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  • Warning Announce First New Album In 20 Years Rituals Of Shame

    Warning: new Warning album incoming. The influential UK doom metal band will return in June with Rituals Of Shame, their first release since 2006’s standard-bearing Watching From A Distance, a towering work that paved the way for latter greats like Pallbearer. Lead single “Stations” is out now. It plays like a hefty, funereal power ballad,…

    The post Warning Announce First New Album In 20 Years <em>Rituals Of Shame</em> appeared first on Stereogum.

  • Jon Spencer Announces New Album Songs Of Personal Loss And Protest: Hear “Knock ‘Em Out”

    Jon Spencer is currently a man without a Blues Explosion, but that won’t stop him from rocking out as if he still had a Blues Explosion behind him. (The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion haven’t been active since 2016, so he’s been a man with no Blues Explosion for a decade.) Spencer released a solo album…

    The post Jon Spencer Announces New Album <em>Songs Of Personal Loss And Protest</em>: Hear “Knock ‘Em Out” appeared first on Stereogum.

  • No Peeling Announce EP2: Hear “Stationery”

    Nottingham’s No Peeling play post-punk in the fun way, not the dour way. They released their self-titled debut EP last year, and in a few weeks they’ll be back with EP2. Lead single “Stationery” keeps up the band’s penchant for short bursts of neon cartoon energy. It sounds like it’s reflecting off a funhouse mirror…

    The post No Peeling Announce <em>EP2</em>: Hear “Stationery” appeared first on Stereogum.

  • Twisted Sister Announces 2026 Tour Dates With Sebastian Bach

    The ex-Skid Row frontman will join the over-the-top rockers following Dee Snider's retirement. Continue reading…
  • SIX FEET UNDER Presents “Mutilated Corpse In The Woods” Video/Single From Forthcoming Next To Die Full-Length

    Photo by Stephanie Cabral

    “Mutilated Corpse In The Woods” is the newest single from American death metal legends SIX FEET UNDER. The track appears on their forthcoming new full-length, Next To Die, set for release on April 24th via Metal Blade Records.

    Comments guitarist Jack Owen, “This song started when my wife and I were in an antique store and she found an amber quartz pendant that had lines through the whole thing. I asked her what it was and she said it’s a Rutilated Quartz. Well, that’s all I needed for a title and some lyrical ideas. The chorus came easy. The verses were from a true crime show where a woman described being attacked by an assailant who tied her to a tree and slit her throat. She couldn’t speak or scream. In real life she survived the attack, telling her story with a giant scar across her throat. In this song, unfortunately she did not survive… My killer buried her where she will never be found. I wrote the music from scratch around the lyrical ideas.”

    Watch SIX FEET UNDER’s lyric video for “Mutilated Corpse In The Woods” HERE. 

    Watch the lyric video for “Unmistakable Smell Of Death” HERE.

    Next To Die marks a new creative high for SIX FEET UNDER, its dozen songs marking the band’s fifteenth album since 1995’s Haunted. The record is essentially broken down into two different sides – Death and Groove – resulting in an aural masterwork that satisfies SIX FEET UNDER as artists, while also offering something for every fan.

    To bring the songs to brutal life, vocalist Chris Barnes recorded his vocals at the legendary Criteria Recording Studios in Miami. “I’ve recorded 90% of my vocals for SIX FEET UNDER there with my longtime friend and engineer Chris Carroll,” says Barnes. “Criteria has a long and rich history of recording some of the most famous and important albums in the history of music. I feel very comfortable working there.”

    Produced by Owens and Barnes and mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis of MRL Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, Next To Die follows 2024’s Killing For Revenge and is the third record that Barnes and Owen have created together since reuniting in 2017.

    Barnes titled the record after the song “Next to Die,” as it “best represents what is contained within the ideas/storylines of the lyrics of each song. We don’t discuss lyrical themes, we each write what we’re feeling and find interesting.” The frontman urges close listening, saying, “that’s the great thing about music and art and reading. It takes you on an exploration into your own imagination, and that personal experience lets you discover what you think the meaning is. Having someone tell you what it means takes away that magic.”

    SIX FEET UNDER was initially formed as a side project for Barnes during his final years with the band that he co-founded, Cannibal Corpse. It became the frontman’s sole focus in 1995, coinciding with the release of their debut, Haunted. The current lineup of Barnes, Owen, lead guitarist Ray Suhy, bassist Jeff Hughell, and drummer Marco Pitruzzella make for a devastating unit.

    Next To Die features the cover art of Sandy Rezalmi and will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:

    180g Black (US)
    Red w/ Black Smoke (US)
    Bone Brown Marbled (EU – Ltd. 500)
    Blue Grey Marbled (EU – Ltd. 300)
    Blood Splatter (EU – Ltd. 300)
    Bone White Green Splatter (EU – Ltd. 200)

    Find all preorders at: metalblade.com/sixfeetunder.

    SIX FEET UNDER will return to European stages this June with support from Embryonic Autopsy. In July, the band will kick off a North American headlining tour with support from Kataklysm and Wormhole. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.

    SIX FEET UNDER w/ Embryonic Autopsy:
    6/03/2026 Mystic Festival – Gdańsk, PL
    6/04/2026 Franz – Berlin, DE
    6/05/2026 Pitfest – Maastricht, NL
    6/06/2026 Gebäude 9 – Cologne, DE
    6/07/2026 The Garage – Saarbrücken, DE
    6/10/2026 Colosseum – Košice, SK
    6/12/2026 Nova Rock- Nickelsdorf, AT
    6/13/2026 A38 – Budapest, HU
    6/14/2026 Orto – Bar Ljubljana, SI
    6/16/2026 Kaminwerk – Memmingen, DE
    6/17/2026 Backstage Halle – Munich, DE
    6/19/2026 Colo-Saal – Aschaffenburg, DE
    6/20/2026 Graspop Festival – Dessel, BE
    6/21/2026 Hellfest – Clisson, FR
    6/23/2026 Logo – Hamburg, DE
    6/24/2026 Copenhell – Copenhagen, DK
    6/26/2026 Basinfire Festival – Spálené Poříčí, CZ
    6/27/2026 Abyss Festival – Hauteville, CH

    SIX FEET UNDER w/ Kataklysm, Wormhole:
    7/08/2026 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI
    7/09/2026 Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON ^
    7/10/2026 Fairmount – Montreal, QC ^
    7/11/2026 Overflow – Ottawa, ON ^
    7/12/2026 Palladium Upstairs – Worcester, MA
    7/13/2026 Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT
    7/14/2026 Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
    7/15/2026 Broken Goblet – Bensalem, PA
    7/16/2026 Chapel of Bones – Raleigh, NC
    7/17/2026 Albatross – Jacksonville, FL
    7/18/2026 Culture Room – Fort Lauderdale, FL
    7/19/2026 Conduit – Orlando, FL
    7/21/2026 Scout Bar – Houston, TX
    7/22/2026 Come and Take It Live – Austin, TX
    7/23/2026 Jake’s – Lubbock, TX
    7/24/2026 Lauter Haus – Farmington, NM
    7/25/2026 Nile – Phoenix, AZ
    7/26/2026 1720 – Los Angeles, CA
    7/27/2026 Strummer’s – Fresno, CA
    7/28/2026 Cornerstone – Berkeley, CA
    7/29/2026 Goldfield – Roseville, CA
    7/30/2026 Shredder – Boise, ID *
    7/31/2026 Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
    8/01/2026 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
    8/02/2026 Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC ^
    8/04/2026 Arrowhead – Calgary, AB ^
    8/05/2026 Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB ^
    8/06/2026 Black Cat – Saskatoon, SK ^
    8/07/2026 Park Theatre – Winnipeg, MB ^
    8/08/2026 Skyway Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
    8/09/2026 The Annex – Madison, WI
    8/10/2026 Madison Theater – Covington, KY
    8/11/2026 Reggies – Chicago, IL

    • No Kataklysm
      ^ Kataklysm headlines

    https://www.facebook.com/sixfeetunder

    https://www.metalblade.com

    https://www.instagram.com/metalbladerecords

    Source: EARSPLIT PR

  • The Real Reason Slipknot Wear Masks Isn’t What Fans Expect

    Slipknot90sband

    Why Does Slipknot Wear Masks?

    Slipknot wear masks to remove individual identity, intensify their performance, and control how the band is perceived—while evolving those masks to match each era.

    TL;DR

    • Slipknot use masks to shift focus away from individuals and onto the collective
    • Each mask reflects the mindset and tone of a specific era
    • The concept evolved into a defining part of their identity
    • The masks influence both performance and fan connection

    Slipknot didn’t build their image around personalities.

    They removed them.

    That decision is the reason the masks exist—and why the band still stands apart decades later.

    And it’s also where most explanations fall short.

    It Started By Taking Identity Out Of The Equation

    Early on, the goal was simple:

    • no faces
    • no spotlight on individuals
    • no distraction from the sound

    The band wanted the music to hit without anything getting in the way.

    That immediately separated them from everything happening in metal at the time.

    And it set the foundation for everything that followed.

    👉 If you’ve gone through their early material front to back, the difference is obvious from the first record.

    We Recommend – Slipknot Members 2026: Current Lineup And Who’s In The Band Now

    slipknot-look-outside-your-window-era

    The Masks Became Part Of How The Music Is Delivered

    It didn’t stay about anonymity.

    Each mask became tied to how the band sounded at that moment.

    Especially with Corey Taylor, whose mask changes track closely with each release.

    You can line it up:

    • the raw, chaotic early era
    • the darker, more controlled shift later
    • the refined presentation in recent years

    The visual side and the sound move together.

    That’s not accidental.

    👉 This is also why ranking their albums is never just about the music—it’s tied to the era as a whole.

    Every New Album Resets The Visual Identity

    Slipknot don’t reuse masks.

    Each album cycle brings a new version.

    That signals:

    • a shift in direction
    • a change inside the band
    • a different mindset going into the record

    You’re not just hearing a new release.

    You’re seeing a reset.

    And fans track those changes just as closely as the music itself.

    Check This Out – Why Slipknot Changes Members So Often Is More Complicated Than Fans Think

    slipknot-members

    The Psychological Shift Is What Most People Overlook

    The mask creates separation.

    On stage, the members aren’t presenting themselves—they’re stepping into something else.

    That changes:

    • how they perform
    • how far they push the intensity
    • how the energy translates live

    It removes hesitation.

    And it raises the ceiling on what they can do in a performance setting.

    👉 That’s part of why their live shows still hit harder than most bands operating at the same level.

    The Masks Took On A Life Of Their Own

    At this point, the masks aren’t a gimmick.

    They define the band.

    Fans associate specific masks with specific albums.

    They debate versions.

    They tie visuals to moments in the band’s timeline.

    That only happens when the concept holds up over time.

    And Slipknot never backed off it.

    metal-bands-for-mental-health-slipknot-new-song-old

    The Core Reason Hasn’t Changed

    The masks weren’t about hiding.

    They were about control.

    Control over:

    • identity
    • image
    • how the band is understood

    That’s why the concept still works.

    And why it hasn’t been diluted after all these years.

    We Also Recommend – The 13 Most Brutal Slipknot Songs Ever Recorded (Ranked)

    If You Want To Hear Where Each Era Actually Shifts

    The changes in Slipknot’s sound line up directly with how each era presents itself.

    Those shifts are a lot more obvious when you hear the records the way they were built—front to back.

    That’s exactly how they run on the Loaded Radio stream.

    Full albums. No cuts. No interruptions.

    Slipknot: Scissors (first time live since 2000 - first show of 25th Anniversary Tour) - Aug. 6, 2024

    FAQ

    Why did Slipknot start wearing masks?

    To remove individual identity and focus entirely on the band’s collective sound and energy.

    Do all Slipknot members wear masks?

    Yes. Each member has a distinct mask that evolves over time.

    Why do Slipknot change their masks?

    Each album represents a new phase, and the masks reflect those changes in tone and mindset.

    What do Slipknot masks represent?

    They represent identity control, performance intensity, and the evolution of the band across eras.

    Slipknot Bio

    Slipknot formed in Des Moines, Iowa, and became one of the most influential metal bands of their era. Known for their aggressive sound and masked identities, they built a global following while maintaining a distinct visual and musical approach.

    The post The Real Reason Slipknot Wear Masks Isn’t What Fans Expect appeared first on Loaded Radio.

  • The Integration Of Synth Into Heavy Metal, As Told By DR. MIKE TRUBETSKOV

    Interview by Angela Croudace Dr. Mike Trubetskov isn’t just a metal producer—he’s a guide into one of the genre’s most misunderstood elements: synths. Based in Melbourne, he works with heavy bands to shape what he calls their “cinematic sound,” and a huge part of that comes from what sits beneath the obvious. For Mike, synths […]
  • GIL MOORE Talks TRIUMPH Reunion & Upcoming Tour: “I Haven’t Seen RIK EMMETT This Excited Since He Was 18 Years Old”

    Thirty years is a long time to be away. But for Triumph drummer and vocalist Gil Moore, the band’s 2025 comeback tour wasn’t the result of a grand design: it was a chain of unexpected events that eventually became impossible to ignore: “It was a series of steps,” Moore says. “You couldn’t make this stuff up.”

    It started with the band’s documentary, which sparked renewed interest in Triumph‘s catalog. Their label followed with a tribute album produced by Mike Clink, pulling in contributors including Larry Gowan from Styx, Nancy Wilson from Heart, Slash, and Phil X. Then came the NHL playoffs, when “Lay It On The Line” became the unofficial soundtrack to Edmonton’s Stanley Cup run on Rogers Sportsnet. One thing led to another.

    “Rodgers Sportsnet decided, well, we want you guys to play at the NHL finals. And I was kind of like, well, I always wanted to be a hockey player. So for me, it was like, OK, we’re going to the Stanley Cup playoffs.”

    The band played the event without the original bassist, Mike Levine, with Phil X on guitar and Todd Kerns on bass. Brent was brought in for a double-drum setup alongside Moore. What started as a one-off turned into something bigger when Live Nation came calling.

    “It fell together like that,” Moore says. “There was no crazy plan. It was just how the ball bounced.”

    The tour lineup — Moore and Rik Emmett, anchored by Phil X, Todd Kearns, and second drummer Brent — gives Triumph more firepower than they’ve ever had on the road. Moore is unapologetic about how seriously he’s approaching the physical and musical challenge of going back out: “I did not intend on going back on the road,” he admits. “So that was a challenge, but it’s been a fun challenge.”

    He’s been working out, working with a drum coach, starting, by his own request, from absolute zero, and running vocal warm-ups on backing tracks during his commute. His vocal coach, a classical tenor who taught bel canto, is the person Moore credits with changing his relationship with singing entirely: “He said, ‘Gil, I don’t care how you sing. You can be like one of these rock idiots that yells, or you can be Pavarotti.’ And then he made me like singing.”

    Moore describes the process of playing drums and singing simultaneously with characteristic bluntness: “It’s like being an electrician and a plumber at the same time. Sooner or later, you get your hand on the drain, and you touch the 240 volts.”

    The expanded lineup also means more vocal firepower. Moore is effusive about Phil X‘s growth as a singer and equally enthusiastic about Todd Kearns: “Phil X, I cannot tell you how amazing his vocals have become. He gets better every single year. And Todd Kearns — anybody can watch him on YouTube and just see, man, this guy can just sing his butt off. We’re going to have more vocal horsepower than we ever had.”

    The show itself is being built with the same theatrical ambition that Triumph became known for in their prime. Moore recruited lighting designer Paul Dexter, whose company is named Masterworks, and is incorporating new visual technology, though he’s careful to distinguish purposeful spectacle and what he calls “video noise.”

    “A lot of the presentation, a lot of the video and stuff is kind of superfluous. It’s just kind of what I call video noise, a bunch of eye candy that’s not saying anything about the music, not tied to the music. Flash is cool if it links to and locks on to the music and the message in the lyrics. And if it doesn’t, then it’s just a bunch of flashing. Flotsam and jetsam, in my opinion.”

    When asked about the possibility of new music, Moore doesn’t close the door. He points to how unpredictably the tour itself came together and suggests a song could surface just as naturally, from a lick on the bus, a melody in a hotel room: “I don’t rule anything out. I just let the future roll out in front of us.”

    Off the road, Moore has spent decades running Metalworks, the Mississauga complex that houses recording studios, a sound and lighting company, and a music school. He’s troubled by the decline of music education in public schools and recently launched Sounds Unite Canada, a free mobile platform delivering music education and wellness resources across the country.

    The origin of his own drumming career is, fittingly, a story about a teacher who didn’t want drummers in his class: “He said, ‘Drummers are idiots. So no one’s playing drums.’ And then he stopped, scowled, turned around, and said, ‘Is there anybody in here that actually knows how to play?’ My friend Gord put up his hand.”

    Moore, stuck on the trumpet due to his braces, eventually pried his way into the practice room with a bleeding lip as proof of hardship. The teacher handed him 26 American rudiments, pointed him toward a soundproof room, and told him not to come out. Forty-five minutes a day, five days a week. That was the beginning.

    The tour documentary is already in the works. Moore plans to film a second chapter of the Triumph story, one that answers the question the first left hanging: “The first documentary kind of ends with us going into the sunset, and there’s like a big question mark. OK, so what’s next? And there is no what’s next. So now we know what’s next.”

    As for Rik Emmett, Moore is delighted. “I haven’t seen Rick Emmett this excited since he was 18 years old. He’s like a bear at the fair.”

    Get your tickets here.

    The post GIL MOORE Talks TRIUMPH Reunion & Upcoming Tour: “I Haven’t Seen RIK EMMETT This Excited Since He Was 18 Years Old” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.