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Fans expecting Staind to coast on nostalgia for their upcoming fall anniversary tour just got a massive wake-up call. Guitarist Mike Mushok has unexpectedly revealed that the post-grunge icons have officially finished recording their ninth studio album.

Dropping the bombshell backstage at the Sonic Temple festival, Mushok confirmed that the band is refusing to sit still, opting instead to double down on the controversial, modernized electronic elements introduced by frontman Aaron Lewis on their last record. If you thought this band was done evolving, think again.

From Synth to Sledgehammer: The Unconventional Ninth Album

Speaking with Columbus rock station 99.7 The Blitz at Sonic Temple, Mushok laid the cards on the table: “We have a new record that’s actually done.” While the album is tentatively mapped out for an early 2027 release through Alchemy Recordings/BMG, it is the musical direction that is already sparking intense debate among the rock community.

The upcoming LP serves as the direct successor to 2023’s Confessions Of The Fallen—which cracked a twelve-year studio drought. Rather than abandoning the polarizing synth elements from that release, the band is leaning further into them. Mushok admitted that Aaron Lewis has been the driving force behind modernizing the band’s signature heavy wall of sound, forcing the musicians to completely rewrite how they approach songwriting.

“It was funny, ’cause I do remember saying to him, like, ‘I play guitar. I don’t know how to do that,’” Mushok laughed, detailing the studio process. “Some of those verses where you hear it and it’s like more electronic-sounding, that’s a guitar part I wrote just played on a synthesizer using some crazy sound.” The band teamed back up with producer Erik Ron (Godsmack, Black Veil Brides) to seamlessly adapt Mushok’s heavy riffs into a computerized, modern soundscape.

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Balancing the Future with a Legendary Past

The news of a completed record adds a wild layer of context to Staind’s massive immediate plans. This September, the band is hitting the road for the highly anticipated “Break The Cycle 25th Anniversary Tour” alongside Seether, Hoobastank, and Hinder. Produced by Live Nation, the multi-platinum titans will be celebrating the 2001 five-times-platinum masterpiece that yielded “It’s Been Awhile”—one of the most played tracks in rock radio history with 20 weeks at number one.

Yet, even as they gear up to play those legacy anthems across North American amphitheaters, Aaron Lewis remains fixed on pushing boundaries. When initially launching this current era, Lewis made the band’s mission statement clear: “I did want to modernize the sound and bring us up to date. You can certainly recognize the band, but at the same time, you can hear that we’ve been paying attention.”

FAQ: Staind New Album and 2026–2027 Tour Updates

When does the new Staind album come out? The officially completed ninth studio album is tentatively scheduled for an early 2027 release through Alchemy Recordings/BMG.

Will the new Staind album have electronic elements? Yes. Guitarist Mike Mushok confirmed that the upcoming music continues down the experimental, modernized path of Confessions Of The Fallen, turning guitar riffs into synthesized arrangements.

Who is touring with Staind this fall? Staind is headlining the “Break The Cycle 25th Anniversary Tour” starting September 2026, featuring Seether as direct support, with Hoobastank and Hinder opening.

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Band Bio: Staind

Formed in 1995 in Springfield, Massachusetts, Staind became a definitive pillar of the post-grunge and alternative metal movements. Comprising vocalist Aaron Lewis, guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist Johnny April, and drummer Sal Giancarelli, the band achieved global superstardom with three consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200 (Break The Cycle, 14 Shades Of Grey, and Chapter V), selling over 15 million records worldwide.

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TL;DR:

Staind has secretly finished recording their ninth studio album for an early 2027 release, continuing the modernized electronic-rock direction driven by Aaron Lewis.

Are you ready for an electronic-infused Staind album, or should Aaron Lewis and the boys stick strictly to the raw acoustic and heavy post-grunge vibes of ‘Break The Cycle’? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

The post Aaron Lewis Overhauls the Formula: Staind Urgently Finishes Brand-New Studio Album Following Major Sonic Shift appeared first on Loaded Radio.

Italian symphonic power metal band Moonlight Haze has released a new single and music video for “Interstellar Madness.” The track serves as the third single and title track from the group’s upcoming EP.

Fronted by vocalist Chiara Tricarico, known for her live work with Avantasia, the five-piece unit blends fast-paced power metal with theatrical symphonic elements. The band has steadily built an international following across their four previous studio releases.

The Interstellar Madness EP is scheduled for release on May 22 via Scarlet Records. The new record will be available across digital streaming platforms as well as in physical CD and vinyl formats.

The post Moonlight Haze Releases “Interstellar Madness” Single and Music Video first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.

Los Angeles alternative metal artist Lexi Layne has released a new single and accompanying music video for “Judgement” via Community Music. Produced by Kevin McCombs, the track serves as the latest entry in the artist’s ongoing tarot-themed narrative arc, focusing on concepts of reckoning and critical choices.

Operating as an independent artist, Layne has been building her catalog since 2024. The new track serves as a direct follow-up to her 2025 EP, High Priestess Volume I. She recently brought her theatrical live performance to the stage earlier this month, supporting Holy Wars at an album release show in Los Angeles on May 2.

“Judgement” is currently available across all major digital streaming platforms alongside its music video.

The post Lexi Layne Releases New Single and Video “Judgement” first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.

Low ticket sales are killing tours. Recently, it’s happened to Post Malone, Zayn, Meghan Trainor, and Pussycat Dolls, and now Kiefer Sutherland is joining the club. The “Going Home” singer canceled the US leg of his tour and offered a very transparent explanation.

The post Kiefer Sutherland Cancels Tour Due To “Very Low Ticket Sales” appeared first on Stereogum.

The pop star Pete Parkkonen and the violinist Linda Lampenius performed “Liekinheitin” on a stage covered in flames.

London-based metal duo The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara has released “Lucky Ducker,” the third single from their upcoming fourth studio album, MISANTROPI. The track delivers a profanity-heavy vocal performance backed by the band’s traditional heavy instrumentation.

Formed in 2020, the duo consists of Daphne Ang and Andrea Papi. The group is known for combining heavy metal with spoken-word poetry. For their current release cycle, the band shifted their focus to a classic instrumentation setup of drums, bass, and guitars, while also incorporating more melodic singing alongside their standard vocal style.

“Lucky Ducker” follows the earlier release of the album’s second single, “The Last Plague.” Both tracks serve as previews for MISANTROPI, which is scheduled for release on June 12, 2026. The upcoming record marks the duo’s fourth self-produced album and serves as the direct follow-up to their 2024 release, Origins.

The post The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara Releases “Lucky Ducker” Single first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.

JJ, from Austria, kicked off this year’s Eurovision grand final in Vienna, as the contest celebrates its 70th anniversary.