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British legends The Damned are delighted to announce the expansion of their ‘Final Damnation 50’ tour. The list of confirmed world tour dates is at your disposal via flyer below.
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“Unchained & Untamed”, the newest preview tune from Iron Kobra‘s upcoming comeback album Eternal Dagger, has surfaced online.
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To say that Taj Mahal is a living legend just doesn’t seem to be enough. If there is anything musically that has been accomplished, he has probably been there and done that at some point in his six-plus-decade career. After more than sixty albums to his credit, countless award nominations and wins, and live appearances and collaborations, he doesn’t seem to be slowing down. His brand new album, Time, is set to be released on May 1 and was recorded with his longtime bandmates, The Phantom Blues Band. These are not just good musicians, they are some of the best, and they have played with Taj Mahal for thirty years.

Born Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr. in New York City, he changed his name to Taj Mahal after having dreams while in college of Mahatma Gandhi, India, and themes related to social tolerance. He grew up in a musical family that supported him taking piano, clarinet, trombone, and harmonica lessons. At around age 13 or 14, he began taking guitar lessons from North Carolina bluesman Lynwood Perry, who obviously influenced a whole career of great music.

Taj Mahal’s Time is another jewel in his crown of notable masterpieces. He and The Phantom Blues Band offer up a collection of ten great tracks of blues, reggae, Caribbean, folk, and soul-influenced tunes for this new release. Every music lover will find something on this recording that appeals to them.

Track three, Crazy About a Jukebox, is a fun, danceable tune about a sweetheart who loves a jukebox. You’ll recognize many of the tunes and artists mentioned in this one, and you’ll know exactly what Taj Mahal means when he sings, “She loves that jukebox more than she loves me” and “She’s crazy about a jukebox and I wish she was as crazy over me.” There’s also some great piano and horn work here. My advice is that you better buy your girl a jukebox.

Time is definitely a highlight on this album. It was penned by Bill Withers and recorded as a demo, but never released. It’s a beautiful tune, introduced by acoustic guitar, light percussion, and pretty keyboard work before some nice backing vocals and horns come in, paving the way for a tasteful guitar solo. “Time will see you through,” sings Taj Mahal, and while this is an excellent presentation, it makes me wonder what Bill Withers sounded like singing it.

The sixth song on Time is the Bob Marley-written tune Talkin’ Blues and features a guest appearance by his son, Ziggy Marley. It is definitely a reggae-flavored tune that opens with some really tasteful guitar picking. “Cold ground was my bed last night and rocks were my pillow too.” There are some super backing vocals on this one as well, and the song demonstrates Taj Mahal’s musical versatility.

Sweet Lorene is another dancing song, for sure. “You got me scared, weak and moaning, oh sweet Lorene.” I love the horns in this one. Taj Mahal sings, “When I get you here I’m gonna sock it to you” and “Bring your fine self home.” Get on home, Lorene. There’s somebody there that’s been suffering for five long years, and he’s waiting on you.

Time is a great example of how some things just get better with time, and Taj Mahal, as an artist, is another example because he doesn’t seem to be slowing down. He’s been quoted as saying, “I’ve got tons more stuff to do,” and I believe that. Keb’ Mo’ said this about Taj Mahal: “Taj Mahal has always been one of my favorite artists. His playing was immediately imprinted on my psyche.”

Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ have teamed up and performed together over the past few years, billing themselves as TajMo. You can catch Taj Mahal live throughout July, and you can catch TajMo live in September. If you can’t make it out to one of the live shows, make sure to grab Time or one of Taj Mahal’s (or TajMo’s) other recordings. You won’t be sorry!

The Review: 9/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– Crazy About A Jukebox
– Time
– Talkin’ Blues
– Sweet Lorene

The Big Hit

– Time

The post Taj Mahal: Time Review appeared first on Blues Rock Review.

The crew behind Novacaine Festival have just pulled the curtain back on the first wave of bands for their 2026 edition, and it looks like they’re well on their way to topping their successful debut. The festival is set to take over The Corporation in Sheffield on Saturday, 28th November 2026, and if the initial … Continue reading As Everything Unfolds and Tropic Gold lead first wave for Novacaine Festival 2026

On 11 April 2026, Mclusky played to a full house at the Black Cat in Washington, DC. Opening the night, Pile kicked things off with explosive energy and kept the momentum straight through to Mclusky’s set. The crowd was loud and sand along.

• Mclusky’s setlist follows:
• Fuck This Band
• Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues
• Without MSG I Am Nothing
• Collagen Rock
• What We’ve Learned
• unpopular parts of a pig
• Whiteliberalonwhiteliberalaction
• Day Of The Deadringers
• as a dad
• way of the exploding dickhead
• You Should Be Ashamed, Seamus
• She Will Only Bring You Happiness
• Icarus Smicarus
• kafka‐esque novelist franz kafka
• Alan Is a Cowboy Killer
• The World Loves Us And Is Our Bitch
• the battle of los angelsea
• Rice Is Nice
• people person
• Chases
• Dethink To Survive
• i know omputer
• Whoyouknow
• To Hell With Good Intentions

• Pile’s setlist follows:
• Texas
• The World is Your Motel
• Deep Clay
• A Loosened Knot
• Prom Song
• Baby Boy
• Born at Night
• Special Snowflakes
• Hairshirt
• #2 Hit Single
• The Soft Hands of Stephen Miller

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Jeff Taylor, vocalist and frontman for Altered Five Blues Band, has died at the age of 64.

According to statements shared by the band and Blind Pig Records, Taylor passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, in his sleep on April 30, 2026, at his home in West Allis.

Taylor was a founding member of Altered Five Blues Band, helping launch the Milwaukee-based group in 2002. Across more than two decades, the band released eight albums, performed in 13 countries, and built a loyal following in the United States and abroad.

The band’s most recent release, Hammer & Chisel, arrived in February 2026 and was met with strong praise. Blues Rock Review awarded the album a rare 9.5/10 score, with reviewer Neven Tili writing of Taylor’s vocals, “They are something else – radiating power and soul.” Tili also called the singing a “blues vocals masterclass,” adding that “when those vocals hit, they send shivers down the spine.”

Among Altered Five’s best-known songs are “Great Minds Drink Alike,” “Holler If You Hear Me,” “Charmed & Dangerous,” “Don’t Tell Me I Can’t,” “Right On, Right On,” and “I Got It Good.”

The group also received multiple Blues Music Award nominations. Their 2014 album Cryin’ Mercy was honored by The Blues Foundation as Best Self-Released Album at the International Blues Challenge.

Outside of music, Taylor spent many years in education. He served as principal of West Allis Central High School and previously as principal of West Milwaukee Intermediate School.

Earlier this year, the band traveled to India, returned home for a run of shows, and released Hammer & Chisel.

In a statement, the band said:

“It is with the heaviest hearts that we share the news that our brother, our bandmate, and the voice of Altered Five Blues Band, Jeff Taylor, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, in his sleep on April 30, 2026, at his home in West Allis, Wisconsin. He was 64 years old.

There are no words big enough for a man with a voice like Jeff’s—and no words adequate for the hole his passing leaves in all of us. For more than two decades, Jeff was the soul of this band. His warmth, his generosity, his great big heart—those were just as much a part of him as his voice.

Earlier this year, we traveled to India, came home, played some great shows to support our new album, Hammer & Chisel, and Jeff was still doing what he loved most: connecting with people through music.

Downbeat magazine recently wrote that “of all the voices in the modern blues arena, one of the finest belongs to Jeff Taylor.” We always knew that. We just never imagined the day we’d have to say goodbye.

Please keep Jeff’s wife, Kristen, and the entire Taylor family in your thoughts. Funeral arrangements will be announced as information becomes available.

One of Jeff’s favorite songs and one of our last singles was called “I Got It Good.” It feels right to say that about him. He really did.

Rest in peace, JT. Our blues family will never be quite the same.”

The post Acclaimed blues vocalist dies at 64 appeared first on Blues Rock Review.

A “faster is better” philosophy has long defined technical death metal, with bands regularly operating at breakneck speeds. While that approach requires undeniable virtuosity, I’ve always gravitated toward the genre’s more restrained, focused, and groove-oriented side. Cognizance initially walked the well-trodden path of bands like The Faceless and The Zenith Passage on their debut, Malignant Dominion, displaying speed and technicality in equal measure, but doing little to distinguish themselves from a crowded field. However, to their credit, the international quintet-turned-quartet has spent the past three albums gradually cementing their identity, culminating with 2024’s Phantazein. Though it got Stuck in the Filter, the record was packed with punishing grooves, strong songwriting, and phenomenal performances, containing all the qualities that keep me returning to the genre regularly. Two short years later, Cognizance returns with In Light, No Shape.

Much of Cognizance’s growth over the years stems from its stable lineup, though the recent departure of longtime vocalist Henry “Big Mac” Pryce disrupted that continuity. Guitarist Alex Baillie has since assumed vocal duties, marking a shift in the group’s sound. Baillie fills the role admirably, trading Pryce’s deathcore-leaning growls for a style closer to David Davidson (Revocation). In fact, In Light, No Shape—particularly tracks like “Vertical Illusion,” “Witness Marks,” “Chasm,” and “The Zone”—leans heavily into Revocation’s progressive stylings to its benefit. Drummers and longtime fans should already know the name David Diepold (ex-Obscura), but for anyone who doesn’t, consider this your required introduction. The dude absolutely cooks on this record. Whether through artful fills or splashy accents, he commands the material like a conductor leading an orchestra, sitting front and center in the record’s solid mix. Not to be outdone, guitarists Apostolis Karydis and Baillie, along with bassist Chris Binns, lock with Diepold effortlessly, never once sounding strained as they ebb between calibrated riffing, evocative solos, and ornate passages across the record’s 37 minutes.

Rather than following the Archspire school of extravagance, In Light, No Shape shows Karydis and Baillie easing off the accelerator, leaning more into atmosphere than velocity, with Diepold shouldering most of the speed. The duo utilizes more spacey arpeggiated passages (“A Reconfiguration,” “Witness Marks,” “A Game of Proliferation”) than on Phantazein, giving In Light, No Shape a feeling of dynamism and expansiveness. Accordingly, the songwriting strikes a keen balance between technical, immersive, and hooky, while leaving room for each element to breathe. Opener “Transient Fixations” wastes no time launching into hyperdrive, blasting and chugging through its sub‑three‑minute runtime, essentially functioning as an intro track that reaffirms that this is still the Cognizance fans will know. And while it feels a bit short, it flows seamlessly into “Inflection Chants’” groovy opening, making it work. Later, the surges of melodic tremolos and blasts that fuel “Chasm” give way to a haunting, aura-rich soundscape, where cymbal accents melt into jaunty tom fills before everything cascades back into overdrive. Similar structures drive tracks like “The Zone” and Song o’ the Year candidate “A Game of Proliferation,” while others (“Induced Contortions,” “Subterranean Incantation”) stick closer to standard tech death.

To state the obvious, tech death production usually sucks. Thankfully, In Light, No Shape isn’t totally brickwalled to hell, clocking in at a DR of 6. While that number looks average on paper,¹ the mix retains a surprisingly natural edge while still delivering the punch and low-end presence needed to let the intricacies of the performances shine. Yes, it’s still compressed, but it never totally collapses on itself either. The guitars carry plenty of bite, avoiding the trap of sounding overly synthetic or overproduced, though the solos sit too far back in the mix for my liking. Likewise, the use of robotic spoken word interludes on tracks like “Inflection Chants” and “Transient Fixations” is conceptually fine, but they get lost behind the loud drums and end up feeling pointless. It’s a trade-off I can ultimately live with, though.

After multiple spins, In Light, No Shape stands toe-to-toe with Phantazein. Overcoming a key member’s departure isn’t easy, and while the album’s stylistic changes may feel reactive or too familiar, most come across as deliberate, pointing to a group resettling their identity. Cognizance continues to emerge as one of tech death’s most compelling acts and In Light, No Shape highlights what the genre can achieve when done right.

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Rating: Very Good
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Willowtip Records
Websites: cognizance.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/cognizanceband
Releases Worldwide: May 1st, 2026

The post Cognizance – In Light, No Shape Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.

The heavy metal world has been waiting “for ages” for the first installment of King Diamond’s ambitious horror trilogy, and guitarist Andy La Rocque has finally provided a definitive status report. In a new interview with Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation, the legendary axeman confirmed that the band is targeting a late 2026 release for Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920. With most of the instrumental tracks completed and King Diamond currently finalizing vocals for his half of the record, the “Institute” era is officially shifting into high gear as the band prepares to record final takes this summer.

When will Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920 actually be released?

While the project has been in development for years, Andy La Rocque recently clarified the timeline, stating that the current goal is to have the album out by the very end of 2026. The delay stems largely from the meticulous nature of the songwriting; while La Rocque sent eight completed songs to the band four years ago, King Diamond is currently finishing the writing and arranging of the final five or six tracks.

“As soon as that’s recorded and arranged from his side, we can put the right guitars on, the right drums, bass and everything,” La Rocque explained, noting that if the final vocal arrangements are completed by summer, the band can enter the studio immediately to meet the year-end deadline.

We Also Recommend – King Diamond’s ‘The Institute’ Album Faces Delays — But The Story Behind It Just Got Darker

How is the “Organic 80s” sound being achieved for the new album?

Fans of the classic Fatal Portrait and Abigail era have reason to celebrate. La Rocque revealed that the band is intentionally avoiding the “copy-and-paste” perfection of modern digital production. Instead, they are aiming for a loose, organic feel where 99.99% perfection is favored over robotic, triggered sounds.

• Standard Tuning: The band is strictly adhering to standard tuning, avoiding the modern trend of tuning down to keep the ’80s aesthetic intact.
• Melody First: La Rocque emphasized that creating space for King Diamond’s vocal melodies is the “super essential” priority during the riff-writing stage.
• The Falcao Connection: In a nod to the band’s legacy, early collaborator Roberto Falcao contributed keyboards to several of La Rocque’s tracks during the pre-production phase.

What songs have been confirmed for the first part of the trilogy?

The title of the album officially shifted from The Institute to Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920 during the band’s 2024 U.S. tour. King Diamond himself has confirmed a robust tracklist that includes both previously teased singles and brand-new nightmares.

Confirmed Tracks for the Saint Lucifer’s Hospital Trilogy:

• Under The Surface (Intro Track)
• Spider Lilly (Studio version released Dec 2024)
• Lobotomy (Next single/video)
• Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920
• The Nun
• Faceless
• Electro Therapy (Performed Live)

King Diamond also teased a “monster chorus” on one of Andy’s tracks that will feature a full choir, further cementing the cinematic scale of this release.

Check This Out – King Diamond’s Story Is Darker Than Most Fans Realize—These 13 Facts Prove It

Our Strait Up Perspective

The wait for Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920 has felt like an eternity, but Andy La Rocque’s insistence on an “organic” sound is the best news King Diamond fans could hear. In an era where metal production is often polished into a lifeless sheen, hearing that the band is keeping the “loose feel” of the ’80s suggests we aren’t just getting a new album—we’re getting a return to form. The level of creative perfectionism King is applying to these five final songs is exactly why this trilogy will likely stand alongside their classic catalog.

STAY LOUD: Catch the full breakdown of the King Diamond resurgence on the Loaded Radio Podcast, or crank the 2026 industrial hits 24/7 on our digital stream at LoadedRadio.com.

TL;DR

King Diamond guitarist Andy La Rocque has confirmed the band is aiming for a late 2026 release for the first part of their new horror trilogy, Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920. The album features contributions from Roberto Falcao, a “monster” choir chorus, and an organic, ’80s-style production. King Diamond is currently finalizing vocals for the remaining tracks before final recording begins this summer.

The post THE INSTITUTE IS OPEN: Andy La Rocque Confirms KING DIAMOND’S “Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920” Targeting Late 2026 Release appeared first on Loaded Radio.

For months, Action Bronson has been teasing Planet Frog, the followup to his 2024 LP Johann Sebastian Bachlava The Doctor. Now, the Queens rapper officially announced the album via Wheel Of Fortune.

The post <em>Wheel Of Fortune</em> Announces New Action Bronson Album <em>Planet Frog</em> Out Next Week appeared first on Stereogum.