Blog

Words & photos by: Michael Bradley Australia is known for our musical contribution to the world at large. Our audibly artistic output has had no end in sight since we boomed with the unprecedented success of groups like The Easybeats and The Bee Gees, and later, AC/DC and INXS. In recent times, we’ve made more […]

– Live Nation has today announced the return of multi-platinum recording artist Dermot Kennedy, the much-loved singer/songwriter confirming a string of shows across Australia and New Zealand this November, following his powerful appearance at last year’s MISNEACH Festival in Sydney. This tour announcement follows the release of his new album, The Weight of the Woods, Kennedy creating UK chart history as the first Irish solo artist ever to reach Number 1 with their first three studio albums.

The tour will commence on Saturday 14 November at Perth’s Kings Park and Botanic Garden, followed by Brisbane’s Riverstage on Tuesday 17 November, then Sydney’s TikTok Entertainment Centre on Wednesday 18, Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Saturday 21 November and concluding on Sunday 22 November at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre.

The New Zealand dates kick off on Wednesday 25 November at Christchurch Town Hall, followed by TSB Arena, Wellington on Friday 27 November and finishing in Auckland at Spark Arena on Saturday 28 November.

Tickets will first be available via artist presale here – fans can register now through until Monday 4 May at 5pm with Artist Presale Codes distributed on Tuesday 5 May. Artist Presale runs from Wednesday 6 May at 9am until Friday 8 May at 10am. For info head to dermotkennedy.com.

Mastercard cardholders have special access to presale tickets in Australia. Mastercard Presale starts Wednesday 6 May at 10am and Friday 8 May at 10am. Plus, Preferred ticket access to some of the best tickets are available from Friday 8 May at 11am. Check out priceless.com/music for details.

Eligible Westpac New Zealand customers with a Westpac New Zealand Mastercard have special access to presale tickets starting from Wednesday 6 May at 10am and ends Friday 8 May at 10am. Plus exclusive preferred tickets from Friday 8 May at 11am. For more information visit priceless.com/westpacnz

The Live Nation Presale starts Thursday 7 May and 10am, running until Friday 8 May at 10am. Register at livenation.com.au/register.

General tickets go on sale on Friday 8 May at 11am.

All times are local.

For tickets and further information head to livenation.com.au and livenation.co.nz.

Known for his passionate and powerful live performances, Kennedy is set to kick off a massive international tour, with the UK and Europe starting on May 11, marking his largest run across that region to date including a return to London’s O2 on June 5.  He will also perform at iconic venues across the U.S. and Canada, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre and Forest Hills Stadium in New York among others.

Dermot’s new album The Weight of the Woods is out now on Interscope Records, featuring tracks “Honest,” the anthemic, passionate lead single “Funeral,” and the stunning “Refuge.”

In the run-up to album release, Dermot recently surprised fans at intimate pop-up shows in both Los Angeles and New York City. The fortunate attendees in the U.S. were treated to a mix of originals and thrilling covers, with NYC’s event landing fittingly on St. Patrick’s Day. It was also just announced that Dermot will perform at the UK’s Radio 1’s Big Weekend on May 24, alongside Olivia Dean among others on the main stage.

The Weight of the Woods was largely written and recorded at a studio near Kennedy’s home in rural Ireland, alongside close collaborator Gabe Simon [Noah Kahan, Lana Del Rey]. Additional material for the album was also recorded at Simon’s studio in Nashville. Across its fourteen tracks, the album’s poetry and music draw inspiration, energy, and strength from Kennedy’s native Ireland.

ABOUT DERMOT KENNEDY:

Dermot Kennedy has amassed 4 billion streams across platforms, having the best-selling debut album in Ireland of this millennium Without Fear. A platinum-selling artist in over 12 countries, he released his acclaimed sophomore album Sonder in 2022. In 2024, he stripped back to basics and released the introspective EP, “I’ve told the trees everything.” Dermot has shared the stage with some of his finest contemporaries, most recently with Niall Horan, Noah Kahan and Zach Bryan. His incredible journey has taken him from busking on the streets of Ireland to playing stadiums around the world. His poetic and authentic artistry has forged a deep, emotional connection with audiences, including the likes of Taylor Swift and Shawn Mendes who have sung his praises.

CONNECT WITH DERMOT KENNEDY: 

Official Site  | Instagram  | Facebook  | Twitter

The post DERMOT KENNEDY Announces Australia And New Zealand Tour Dates Across November appeared first on The Rockpit.

Element of Fate, the melodic heavy metal duo, is thrilled to announce the release of their highly anticipated debut full-length album, DREAMFALL, set to drop on July 27, 2026. Hailing from the vibrant music scenes of Washington, D.C. and Portland, Oregon, this dynamic pair is ready to take listeners on an unforgettable journey through their powerful soundscapes that fuse symphonic, gothic, and progressive elements.

With DREAMFALL, Element of Fate presents a stunning combination of soaring vocals and dynamic instrumentation. This album not only showcases their ambitious songwriting but also crafts an immersive narrative experience. Themes of transformation, resilience, and the search for light amid darkness permeate the tracks, inviting listeners to embark on an emotional adventure. The recently released visualizer for the track “Warhorse” offers a tantalizing glimpse into the captivating sonic and visual universe of DREAMFALL. 

About Element of Fate: Element of Fate is dedicated to crafting a distinct sound that honours classic heavy metal while exploring lush atmospheres and fantasy-driven compositions. Vocalist and visual artist Carol Phillips reflects on the creation of the album, stating, “DREAMFALL is the most personal and ambitious project I’ve ever created as an artist.” This debut album serves as a fully immersive artistic statement, combining music, visual storytelling, and meticulous world-building into a cohesive experience designed for fans of grand, emotionally resonant metal.

Follow Element of Fate:
Facebook: Facebook
Instagram: Instagram
Spotify: Spotify
YouTube: YouTube
Bandcamp: Bandcamp

The post ELEMENT OF FATE Announce Debut Full-Length Album ‘DREAMFALL’ appeared first on The Rockpit.

This week’s “Dark Wave” featured music by Flesh For Lulu, Kate Bush, Alien Sex Fiend, Nitzer Ebb, Concrete Blonde, James Chance and the Contortions and more.

The post Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Matt Sebastian (5/3/26) appeared first on Slicing Up Eyeballs.

Montreal’s Taxi Girls kick off the next chapter with “Say It!”, the electrifying new single and video arriving May 1 on Stomp Records. Formed in 2022, the all-female garage punk outfit has quickly emerged from the city’s underground with a sound rooted in punchy hooks, raw edge and rock ’n’ roll swagger, nodding to The Donnas, Joan Jett and Nikki Corvette.

Like a snowy cab ride down Saint-Laurent after last call, their music carries the texture of late-night dépanneur runs, sesame bagels eaten on the curb, a Labatt 50 sweating in hand and a DuMaurier burned down to the filter. That feeling fuels a mix of garage rock cool and punk urgency, with infectious energy and a clear sense of identity. Big hooks cut through blown-out guitars, while the dual-vocal dynamic between Jamie Radu and Vera keeps everything shifting, trading lines, colliding and snapping into focus without losing control.

“Say It!” serves as the first glimpse of the band’s forthcoming debut LP Static, set for release on June 26. The single lands alongside vinyl and digital pre-orders for the album and sets the emotional and sonic tone for what’s to come. A second single, “Secret Handshake,” follows on June 5, with “Midnight Mixtape” spotlighted during release week.

Order Taxi Girls’ Music and Merchandise

“Say It!” captures Taxi Girls at their most immediate and unapologetic. The band’s dual-vocal dynamic shifts effortlessly from sweet to scathing, mirroring themes of resilience, self-realization and the courage to speak plainly. As the band explains, these ideas carry through Static: “This record is very real and very raw, exploring themes of love, loss, struggles with mental health, postpartum depression, and being caught in endless loops of nostalgia. The light at the end of the tunnel is stepping into your power, owning it, feeling it and truly understanding what that means deep down. We felt this was the perfect way to showcase Taxi Girls and share how we really feel.”

Since forming, Taxi Girls have built momentum within Canada’s punk and indie rock communities, sharing stages with NOBRO, NOFX, Lagwagon, The Hives, Billy Talent and Pansy Division. Their growing buzz has reached well beyond Montreal, with Iggy Pop championing the band on his BBC 6 Music radio show.

With “Say It,” Taxi Girls announce themselves as a vital new voice in modern garage punk. Fierce, hook-driven and rooted in the spirit of Montreal’s underground. As anticipation builds toward the release of Static, the single sets the stage for a debut album that promises both catharsis and celebration, capturing a band stepping fully into their power.

Taxi Girls Online

INSTAGRAM | BANDCAMP | FACEBOOK | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY 

The post TAXI GIRLS Kick Down The Doors With New Single “Say It!” appeared first on The Rockpit.

HEALTH have released their new EP ADDENDUM via Loma Vista Recordings. The project brings together new material alongside a selection of previously released collaborations as well as recent single A.L.O.N.E. – a haunting and deeply atmospheric track that wouldn’t feel out of place at the Bang Bang Bar in The Roadhouse. This EP is the perfect final chapter in the band’s RAT WARS / CONFLICT DLC saga and a fitting celebration that dropped just before they played a sold out Hollywood Palladium show.

Having toured across the US, Mexico and South America last year with Pierce The Veil, HEALTH are currently wrapping up their North American tour with Carpenter Brut before heading to Europe for festivals this summer followed by headline shows across Australia in September (with Perturbator and King Yosef supporting) before finishing off with some solo shows and more co-headline shows across Europe with Carpenter Brut (plus support from VOWWS and Doodseskader). HEALTH will be unleashing their apocalyptic energy on stages across three continents, transforming each show into a visceral, full-body experience.

Recent album CONFLICT DLC resonated far and wide, receiving praise from the likes of Pitchfork, DIY, Kerrang, Revolver and many more around its release last December. The album is a stack of 12 full-octane industrial metal songs, that sees HEALTH continue to explore deep existential undercurrents through a borderless genre lens. A slate of sad bangers for the end times, CONFLICT DLC finds connection in the disconnect and comfort in the dark.

Listen to ADDENDUM here: https://i.hlth.band/addendumep

Tickets from destroyalllines.com

The post HEALTH ‘ADDENDUM’ EP Out Now + Touring Nationally This September appeared first on The Rockpit.

Multi-platinum band Young the Giant have released their highly anticipated new album, Victory Garden. Produced by Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, AC/DC, Pearl Jam) and Young the Giant, and written by the band collectively, the project is both ambitiously universal and deeply personal. Victory Garden asserts hope and connection as acts of quiet resistance, cultivating radical empathy and optimism in the face of an uncertain world. The album marks the band’s first full-length release since 2022’s American Bollywood.

Different Kind Of Love, the lead single from Victory Garden, debuted as the #1 most-added track at Alternative Radio in its first week, quickly climbing the charts to currently sit in the Top 5 at Mediabase Alternative — listen here/watch here. The band followed with songs Bitter Fruit — listen here/watch here, and Already There — listen here/watch here.

“Victory Garden is an album about radical empathy, the struggle of life over death, love over fear; lessons learned from seeing this increasingly difficult life through the eyes of our children,” the band shared. “Victory gardens were created for local communities to increase food supply while war was raging. Our album also strives to galvanize the community through thoughtful action. In an age that vacillates between escapism and hopelessness, Victory Garden is an ode to all that is human and beautiful. Radical empathy, in these times, is its own form of resistance.”

The official music video for Evergreen (directed by George Gallardo Kattah) is also out now.

The band has also announced the continuation of their Victory Garden World Tour, adding shows across the UK and Europe to hit major markets including London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Glasgow, and Copenhagen. Victory Garden comes to life on the road beginning May 24 in Las Vegas, NV and continues across North America through August, before Europe and the UK later this year. The extensive run of arena and amphitheater shows will feature support from Cold War Kids, almost monday, and KennyHoopla, with Cold War Kids also celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album Robbers & Cowards.

VICTORY GARDEN – OUT NOW
https://link.youngthegiant.com/victorygarden

About Young the Giant:
Young the Giant’s Victory Garden is an ode to radical empathy.

Over the past fifteen years, the multi-platinum Southern California band has flourished through distinct sonic eras, progressively solidifying itself as one of the most consistent and influential rock bands of the 21st century. On their sixth full-length album and Fearless Records debut, Victory Garden, Young the Giant reconnects with the core experience of 100% band collaboration, writing and recording together as a unit in one room. Written largely during writing retreats in Idyllwild and Joshua Tree and produced by Brendan O’Brien (Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden) at Henson Studios in Hollywood, Victory Garden is a cohesive album experience that both inspires and enthralls. Lyrically, the album is rooted in radical empathy, capturing the band’s songwriting instincts at its most immediate and heartfelt. Musically, Victory Garden showcases the seasoned artists’ collective performances at their intuitive height. The result is a prolific record that beckons a new season of creative fertility for the band and presents Young the Giant as confident, refined, and fully inhabiting its voice.

The post YOUNG THE GIANT Releases New Album ‘Victory Garden’ appeared first on The Rockpit.

Just back from their tour with INFECTED RAIN, avant-garde quintet BLACK SPIKES release a second single from their upcoming album, Ydos, which will be released on August 28, 2026 via Napalm Records. “REVANA” continues the album concept in which every song depicts one of humankind’s vices: a personification of revenge, haunting the Lithuanian breakout band’s dark realms with beautiful melodies, “REVANA” adds highly recognizable riffs to the album. Alongside the song, BLACK SPIKES release a cinematic video.

BLACK SPIKES about “REVANA” “REVANA is the name that we’ve chosen for revenge. Revenge promises closure but often delivers continuation. It keeps the story going instead of ending it. You don’t ‘get even’—you stay entangled. In the music video, we depict a story inspired by the witch hunts that also reached Lithuania in the 17th century. Women who stood out for their curiosity or who did not easily fit into society were often falsely accused of witchcraft and revenged by death sentence for causing misfortunes in their communities.”

Emerging from the shadows are BLACK SPIKES, bringing the darkness right along with them on their new album, Ydos, out August 28, 2026. The Lithuanian breakout band’s first release with Napalm Records, coming shortly after their nomination at their home country’s Grammy-comparable M.A.M.A. Music Awards, deals with the eponymous flaws of humanity, conceptually interwoven with modern progressive metal, serving as a complex mirror for us all.

The depth of its concept is reflected in every note of Ydos, from every heavy riff to every proggy twist. Leaning into electronic music while holding on firmly to their metal roots, the Lithuanian band creates a distinctive sound, alluringly dark and captivatingly heavy. BLACK SPIKES venture into gloominess, filling the void with spine-tingling philosophical thoughts and posing as Janus-faced companions on a fateful journey into the self in which every step should be taken with caution because a trap just might snap …

 

BLACK SPIKES about Ydos “Ydos is a conceptual album—a dark fairytale about human vices. The idea was there from the very beginning and guided the entire songwriting process. Each vice has its own name and story, and many songs will be brought to life through music videos where these vices take shape. It was our first time creating a conceptual album, and we really enjoyed starting with an idea and expressing it through music.”

 

Get Your Copy Of Ydos

lnk.to/BlackSpikes-Ydos/napalmrecords

Initiating the story of Ydos is the eerie “PASAKA” (engl. fairy tale), an intro setting the mood with menacing ticking sounds growing into orchestrals and singer Agni’s high vocals layered with screams. A calming lullaby exploding into growls, thunderous blast beats, and elaborate guitar riffs, “MOTINA” (engl. mother) describes the birth of humankind’s vices and therefore serves as an exposition for the storytelling aspect. Throughout the ten songs of their second album, BLACK SPIKES explore the relationships with flaws we all carry within, devoting a song to each of them. “MELAS” (engl. lie) introduces trap beats and rap to the mix, all with an approach clearly rooted in modern metal with sophisticated progressive elements. “MARA”, investigating excessive curiosity, beautifully contrasts calmness and calamity, with the quintet allowing their different elements to breathe while still entwisting them persuasively. Following, “ZELVAR”, which features the album’s only English lyrics, and “REVANA” add endearing, highly recognizable riffs to Ydos, further opening the gates to the hauntingly beautiful realms BLACK SPIKES are unfolding as they delve into greed and revenge, respectively, the concepts personified in the form of demons. The raw rage evolves into carefully structured “APATIJA” (engl. apathy), whose futuristic intermezzi make for especially interesting headbanging rhythms throughout which Agni’s voice acts as a gentle guide. “AUREA” continues BLACK SPIKES’ cinematic approach in its depiction of pride, unleashing a storm of rapacious riffs and galloping drums, frequently broken up by halcyon parts, their cleverly placed tranquility conveying comfort in seemingly hopeless hazes. With pressing “SENAS DEMONAS” (engl. old demon), BLACK SPIKES free yet another hellish entity, before “DULKĖS” (engl. dust) picks up on the melodized cinematography, wrapping up this bleak exploration of what it means to be human.

The post BLACK SPIKES Lithuanian Rising Stars Release Endearing Second Single, “REVANA” appeared first on The Rockpit.

NESTOR are set to present their thrilling live energy on record for the first time with new album Live at Gothenburg Film Studios, out August 14, 2026, via Napalm Records! Originally formed back in 1989, the band took the international rock scene by storm with its comeback and first music releases in 2021, unleashing the debut album Kids in a ghost town (earning a Swedish Hard Rock/Metal Grammis nomination!). The following studio album Teenage Rebel (2024) entered several charts internationally (incl. #12 on Official German Album Charts and #19 in Sweden), and the band has gathered millions of streams on several of its hits.

On Live at Gothenburg Film Studios, NESTOR showcase their nostalgic, 80s-inspired melodic anthems in a new light — infused with their signature, radiant live presence. The band has won over live audiences around the world, from huge European festivals to the Monsters Of Rock Cruise in the U.S. and headline shows in Japan, and shared stages with legends like KISS and Europe. Now, the band is gearing up to release its first-ever live album. Make sure to pre-order your physical copy, and stay tuned for the first single!

Vocalist Tobias Gustavsson comments “When I listen to Live at Gothenburg Film Studios it becomes clear to me that it shows everything that NESTOR was about, from the beginning. A live performance with all the little quirks and mistakes that makes it human, a thing that I have learned to love even more in an era of AI generated music. Live at Gothenburg Film Studios is less clinical and more of a human experience in comparison to our studio albums and shows a different side of NESTOR. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we did recording it up on stage.”

Pre-Order Your Copy of Live at Gothenburg Film Studios
lnk.to/Nestor-LiveatGothenburgFilmStudios/napalmrecords

Live at Gothenburg Film Studios treats fans old and new to a hefty selection of live versions of future classics from NESTOR‘s celebrated catalogue. The band brings the heat with a new rendition of the track “Firesign” (originally from Kids in a ghost town, 2021) – catchy riffs and rhythms carry the heavily 80s-inspired, authentic sound that is topped with impressive rock vocals. The nostalgia-drenched following track “Teenage Rebel” (title track of the latest studio album, 2024) gets audiences singing along without a failure with its irresistible chorus that is accompanied with emotion-loaded melodies and massive riffs. Further highlights of this extensive, 16-track offering include a live rendition of one of the biggest NESTOR hits to date, “On The Run” (also from the praised debut Kids in a ghost town, 2021), featuring epic, AOR-inspired keys and guitars, and another one of the band’s possibly catchiest singalong-choruses so far.

This comprehensive live album, available even as a DVD, draws from NESTOR‘s impressive repertoire of arena-worthy anthems and rock ballads, polished with the very best AOR and classic 80s rock influences. Without a doubt, NESTOR continue their steady mission to restore the glory of rock!

Live at Gothenburg Film Studios track listing:

Intro
We Come Alive
Kids In A Ghost Town
Stone Cold Eyes
Perfect 10
The One That Got Away
Last To Know
Unchain My Heart
Signed in blood
Victorious
Caroline
Firesign
On The Run
Teenage Rebel
1989
It Ain’t Me

The post NESTOR Melodic Hard Rockers Announce First Live Album appeared first on The Rockpit.

With their 15th studio album ONE arriving tomorrow, GRAMMY® Award–nominated metal icons SEVENDUST unleash “Construct,” the final track to be released ahead of the album’s worldwide debut.

Comprised of Lajon Witherspoon (vocals), Clint Lowery (guitar), John Connolly (guitar), Vince Hornsby (bass), and Morgan Rose (drums), the band once again delivers the signature sound that has earned them both critical acclaim and a fiercely loyal fanbase. Early reviews of ONE make it clear: SEVENDUST has not lost their edge.

On “Construct,” the band balances crushing intensity with a message of resilience and hope. As the pre-chorus drops and Witherspoon declares, “When it comes don’t run now, love wins somehow,” SEVENDUST reinforces their enduring ability to pair raw power with emotional depth. Their ability to infuse their music with a sense of positivity has remained a defining element throughout their three-decade career.

 “Construct” is available now on all digital streaming platforms.

Building on their unmistakable sound while continuing to evolve, ONE proves why SEVENDUST remain a vital force nearly three decades into their career. From the driving opening riff of the title track “One” to the dreamy, atmospheric vocal outro of “Misdirection,” the album takes listeners on an emotional journey that only SEVENDUST can deliver. Tracks such as “One” and “We Won” stand confidently alongside the band’s most iconic material, reinforcing their legacy while pushing their sound forward.

The album’s first single, “Is This The Real You,” was released in January to both fan and critical acclaim. The video—directed by Paul Ribera—has amassed over 2 million views since it was released, signaling strong anticipation for the band’s next chapter. The video for “Threshold” released in April marks the return of animator Ollie Jones and continues the storyline introduced in the band’s video for “Fence.” That video has already been viewed over 1.5 million times in less than a month.

Since forming in 1994, SEVENDUST have become a cornerstone of modern metal, known for their explosive live performances, chart-topping releases, and unwavering commitment to authenticity. With ONE, the band continues to honor their roots while embracing growth—proving that their creative fire is as fierce and focused as ever.

ONE arrives May 1^st via Napalm Records and the album is available for pre-order in multiple configurations including digital downloads.

Get your copy at

lnk.to/Sevendust-One

The post SEVENDUST Release Visualizer for “Construct” appeared first on The Rockpit.