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They’ll be playing various ‘Vans Warped Tour’ stops and touring with Black Veil Brides this year.

The post Holy Wars Launch “Skin Deep” Music Video appeared first on Theprp.com.

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Sonic weaponry.

The post HAVOK Sign With BLKIIBLK, Debut “Fifth Generation Warfare” Video appeared first on Theprp.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LIVEKILL JOINS “THE METAL SAINT TOUR 2026” WITH METAL CHURCH AND ARMORED SAINT
South Florida Metal Force Continues Rise Following Release Of Blistering New Single “Evil & Ecstasy”
South Florida, USA — South Florida heavy metal powerhouse LIVEKILL has officially been announced as direct support for “The Metal Saint Tour 2026,” joining legendary metal acts METAL CHURCH and ARMORED SAINT for a massive North American run this November.
The tour announcement, reported by Blabbermouth , marks a major milestone for LIVEKILL as the band continues to build momentum with the release of their crushing new single “Evil & Ecstasy,” available now on all major streaming platforms.
Listen now:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/livekill/evil–ecstasy
Dark, atmospheric, and brutally powerful, “Evil & Ecstasy” dives into the tension between light and darkness, transforming struggle, temptation, and personal conflict into an all-out sonic assault. Backed by massive production, punishing riffs, and relentless energy, the track further establishes LIVEKILL as one of the rising forces in modern American heavy metal.
For fans of Sepultura, Machine Head, and Chimaira, LIVEKILL delivers a vicious blend of groove, aggression, and modern heaviness while carrying forward the legacy of the Florida metal scene.
The Metal Saint Tour 2026 featuring ARMORED SAINT, METAL CHURCH, and LIVEKILL will hit major cities across the United States and Canada beginning November 2 in San Juan Capistrano, California and wrapping November 21 in Agoura Hills, California.
Tour Dates:
Nov. 02 – Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA
Nov. 03 – The Glass House – Pomona, CA
Nov. 04 – The Nile – Phoenix, AZ
Nov. 06 – Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
Nov. 07 – Sunshine Studios – Colorado Springs, CO
Nov. 08 – The Federal – Denver, CO
Nov. 10 – Neurolux – Boise, ID
Nov. 11 – The Newberry – Great Falls, MT
Nov. 13 – Dantes – Portland, OR
Nov. 14 – Redwood Theater – Bremerton, WA
Nov. 15 – Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, BC
Nov. 17 – Great America Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
Nov. 18 – Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA
Nov. 19 – Whisky A Go Go – Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 20 – Observatory North San Diego – San Diego, CA
Nov. 21 – Canyon Club – Agoura Hills, CA

ARMORED SAINT vocalist John Bush stated:
“If you call yourself a metalhead and you don’t come to this show when we roll into your town, you better have a damn good excuse.”
METAL CHURCH guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof added:
“It’s incredibly exciting to be getting back on the road with our friends and an honor to be sharing the stage with one of America’s finest metal bands.”
About LIVEKILL
Hailing from South Florida, LIVEKILL is a high-energy heavy metal force committed to evolving the region’s legendary metal legacy. Combining bold songwriting, crushing live performances, and modern production, the band creates an immersive heavy music experience that hits just as hard on record as it does on stage.
Production Credits
Mix / Master: Alastair Sims
Drums: Kevin Talley
Guitars / Music: John Snell
“Evil & Ecstasy” — OUT NOW
Presave / Listen:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/livekill/evil–ecstasy

For interviews, promo requests, or additional information:
Listen now:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/livekill/evil–ecstasy

Aurora is the third consecutive Yes album produced by Steve Howe — following The Quest and Mirror to the Sky — and it sounds like it. Same lineup, same sonic fingerprint, same songwriting sensibility. Fans who have rejected the band’s current incarnation will find nothing here to change their minds. But for those invested in where Yes has been heading, the record delivers more than it stumbles.

The continuity is remarkable by Yes standards: three albums in a row from essentially the same group of musicians, the only change being Jay Schellen stepping in after the passing of Alan White. Howe‘s production, aided by mixing and mastering engineer Curtis Schwartz, is consistently clear and well-balanced — nothing buried, nothing overwhelming.

The album opens strongly. The title track is symphonic and orchestral — a little Disney-adjacent, but anchored by Howe‘s playing. “Turnaround Situation,” now a single, is a Jon Davison composition with a notable wrinkle: Davison plays keyboards throughout Aurora — piano, synth, organ — making this a shared keyboard record rather than a Geoff Downes solo showcase. The song is hook-laden and layered, with Howe on pedal steel and some properly cosmic lyrics: “a primal voice that speaks so clear / to every heart sincere / guiding every conscience home.” “Love Lies Dreaming,” co-written by Davison and Howe, completes a strong opening three-track run.

The middle of the album experiments. “Ariadne” — co-written by Downes, Davison, and Sherwood — draws on Greek mythology and features the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, one of two tracks to do so. It’s lush and storytelling-driven, reminiscent of “Turn of the Century.” “Outside the Box,” co-written by Sherwood and Howe, is lyric-free, built on layered vocalizations rather than conventional singing — a genuine departure that mostly works. “All Hands on Deck” is a Howe rocker that feels more at home on a solo record. “Emotional Intelligence” carries a worthwhile message with lyrics that could stand to trust the listener a bit more. “Jam Bustin’” is a bonus track — corny, self-aware, skip it if corniness isn’t your thing.

The centerpiece epic, “Counter Movement,” is where the album’s biggest opportunity meets its biggest stumble. The four-part piece has genuine highlights — a third section co-written by Davison, Sherwood, and Schellen that tackles AI with a sharp instrumental jam, Howe trading licks with Downes on synth in a brief but satisfying prog blowout. But the main body hands lead vocals to Howe, and that’s a significant drag. His solo work has shown real vocal growth — Love Is demonstrated he can carry a record — but a Yes epic is a different ask. The repeated lead lines wear thin, a guitar figure uncomfortably close to “Your Move” muddies the waters, and the finale, “Freedom’s Edge,” meanders where it should soar. The epic ends on two Davison a cappella lines that land with a thud.

The closer, “Watching the River Roll,” rescues the finish. Sherwood‘s composition opens with the Portuguese 12-string guitar and builds into one of the album’s warmest moments — Sherwood on clean lead vocals, Davison across a lovely chorus, the whole thing rolling out with ease. Calling it a bonus track is a genuine head-scratcher; it’s among the record’s best.

Schellen is well-served by Howe‘s mix and sounds excellent throughout. Sherwood is the MVP — inventive bass lines, strong backing vocals, carrying the Squire legacy without trying to copy it. Downes is the persistent question mark: capable, but keyboards have receded into the background across all three of these albums, where they once shared the front of the stage with guitars and bass. And Howe — still producing, still playing beautifully, compensating for anything age takes with musicality and taste.

Aurora won’t rewrite Yes history. But as a third chapter in a surprisingly consistent late-career trilogy, it holds up.

The post YES – Aurora (Video Review) appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

This is the third album from UK doom metallers Godthrymm. After serving up a good starting point with 2020’s Reflections, followed by 2023’s even stronger Distortions, we are now gifted  with Godthrymm’s latest, Projections. With a duration of 46 minutes it’s the band’s shortest, but does it continue their upwards trend regardless? It resolutely does. … Continue reading “Godthrymm – Projections (Review)”

Alt-pop punk rockers RiotWeekend are stoked to release their bouncy and feel good new single “Last Of The Autumn Leaves” on 27th May. The band comment on the release: “Last of the Autumn” leaves is a proper pop punk romance song perfect for the summer! Studded belts, tattooed arms and the excitement of new love. … Continue reading RiotWeekend release video for new single “Last of the Autumn Leaves”

Among the foundations of heavy metal are resistance and counterculture. Thus, it makes sense that a young Norwegian band, Sabotør, decided to create a record regaling tales of the Norwegian resistance against Nazi Germany. This period birthed the term Quisling as synonymous for traitor when Vidkun Quisling attempted to take Norway down a path of Nazism. The Norwegian resistance thwarted his plans by using tactics such as an underground press, “ice fronts” that served to alienate Germans from Norwegian society, and anti-Nazi jokes meant to make the Nazis look foolish. It wasn’t all non-violence, either. They managed to sink a German cruiser called the Bluecher.¹ This all sounds like great material for an album, and I’m only saddened I don’t speak Norwegian to understand what these lads are singing about. While I don’t know the words, I can appreciate the music as raucous, fun, and a little deranged.

True to its themes of resistance, Første Aksjon (roughly translated as first action or first strike) features a collection of old school abrasive punk/thrash tunes sure to stir the rebel in you. The raw, high-energy sound brings to mind Kill ’em All era Metallica, and opening song “Jerngrepets Inntog,” could almost be a lost track from that classic debut. There’s a hunger and passion that echoes those early Metallica years, and it brings a freshness and earnestness to the music. I also hear some early Kvelertak, and Sabotør cites the obscure Brocas Helm as a major influence. Like any good resistance movement, the music is unpredictable yet incessantly energetic. This means non-stop riffs, solos, and blasts of the snare drum. Sabotør are not above hooks, with a catchy chorus that appears out of nowhere on “Skyggens Frekvens” and makes you want to sing/shout along with it. Rasmus Strømberg also catches listeners off guard with sudden leaps into vocal harmonizations that just add to the catchiness (“Jerngrepets Inntog”, “Sabotør,” “Flagget”). In all, Første Aksjon is pure fun.

The musicians display a show of raw power and passion that makes Første Aksjon constantly exciting. Strømberg’s deranged vocal performance leads the way. He mixes the abrasion of Kvelertak’s Ivar Nikolaisen, the mania of Sergeant Salsten (Deathhammer), and even some touches of a young James Hetfield, particularly those pre-pubescent screeches. He screeches, shouts, screams, and growls through more than 30 minutes of intense music, and that’s not all. He has an entertaining cadence that proves him to be a superb raconteur. He’s full of surprises, turning the speed to 11 on “Brente Jords Taktikk” and then turning in a raucous bit on “Jevnet Med Jorden” where he sounds like an auctioneer speaking in tongues. The other musicians also contribute to the mania, particularly drummer Mathilde Solemdal. He ensures a non-stop energy with his frequent snare hits, cymbal blasts, and frenetic blast beats. Guitarist Andreas Remmen provides a semblance of sanity with controlled yet energetic riffs. He provides plenty of melody, thrashy riffs, and even some cool arpeggios (“Flagget”).

The only thing holding Sabotør back is the production. This is an instance where the high DR score (12) seems at odds with how the record sounds. In some ways, it sounds great, with crisp and clear instrumentation, including the bass. The lower quality of my promo copy probably contributed to my sound issues. I found the album to be on the quiet side and had to turn the volume up to hear it properly. However, the snare tone is too loud, and its incessant presence proves a headache. While the brief album length makes for easier repeat spins, the mix will make you want to give your ears a rest before long. There are a couple of other distracting bits, including a section on “Flagget,” where a plane engine sounds more like rumbling flatulence. While the rawness is appropriate, Første Aksjon could benefit from better balance in their mixing.

As Sabotør’s own bit of first action, Første Aksjon proves to be an impressive debut. As the Indiana Jones flicks demonstrate, it’s fun to defeat Nazis. These guys continue that tradition, while also demonstrating the effectiveness of resistance in the face of authoritarianism. Sabotør also exhibit the joy of listening to hungry young musicians who just want to play what they love. There’s plenty to love here, and plenty to look forward to as these musicians mature in their songwriting.

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Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 12 | Format Reviewed: ~165 kbps mp3
Label: Dark Essence Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: May 8th, 2026

The post Sabotør – Første Aksjon Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.

Featuring support from Helmet and Spirit in the Room

Source

Paul .

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