Miranda Lambert’s refusal to follow a prescribed Nashville formula defined her career before it truly began. An early recording session in Music City left her dissatisfied with the suggested pop direction, so she returned to Texas determined to write her own material. She taught herself guitar with her father’s help and began writing songs that reflected her own voice. Raised in Longview, Texas, and later based in Lindale, she had already been performing since high school with “The Texas Pride Band” and working regular gigs at venues such as the Reo Palm Isle in Longview. By sixteen, she was appearing
So Montreal’s Private Lives released a really tremendous sophomore LP last year that somehow evaded my detection. I quite often regret reviews I didn’t write, but that particular miss had me feeling like a goalie who lets in an easy one and ignites a deafening chorus of boos. Rarely will you hear a more satisfying cocktail of power pop, new wave, post-punk, garage rock, and punk rock pulled off in such a fresh and contemporary way. How did I miss that boat? On the bright side, I know for sure I won’t sleep on the next album! In the meantime, Private Lives’ new single on Bachelor Records is a rocket blast of awesomeness headed straight through your ears and into your heart. “Think I’m Coming Around” is very much in the classic punk rock mold. It’s driving, energetic, and bursting with hooks. Jackie and Chance play off each other beautifully on this track, and the rhythm section really lays the pedal to the metal. If powerpop/punk is your thing, this song 100% needs to be in your music library. B-side “Television Faces” is giving major punky new wave vibes, and I’m sure not mad about that. The feel is more modern yet still plenty urgent. I love a band that can deliver music with a message and still put the music front and center. Man, this really is a perfect single. My friends in Europe will want to snag a copy of the vinyl. And by all means, if you don’t yet own Salt of the Earth, that’s an absolute, positive mandatory must-buy!
So Montreal’s Private Lives released a really tremendous sophomore LP last year that somehow evaded my detection. I quite often regret reviews I didn’t write, but that particular miss had me feeling like a goalie who lets in an easy one and ignites a deafening chorus of boos. Rarely will you hear a more satisfying cocktail of power pop, new wave, post-punk, garage rock, and punk rock pulled off in such a fresh and contemporary way. How did I miss that boat? On the bright side, I know for sure I won’t sleep on the next album! In the meantime, Private Lives’ new single on Bachelor Records is a rocket blast of awesomeness headed straight through your ears and into your heart. “Think I’m Coming Around” is very much in the classic punk rock mold. It’s driving, energetic, and bursting with hooks. Jackie and Chance play off each other beautifully on this track, and the rhythm section really lays the pedal to the metal. If powerpop/punk is your thing, this song 100% needs to be in your music library. B-side “Television Faces” is giving major punky new wave vibes, and I’m sure not mad about that. The feel is more modern yet still plenty urgent. I love a band that can deliver music with a message and still put the music front and center. Man, this really is a perfect single. My friends in Europe will want to snag a copy of the vinyl. And by all means, if you don’t yet own Salt of the Earth, that’s an absolute, positive mandatory must-buy!
Poland consistently proves itself as a premier destination for heavy music. While many global listeners immediately associate the region with extreme death and black metal legends, the hardcore and metalcore scenes thriving in cities like Warsaw are equally powerful and culturally significant. The underground there operates with a fierce DIY ethic and an uncompromising dedication […]
Poland consistently proves itself as a premier destination for heavy music. While many global listeners immediately associate the region with extreme death and black metal legends, the hardcore and metalcore scenes thriving in cities like Warsaw are equally powerful and culturally significant. The underground there operates with a fierce DIY ethic and an uncompromising dedication […]
UK Heavy Metal titans Malevolence have unveiled Twelve To Zero, a brand-new track written and recorded in just twelve hours as part of a collaboration with Blizzard Entertainment for World of Warcraft: Midnight – the 12th expansion and the second chapter of the World Soul Saga.
The partnership builds on a spark first ignited at Download Festival, where Blizzard and Jackson Guitars surprised guitarist Konan Hall (“Kon”), a vocal World of Warcraft devotee, with a custom WoW-inspired guitar designed around his in-game character, a Dwarf Paladin.
Blizzard challenged the band to capture the scale and tension of Midnight, where Xal’atath’s rising Void threatens Azeroth and a storm looms over the Sunwell, and to do it against the clock. Malevolence accepted without hesitation, channeling the looming horror of the Void Storm into an original, crushing, cinematic Heavy track.
The release also underlines one thing for Malevolence fans, after dropping their Valentine’s “ballad” Silhouette, the Sheffield crew are still delivering punishing Heavy music.
Malevolence have built their reputation from the underground up on crushing live shows, Heavy riffs and relentless work ethic. Their fourth studio album, Where Only The Truth Is Spoken, was recorded in California at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 on the iconic Neve 8078 console, alongside Grammy Award-winning producer Josh Wilbur (Lamb of God, Gojira, Trivium).
Ukrainian Electro-Gothic Rockers Metameria have announced their third full-length album Electro Romantica, due out on 24 April 2026. Described as a deeply personal reflection on recent years, the record blends the dark intensity of the band’s earlier work with new emotional depth with a Heavy Metal weight behind its atmosphere and themes.
Khvori Uiavy is one of the first singles from the forthcoming album, and Metameria says this track reflects on the trials they were forced to endure, and how the war reshaped their lives, reality and the way they see the world.
For the first time in Metameria’s history, all lyrics on the album are written in Ukrainian, an “inner voice of our time” and an honest testimony of the era. The band also note this is the first album largely recorded by Ihor on his own.
Electro Romantica was gathered across multiple locations, accumulated in Ukraine in an Odesa studio throughout 2023-2024, shaped in Spain (A Coruna) where it was mixed and mastered in 2025, and completed in the UK in Eastbourne.
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour will hit the UK and Ireland in November.
The 18-track record follows a run of recent singles included on the album, including three U.S. radio #1s (Three Six Five, Dance, Kid, Dance and Killing Fields), plus Searchlight, which the band debuted at the Grand Ole Opry.
Frontman Brent Smith says: “This album is over a year in the making. Without question as a band we pushed ourselves like never before. Especially when it comes to Eric. Myself, Zach, and Barry are so honoured to create, and work with such an extraordinary producer, engineer, mixer, songwriter, musician, performer, and band mate. We are so excited to finally announce our 8th studio album titled EI8HT alongside our Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour.”
On the new single, Smith adds: “Safe And Sound is about reminding the competition what they are dealing with one by one.”
Shinedown – Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour
Shinedown have also revealed their Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour, spanning 11 countries and 53 dates across North America, the UK and Europe (with more expected to be added).
North America ticket on-sale: Friday, 20 February (10am local)
EU & UK ticket on-sale: Friday, 27 February (10am local)
Support across selected dates includes Coheed and Cambria, Black Stone Cherry, Those Damn Crows, From Ashes To New, and DJ Rock Feed.
UK Dates (With Coheed and Cambria And Those Damn Crows)
November
BP Pulse BirminghamPendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1PU
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their
Event Details
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour will hit the UK and Ireland in November.
The 18-track record follows a run of recent singles included on the album, including three U.S. radio #1s (Three Six Five, Dance, Kid, Dance and Killing Fields), plus Searchlight, which the band debuted at the Grand Ole Opry.
EU & UK ticket on-sale: Friday, 27 February (10am local)
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their
Event Details
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour will hit the UK and Ireland in November.
The 18-track record follows a run of recent singles included on the album, including three U.S. radio #1s (Three Six Five, Dance, Kid, Dance and Killing Fields), plus Searchlight, which the band debuted at the Grand Ole Opry.
EU & UK ticket on-sale: Friday, 27 February (10am local)
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their
Event Details
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour will hit the UK and Ireland in November.
The 18-track record follows a run of recent singles included on the album, including three U.S. radio #1s (Three Six Five, Dance, Kid, Dance and Killing Fields), plus Searchlight, which the band debuted at the Grand Ole Opry.
EU & UK ticket on-sale: Friday, 27 February (10am local)
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their
Event Details
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour will hit the UK and Ireland in November.
The 18-track record follows a run of recent singles included on the album, including three U.S. radio #1s (Three Six Five, Dance, Kid, Dance and Killing Fields), plus Searchlight, which the band debuted at the Grand Ole Opry.
EU & UK ticket on-sale: Friday, 27 February (10am local)
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their
Event Details
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour will hit the UK and Ireland in November.
The 18-track record follows a run of recent singles included on the album, including three U.S. radio #1s (Three Six Five, Dance, Kid, Dance and Killing Fields), plus Searchlight, which the band debuted at the Grand Ole Opry.
EU & UK ticket on-sale: Friday, 27 February (10am local)
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their
Event Details
Shinedown will release their new studio album EI8HT on 29 May 2026 via Atlantic Records, and shared a new song titled Safe And Sound, along with the news that their Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour will hit the UK and Ireland in November.
The 18-track record follows a run of recent singles included on the album, including three U.S. radio #1s (Three Six Five, Dance, Kid, Dance and Killing Fields), plus Searchlight, which the band debuted at the Grand Ole Opry.
EU & UK ticket on-sale: Friday, 27 February (10am local)
The tour news also adds to the band’s first-ever curated festival event, Shinedown’s Lunatic Ball Beach Weekend, taking place 23-25 October 2026 in Miramar Beach, Florida, featuring two headline sets from Shinedown plus additional artists including BUSH, Hanson, Flyleaf (with Lacey Sturm), Living Colour and more.
The supergroup – Jordan Buckley, Clayton ‘Goose’ Holyoak, Stephen Micciche and Will Putney – state that they’re currently looking for a new singer, as well as finishing writing a brand-new record (the follow-up to 2024’s Highly Irresponsible).
A post on social media from the band reads: “Better Lovers is parting ways with Greg Puciato. We’re proud of the work we’ve done together but we are moving in another direction.
“To all of our fans, thank you for riding with us these past few years. We’ve accomplished so much in such a short time with your support and we’re still beyond excited to continue down this road with you.
“The four of us are finishing writing a new album which we are extremely proud of and currently looking for a new singer. Thanks for your understanding, we’ll see you soon.”
Reposting the band statement on his Instagram Stories, Greg confirms: “No bad blood. Everyone’s cool. Don’t speculate. Love these people and love the band. Rooting for them all collectively and individually. Thanks to everyone for making the last few years special. Long live the frog.”
He adds that, “Sometimes there isn’t more to the story. Ever think of that? Holy shit what a thought. People going separate ways without drama? That’s impossible!
“Sometimes people say, ‘Okay, here’s where I wanna go, here’s what I want, and someone else can want something else, and the shared moment in time is over. Things aren’t less valuable just because they’re impermanent. The moment will always be there in memories and in songs. And sometimes, in cartoon frogs. And maybe, down the line, there will be another moment. Or maybe not. Both are equally okay.”
