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Out NOW Via Hells Headbangers Words by: Daryl Daryl This is an album for Simon. You know what I mean? We all have that friend who likes a particular genre of music above all others, and it’s not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just that their musical taste got stuck in 1992. Desolus […]

Posted on May 15th 2026, 10:31a.m.

What comes to mind when someone mentions indie rock music? Beautiful vocal harmonies, lush chord progressions, warm-sounding basslines,

Consistent, reliable, yet somehow never scaling the upper limits of the world of Metal, Armored Saint have long straddled the boundary of Thrash and Heavy Metal. For me, they have always been a classy band whose melodies and songwriting sit in the same ballpark as Metal Church. Solid Heavy Metal in the traditional sense with a contemporary flavour.

Armored Saint – Emotion Factory Reset

Release Date: 22 May 2026

Words: Paul Hutchings

I can still recall picking up the debut album, March Of The Saint, in 1984. The striking cover of the knight with the sword above his head, accompanied by his four loyal companions, was enticing to a young teenager whose head was turned by such artwork.

And whilst I have never been the most diehard fan, their releases have always provided great enjoyment and some absolute quality. That is perhaps, in part, because in John Bush, the band possess one of the best Metal singers in the game. He does not let you down here either. 

2020’s Punching The Sky still seems fresh. It was a fantastic album, arguably as strong as anything the band had ever released. Emotion Factory Reset runs that album very close and may even surpass it in quality and consistency. 

“Each Armored Saint record, to me, is like a new skin for the band, a different chapter. I don’t think we’ve ever repeated ourselves. Every album has been pretty different from the previous one, a snapshot in time. In 2026, Emotion Factory Reset is where our heads are at”. So says bassist Joey Vera, and I can see what he means.

There is plenty here to spin the head, and little that is repeated from previous recordings.

Of course, the band have a distinctive sound. Bush is in the form of his life here, from the anthemic opener Close To The Bone and recent single Hit A Moonshot through to penultimate track Bottom Feeder, this is the sound of a band hitting top gear.

There is more than a nod to their past, something that would be wrong to ignore, but there is plenty that says 2026 rather than 1984. 

Hit A Moonshot is possibly that track. It straddles everything the band have ever done in one song. “I think the song defines what Armored Saint sounds like now,” guitarist Jeff Duncan says. “I really dig it. I used my Les Paul and an EVH amp for the rhythm guitars on everything. My solos were done with a couple of different guitars. It’s simple, just good guitars plugged into a good amp and let it rip.”

Buckeye is probably the runt of the litter for me. Surrounded by some gems, it is a weakling of a track, Bush having to push the limits of his voice, and the song sits more in the generic pile than the more impressive tracks that sit next to and around it.

As for the title of the album, brothers Phil and Gonzo Sandoval can provide their own unique explanations. “To me, Emotion Factory Reset means to reset yourself back to clarity. Take a pause and breathe before you respond or react. You can’t control outside events, but you can control your mind,” says Phil.

Brother Gonzo adds, “The world is going through a technological upswing/awakening. I look at our planet as the factory, and in the most positive way, we need to realign, reimagine, and reset for our better selves.”

If you want the fist-pumping anthems, then Close To The Bone, Not On Your Life, and It’s a Buzzkill should tick the boxes. All solid thumpers, each sees the five members of the band hitting the heights.

With Vera once more producing, alongside mixing by Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Stone Sour), this is a crisp and impressive record that does not let you down. 

Lyrically, Bush is all about opening minds. “I’m not telling people, ‘You should think like this.’ It’s more that I like to raise points, and maybe somehow, some words in a song might make people go, aha!”

42 years since Armored Saint dropped that debut album, they remain a vibrant force in the world of Metal. “At the end of the day, as long as we feel it’s great, that’s the most important thing.” John Bush is not wrong.

Armored Saint release Emotion Factory Reset on 22 May 2026 via Metal Blade Records. For pre-orders, visit the Metal Blade Records website.

Gonzo Sandoval Speaks Out: The World Needs Armored Saint

The post Armored Saint Balance Tradition And Power On Emotion Factory Reset first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.

Like Moths To Flames have returned with a brand-new track, and it’s a scorchingly heavy one.

It’s titled ‘I Don’t Want To Be Here Anymore’, and follows on from the release of last year’s single ‘Salting The Earth’.

Produced by The Plot In You‘s Landon Tewers, ‘I Don’t Want To Be Here Anymore’ is a jaw-droppingly heavy track that clocks in at under three minutes. Opening with some vocals that feel more like a desperate plea before erupting into action, it’s the kind of song that reminds you just what heavy music is so special, capturing an unbelievable amount of emotion in such a short time.

Take a listen.

Like Moths To Flames are set to join Saosin for a run of shows later this year.

Take a look at the full list of dates below.

OCTOBER

23: ANAHEIM, CA House of Blues
24: TEMPE, AZ The Marquee
25: ALBUQUERQUE, NM Sunshine Theater
27: SAN ANTONIO, TX Vibes Event Center
28: DALLAS, TX House of Blues
29: HOUSTON, TX House of Blues
30: NEW ORLEANS, LA House of Blues
31: PENSACOLA, FL Vinyl Music Hall

NOVEMBER

1: ORLANDO, FL House of Blues
3: NASHVILLE, TN Brooklyn Bowl
4: RALEIGH, NC The Ritz
6: SAYREVILLE, NJ Starland Ballroom
7: NEW YORK, NY Webster Hall
8: WORCESTER, MA The Palladium
10: PHILADELPHIA, PA Brooklyn Bowl
11: BALTIMORE, MD Nevermore Hall
13: BUFFALO, NY Town Ballroom
14: DETROIT, MI The Majestic
15: CHICAGO, IL House of Blues
17: MILWAUKEE, WI The Rave II
18: MINNEAPOLIS, MN The Fillmore
20: DENVER, CO Summit Music Hall
21: SALT LAKE CITY, UT The Complex
22: BOISE, ID Knitting Factory
24: SEATTLE, WA Showbox SoDo
25: PORTLAND, OR Roseland Theater
27: LOS ANGELES, CA The Novo
28: SAN DIEGO, CA SOMA

The post Like Moths To Flames Unveil Heavy New Track ‘I Don’t Want To Be Here Anymore’ appeared first on Rock Sound.

The internationally popular event will be available to U.S. viewers, too, although not on domestic TV in some countries that are boycotting this year.

The post appeared first on INFRARED MAGAZINE.

Hard rock giants Breaking Benjamin are back with a brooding and haunting new single, ‘Something Wicked‘, signalling the latest chapter for the band and the tease of a forthcoming full-length album. Stream ‘Something Wicked‘ – here Marked by their signature blend of atmospheric tension, thunderous instrumentation, and raw emotional weight, the track finds the band pushing […]

The post Breaking Benjamin Release New Single ‘Something Wicked’ appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM.

Beartooth have revealed the details of their upcoming sixth full-length album, their first for new label Fearless Records.

Titled ‘Pure Ecstasy’, it will be released on August 28 and serves as the follow-up to 2023’s ‘The Surface’.

Check out the artwork and tracklisting below.

1. Pure Ecstasy

2. Eyes Closed

3. Bullshit

4. Beautiful Again

5. Stadiums

6. Free

7. Sorry

8. Lose You to Find Me

9. You

10. For Me by Me

11. I Made It

The album was produced and engineered by Beartooth’s own Caleb Shomo, and as you can see it will feature previously released single ‘Free’.

It will also feature the newly unleashed title track, ‘Pure Ecstasy’.

A bold, fearless piece of music overflowing with grit and fury, it’s Beartooth at their very best. Blisteringly heavy, gut-wrenchingly emotional, and packed with lines that are going to feel blissfully cathartic to scream out at live shows, we’re in for something very special if this is a sign of where the band’s next era is headed.

The official music video for the track is also set to drop later today, at 4pm GMT.

Check it out as soon as it arrives below.

The post Beartooth Announce New Album ‘Pure Ecstasy’ appeared first on Rock Sound.

Paledusk chose London as the third and final date of their What Is Paledusk? UK Tour before heading across Europe, and the sold-out show saw The Dome more packed than I have ever seen before.

Paledusk

The Dome, London – 9 May 2026

Words And Photography: Carol Giannattasio

After releasing their latest album, PALEDUSK, on 26 November 2025, the Japanese band arrived in the UK ready to bring absolute chaos. My feeling the entire time? It honestly felt like being inside an anime.

Paledusk hit the stage with unreal energy. Songs such as I ♡ YOU BABY!!, SLAY!! and SUPER PALE HORSE instantly showed the band’s completely out of control mix of Metalcore, electronics and sudden changes that kept the crowd moving from start to finish.

The night only became heavier and more intense with songs like NO WAY! and GOOD DEATH, one of my personal favourites, deep and vicious at the same time.

I found vocalist Kaito Nagai incredibly genuine when speaking to the crowd, thanking everyone for making that dream possible and almost looking shocked that the London date had completely sold out.

It is always emotional seeing someone achieve their dream, especially when the passion they bring on stage says more than words ever could.

Then there is guitarist Daisuke Ehara, whose stage presence was impossible to ignore. His solos added so much power to every song and hit just as hard as the breakdowns themselves.

Paledusk’s real strength comes from the way they mix genres together. Metalcore, electronics and even Hardcore all crash into each other while the band moves from total chaos to huge sing-along moments.

Their songs constantly switch direction, going from crushing breakdowns to fast electronic sections and sharp guitar solos that hit like a punch in the face.

The London crowd reacted differently compared to the first two UK dates, as they said. Circle pits opened up everywhere, people screamed lyrics back from the front row, and the whole venue disappeared into sweat, movement and chaos.

Their set came to an end with LIGHTS after a mix of both new and older songs, including NO!, I’M SORRY and RUMBLE. From beginning to end, Paledusk showed exactly why they are one of the most unique and exciting bands rising through the modern heavy scene.

Headwreck

Since I discovered Headwreck, I have not stopped listening to them. The Australian band completely won over the UK crowd, bringing chaos to The Dome from the very first moments of their set.

Filet-O-Fish and BINGO! sent the crowd into full panic mode. The guys were full of energy on stage, throwing pure chaos and excitement into the audience.

Aside from their stage presence, Headwreck have songs that make it impossible to stand still, even for a second. During their latest release, Raindrops, vocalist Connor called for a mosh pit, and the crowd did not disappoint.

This was the first time I have seen a crowd go this wild for the very first opening band. There were mosh pits everywhere, crowd surfers flying over people, and even fans getting on stage before throwing themselves back into the crowd.

Then came a song that hit everyone with a wave of nostalgia: a cover of Lying From You by Linkin Park. Needless to say, every single person was screaming every word back at the band, and I have to say, Headwreck made the song completely their own.

Sadly, their set came to an end with Buzzsaw, but there’s no need to worry. Headwreck will be back in the UK very soon in June for Download Festival before joining Thrown as support act in Brighton and Norwich.

Greyhaven

Greyhaven brought an intense and nonstop show to London. The Welcome Party, Burn A Miracle, and Shatter and Burst did not just get the crowd involved. They turned the stage into something full of emotion and chaos.

The band moved between aggressive moments and more atmospheric parts without ever losing their power. Vocalist Brent Mills completely owned the stage with a performance packed with energy, moving effortlessly from aggressive screams to more emotional sections.

Their set may have been short, but it hit hard from start to finish. Things came to an end with Echo And Dust and Cemetery Sun.

Greyhaven had already warmed up the crowd with rough mosh pits and circle pits all across the venue.

Knosis

What do I think about Knosis? WOW. From the very first moment, vocalist Ryo Kinoshita was completely insane on stage. A ticking bomb ready to explode and give everything he had.

But Knosis gave the fans more than just a memorable set. The Dome probably felt a small earthquake from the sheer energy emanating from the stage.

SEISAI, IMIONI and KAMIGURAI were just a few of the songs on a setlist that shook the entire venue.

Ryo’s energy was completely out of control in the best way possible. He was jumping, running and flying across the stage, even making his way into the middle of the pit while the crowd pushed into each other and screamed every word back at the band.

This was a show with no limits and no barriers. Fans kept climbing onto the stage before throwing themselves straight back into the crowd.

As the third and final opening band, Knosis absolutely set the place on fire, especially near the end when the crowd demanded one more song after the set had already finished.

The band came back with another performance of the cover YARUSHIKANEE by FIRE BOYS, sending the crowd into chaos one last time.

Knosis are the kind of band you could watch live over and over again without ever getting tired of them.

The post Paledusk Bring Anime-Like Chaos To A Packed London Crowd first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.