This year is going to be a busy one for Fear Factory with worldwide touring. After recent US and Australian/New Zealand tour announcements, the American industrialists have now announced a 34-date ‘Cybernetic Domination European Tour’. Crystal Lake, Hate and The Nocturnal Affair will be joining them on the road.
Read moreā¦
Blog
-
Reviews: Angus McSix, Temple Of Void, The Gems, Night Thieves (Matt Bladen)
Angus McSix – Angus McSix And The All-Seeing Astral Eye (Napalm Records)
The most recent quest for Prince Angus McSix (Thomas Winkler) began after the Hammer Of Glory was destroyed and he took The Sword Of Power and embarked on a battle against Archdemon Seebulon (Sebastian āSeebā Levermann of Orden Organ), however he was imprisoned in an ice with no memory of who he was before.So the next chapter of the story now begins with Angus’ brother, Adam McSix (Sam Nyman of Manimal) taking the lead character role, Angus still appears on the opening track, 6666, however from here this is the journey of Adam to save his brother alongside new party member The Dwarf (Jasmin Pabst) who joins on guitar alongside Amazon Thalestris (Thalia Belazecca of Primal Fear), Ork Zero (Gerit Lamm) on drums.Seeb also plays guitars and produces the record to make sure this conceptual fantasy is as over the top as it can be. Telling a whole new story, the music doesn’t change too much, packing in a lot of grandiose power metal with some thumping electronics (Starlight Stronghold) plenty of tasty guitar/keys playing and massive choruses sung brilliantly by Nyman who slots into the frontman role perfectly with his power and range.To make this second chapter even more epic they even add a few guests to the record as Rhapsody Of Fire join for Adam McSix, Turmion KƤtilƶt bring industrial thunder to Techno Men crossing Manowar with Kraftwerk, Dig Down has some AOR choruses aided by acapella act Van Canto while there’s a party atmosphere on The Power Of Metal where Freedom Call join the fun.And that’s the kicker of this whole thing, Angus McSix And The All-Seeing Astral Eye is just fun, tongue-in-cheek humour, epic compositions and technically gifted performances, the adventure continues and you should join asap. 8/10Temple Of Void – The Crawl (Relapse Records)
Five albums in and Detroit band Temple Of Void feel like experimenting, not in a way that totally runs away from their uncompromising death-doom assault but by adding elements to make it more experimental and musically mature. It’s something they’ve been doing throughout their existence slowly adding softness to their hardened extremity with synths and melodic passages that are most prominent on album five.
The Crawl is a way for these veterans of the Michigan scene to explore some of their non metal influences as they throw in a lot of grunge and post-punk dull their sledgehammer into a more precise tool. Temple Of Void are guitarist Alex Awn, drummer Jason Pearce, vocalist/guitarist Mike Erdody, and bassist Justin Malek and they tracked The Crawl was tracked in a single week in January, at Kurt Ballouās GodCity Studio (High On Fire) in Salem, MA. Ballou and engineer Zach Weeks (Deafheaven).
They give the record a spontaneity and rawness, feeling like you’re right their with them as they’re playing as Brad Boatright’s master locks in this rougher hue but allows the non metal moments to breathe too. With lyrics continuing on the theme of fear and psychology from their last album, Temple Of Void can soundtrack epic D&D campaigns with The Crawl, packed with thrills and spills, it’s death-doom brutality they have mastered with invitations from their other musical infatuations. 8/10
The Gems – Year Of The Snake (Napalm Records)
Classic rock trio The Gems take a further step into modernity on their second album Year Of The Snake, moving outside of the AC/DC-like riffs of their debut with second full length Year Of The Snake. Blasting out of your speakers with the title track, it’s another mammoth record of 14 songs and while there are some rare jewels here, but like it’s predecessor there’s still too much of it.
Granted the 14 tracks don’t ease off the accelerator as Mona Lindgren’s guitar/bass riffs peel off against the drumming of Emlee Johansson creating some loud, boisterous noise for singer Guernica Mancini’s huge vocals to croon over, she’s joined by Tommy Johansson of Majestica for an 80’s sounding track, while there’s still a lot of blues, a bit of glam stomping and a ballad or two that are all written for hard rock radio and live stages.
Year Of The Snake is solid second record from The Gems, shaking up their songwriting with a bit more variety and a swagger towards the mainstream, across these 14 songs. 7/10
Night Thieves – Metaxis (Self Released)
London band Night Thieves have been quite rapidly rising through the ranks of the UK scene and this has all been leading to the release of their hotly anticipated debut album Metaxis. It, like their 2024 EP is produced by Romesh Dodangoda, who gives it the huge modern sound he is so renowned for.
So what is Metaxis like? Well I’m glad you asked as Night Thieves managed to capture the current musical Zeitgeist with this debut record, crafting a full length that has musical inspiration from bands such as Bring Me The Horizon, Architects and Spirtbox.
There’s some 90’s alt rock tones on Running (Out Of Time), the atmospheric suite of In Between Pt 1/Pt2, the chorus driven crunch of Mycelia or the introspective balladry of See You On The Other Side which features Jessie Powell of Dream State.
Night Thieves combine heavy djenty grooves from Rick Hunter-Burns (bass) and percussive power from Ryan Delgyn (drums) with pulsating synths and cavernous riffs from Paul Andrew (guitar) and some sneering, gritty vocals for Jess Moyle, a potent cocktail that have been mixed properly to create this debut.
The result is a hooky, style of modern musical alchemy, Night Thieves are a stage honed, confident four-piece with strong creative senses, all of which is on display on Metaxis. 8/10 -
THE WOLFE BROTHERS Announce Massive āAustralian Madeā National Tour
Australiaās favourite country rockers, The Wolfe Brothers, are heading back out on the road on their “Australian Made National Tour,” ending an 18-month break from touring. This tour follows their marathon 2023-2024 Livinā The Dream tour, voted Australian Tour Of The Year at the inaugural Countrytown Awards in March 2025.
Despite calling a hiatus on touring at the end of 2024, the Tasmanian based brothers Tom and Nick Wolfe stayed connected with fans throughout 2025 by performing at dozens of festivals around the nation. While delivering blistering, high energy shows to over 100,000 people at the festivals they were also busy writing and recording their latest album.
The new tour celebrates the bandās most recent chapter, culminating in the release of their Australian Made album, which debuted at #1 on the ARIA Australian Album chart and the ARIA Australian Country chart upon its release on August 29, 2025. The success of the album paved the way for The Wolfe Brothers to become the most awarded act at the 2026 Australian Country Music Awards, earning 5 Golden Guitars: Album of the Year, Contemporary Album of the Year, Group of the Year, Collaboration of the Year with Zac and George, and Heritage Song of the Year. These wins lifted their career total to 15 Golden Guitars.
In the 14 years since appearing on Australiaās Got Talent in 2012, The Wolfe Brothers have become the most awarded country rock group in history. The brothers were honoured to receive their induction into the Galaxy of Stars (2024) and the Country Music Hands Of Fame (2026) placing them alongside many of the genreās most revered artists. Their enduring popularity is further reflected by back-to-back fan-voted wins for Best Group or Duo at the Countrytown Awards in 2025 and 2026.
Tom Wolfe said: āThe Australian Made concept really came from looking around at our lives and the people we grew up with. Itās a reflection of where we are from, the stories, the landscapes, the proud communities and the spirit of Australia. We wanted to make a record that felt honest, a record we would be proud of, without overthinking it.ā
Nick Wolfe expressed the band’s excitement to be touring again with their new show and new album: āThose couple of hours on stage is where we feel most alive. We donāt take for granted that most people never get to experience playing to a crowd that has lived the songs you have written and sings them back to you. There is no greater feelingā.
The Wolfe Brothers are ready to hit the road and play “live, loud and proud”. This initial announcement includes shows through to the end of August, with more dates to be announced. This tour will continue throughout 2026 and into 2027.
THE WOLFE BROTHERS
AUSTRALIAN MADE NATIONAL TOUR DATES 2026
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Fri 10 Apr – Meatstock Toowoomba, QLD – Festival
Fri 17 Apr – Meatstock Gippsland, VIC – Festival
Sat 2 May – Stomping Groundz Festival, Dapto NSW – Festival
Sat 9 May – Outback Sounds, Mt Isa QLD – Festival
Fri 15 May – Capital Theatre, Bendigo VIC – special guest Taylor Moss
Sat 16 May – Civic Hall, Ballarat VIC – special guest Taylor Moss
Sat 30 May – Alpha Fest, Sandstone Point Hotel, QLD – Festival
Thur 4 June – Emerald Star Hotel, Emerald, QLD – special guest Jake Whittaker
Fr 5 June – Leichhardt Hotel, Rockhampton QLD – special guest Jake Whittaker
Sat 6 June – Harvey Road Tavern, Gladstone QLD – special guest Jake Whittaker
Sat 13 June – Country Fest, Townsville QLD – Festival
Thur 18 June – Hallam Hotel, VIC – special guest Taylor Moss
Fri 19 June – Gateway Hotel, Geelong VIC – special guest Taylor Moss
Sat 20 June – York On Lilydale, Mt Evelyn VIC – special guest Taylor Moss
Fri 26 June – Hamilton Hotel, Brisbane QLD – special guestĀ Will Day
Sat 27 June – Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich QLD – special guest Will Day
Fri 17 July – C.ex Coffs Harbour NSW – special guest Abbie Ferris
Sat 18 July – Yamba Bowling Club, NSW – special guest Abbie Ferris
Fri 24 July – Evan Theatre, Penrith NSW – special guest Abbie Ferris
Sat 25 July – Harmonie German Club, Canberra ACT – special guest Abbie Ferris
Fri 31 July – The Gov, Adelaide, SA – special guest Taylor Moss
Sat 1 Aug – Barossa Arts Centre, Tanunda SA – special guest Taylor Moss
Fri 7 Aug – Club Forster, NSW – special guest Abbie Ferris
Sat 8 Aug – Panthers Port Macquarie, NSW – special guest Abbie Ferris
Fri 21 Aug – Full Throttle Ranch, Newcastle NSW – special guest Abbie Ferris
Sat 22 Aug – Drifters Wharf, Gosford NSW – special guest Abbie Ferris
Sat 29 Aug – Gympie Muster – Festival
Sun 30 Aug – Gympie Muster – FestivalFor tickets and show information go to:Ā thewolfebrothers.com
The post THE WOLFE BROTHERS Announce Massive ‘Australian Made’ National Tour appeared first on The Rockpit.
-
INCENDIARY DropĀ āProduct Of New York,ā Collecting The Earliest Recordings, Split 7ā, DebutĀ EP, And Previously Unreleased Material
Collecting the Incendiaryās earliest recordingsāsplit 7ā releases, their debutĀ Amongst The FilthĀ EP, and previously unreleased materialāthis compilation is less -
DEVILāS CIGARETTE Release āIām Boredā From New Album
With raw energy and uncompromising attitude, Devil’s Cigarette has quickly become a rising force on Sweden’s rock scene. Their music blends the nerve of classic garage rock with fresh, modern intensity – delivering big choruses, blazing riffs, and irresistible grooves. On stage, they are more than a band: they are an explosive statement. Sweaty, intense, […] -
A Forest Of Stars – Deliver New Single
In wake of their forthcoming studio release Stack Overflow In Corpse Pile Interface, due out on May 8th, UK’s A Forest Of Stars have revealed a lyric video for their newest preview tune titled “Roots Circle Usurpers”.
Read moreā¦ -
Horn – Detail Upcoming Studio Record
Apokalyps 1618 has been set as the official title of the newly announced record by the German black metal band Horn. Due on June 5th 2026 via Northern Silence Productions, it was mixed and mastered by Markus Stock at Klangschmiede Studio E. For a preview, you can listen to the title track via Black Metal Promotion’s YouTube channel.
Read moreā¦ -
Mortiis – Present ‘Ghosts Of Europa’ Track
Iconic Norwegian artist Mortiis presents a Claudio Marino-directed music video to the title track of his upcoming new album Ghosts Of Europa, featuring Sarah Jezebel Deva, Laurie Ann Haus and Tangerine Dream‘s Thorsten Quaeschning. The LP comes out on June 21st, 2026 via Prophecy Productions.
Read moreā¦ -
HOKKA Unleash Cinematic Video For New Single āBlackbirdā Debut Album VIA MISERIA IV Out On April 24th
Photo: Hokka Syndicate OY HOKKA return with a powerful new chapter in their unfolding musical saga. The warrior and the sensai ā Joel Hokka (ex-Blind Channel) and Pauli Rantasalmi (ex-The Rasmus) ā continue their journey with the release of the gripping new single ‘Blackbird’.
Taken from the upcoming album VIA MISERIA IV, set for release on April 24 via Nuclear Blast Records, ‘Blackbird’Ā delivers another intense and emotionally charged installment in the projectās evolving narrative. Driven by haunting melodies and cinematic production, the track dives also a bitĀ deeper into the heavierĀ sideĀ of the band.
Accompanied by a striking new cinematic video, ‘Blackbird’Ā continues the storyline introduced in the previous singles, expanding the visual and emotional world of HOKKA. The song builds with relentless energy before soaring into a powerful chorus that hits straight to the heart.
With ‘Blackbird’,Ā HOKKA once again blend storytelling, atmosphere, and raw emotion ā offering a glimpse into the dramatic universe that awaits on VIA MISERIA IV.
Check out the video for ‘Blackbird’:
https://youtu.be/L1XcnuEbqxMListen to ‘Blackbird’ on all platforms:
https://hokka.bfan.link/blackbird
Pre-order VIA MISERIA IV:
https://hokka.bfan.link/via-miseria-ivJoel Hokka comments on the song: “‘Blackbird’ is the latest single from the upcoming debut album āVia Miseria IVā. This track shows the heavier side of HOŠA. With a riff influenced by the very roots of heavy metal and melodies echoing from the Nordic darkness, this track serves as a perfect introduction to the debut album. Revenge with love, enjoy!”
Tracklist:
01. Blackbird
02. In The Darkness
03. Death By Cupid’s Arrow
04. Via Miseria
05. Heart said No
06. Bon Apetit
07. Murder Ballad
08. Angels Fall
09. Serpent’s Song
10. Kiss From A RoseThe post HOKKA Unleash Cinematic Video For New Single ‘Blackbird’ Debut Album VIA MISERIA IV Out On April 24th appeared first on The Rockpit.
-
Parkway Drive distance themselves from former employee who pleaded guilty to underage sex offence: āWe support the victim 100 percent. She deserves justice.ā
Jed Gordon, brother of the Australian metal bandās drummer Ben Gordon, recently pleaded guilty to having sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was in his early 20s