the German post-punk and new wave scene, combining minimal electronics, experimental lyrics, and dark, abstract grooves. The duo released their first eponymous single in 1981, collaborating with percussionist Christine Hahn, who officially joined the band afterwards. The band quickly expanded to include Die Haut’s Susanne Kuhnke on synthesizer and multi-instrumentalist Manon Duursma. This solidified lineup of the band would record a session for legendary DJ John Peel in 1981. Peel would dub Köster (as well as Gut and Bartel) as the “Queens of Noise,” championing these early recordings and helping to draw attention to the fruitful NDW scene.

In true collaborative fashion, Gut and Köster would record with Rema-Rema’s Gary Asquith as Mutabor!, releasing one single in early 1982. In quick succession, Malaria! then released a series of acclaimed singles, including 1982’s “Kaltes Klares Wasser,” “Your Turn to Run,” and “How Do You Like My New Dog?” followed by the Emotion LP later that year. The success of these releases led to independent chart success throughout Europe and the United States as well as tours and supporting slots with Nina Hagen, The Slits, New Order, The Birthday Party, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and John Cale. Malaria! would dissolve in 1984, shortly after the release of the excellent Beat the Distance EP, which consisted of recordings made in 1982-1984 and featured two versions of “You You,” both of which can still be heard in clubs to date.

Köster, living in New York at the time, would embark on a solo career and branch into film, collaborating closely with Swiss director Isabel Hegner. Malaria! would reunite for a brief period in the early 90s, releasing 1992’s Elation single and 1993’s Cheerio LP before disbanding once more, with their unique and innovative work serving as heavy inspiration to punk, alternative, electronic, and gothic bands to follow.

In the early 2000s, Köster would form Autonervous with San Francisco-based musician, fellow saxophonist, and singer Jessie Evans of The Vanishing. Autonervous would release a single in 2004 and an eponymous full-length LP in 2006. While still working in film, Köster released her first solo LP in 2009, taking its title after the nickname John Peel would bestow upon her at the beginning of her career. She would continue performing live throughout Europe and the US, performing at Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig and at New York’s legendary Wierd party. She would record a follow-up, Kolonel Silvertop, in 2017.

At the time of her death, Köster was living in Italy. We truly wish her family, friends, and collaborators all the best during this sad time.

The post Bettina Köster of Mania D. and Malaria! Has Passed Away at 66 appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

Last year, Tim Darcy, formerly of Ought and currently of Cola, was one of many musicians whose homes were destroyed in the LA wildfires. On Cola’s new song “Conflagration Mindset,” Darcy sings about robotically marching on while forces far beyond you have thrown your life into chaos: “A decent way to dress it up/ Cold…

The post Cola – “Conflagration Mindset” appeared first on Stereogum.

Is Tarja Turunen’s New Album Really Her Heaviest Release Yet?

Yes—Frisson Noir is being positioned as the heaviest album of Tarja’s solo career, combining orchestral depth with a stronger, more aggressive metal foundation than her previous releases.

TL;DR

Tarja Turunen returns June 12 with Frisson Noir, described as her heaviest album ever, featuring major collaborators and a sharper focus on metal than her recent work.

Tarja’s evolution has always been one of the more fascinating arcs in modern metal—moving from defining a genre to constantly reshaping her place within it.

That’s what makes this release feel different right away.

This isn’t a side step or another exploration.

It feels like a decision.

The Direction Feels Intentional This Time

For years, Tarja has balanced classical influence with metal, often leaning into cinematic and symphonic textures.

Frisson Noir doesn’t abandon that—it tightens it.

There’s still:

• orchestration
• piano-driven passages
• layered choirs

But now those elements are anchored by something heavier and more direct.

The album is built around contrast:

• fragility vs power
• restraint vs release
• atmosphere vs impact

And this time, the heavier side isn’t just present—it’s leading.

“At Sea” Shows Exactly What She’s Going For

The first single makes the direction clear.

“At Sea” isn’t structured like a traditional metal single. It builds slowly, leans into emotion, and then expands into something cinematic and forceful.

The core idea revolves around confronting uncertainty, and that tension drives everything:

• the orchestration
• the vocal delivery
• the pacing

It’s less about hooks and more about immersion.

And that’s where it stands out.

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The Collaborations Actually Strengthen The Identity

It’s easy for guest-heavy albums to feel scattered.

That’s not what’s happening here.

Each collaborator reinforces a different part of the album’s identity:

• Dani Filth adds theatrical darkness
• Marko Hietala brings history and emotional weight
• Apocalyptica strengthens the orchestral-metal core
• Chad Smith introduces a different rhythmic energy

None of it feels forced.

It feels structured.

This Release Lands At The Right Moment

There’s a shift happening in heavy music right now.

Artists who built their names in earlier eras are being re-evaluated—not as legacy acts, but as still-relevant voices.

Tarja fits directly into that conversation.

She’s not revisiting what worked.

She’s refining it.

And that’s a much harder thing to do.

If you’ve been following how symphonic and cinematic metal have evolved, releases like this are exactly what keep that space moving forward.

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The Tracklist Suggests A Full Experience

Across 10 tracks, the album reads like a complete arc rather than a collection of singles.

Standouts include:

• Frisson Noir
• Leap Of Faith (feat. Marko Hietala)
• Tango (feat. Apocalyptica)
• I Don’t Care (feat. Dani Filth)
• Against The Odds (feat. Chad Smith)

It’s structured to be experienced as a whole.

That’s becoming rarer—and more valuable.

What This Means For Her Next Phase

Tarja isn’t chasing a heavier sound.

She’s reclaiming it in her own way.

That distinction matters.

Because if Frisson Noir lands the way it’s positioned, it doesn’t just become “her heaviest album.”

It becomes the album that resets expectations around what her solo work can be.

And that’s where things shift.

Tour Plans Already Back It Up

The Frisson tour launches September 30 in Berlin, followed by dates across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

That rollout suggests confidence.

Artists don’t build tours around uncertainty.

Fans looking to experience this era live can find ticket options here.

FAQ

When Is Tarja’s Frisson Noir Release Date?

June 12, 2026.

Is This Really Her Heaviest Album?

Yes, it’s being described as her most metal-focused and aggressive solo release to date.

Who Features On The Album?

Dani Filth, Marko Hietala, Apocalyptica, Chad Smith, and others.

What Is The First Single?

“At Sea” is the lead single.

Will Tarja Tour In 2026?

Yes, the Frisson tour begins September 30 in Berlin.

Tarja Turunen Bio

Tarja Turunen is a Finnish soprano and metal vocalist best known as the original voice of Nightwish, where she helped define the symphonic metal genre. Since launching her solo career in 2007, she has built a globally successful catalog blending classical, rock, and metal influences. With a vocal range spanning over three octaves and a distinctive operatic style, Tarja remains one of the most recognizable voices in modern metal.

The post Tarja Turunen Says Her New Album Is “The Heaviest Ever”—But Fans Didn’t See This Coming appeared first on Loaded Radio.

Rock In Rio have revealed the full line-up for two of the heaviest days of this year’s festival, and they are absolutely perfect.

On September 04, Foo Fighters will be headlining, with support on the World Stage coming from Rise Against, The Hives and Nova Twins. The Sunset Stage will also feature an appearance from Hot Milk.

And then on September 05, Avenged Sevenfold will top the bill, joined by Bring Me The Horizon, mgk and Sepultura. The Sunset Stage will house Bad Omens and Poppy, too.

Very much the creme de la creme of rock and alternative in 2026, don’t you think?

Rock In Rio will run from September 04-07 and 11-13 at the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro. More information and tickets are available now from right here.

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The post Bad Omens, Bring Me The Horizon & More Confirmed For Rock In Rio appeared first on Rock Sound.

What do you do when an important record of yours reaches a major milestone? You go on tour, obviously. And as it turns out, Minus The Bear got that particular memo, as they’ll be hitting the road this fall to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Menos El Oso.

According to the band, they’ll play the entirety of that album each night, along with other favorites from their catalog. Opening nearly every date on the tour will be Jimmy Eat World — the exception being two dates in September where Keep replaces them.

This isn’t the first time they’ve played the entirety of that album on tour. Just this past fall, they ran through Menos El Oso while on tour, but Minus The Bear’s David Knudson said this time is special.

“We had way too much fun playing Menos el Oso on the Fall run last year so we’re gonna do it again! This time we’re hitting some of our favorite towns that we couldn’t squeeze into the last itinerary plus we just couldn’t pass up a chance to play with Jimmy on their Bleed American tour. See you in September!”

The tour will run from September 2 in Nashville until September 19 in Atlanta. Along the way, they’ll make stops in Oklahoma City, Austin, Buffalo, and Raleigh, among other stops.

You can find the full list of dates below.

Minus The Bear Tour Dates

9/2 Nashville TN Marathon Music Works
9/4 Columbus OH KEMBA Live
9/5 Grand Rapids MI The Intersection
9/6 St Louis MO The Sovereign
9/7 Oklahoma City OK Tower Theatre
9/9 Austin TX Moody Amphitheater (Keep, no Jimmy Eat World)
9/10 Irving TX Toyota Music Factory (Keep, no Jimmy Eat World)
9/11 Lawrence KS The Granada
9/12 Des Moines IA Val Air Ballroom
9/14 Buffalo NY Town Ballroom
9/15 New Haven CT College Street Music Hall
9/17 Richmond VA The National
9/18 Raleigh NC The Ritz
9/19 Atlanta GA Shaky Knees Fest

The post Minus The Bear Unveil ‘Menos El Oso’ 20th Anniversary Tour appeared first on MetalSucks.

Toronto thrashers Korrosive don’t do subtlety. On “Khaos Unbound,” taken from their latest album Katastrophic Creation, the band delivers a full-speed assault of blistering riffs, pummeling drums and venom-spitting vocals that feel ripped straight from thrash’s most chaotic lineage. Today, Decibel is premiering the band’s new video for the track.

Directed and edited by guitarist Jack Neila and shot by Michael Jari Davidson—whose résumé includes work with Alice in Chains—the clip matches the song’s relentless energy with a stark visual punch. The performance-focused video captures Korrosive locked into the same furious intensity that drives the track itself, channeling the band’s no-frills approach to modern thrash.

Lyrically, “Khaos Unbound” takes aim at the machinery of war and the disposable role of those forced to fight it. Vocalist Rad Zarei explains that the song was written from the perspective of someone realizing they’re merely cannon fodder—sent into conflict by leaders who never face the consequences themselves.

“The idea behind the song is about war and society,” says Zarei. “It’s written from the perspective of someone realizing they’re just cannon fodder. Those in command never face consequences, but when the pawns push back, chaos is unbound.”

The track appears on Katastrophic Creation, a no-mercy thrash barrage that leans hard into speed, aggression and razor-sharp riffing. For fans of unapologetic, old-school thrash delivered with modern ferocity, Korrosive’s latest offering leaves little doubt about the band’s mission: maximum velocity, zero compromise.

Watch the video for “Khaos Unbound” below.

The post Video Premiere: Korrosive – “Khaos Unbound” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

There's no arguing that it's been a great decade for rock and metal. These 25 2020s albums prove it! Continue reading…

Thundermother .

The post Thundermother drop live video for track “Can You Feel It” first appeared on Sleaze Roxx.