Some lyrics cut straight through the bullshit and latch onto whatever weird, mystical life force is rattling around inside me. That’s exactly how I feel about “Toxic” from Chicago absurdist punks Cel Ray, the follow-up to “Price of Gas” off their forthcoming album Cel Rayzer.
The post Cel Ray – “Toxic” appeared first on Stereogum.
French progressive rock powerhouse Lalu share today the new track “I Am The One”, the second single taken from the upcoming new album A Mythmaker’s Demise, out on July 31, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.
Vivien Lalu commented: “I Am The One” is about the double life Martin LeMar (vocals) leads, a reality shared by many musicians today: a day job by day, and rock music / the stage at night. The video brings this to life by showing Martin at his desk, talking to the rockstar version of himself standing beside him. The song is the voice of that other self, the one in the shadows that keeps calling him back. As the lyric says: “I stood beside you, I am the one”.”
Lalu returns with A Mythmaker’s Demise, a milestone release celebrating the 20th anniversary of Vivien Lalu’s progressive rock project. What began in 2005 with Oniric Metal now comes full circle – this is not just a new album, but a bold tribute to legacy, craftsmanship, and artistic brotherhood.
To mark the occasion, Lalu reunites with vocalist Martin LeMar (Nachtgeschrei, Mekong Delta), whose voice first defined the project. LeMar contributes powerful performances and lyricism that bridge past and present. Also making a triumphant return is drumming legend Simon Phillips (ex-Toto, Protocol), the very first drummer to record the earliest Lalu track, “Paint the Sky”.
Continuing the collaborative spirit ignited in 2023’s “The Fish Who Wanted To Be King”, Vivien Lalu teams up once again with longtime partner Joop Wolters on guitars and bass. The duo crafted the songs from the ground up, focusing on organic, dynamic arrangements with no overproduction – just raw, honest performances.
“We wanted this record to feel alive. No drum samples, next to no EQ, just real performances captured in their natural state”, explained Vivien Lalu.
Guitarist Joop Wolters added: “There has always been undeniable musical synergy between Viv and me. This album came together very naturally, and locking in with the real, unedited live drums by Simon Phillips in the final stages was the icing on the cake. It truly feels like a real band, just like back in the good old days”.
The album was mixed to preserve a live, open sound, capturing the human energy of each take. A key guest appearance comes from keyboard virtuoso Jens Johansson (Stratovarius, Yngwie
Malmsteen), who delivers explosive solos across three tracks. His presence carries particular
significance, having been one of Vivien’s earliest influences and a contributor to both “Atomic Ark” and “Paint The Sky”.
The evocative title A Mythmaker’s Demise reflects on the fading light of human imagination in the age of artificial intelligence. The striking artwork by Mattias Norén portrays a writer dying at his desk, while his creations struggle to escape into a world that no longer values them – a visual metaphor for the album’s deeper message.
A Mythmaker’s Demise isn’t just an album – it’s a time capsule of progressive rock’s soul, 20 years in the making. It is available to pre-order here.
Vivien Lalu: Keyboards
Joop Wolters: Guitars, bass
Martin LeMar: Vocals
Simon Phillips: Drums
The post Prog Rock Powerhouse LALU Shares New Single “I Am The One” From Upcoming Album “A Mythmaker’s Demise” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.
In the mid- to late 1980s, Whitesnake exploded from a popular British hard rock band into a worldwide phenomenon, becoming one of the decade’s most successful rock acts. This Autumn, Craft Recordings revisits that landmark period with vinyl reissues of ‘Slide It In‘ (1984), ‘Whitesnake‘ (1987), and ‘Slip of the Tongue‘ (1989). Powered by hits […]
The post Craft Recordings Announces Vinyl Reissues For Three Defining Whitesnake Classics appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM.
Houston’s Hew have a soaring, chiming take on classic emo. When they get going, they can really punch me in the heart. The group, which includes a couple of Football, etc. members, will release their new album Your Version in a few weeks, and you’re going to want to hear that one. It’s good shit. We’ve already posted the title track and “Reconciliation.” Yesterday, Hew followed those songs with “Lie In It,” a powerful twinkle of a track. In the video, bandleader Lindsay Minton wanders her hometown. Check it out below.
The post Hew – “Lie In It” appeared first on Stereogum.
True Crime has had its moment in the mainstream, with more than a fair share of content having been generated, particularly in the first half of this decade. But rather than bingeing on Ryan Murphy’s questionable Monster series,1 I instead suggest you take Monument of Misanthropy’s discography for a spin. Washington State Charm is the Austrians’ third successive LP tackling the exploits of a notorious serial killer—this time, Ted Bundy—and it’s bags more fun and significantly less disrespectful than your average makeup-and-true-crime YouTube video2 or Netflix dramatization. It’s also a showcase for some pretty great tech-death. As has become their trademark, Monument of Misanthropy evolve once again, tweaking their style to fit their despicable protagonist whilst remaining satisfyingly heavy. Are they still getting away with the gimmick, or is it time to hang up the hacksaw?
One thing’s clear at least: Washington State Charm is entertaining, and it interestingly suits its subject matter. Pivoting away slightly from the grind and brutality of Vile Postmortem Irrumatio and towards melody, hookiness, and groove, the album taps into a different form of Monument of Misanthropy’s signature snappiness. With guest appearances from Johnny Ciardullo (Angelmaker), Mendel bij de Leij (ex-Aborted), Gabe Mangold (Enterprise Earth), Hal Microutsicos (Engulf), and Jean-Jacques Moréac (Misanthrope), the record is scattered with riff-centric deathcore influence. For the most part, this really works. Intentional or not, there’s a parallel between this catchier, more accessible sound and Bundy’s status as one of the most well-known serial killers in modern history, who was also infamously “charming,” “handsome,” and otherwise palatable to society. If the previous album sounded, as I said at the time, “like Cattle Decapitation had a baby with Aborted,” then Washington State Charm is that baby growing into a teenager and experimenting, funnily enough, resembling their parent Aborted quite markedly, but with a bit of Cytotoxin by way of Dying Fetus thrown in for good measure.
Washington State Charm’s key strength is how Monument of Misanthropy twisted each aspect of their sound to make the whole infectiously catchy and memorable. Melody floods in with effervescent lead arpeggios (“Neath Tacoma Asphalt,” “A Hunger Unstilled,” “Colorado Murder”). Speed is used smartly in tandem with punchy syncopation (title track), and is met with a fairer dose of slower, circular swing (“The 1974 PNW Spree,” “The Hacksaw Blade”). The band’s mastery of rhythm to emphasize their punchlines (“The 1974…,” “Colorado Murder”), amp up the energy (“Neath Tacoma Asphalt,” “Colorado Murder”), and create an irresistible groove (“Suwannee Hog Shed”) has markedly improved.3 Together, this makes for highlights like the twin-guitar soloing on “Neath Tacoma Asphalt,” the drop-tuned uptempo groove on “Colorado Murder,” the call-and-response snarls and beats on “Chi Omega Blood Rage,” and the wonderful seesawing slide on “Strapped to the Throne.” There’s no way you’re listening to this without a savage grin plastered on your face.
It’s the album’s structure that lets down what might otherwise be a knock-out success. Humming with adrenaline from the literal high note of “Neath Tacoma Asphalt”‘s final riff, the inexplicably instrumental “A Hunger Unstilled” hits a little strangely. It’s a great piece in isolation, with a churning progression of melody and pace that calls to mind some hybrid of Aborted and Hath. But it’s most charitably taken as an extended intro to “The 1974…—which instantly kicks things back into murderous gear—and that feels wasteful. Monument of Misanthropy again add interview samples as miniature tracks, but their placement is similarly wonky, clustered around the start and end. It’s also hard not to compare them unfavorably to the drama-enhancing atmospheric examples on VPI. One could argue—not without justification—that these quirks are an intended reflection of their subject’s “career”: long periods without arrest, and an escape and ensuing murder spree once he was finally caught the first time. That would be fair, though it wouldn’t totally iron out flaws in the album’s flow. Less understandable, though less egregious, is the recurrence of a classic death metal cover at the close—Nile’s “Eye of Ra.” It’s a decent cover, but I don’t fully see its relevance.4
Washington State Charm achieves what it sets out to do: narrate the grisly story of a serial killer through slick, crushing death metal. It even goes one further, improving on the production—non-sample tracks averaging a DR of 5.5. Naysayers might bemoan the perceived slide towards accessibility, but really, the sheer gleeful energy of Washington State Charm is a testament to Monument of Misanthropy’s ever-increasing mastery of their craft.
Rating: Very Good
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Listenable Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: June 26th, 2026
The post Monument of Misanthropy – Washington State Charm Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.
If you love metal and classic rock and love to collect things, then you need to check out the Funko Pop! range of vinyl figures.
There are a ridiculous amount of these pint-sized creations to discover, but to help steer you on your way, I’ve picked out a selection of some of my favourites that are on sale in both the US and UK this Prime Day.
One Funko Pop! Rocks legend that’s on sale in the UK right now is AC/DC icon Angus Young which has been reduced from £22 to £14.04. There are many Funko Angus Youngs to find out in the wild, but this particular one is inspired by the cover art of the band’s classic Powerage album.
In the US, meanwhile, Angus and the rest of the AC/DC gang are available in a single Funko box, complete with stage amps and cannons. Amazon has reduced the price from $160 to $130 and you can grab it right now.
I’ve lost count of the number of Angus Young Funko figures I’ve seen over the years, but I’ve always liked this particular Powerage one. Angus is shown with those electrical wires where his hands should be. Thankfully, he’s not pulling quite the same expression as the original album artwork. View Deal
Also in the US, Iron Maiden’s mascot Eddie in his Night Of The Dead guise has received the Funko treatment, with the price down from $14.99 to $11.99.
Being a musician, filmmaker and producer to name but a few, there are many strings to Rob Zombie’s bow, and he can now add Funko figure to his long list of achievements. His vinyl figure complete with zombie bandana is also on sale at Amazon, reduced from $14.99 to $12.49.
And that’s not all, because The White Stripes’ Jack and Meg double pack is also down in price for Prime Day – from $23.99 to $14.02.
Back in the UK, there are plenty more Prime Day Funko discounts to be snaffled, including Ghost’s Papa Emeritus IV – down from from £13 to £9.94, and Guns N’ Roses top-hat wearing guitar god Slash in all his Funko glory has been reduced from £13 to £8.90.
Much-loved Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury, wearing his iconic yellow military jacket from the band’s 1986 Magic tour is also on sale, with the price cut from £11.90 to £9.52.
And if the hair side of mid-80’s metal is more your thing, then this Funko figure of Jon Bon Jovi should be one for the collection. Wearing basically the same outfit as me when I saw Bon Jovi on the New Jersey tour back in the day, you can pick up the singer for £17.30, that’s down from the usual price of £22.98.
For more Prime Day discounts, take a look at Louder’s Prime Day music deals page, our Prime Day turntable deals, and don’t forget we’re also collecting our favourite Prime Day vinyl deals too.
Acclaimed songwriter and progressive music pioneer Neal Morse invites listeners into an intimate musical journey with the release of Darkness & Light – Acoustic, a collection of brand new songs.Known for epic arrangements and expansive musical storytelling, Morse takes a different path on Darkness & Light, revealing the emotional core of his songwriting through warm acoustic instrumentation, heartfelt performances, and deeply reflective lyrics.
Initially writing songs that were darker and moodier than normal, some lighter, warmer songs followed. The two “sides” the record show the contrast between struggle and hope, and shadow and redemption. The listener will find that each song feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Throughout the album, Morse’s distinctive voice and songwriting take centre stage, supported by organic acoustic arrangements that allow every lyric and melody to resonate with clarity and purpose.Some of the tracks are first takes, which capture the rawness of the performance, relatively unadorned by musical additions. “The plan is to make Darkness & Light – Electric in the fall, to allow the songs to develop in fuller arrangements.”
The album is available TODAY on waterfall Here.
and for PRE-ORDER from Radiant Records in Signed by Neal and unsigned editions. This CD is a limited run, so make sure you get your copy!
The album will be released on Friday July 17th 2026
Tracklist:
Darkness:
Guilty Secret
Powder Keg
What Do You Do?
Melinda
Light:
The Light Has Won The War
Just The Way It Is
Do You Know The Way Home
Look Away
The post Neal Morse announces new acoustic singer/songwriter album Darkness & Light appeared first on The Prog Report.
Bodywash, the Montreal dream-pop duo of Rosie Long Decter and Chris Steward, released their most recent album I Held The Shape While I Could in 2023, and they followed it with a 2024 cover of Wham!’s “Last Christmas.” Yesterday, they came back with a jangly, pretty new one-off called “Come And Go.” Here’s what Decter says about it:
The post Bodywash – “Come And Go” appeared first on Stereogum.