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In the fall of 2020, riding high off the success of her pandemic-era classic Punisher, Phoebe Bridgers launched Saddest Factory Records, a new imprint operating under the umbrella of Dead Oceans, the indie mega-label that puts out Bridgers’ own records. She’s since applied the Saddest Factory branding to her SiriusXM show. In its half-decade of existence, Saddest Factory has released records by Muna, Claud, Sloppy Jane, and others, and it’s built up an identity. It may well hold onto that identity, but it won’t be keeping its name.

The post Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Is Retiring Its Name After Trademark Dispute appeared first on Stereogum.

They haven't toured in over a decade. Continue reading…

They haven't toured in over a decade. Continue reading…

North Sea Echoes, featuring progressive metal pioneers singer Ray Alder and guitarist Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, are back with a new studio album, How To Cast A Shadow, set for release on July 24th on Metal Blade Records.

On North Sea Echoes‘ critically acclaimed 2024 debut, Really Good Terrible Things, Alder and Matheos garnered rave reviews for songs that possessed “liberating sonic space and emotional vulnerability… from somnambulant electro-fog to gritty, overdriven disquiet, to the quietly devastating (Blabbermouth).”

With this year’s How To Cast A Shadow, the band’s identity is further explored and expanded. Matheos explains: “this record is a bit heavier, with several more songs featuring real drums, played by Dennis Leeflang. It wasn’t necessarily intentional or planned, just the way things shaped up and how they emerged this time.”

Alder concurs: “[A track like] ‘I’ll Leave A Light On’ is much heavier than anything on Really Good Terrible Things. It has a darker, melancholic feel that fits well on this album. I loosely based the lyrics on a character from my favorite sci-fi series. I won’t say which, but they do use the quote ‘out there in the black.’”

From the radio-ready rock of “All That Comes After” and the intimate, escalating “A Time Of Innocence And Purpose” to the powerful, timeless ballad “Villains Or Saints,” How To Cast A Shadow cohesively crosses genres and challenges aural preconceptions.

In advance of the release, today the band unveils the lead single, “Enjoy the View.” Comments Alder: “The guitars and drums have this great drive that builds throughout the song. The combination of quiet verses and heavy choruses made me think (lyrically) of a darker side to some people. Those who would choose numbness over pain.”

The duo’s shared and separate histories help to forge a fresh creative opus. Alder has been the vocalist and main co-writer for prog metal heroes Fates Warning for 37 years, recording ten albums between 1988 (No Exit) and 2020 (Long Day Good Night). Rounding out his discography are seven albums with Redemption, two solo records, and the band A-Z, which debuted in 2022.

Revered guitarist and producer Matheos is a cofounder of Fates Warning, the lineup debuting with 1984’s Night On Bröcken on Metal Blade. In addition to thirteen albums with Fates Warning, Matheos launched several solo albums, four LPs alongside former Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore under the name OSI, and Kings Of Mercia, which launched in 2022.

Of North Sea Echoes‘ sophomore album, the team says: “You could say that there are elements of everything we do or have done on this album, yet Fates and our various other projects are totally different types of music.” How To Cast A Shadow ups the promise of its predecessor with provocative words of hope, sorrow, and consciousness, paired with Matheos‘ equally emotive, varied, and deeply moving guitar work.

How To Cast A Shadow will be released on CD and digital formats. Find pre-orders here.

The post NORTH SEA ECHOES, Featuring RAY ALDER & JIM MATHEOS, Share Newest Single “Enjoy The View” From Upcoming Album “How to Cast a Shadow” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

The fierce, generational legacy of heavy metal’s most sacred anti-establishment family has collided headfirst with the volatile world of modern sports politics. Jack Osbourne, the media-facing son of legendary Black Sabbath frontman and cultural icon Ozzy Osbourne, has found himself trapped in the center of an absolute buzzsaw of fan fury.

On Sunday, June 14, 2026, the global sports world shifted its tracking parameters to Washington, D.C., as the Octagon was erected on federal property for an unprecedented, multi-million dollar mixed martial arts spectacle.

But when Osbourne took to his personal social media channels to proudly document his front-row access, the heavy music community completely revolted—accusing the rock scion of profound political hypocrisy and desecrating the very anti-war foundations that built his family’s generational empire.

THE WHITE HOUSE OCTAGON: EVENT MATRIX

• The Spectacle: UFC Freedom 250 (Staged Sunday, June 14, 2026) UFC.com
• The Historic Venue: White House South Lawn (First professional sporting event in history on the grounds) Wikipedia
• The Attendance: 4,300 VIP Invited On-Site Guests (Plus massive overflow watch crowds at The Ellipse)
• The Headliner: Justin Gaethje def. Ilia Topuria via 4th-Round TKO (Lightweight Unification Title) UFC.com
• The Underlying Celebration: Coincided directly with President Donald Trump’s 80th Birthday CBS News

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jack Osbourne (@jackosbourne)

“Generals Gathered in Their Masses”: Rock Fans Invoke Black Sabbath’s Legacy

The online warfare ignited almost immediately after Osbourne uploaded a carousel of photos alongside his wife, captioning the high-profile excursion as the “Ultimate Date Night! UFC FREEDOM 250.” For a massive, dedicated tier of Black Sabbath disciples, the visual imagery of the Prince of Darkness’s son enjoying an elite, private for-profit sporting spectacle on the White House lawn was an unforgivable cultural disconnect.

Comment sections rapidly transformed into absolute digital battlegrounds. Hundreds of long-time listeners immediately cited the explicit, biting lyrical architecture of Black Sabbath’s 1970 multi-platinum anti-war anthem, “War Pigs.” Critics fiercely pointed out the bitter irony of an Osbourne rubbing shoulders with the Washington elite, quoting legendary lines written by Geezer Butler and belted by Ozzy regarding politicians who treat human lives like chess pieces while hiding themselves away from the conflicts they orchestrate.

The Hypocrisy Callout: Violating the “Shut Up and Sing” Mandate

Beyond the immediate lyrical contradictions, legacy alternative music fans targeted what they viewed as flagrant personal hypocrisy from the 40-year-old television personality. In previous public statements and media appearances, Jack Osbourne had aggressively aligned himself with the philosophy that Hollywood elites, musicians, and pop-culture celebrities should completely abstain from weaponizing their public platforms to broadcast personal political biases or endorse specific administrations.

“So it’s ‘celebrities need to shut up about politics’ until you get a private VIP invite to the White House lawn?” one top-voted comment cuttingly noted. Another long-time follower added: “Your dad built a legacy screaming against the military-industrial complex and political theater. Watching you treat a highly partisan corporate event as a cozy date night is an absolute slap in the face to everything the Osbourne name stands for.”

Check Out – THE BERSERKER & THE PRINCE: Ranking the Zakk Wylde Era Ozzy Osbourne Albums From Worst To Best

THE LEGAL & LOGISTICAL WARFARE: UFC 250

• The Birthday Connection: The event timeline was strategically mapped out to fall precisely on Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and Flag Day. Wikipedia
• The Legal Challenge: A high-profile emergency lawsuit was filed in federal court attempting to halt the private commercial use of the executive mansion.
• The Judicial Verdict: U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta officially denied the emergency relief injunction, clearing the path for Dana White’s engineering crew.
• The Broadcast Footprint: The historic 7-fight main card bypassed traditional pay-per-view infrastructure, streaming exclusively via Paramount+ to record-breaking global metrics. CBS News

FAQ: Jack Osbourne’s White House UFC Backlash

Why are metal fans angry at Jack Osbourne?

Fans are heavily criticizing Jack Osbourne for attending UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn, claiming his presence at a highly politicized, elite government-backed event directly contradicts the anti-establishment and anti-war legacy of his father Ozzy Osbourne’s band, Black Sabbath.

What was UFC Freedom 250?

Staged on June 14, 2026, UFC Freedom 250 was the first professional combat sports event ever held on White House grounds. The event commemorated the 250th anniversary of the United States and coincided with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.

Did Jack Osbourne comment on the political nature of the UFC event?

No. Osbourne kept his public commentary strictly focused on the sporting aspects of the evening, calling the historic fight card the “Ultimate Date Night,” though fans quickly called him out over his past statements warning celebrities to stay out of public politics.

The lines have been clearly drawn, and the rock and roll underground is refusing to pull any punches. As Jack Osbourne deals with the immediate, high-velocity fallout from his White House date night, the debate over whether the children of rock icons owe allegiance to their parents’ artistic philosophies is raging harder than ever.

Does attending an elite, history-making sporting event at the executive mansion make Jack Osbourne a hypocrite given his past statements, or are internet sleuths overreacting to a simple night out at the fights? Fire off your theories, structural breakdown reviews, and thoughts in the comments section below!

Also – Ranking the 13 Ozzy Osbourne Solo Songs That Built a Heavy Metal Throne

TL;DR

• The Internet Explodes: Jack Osbourne, the son of heavy metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne, is facing an absolute avalanche of social media backlash following a high-profile “date night” appearance.
• The Setting: Osbourne and his wife attended UFC Freedom 250, an unprecedented, highly controversial professional mixed martial arts showcase staged directly on the South Lawn of the White House.
• The Hypocrisy Accusations: Furious rock and metal purists instantly flooded Osbourne’s channels, blasting him for violating his own public stance that celebrities should stay out of politics, while directly contrasting his presence with Black Sabbath’s anti-war masterpiece “War Pigs.”
• A Polarizing Milestone: The historic sporting event, which saw Justin Gaethje defeat Ilia Topuria under the watch of UFC CEO Dana White, doubled as a massive celebration marking President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.

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The post Jack Osbourne Attends Polarizing White House UFC Fight, and Black Sabbath Fans Are Accusing Him of Pure Hypocrisy: “Delete This” appeared first on Loaded Radio.

With the passing of 'ALF' mom Anne Schedeen on June 14, 2026, the iconic late-'80s NBC sitcom joins a small and bittersweet club. Continue reading…

Progressive Death Metal duo, Sallow Moth, in collaboration with No Clean Singing, has premiered “Biohybrid Virulence,” the second single from upcoming Willowtip album, Hydrophilous Brood! Stream it below! nocleansinging.com/2026/06/16/an-ncs-premiere-sallow-moth-biohybrid-virulence/ Hydrophilous Brood takes place in Pamugara, a dimensional nest immersed in a lush world where organisms are rematerialized into new hybrid species after passing through a powerful portal, a highly unpredictable artifact […]

Source

A not so small victory.

The post Faith No More 2027 Reunion Tour Expected As The Band Sign New Global Deal With Promoter 30e appeared first on Theprp.com.

Converge are getting busy these days. The Boston metalcore institution has been going since 1990, and they have lost no steam, ever. In fact, I’m pretty sure that 2026 is officially their busiest year. They’ve already released two albums, Love Is Not Enough and Hum Of Hurt, and both of them absolutely kick fucking ass. Today, they announce the lineup for the second edition of Saddest Day, the hometown festival named after the seven-minute epic from their 1995 album Petitioning The Empty Sky.

The post Converge Announce Saddest Day 2026 Lineup With Chat Pile, Cave In, Baroness, More appeared first on Stereogum.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Unauthorized Wayne Static & Tera Wray Documentary Set to Stream Free Online in 2027

A passion project honoring the legacy of Wayne Static and Tera Wray, made available to fans at no cost

A new independent documentary exploring the lives and legacy of Wayne Static and Tera Wray is scheduled to stream free online in 2027.
The project, described by its creator as a deeply personal labor of love, is being fully self funded and will be made available to the public without subscriptions, paywalls, registrations, or any hidden fees. The film will stream exclusively through a dedicated private website, designed to give fans direct and simple access.
Unlike commercial releases, the documentary is not being developed for profit. Instead, it focuses on honoring the memory and cultural impact of Wayne Static and Tera Wray while offering a respectful look back at their lives for longtime supporters and new audiences discovering their story.
Creator Matt Zane says the intent behind the project is straightforward.
“This project is being done with nothing more than love and respect. The goal is to celebrate Wayne and Tera’s legacy and make their story accessible to everyone who wishes to remember them.”
Further details, including the official streaming date and website information, are expected to be announced as the release approaches.
For updates and future announcements, follow Matt Zane on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/lordzane/
Check out this interview about it: