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What Is Blue Medusa And Why Is “Checkmate” Getting Attention?

Blue Medusa is Alissa White-Gluz’s new band, and “Checkmate” marks its debut single—introducing a fresh project built around a new lineup and a more cinematic, modern metal direction.

TL;DR

• Alissa White-Gluz launches new band Blue Medusa
• Debut single “Checkmate” premieres
• Video co-directed by Vicente Cordero
• Track co-produced by Alissa and Kile Odell
• Features new core lineup and expanded live band

There’s always curiosity when a vocalist of this level steps into something new.

With Blue Medusa, Alissa White-Gluz isn’t revisiting familiar ground—she’s building something from scratch.

A New Band With A Clear Identity From Day One

“Checkmate” arrives with a fully realized presentation, not a test release.

The track first surfaced through early radio play before officially landing online alongside its video.

This isn’t a tentative introduction—it arrives fully formed with a clear sense of direction.

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The Visual Direction Matches The Sound

The video for “Checkmate” was co-directed by Vicente Cordero and White-Gluz herself.

Cordero’s past work with artists like Cradle Of Filth and Hollywood Undead gives the visual a polished, high-impact feel.

Pairing that with Alissa’s direct involvement keeps the presentation aligned with the band’s identity from the start.

Fans interested in upcoming metal shows can explore current ticket listings here.

Built Around A New Core Lineup

Blue Medusa isn’t built as a solo vehicle—it’s structured as a band.

The core lineup includes:

• Alyssa Day (Mindscar / In Absentia)
• Dani Sophia (ex-Lindemann)

For live performances, the lineup expands with:

• Alicia Vigil (DragonForce, Vigil Of War) on bass
• Delaney Jaster (These Fading Visions) on drums

That combination gives the project both studio precision and live flexibility.

Production Choices Signal A Different Direction

“Checkmate” was co-produced by White-Gluz and Kile Odell, with Odell also handling mixing and mastering.

That level of involvement from Alissa isn’t just creative—it’s structural.

It places her at the center of how the project sounds, not just how it’s delivered.

Where This Fits In Alissa White-Gluz’s Career

Alissa White-Gluz is already known for her work with Arch Enemy and The Agonist.

Blue Medusa sits in a different lane.

It’s not replacing those chapters—it’s expanding them.

And first impressions matter. “Checkmate” makes it clear this project isn’t here to blend in.

Where This Lands In The Bigger Picture

New projects from established artists tend to get attention—but not all of them hold it.

What separates this launch is how complete it feels from the start.

The lineup, production, and presentation all point to something built with long-term intent, not a one-off release.

Do you think Blue Medusa has the potential to stand alongside Alissa’s past bands—or carve out something entirely different?

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FAQ

What Is Blue Medusa?

Blue Medusa is a new band launched by Alissa White-Gluz in 2026.

What Is “Checkmate”?

“Checkmate” is the debut single from Blue Medusa.

Who Directed The Video?

The video was co-directed by Vicente Cordero and Alissa White-Gluz.

Who Is In The Band?

Core members include Alyssa Day and Dani Sophia, with additional live members Alicia Vigil and Delaney Jaster.

Who Produced The Track?

The song was co-produced by Alissa White-Gluz and Kile Odell.

Alissa White-Gluz Bio

Alissa White-Gluz is a Canadian metal vocalist best known for previously fronting such bands as Arch Enemy and The Agonist. She is recognized for her dynamic vocal range and presence in modern metal.

The post Alissa White-Gluz Unleashes Blue Medusa Debut “Checkmate” appeared first on Loaded Radio.

DEVIL’S ISLAND featuring Premier Jester

Welcome to this weeks edition of Devil’s Island! Every week we maroon a band or artist on the island and see what they get up to, how they cope with being all alone on a small island in the middle of the ocean. It’s not your average desert island and we’ll see just how each person copes with the extreme conditions.

This week when we arrived at Devil’s Island we find Premier Jester sat on the beach. The island is far from their home, so how did they end up here and how did they cope with life on Devil’s Island? 

Find out now…    

Welcome to The Razors’e Edge and our somewhat lovely, warm desert island. Don’t worry about it’s name I’m sure it’s not as bad as that would suggest. 

You’re marooned here on this island, but before you ended up shipwrecked you chose one album that you couldn’t live without. Which album did you each chose and why?

Bananas and bBow by Ween, not even an album, just the single and play it on repeat all day every day and just pray that there’s some bananas and some blow somewhere on the island.

Just behind that palm tree is a shack for each of you to stay in, with enough space for you to put up a poster on the wall of one album cover. What album cover do you each chose?

I guess it needs to be the most reflective album cover there is cause I mean if I’ve only got room for a poster if it’s shiny enough that I can use it as a mirror and also as a signal device to help get me off the island that would be good.

There’s also a bar on this here island. But alas each of you only get to choose one drink for the entirety of your stay. What’s your tipple of choice?

That’s a tough one because like if I said I want a cup of tea then I mean technically that multiple ingredients isn’t it there’s water there’s teabag there’s milk there’s sugar so I mean a cup of tea would be good if I feel like that’s almost cheating and as well, it’s gonna be hot if it’s a desert island so probably want milk, especially if I get heartburn milk for the calories and protein.

Your suitcases were lost when your ship sank, but you each managed to salvage one item of band merch. What’s the merch and for what band?

I think it’s gonna have to be some PJ merch! Come on representing do you want me to freeze to death in the Desert island? No, we should all be representing ourselves so when a helicopter comes in that they’ll see us and who’s that and then they see that we are premier jester plus obviously I know it’s super high-quality and it will keep me nice and warm on those cool island nights, merch available on our website

You’re sat on the island thinking “I’m stuck here on this island with my bandmates for eternity”… who would you rather have been shipwrecked with?

Well, I mean I guess I could think of worse people to be stranded with then the guys, but if I could choose anyone at all, hmmm it’s a tough one. I mean, probably someone with a vagina realistically (other than Jonah) although just saying that I can already foresee issues down the line so maybe just bear grills to help us survive and drink our piss.

There’s a walkman in your pocket, on the tape inside is the recording of the one live show that stands out for you. It could be any show, from any band, anywhere in the world. What show is on that walkman?

The Avicci tribute concert, although that could make me perpetually sad for eternity but the raw emotion in the air and the performances are so heart felt and a good variety of bangers, some of which would be lit on a desert island.

You’re getting desperate, you decide the only course of action is to put a message in a bottle and hope someone finds it. Your message could be to any member of any band, but should be the most suitable for a rescue attempt. Who is it?

Well this is kind of bs because the best person to send a bottle too for rescue would be literally myself so I mean I could chuck it out and then walk out and grab it and read the message in the bottle, and then rescue myself but seems kind of up obtuse, so I’ll go with Willie Nelson and hope he brings some supplies for the journey home.

You’ve been stuck here a while and food supplies are running low. There’s only one thing for it… which fellow band member gets sacrificed to help the others survive?

So, my very first thought was (not sure why) but definitely 100% Adam, but then thinking about it he probably tastes a bit like Polish sausage which isn’t terrible but it’s not my favourite flavour. So logically probably Chris just because he’s like the meatiest you know, and he’s got massive calves so just a single calve alone could feed all of us for like a week, so if we could like preserve him and make him into some Chris jerky or something, like dry him out in the Sun so he doesn’t go bad then yeah we could survive for some time – sorry Chris, your death will not be in vain.

Finally, when the ship sank you each managed to save one person from the wreckage. That person is the one musician that has influenced your career the most, shaped your way of thinking and your outlook on life. Who did you save?

So for me it’s gotta be James Hetfield because he’s realistically the dude that made me wanna sing and play guitar myself and be a duuuuude.

For all the latest news, reviews, interviews across the heavy metal spectrum follow THE RAZORS’S EDGE on facebook, twitter and instagram.

The post DEVIL’S ISLAND featuring Premier Jester appeared first on The Razor's Edge.

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As far as Foo Fighters singles go, this is actually pretty heavy. It feels like an old-school Queens of the Stone Age jam.

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Family harmony was not a marketing idea for The Cowsills; it was the whole foundation of the act from the start. The group began in early 1965 with brothers Bill, Bob, and Barry Cowsill, soon joined by their brother John, and later expanded to include siblings Susan and Paul, along with their mother Barbara. The family was from Newport, Rhode Island, although the children’s earliest musical development began while their father, Bud Cowsill, was stationed in Canton, Ohio, as a Navy recruiter. Bill and Bob taught themselves guitar, and the boys started performing at church school dances in Stark County,

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Yes, that’s right, Frog are announcing another new album. Last year the New York duo earned our Album Of The Week honor with 1000 Variations On The Same Song, and then they followed it up with The Count in September. Now Frog For Sale is slated for release next month. “This is an album about…

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