Gritty blues rock guitarist Jack J Hutchinson is pleased to announce his ‘Soul Believer Tour 2026’. He hits the road later this year in support of his forthcoming studio album, ‘Soul Believer’, which lands early next year. The album will feature 10 brand new tracks co-written with Josiah J Manning (Kris Barras Band, Seth Lakeman) and will be the first to feature Hutchinson’s new band, featuring Greg Smith on bass and Phil Wilson on drums.
Commenting on what fans can expect from the tour, Hutchinson says: “This will be the first opportunity to hear the new tracks we have been recording. The tunes sound massive in the studio and we can’t wait for the adrenaline rush of playing them in front of an audience. These shows are certainly going to pack a punch!”
The tour announcement comes after Hutchinson’s successful Kickstarter campaign, which raised over £7K towards the recording sessions of the new record. “As an independent artist getting this level of support from so many amazing people really blows my mind” says Hutchinson. “It has inspired us to give the album everything we’ve got and make it my best record yet.”
Hutchinson’s album ‘Battles’ crash landed in the Official Independent Chart in 2024, spawning two Planet Rock playlisted singles in ‘Bullets’ and ‘Constellations’, plus rave reviews from BBC Radio 2 and Classic Rock Magazine.
The album will be preceded by the album’s title track, ‘Soul Believer’ – out May 2026.
There’s something deliciously awkward about a “lost” concept album finally stepping into the light decades after its uncertain inception, and Trixie’s by Squeeze leans into that faux-naïve ambition with a grin. You get the feeling you’re not just hearing a record, but stepping into a time capsule — one that smells faintly of stale lager, cigarette smoke and big ideas sketched in biro on the back of a setlist in a club just like Trixies.
Opening with What More Can I Say, the album frames itself as an overture to a long night that’s already happened. It’s woozy, reflective, almost hungover and feels less like teenage bravado and more like righteous inevitability. From there, You Get The Feeling drifts in like yacht-rock left in dry dock: languid, vibey, and knowingly detached (well we are in England not L.A. after all). You get the feeling the band are both inhabiting and observing the scene at once with a preference for the latter but succumbing to the former ‘if they have to’….
This isn’t the polished pop wit of early Squeeze singles. The sonics and melodic instincts are unmistakable, but here they’re rougher, moodier — more Channel 4 B-movie in the mid-’80s than chart-bound smart-pop glory. The Place Called Mars is beautifully Beatlesque and Hell On Earth has the real in your face energy of early Squeeze and drags us through nightclub shadows and low-life vignettes, all staccato piano and back-alley unease. It’s Soho before gentrification, painted in baroque hues and neon bruises. It’s so bloody good for a couple of teenagers!
There’s a surprising emotional weight, too. The Dancer peers past the sleaze to find vulnerability, while Good Riddance restores melodic sensibilities without sanding off the grit. Even when the vintage glam stomp of Why Don’t You shows its age, but you get the feeling that’s the point — this is Rock and Roll archaeology, not reinvention, just a little light dusting of artefacts.
By the time the two-part title track closes proceedings in a haze of raunch and resignation, it’s clear this was always ahead of itself — gloriously so. Not because it predicts the future, but because it refuses to tidy up and square away the past. I’d love to think my teenage book concepts would shine as brightly decades later…
In the end, I loved it. Listening to Trixie’s is like peeling back decades-old wallpaper and finding something stranger, darker and far more interesting underneath. It may not have the diamond-cut sparkle of vintage Squeeze, but it has atmosphere, nerve and the thrill of discovery — and sometimes that’s even better.
To promote the soon-to-be-released debut full-length Guerre Et Paix, Norwegian one-man act Via Doloris has released a brand new song called “Un Franc Soleil”. You can listen to it now via Bandcamp widget below together with the previously released track, “For The Glory”. Read more…
Connecticut-based progressive death metal formation Xenosis has unveiled first details as well as the lead single in connection with their new LP announcement. Entitled Hermetic Transmutation, it will be set free later this year on Transcending Obscurity Records. Read more…
The Cadillac Lyriq is a luxury electric SUV built on General Motors’ Ultium platform. All versions use a 102 kWh (usable) battery pack and offer rear‑wheel‑drive or dual‑motor all‑wheel‑drive configurations.
EPA estimates give the 2024–2026 Lyriq a range of 314–326 mi for the single‑motor rear‑drive model and 307 mi for the dual‑motor version.
Real‑world testing by automotive journalists shows slightly lower figures: Car and Driver achieved 270 mi on the highway with the rear‑drive model and 220 mi with the all‑wheel‑drive version.
Slashgear’s reviewer averaged about 2.5 mi/kWh in mixed driving, projecting roughly 255 mi of practical range.
The battery capacity is fixed, so switching driving modes does not change the total energy available. However, driving modes modify power delivery, regenerative braking, and traction control, which in turn affect energy consumption and therefore usable range.
Cadillac’s Driver Mode Control system allows the driver to tailor vehicle behavior by selecting a mode through the infotainment screen. The quick‑start guide for the 2024 Lyriq notes that the system “automatically adjusts various vehicle systems based on driving preferences, weather, and road conditions”.
The available modes and their intended purposes are:
Tour Mode: Default setting for everyday driving and a “smooth ride”. It optimizes comfort and efficiency.
Sport Mode: “Enhanced responsiveness”, steering effort, and accelerator response are sharpened for more dynamic driving.
Snow/Ice Mode: Improves acceleration and traction on slippery roads by softening accelerator pedal response and managing all‑wheel‑drive torque distribution.
My Mode: Let drivers personalize acceleration feel, brake feel, steering effort, suspension tuning, and motor sound. In effect, My Mode can emulate Tour or Sport depending on the chosen settings.
Velocity Max Mode / V‑Mode: On performance‑oriented V‑Series models, a velocity‑max mode temporarily overrides propulsion limits to deliver maximum motor torque. GM Authority notes that this mode is not intended for daily use.
How the Modes Affect Vehicle Systems
GM Authority provides qualitative descriptions of the modes for the 2026 Lyriq:
Mode
Effect on powertrain and handling
Intended use
Tour
Balances acceleration response, steering effort, and suspension tuning for comfortable city and highway driving.
Daily drivin:; maximize ride comfort and efficiency.
Sport
Increases steering effort and changes pedal mapping for quicker acceleration; sharpens handling on dry pavement.
Enthusiastic driving when responsiveness is desired.
Snow/Ice
Softens accelerator response to reduce wheel slip; adjusts all‑wheel‑drive power distribution for better traction.
Driving on snow‑ or ice‑covered roads.
My Mode
Allows customization of motor sound, acceleration feel, brake feel, steering, suspension, and other settings.
Personalizing the vehicle’s character.
V‑Mode / Velocity Max
Available on V‑Series models; provides maximum propulsion power and adjusts cooling and torque distribution for short bursts.
Quick passing or performance driving; not intended for sustained use.
The official materials do not list any change to battery capacity or rated range when switching modes. Instead, they highlight comfort, traction, and responsiveness.
Nevertheless, because these modes alter throttle mapping and regenerative braking, they influence energy consumption.
Evidence on Range and Battery Usage
EPA Ratings and Real‑world Tests
Since the Lyriq’s battery pack is fixed at about 102 kWh, only efficiency determines range. The single‑motor rear‑wheel‑drive Lyriq is rated for 314 mi of range, while the dual‑motor all‑wheel‑drive version is rated at 307 mi.
Car and Driver reported that in its highway range test, the rear‑drive model went 270 mi and the all‑wheel‑drive model 220 mi, a reminder that high speeds and real‑world conditions reduce range regardless of mode.
Slashgear’s reviewer achieved 2.5 mi/kWh in mixed driving (about 255 mi of range). None of thesetest isolatese driving modes, but they show the baseline energy use with typical driving behavior.
Owner Reports and Unofficial Data
Source: Youtube/Screenshot, Owner reports suggest Tour Mode can deliver the best efficiency, with up to 16–19% more range than Sport Mode
Because Cadillac does not publish mode‑specific range ratings, enthusiasts and owners share their experience online. An article that compiled comments from over 15,000 Lyriq owners reported an average real‑world range of 287 mi, with a median of 300 mi.
According to this compilation, only 1.1 % of range‑loss complaints blamed Sport Mode; bigger factors included 22‑inch wheels (15.9 % of complaints), highway speed (12.8 %), and cold weather (11.5 %).
While not an official source, the same article used owner data to estimate how much each mode affects efficiency:
Tour Mode – “Champion of range”: roughly 16–19 % better efficiency than Sport Mode at highway speeds. For a battery rated at 326 mi, that equates to 50–60 mi of extra range. One driver reported averaging 2.5 mi/kWh (≈255 mi of range) in Tour Mode at 70 mph, whereas the same driver achieved only 2.1 mi/kWh in Sport Mode.
Sport Mode– “Thrills come with a trade‑off”: reduces regenerative braking and prioritizes power delivery. Owners reported seeing the estimated range drop by 5–15 % compared with Tour Mode, corresponding to 265–280 mi on a full charge.
Snow/Ice Mode– “Safety first, range second”: typically 3–8 % less efficient than Tour Mode because traction control systems work harder. Cold weather itself can further reduce range by 15–25 %.
My Mode: efficiency depends on the chosen settings. Configuring acceleration, braking, ing, and steering to match Tour Mode yields a similar range, whereas sporty settings produce a range closer to Sport Mode.
Velocity Max Mode: provides short bursts of extra power. Cadillac’s manual warns that extended use will reduce range.
These owner‑reported numbers should be interpreted cautiously because they are not validated by independent testing. Nonetheless, they illustrate that driving modes change consumption by altering throttle response and regenerative braking intensity.
Comparing Driving Modes: Range and Efficiency
The table below summarizes information from Cadillac’s official guide and from owner‑reported data about how each driving mode affects efficiency and range. The estimated range change assumes a baseline EPA‑rated range of 326 mi.
Mode
Official purpose & key characteristics
Estimated efficiency change*
Approximate range (assuming 326 mi baseline)
Notes
Tour Mode
Default mode for smooth ride; balanced acceleration, steering, and suspension. Strong regenerative braking.
Most efficient; about 16–19 % better efficiency than Sport Mode.
≈275–326 mi; some owners achieved ~2.5 mi/kWh (≈255 mi) at 70 mph.
Best for maximizing range; recommended for daily commuting and road trips.
Sport Mode
Quicker accelerator response, heavier steering, g, and reduced regen.
5–15 % less efficient than Tour Mode.
≈265–280 mi on a 326‑mi battery.
Provides more dynamic driving feel; suitable for spirited driving or merging, but reduces range.
Snow/Ice Mode
Softens pedal response and optimizes power distribution for traction.
3–8 % less efficient than Tour Mode.
≈300 mi on dry pavement; less in cold weather (battery losses of 15–25 %).
Use only on slippery surfaces; using it on dry roads wastes energy.
My Mode
Customizable; drivers choose acceleration feel, brake feel, steering, suspension, and motor sound.
Variable, matches Tour Mode when efficiency‑oriented settings are chosen; mirrors Sport Mode when sporty settings are selected.
≈265–326 mi depending on settings.
Allowa s personal blend of comfort and performance.
Velocity Max / V‑Mode
Performance‑oriented burst mode: provides maximum motor torque and alters cooling and AWD behavior.
Significant decrease in efficiency; Cadillac warns that extended use will reduce range.
Not specified; intended for short bursts only.
Use briefly when maximum acceleration is needed.
*Estimates derived from owner‑reported data; actual results vary with speed, terrain, temperature, and driving style.
Factors Beyond Driving Mode
Source: Youtube/Screenshot, Speed, wheel size, and cold weather often affect the Cadillac Lyriq range more than driving modes
Wheel Size and Tires
Owner reports show that wheel size has a surprising impact on range. Larger 22‑inch wheels increased rolling resistance and weight, causing 3–5 % lower efficiency compared with smaller wheels; they were the number‑one cause of range complaints (15.9 %) in a survey of Lyriq owners.
Choosing the smaller 19‑ or 20‑inch wheels can therefore preserve several miles of range.
Speed and Driving Style
High highway speeds reduce efficiency more than anyother driving mode. In Car and Driver’s highway test, the rear‑drive Lyriq achieved 270 mi versus the EPA‑rated 314 mi.
Aggressive acceleration and constant high speeds cause the battery to drain faster. Smooth driving, avoiding sudden starts and stops, and maintaining moderate speeds can improve range by up to 20 % according to owner data.
Cold weather reduces EV range because the battery must warm itself, and the cabin heater draws additional power. Lyriq owners report a 15–25 % range loss in winter.
Preconditioning the cabin and battery while plugged in can help mitigate this effect.
Regenerative Braking and One‑pedal Driving
The Lyriq offers One‑Pedal Driving and a Regen on Demand paddle. The quick‑start guide explains that pulling the Regen on Demand paddle slows the vehicle and sends energy back to the battery, while One‑Pedal Driving slows the car using regenerative braking whenever the accelerator is released.
Using these features, especially in Tour Mode, helps recover energy during deceleration and can extend range. Even in Sport Mode, drivers can manually engage regenerative braking via the paddle to regain some efficiency.
Practical Strategies to Maximize Range
Based on official information and owner experiences:
Choose the right mode for the situation. Use Tour Mode for daily commuting and long trips to maximize range. Switch to Sport Mode only when you need a quicker response and return to Tour when cruising. Reserve Snow/Ice Mode for slippery conditions. Customize My Mode with efficiency‑oriented settings if you want a personalized feel without sacrificing range.
Drive smoothly and moderate your speed. Avoid rapid acceleration and high cruising speeds; they are more impactful on range than the choice of driving mode. Use cruise control on highways and lift off the accelerator early to let regenerative braking slow the car.
Utilize regenerative braking features. Enable One‑Pedal Driving in city traffic and use the Regen on Demand paddle on downhill sections or when approaching stops. The extra energy captured can improve efficiency across all modes.
Manage wheel choices and tires. If maximizing range is a priority, opt for the smaller 19‑ or 20‑inch wheels; they reduce rolling resistance compared with the 22‑inch option.
Precondition and protect the battery. In cold weather, preheat the cabin while the car is still plugged in to avoid using battery energy for heating. Park in a garage when possible.
Maintain a moderate state of charge. Cadillac and many battery experts recommend charging to around 80 % for daily use and avoiding frequent deep discharges. This practice preserves battery health and prevents energy loss at the top and bottom of the pack.
The Cadillac Lyriq’s driving modes do not change the amount of energy stored in its 102 kWh battery, but they do influence how quickly that energy is used.
Tour Mode optimizes comfort and regenerative braking, enabling the longest range. Owner data suggests it can deliver 16–19 % better efficiency than Sport Mode and up to 60 more miles on a full charge.
Sport Mode sharpens throttle and steering response but reduces regen, decreasing range by roughly 5–15 %. Snow/Ice Mode uses additional energy to maximize traction and is best reserved for slippery conditions.
My Mode offers a customizable blend of efficiency and performance, while Velocity Max Mode delivers short bursts of maximum power at the expense of range. During long drives in quieter, efficiency-focused modes like Tour, many drivers also prefer using wireless headphones when parked or charging to enjoy music or media without relying on the vehicle’s audio system.
Black Stone Cherry are determined to mark their successes in life, and the very literally named ‘Celebrate’ is seven tracks dedicated to just this. That said, don’t expect songs you can blow out your birthday candles to; ‘Celebrate’ represents just about making it through the day with your friends at your side.
No one could accuse them of subtlety, but we don’t love Black Stone Cherry for their nuanced, cerebral approach to life. We’re here for huge riffs and Chris Robertson’s Kentucky wail. “Celebrate – you made it through another one today,” he calls on the massive opening title track, a song that Black Stone Cherry’s fans will clutch to their hearts, and one that will blow the room off the intimate venues they’ve picked for their next UK tour. Lead single ‘Neon Eyes’ is bombastic stadium fuel, grooving on the verses and featuring the guitar glory that we’ve fallen for time and again over the past two decades. If you’re in the need of wobbly bass and hip swinging tales of nightlife and unrequited desire, we’ve got ‘Caught In The Up Down’ to fulfil that need in scorching style.
So far, so expected. But under the surface, the band have been dealing with their own private grief, which likely accounts for the way ‘Celebrate’ switches between big anthems and songs ripped straight from their hearts. ‘Deep’, aside from inevitably foreshadowing a major lighters-up moment when performed live, taps into the darkness of loss, with its lighter acoustic touches and winding swings between vulnerability and resolution. It immediately follows the grunge swoops of ‘I’m Fine’ – a self-destructive longing for a break – that’s cut with beams of guitar. The darker, more honest side of ‘Celebrate’ feels much more powerful. It’s as if Black Stone Cherry are setting themselves a challenge to express their troubles in a way that emphasises their personal strength through rock, and it’s far more than you’d expect from their average output.
Then, just when you’ve adjusted to the two poles of ‘Celebrate’, they drop in their cover of ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ with Tyler Connolly of Theory Of A Dead Man. Black Stone Cherry know the iconic chorus all too well, having performed the song at numerous festivals. Once the moment of recognition passes, we realise we’re being treated to a solidly fuzzy hard rock update to the karaoke classic hit. It might seem to come out of the left field to the uninitiated, but it’s definitely a party jam that fits the huge Black Stone Cherry style.
With less than a half-an-hour runtime, it’s somewhat of a fleeting return for Black Stone Cherry. Regardless, no one can really complain about new music from everyone’s favourite southern rockers. With enough innovation, surprise and depth to capture our interest, plus all the guitar heaviness and charisma that we’ve already come to expect, we can be content that ‘Celebrate’ channels positivity through each and every chord.
Black Stone Cherry are determined to mark their successes in life, and the very literally named ‘Celebrate’ is seven tracks dedicated to just this. That said, don’t expect songs you can blow out your birthday candles to; ‘Celebrate’ represents just about making it through the day with your friends at your side.
No one could accuse them of subtlety, but we don’t love Black Stone Cherry for their nuanced, cerebral approach to life. We’re here for huge riffs and Chris Robertson’s Kentucky wail. “Celebrate – you made it through another one today,” he calls on the massive opening title track, a song that Black Stone Cherry’s fans will clutch to their hearts, and one that will blow the room off the intimate venues they’ve picked for their next UK tour. Lead single ‘Neon Eyes’ is bombastic stadium fuel, grooving on the verses and featuring the guitar glory that we’ve fallen for time and again over the past two decades. If you’re in the need of wobbly bass and hip swinging tales of nightlife and unrequited desire, we’ve got ‘Caught In The Up Down’ to fulfil that need in scorching style.
So far, so expected. But under the surface, the band have been dealing with their own private grief, which likely accounts for the way ‘Celebrate’ switches between big anthems and songs ripped straight from their hearts. ‘Deep’, aside from inevitably foreshadowing a major lighters-up moment when performed live, taps into the darkness of loss, with its lighter acoustic touches and winding swings between vulnerability and resolution. It immediately follows the grunge swoops of ‘I’m Fine’ – a self-destructive longing for a break – that’s cut with beams of guitar. The darker, more honest side of ‘Celebrate’ feels much more powerful. It’s as if Black Stone Cherry are setting themselves a challenge to express their troubles in a way that emphasises their personal strength through rock, and it’s far more than you’d expect from their average output.
Then, just when you’ve adjusted to the two poles of ‘Celebrate’, they drop in their cover of ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ with Tyler Connolly of Theory Of A Dead Man. Black Stone Cherry know the iconic chorus all too well, having performed the song at numerous festivals. Once the moment of recognition passes, we realise we’re being treated to a solidly fuzzy hard rock update to the karaoke classic hit. It might seem to come out of the left field to the uninitiated, but it’s definitely a party jam that fits the huge Black Stone Cherry style.
With less than a half-an-hour runtime, it’s somewhat of a fleeting return for Black Stone Cherry. Regardless, no one can really complain about new music from everyone’s favourite southern rockers. With enough innovation, surprise and depth to capture our interest, plus all the guitar heaviness and charisma that we’ve already come to expect, we can be content that ‘Celebrate’ channels positivity through each and every chord.
