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Magi Merlin has released POPSTAR, a new single co-produced with Funkywhat, arriving days after she wrapped a European tour opening for Yaya Bey. The Montreal-based artist has been building toward this moment methodically, and the timing is not incidental.

The single comes with some momentum already attached. POPSTAR aired multiple times on BBC Radio 6 Music ahead of its release, including on Huw Stephens‘ show and the New Music Fix programme, giving it an international profile before most Canadian outlets had weighed in. That kind of pre-release traction from a broadcaster with BBC Radio 6’s credibility is not nothing.

Merlin has described the song’s central idea in direct terms. “I think I can see the true responsibility of a popstar,” she said. “It is to be a messenger, to influence and to inspire change in the people listening. I don’t think the point is to single-handedly change the world; it’s to remind all of us that we can, if we do it together.” The single builds on the sonic territory she established with her 2022 EP Gone Girl, which drew coverage from Bandcamp Daily, The FADER, The Line of Best Fit, and Nylon, and led to touring slots with Noga Erez and an international date with Omar Apollo.

Since then, Merlin has kept a steady pace. She released the surprise project A Weird Little Dog during a US tour supporting saxophonist Nubya Garcia, then reworked IDLES‘ POP POP POP into a club-oriented version that earned a public endorsement from the band’s lead singer, Joe Talbot, on social media. Festival appearances at Osheaga, Festival d’été de Québec, Treefort, Reeperbahn, and the Montreal International Jazz Festival have kept her visible across multiple circuits simultaneously.

Merlin plays Toronto’s The Baby G on March 24 and returns to Montreal for a show at Casa del Popolo on March 25.

Photo – Sophia Perras

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The post Magi Merlin Returns With New Single POPSTAR appeared first on Montreal Rocks.

They sounded ahead of their time 40 years ago. They still do today. Continue reading…

Frost Children seem to lead chaotic lives. Last week, the New York hyperpop duo shared a new version of their song “Sister,” recorded with surging Australian producer Ninajirachi. Since then, they’ve had a lot going on. For instance! Frost Children recently paid a visit to the BBC Live Lounge, where they busted out a theatrical,…

The post Frost Children Cover My Chemical Romance, Reteam With Kim Petras, DJ Clavicular Brawl appeared first on Stereogum.

Penciled in for this spring.

The post Nonpoint, SOiL & Sumo Cyco Announce ‘The Outta Control Tour’ appeared first on Theprp.com.

Brent Smith addresses backlash after Shinedown withdrew from Kid Rock’s Rock The Country festival.

The post BRENT SMITH Speaks On SHINEDOWN's Exit From Rock The Country Festival appeared first on Metal Injection.

Austrian blackened death metal band Belphegor are about to start their assault on North America tomorrow, so what better time to barrage your fans about their eardrums with a new tune than on the eve of your tour? Earlier today, the band released their latest single “Scarlet Beast — Leviathan”, which you can hear below.

As you’d expect from Belphegor, the track is menacing. It’s got massive riffs coupled with the thunderous, pounding rhythms that urge you to join the throngs of supporters on this coming tour and let loose at the show. That being said, it’s not a speedy shred fest, instead opting to methodically oppress you with sound.

Starting tomorrow, Belphegor will begin their North American tour with Incantation, Hate, and Narcotic Wasteland. Things will kick off tomorrow night in Brooklyn, New York and will come to an end on March 10 in Anaheim, California. Along the way, they’ll make stops in Toronto, Denver, San Antonio, and more.

You can find the full list of tour dates below. Just be sure you get your tickets today.

Praise The Beast North American Tour 2026

02/19 – Brooklyn, NY, Brooklyn Monarch
02/20 – Lowell, MA, Taffeta Music Hall
02/21 – Montreal, QC, Le Studio TD
02/22 – Toronto, ON, Lee’s Palace
02/23 – Lakewood, OH, Mercury Music Hall
02/24 – Joliet, IL, The Forge
02/26 – Denver, CO, HQ
02/27 – Albuquerque, NM, Launchpad
02/28 – Haltom City, TX, Haltom Theater
03/01 – Houston, TX, Scout Bar
03/02 – San Antonio, TX, Paper Tiger
03/05 – Mesa, AZ, The Rosetta Room
03/06 – San Diego, CA, Brick by Brick
03/07 – San Francisco, CA, DNA Lounge
03/08 – Roseville, CA, Goldfield Trading Post
03/09 – Los Angeles, CA, 1720
03/10 – Anaheim, CA, The Observatory

The post Belphegor Unleash the “Scarlet Beast — Leviathan” with New Single appeared first on MetalSucks.

Sun Dont Shine — the new band featuring members of Type O Negative and Crowbar — is gearing up to release its debut full-length record, Birth To Death, arriving April 1 through Corpse Paint Records. The band brings together a lineup with deep roots in heavy music: Kirk Windstein on guitar and vocals alongside Kenny Hickey on guitar and vocals, Johnny Kelly on drums, and Todd Strange on bass.

The newest single from the album is “Power To Live,” a hard-edged track that looks straight at humanity’s repeated violence while holding onto the basic instinct to survive. The song is already available to stream, and an official video is set to drop February 23 across Vevo/YouTube, Tidal, Apple Music, and Vimeo.

Written by Hickey and Windstein, “Power To Live” was recorded at OCD Studios during summer 2025. Production came from Duane Simoneaux, with Vinnie LaBella as co-producer and Andrew Spaulding handling executive production.

The song itself started with a discussion about its cover art. Hickey pointed out how grim it is that people still haven’t moved beyond killing each other, and that thought became the foundation of the track — a clear-eyed look at history repeating itself, paired with a refusal to give in.

“The track is a challenge to the times we’re living in,” Sun Dont Shine explains, “an insistence on survival and consciousness in the face of cycles that refuse to break.”

For the artwork, Sun Dont Shine worked with visual artist Nadiya Vizier, known for collaborations with Crowbar and Sailor Bob tattoo. Alongside the single, they’re also offering a limited art bundle tied directly to the release. The run includes 100 hand-signed posters, custom sticker sheets, and 10 ultra-limited trucker caps featuring Vizier’s original design. Everything was made specifically around “Power To Live,” and once these are gone, they won’t be reissued.

Musically, “Power To Live” sits right in the band’s lane: heavy riffs mixed with atmosphere, a balance of weight and space. Windstein’s crushing tone locks in with Hickey’s hooks, while Kelly’s drumming and Strange’s bass work give the track its drive and depth. The result sounds raw, lived-in, and built by musicians who know how to make heaviness hit harder through restraint.

The upcoming video, directed by Mike Holderbeast, carries those themes into unsettling visuals rather than a straightforward storyline. It focuses on mood, tension, and emotion, matching the band’s approach of keeping things honest instead of overly polished.

At its core, Sun Dont Shine keeps the focus on letting the music speak without sanding down the edges. With “Power To Live,” they continue shaping what comes next: direct, unflinching, and rooted in the real world.

The post Heavy Metal Supergroup SUN DONT SHINE Set to Drop Debut Album “Birth To Death” on April appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

LASSO Montreal has unveiled its full 2026 lineup, adding Koe Wetzel, Turnpike Troubadours, Carly Pearce, Max McNown, and Cameron Whitcomb to a bill that already includes Thomas Rhett, Mumford & Sons, Jon Pardi, and Old Dominion. The festival’s fifth edition runs August 15 and 16 at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène, with a pre-festival show, LASSO in the City, set for August 14 at a downtown venue still to be confirmed.

This year’s edition marks the first time LASSO has operated on a full Saturday-Sunday weekend format, a shift from its previous scheduling. The Parc Jean-Drapeau site, positioned on the St. Lawrence with a direct sightline to the Montréal skyline, has been the festival’s home since its launch in 2022. In four editions, the event has grown from a boutique country showcase into one of the larger summer festivals on the island, drawing audiences from across Québec and beyond with past headliners including Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll, Luke Bryan, Kane Brown, and Dierks Bentley.

Wetzel arrives as one of the more compelling additions to the 2026 bill. The Texas native scored his first No. 1 with High Road, a collaboration with Jessie Murph, and has a new album expected later this year. His live sets pull as much from Southern rock as from country, which tends to play well in festival settings where genre lines blur after the second act. LASSO 2026 will be his Montréal debut. The Turnpike Troubadours bring a different kind of weight to the weekend. The Oklahoma Red Dirt outfit, long considered a major influence on the more authentic end of the contemporary country spectrum, will play their first-ever show in Québec. For fans who have followed their career through years of grassroots momentum, the appearance will carry some significance.

Carly Pearce, whose I Hope You’re Happy Now with Lee Brice became one of the defining country crossover moments of recent years, joins the lineup with new music reportedly on the way. Chance Peña rounds out the international additions; his folk-inflected I Am Not Who I Was gained significant traction on TikTok and translated into real touring demand, including strong interest from Montréal audiences following his North American tour announcement.

The Canadian contingent is one of the stronger aspects of this year’s bill. Cameron Whitcomb returns for a second consecutive year, having built enough momentum domestically to warrant the repeat booking. James Barker Band are reliable festival headspace, the kind of act that fills an afternoon slot and leaves the crowd ready for whoever closes the night. Québec artists Classe Moyenne and Zach Chico both appear, continuing the festival’s practice of carving out space for homegrown talent. Max McNown, who has sold out every Montréal show to date, continues his upward trajectory with another appearance at the fest.

The Band Perry, known globally for If I Die Young, Kalsey Kulyk, Laci Kaye Booth, Jonah Kagen, Blake Whiten, Waylon Wyatt, Elizabeth Nichols, and Just Jayne fill out the rest of the weekend. Additional Québécois artists are still to be announced, with the festival signalling more local additions are coming before the full schedule drops.

Two-day general admission tickets are currently on sale at lassomontreal.com starting at $250 CAD. Single-day passes go on sale Friday, February 20 at 10 a.m., starting at $150 CAD. Premium options, including Party Deck, Birkenstock Gold, and Birkenstock Sky Saloon packages, are available at higher price points for both single-day and two-day formats. Klarna financing is available for those who want to split the cost across four interest-free payments.

Get your tickets here: lassomontreal.com

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The post LASSO Montreal 2026 Adds Koe Wetzel, Turnpike Troubadours to Growing Bill appeared first on Montreal Rocks.

The post W.E.B. Unveils “Into Hell Fire We Burn” Video/Single; Darkness Alive To See Release This Friday, February 20th, On Metal Blade Records appeared first on INFRARED MAGAZINE.

Michigan crushers KING 810 will head down under for their first ever Australian headline tour in March, joined by guests THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER and DREGG. KING 810 have unveiled their local support acts for each show. Kicking off in Adelaide is extreme metal band KIN. bringing speed and heaviness, while MELTING will bring […]