Angel Sandalphon (The Music Lake) unfolds like a quiet ritual rather than a composition, something that feels received rather than written. Karen Salicath Jamali leans into stillness, allowing each piano note to breathe and dissolve naturally, creating a sense of space that feels almost sacred. There is no urgency here, only a gentle flow that mirrors early morning light slowly entering a room. The piece carries a meditative weight, soft but intentional, inviting you to slow down and listen inward.
It is less about melody and more about presence, a calm, luminous experience that lingers beyond sound.
“Breaking Out of Heaven 2007–2009” is a comprehensive compilation featuring members of Black Sabbath in a lineup that includes Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice. During this period, these four pioneers of heavy metal reunited under the banner of Heaven & Hell, returning to the stage for a series of live… Continue Reading →
UK alt-rock trailblazers DON BROCO have unleashed their audacious new album, Nightmare Tripping, out now via Fearless Records. Known for their genre-defying sound, the band pushes boundaries with this release, crafted alongside longtime collaborator and renowned producer Dan Lancaster.
DON BROCO have always defied categorization. Effortlessly merging metal, post-hardcore, funk, and electronica, they create a sound distinctly their own. With Nightmare Tripping, they dive into their heaviest and most nuanced work yet, embracing unexpected musical turns and deeper thematic explorations.
Nightmare Tripping features electrifying collaborations, including the previously released title track with Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger and Ryan Peake, which fans hailed as “the collab of the century” and VICE raved as a “collision of riffs, grooves, and a couple of killer breakdowns.”
With the release of their album, DON BROCO unveils the powerhouse collaboration True Believers featuring Sam Carter of Architects. The song delivers a high-octane punch, with Carter’s signature screams complementing Rob Damiani’s versatile vocals, ranging from gentle to raw intensity. Inspired by the alarming rise of far-right nationalism and societal brainwashing, the track explores challenging themes while balancing explosive energy with a melodic bridge, culminating in a crushing breakdown.
“We started writing this song back in 2024 during the Southport Riots. At the same time the Olympics were on, and flicking between them and the news was an alarming contrast between celebratory British patriotism and violent English nationalism. Over the last few years it’s been impossible to avoid the rise of the far-right across Europe and the United States, seeing politicians and people on the streets alike using the Nazi salute freely without consequence, and genocide apologist’s ideas embraced in the mainstream media. This song is about the brainwashing that’s led to this, to question what we’ve been brought up believing and the narratives that have been reinforced for generations,” shares Damiani.
Adding, “As soon as the initial ideas were fleshed out I wanted Sam on this track. We’ve been fans of Architects for a long time and the energy and aggression he brings to his vocals are unmatched. As a human being of planet earth he’s used his talents again and again to stand up for what’s right so to collaborate on this song with him was very special.”
The journey through Nightmare Tripping unfolded like an epic adventure, first single Cellophane brought sharp-edged nu-metal swagger, and Disappear revealed raw emotional nerve. Meanwhile, Euphoria captivated with electronic grooves and a massive, euphoric chorus. Each song charted an exciting course toward the album’s release, highlighting the band’s fearless experimentation and commitment to reinvention.
“For us, Nightmare Tripping is an album coming to terms with a new understanding of how to navigate the world. It’s about lifting the veil and accepting that life can sometimes feel like waking up from one nightmare straight into the next, and finding a way to be ok with that,” share the band.
As the dust settles on the second leg of their electrifying U.S. tour, DON BROCO are gearing up to set the stage ablaze once more. Starting with a string of album release shows and events the band announced will be happening this week throughout the UK. Additionally, this summer, they’ll join forces with Biffy Clyro in London, promising an unforgettable performance at Finsbury Park. With major festivals on the horizon, like ROCK IM RING and Rock For People, and more dates to come, fans across the globe will get to experience Nightmare Tripping as intended, as an exhilarating live show.
Australian band Devil Electric has released their fourth (third full-length) album today, and I’m really liking it. I pre-ordered it based on the pre-released title track, and here’s a new one I really dig:
Devil Electric are:
Pierina O’Brien (Vocals) Christos Athanasias (Guitars) Nicolas Dumont (Bass & Vocals) Mark Van De Beek (Drums)
MONSTERNAUT: APPROACHING DOOM
I loved this Finnish band’s prior three albums, so this was an instant pre-order for me. I’ve been enjoying the pre-released track “Approaching Doom” and have been looking forward to the rest. Today is the day, and here’s another one that I like even better:
Australian band Devil Electric has released their fourth (third full-length) album today, and I’m really liking it. I pre-ordered it based on the pre-released title track, and here’s a new one I really dig:
Devil Electric are:
Pierina O’Brien (Vocals) Christos Athanasias (Guitars) Nicolas Dumont (Bass & Vocals) Mark Van De Beek (Drums)
MONSTERNAUT: APPROACHING DOOM
I loved this Finnish band’s prior three albums, so this was an instant pre-order for me. I’ve been enjoying the pre-released track “Approaching Doom” and have been looking forward to the rest. Today is the day, and here’s another one that I like even better:
DICE kick off 2026 with the release of their new single and music video ‘COOLER’, a blissful and expansive track that marks an evolution in the band’s sound. Recorded at the legendary EastWest Studios in Los Angeles alongside Grammy-winning producer Joe Chiccarelli (The Strokes, The White Stripes), the track blends DICE’s raw garage-rock energy with a lighter, more refined pop-rock sensibility. Perfect for road trips with the windows wound down, the band invited multi-instrumentalist Jay Watson (POND, Tame Impala, GUM) to contribute shimmering keys and melodic depth.
Comprising of Ben Hodge, Tom King, Regan Beazley, and Sam Barrett-Lennard, the Perth-based four-piece makes music for authentic connection. Following the 2024 release of their ARIA-charting debut album Midnight Zoo, the band rapidly grew from local indie favourites into a global touring act.
In 2025, they expanded their sonic palette with the WINGS EP and took their electrifying live show to larger stages across London, New York City, Toronto, Amsterdam and Sydney. At home, the band has maintained a place on triple j’s Most Played Artists list for three consecutive years with fan favourite songs including ‘Chasing Hearts’, ‘Alter Ego’, and ‘Hourglass’.
With ‘COOLER’, DICE step into their most ambitious era yet — delivering a euphoric soundtrack for moments you’ll feel nostalgic for before they’ve even happened.
Talking about the single, the band says: “Cooler is about the complexities of relationships that don’t work both ways. Sometimes the uncontrollable variables are what causes things to end no matter how hard you try for it to work. This song is the journey through these emotions of acceptance from hidden thoughts to emotional release and expression.”
In this exclusive extended seventh episode of 50 Shades Of Slaids, Slaids sat down with Little Angels frontman Toby Jepson for a chat about the band’s history and their triumphant return on the upcoming Big, Bad & Back UK tour this November.
While the Big, Bad & Back Tour is limited to this run of sixteen shows for now, the future of the band looks brighter than ever as Toby reveals the band plans for the rest of 2026 into 2027.
In this unique open and raw chat with Toby, Slaids reveals how he first became a fan and came to know of the band back in 1989 from the other side of the globe, and what has kept him as a fan for the last thirty-seven years. Toby and Slaids walk through the history and landmarks moments of the last thirty-seven years which saw the band break up, reunite for brief reunions that elated fans and left them wanting more. It is safe to say Little Angels are most definitely back and are looking at making up for lost time.
For those who may be unfamiliar with the band at their peak during the late eighties and nineties, Little Angels were a part of the incredible UK Hard rock scene, they shared the stage and toured with icons such as Tesla, Guns N Roses, Bon Jovi, ZZ Top and Bryan Adams to name just a few. With peers like Thunder, The Quireboys, The Almighty and Gun to name a few, Little Angels had their own style and flavour. Little Angels were and are still incredibly important to the UK hard rock scene.
If you are in the UK I strongly suggest that you get to one of these shows, the incredible Luke Morley from Thunder is support for all shows. I think Slaids is preparing his bags now to attend a couple of these shows to experience the magic of Little Angels live, something he never thought he would get the chance to do.
A massive thank you goes out to Claire at Central Press and of course Toby Jepson for his incredibly generous time.
The Little Angels are most definitely Big, Bad & Back in 2026.
Joe Bonamassa has announced the upcoming release of The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork, a powerful live album and film capturing his deeply personal tribute to Irish blues guitar legend Rory Gallagher, recorded during a series of sold-out performances in Gallagher’s hometown of Cork, Ireland last summer. The album will be released June 19th via Bonamassa’s own J&R Adventures, with pre-orders starting today. Listen to the first three live singles: “Walk On Hot Coals (Live),” “Bullfrog Blues (Live),” and “Who’s That Coming? (Live).”
Pre-Order the album from UK & Europe. Pre-Order the album from North America.
For Bonamassa, the project was never approached as a casual homage. Gallagher’s music has been part of his life since childhood, and the weight of performing it in Cork, with the blessing of Rory’s family and in front of audiences who carry his legacy so personally, was something he felt immediately. “I never had the honour to meet him, but his music and musicianship loom large in my life,” Bonamassa writes in a personal foreword accompanying the release. “From my first time hearing Irish Tour ’74 I was captivated by the sheer intensity of the man and the ferocity of his approach to the electric blues.”
That impact began early. “I remember that voice and a singular guitar tone slicing through the walls of my bedroom at a very young age,” Bonamassa recalls. “My father, who exposed me to so many of the great guitarists of his era, was quick to encourage me to listen to Rory and glean what I could.”
What began as an invitation from the Gallagher family quickly became something much larger. “All these many years later I was asked by Rory’s family to consider performing some of his material and paying tribute to him at a venue in Cork,” he writes. “The very thought frightened me. Yes, I was scared to even attempt it but at the same time so honoured that his family felt that I might be up to the task.” Rather than try to reinvent the material, Bonamassa focused on meeting it with the right spirit. “I felt the very best I could hope for was to approach his catalog with humility and reverence.”
That humility shaped the project from the start. In 2024, Bonamassa traveled to Cork to announce the tribute with a small introductory performance for Rory’s family, local friends, and members of the press. The response was immediate and emotional, and what began as a single concert soon expanded into a three-night stand. “After the announcement, one show turned into three sold out shows,” Bonamassa writes. “I felt that my reputation was on the line with the Irish, but what a response!”
By the time the band returned in 2025, the atmosphere around the performances had only intensified. “This was Rory’s town, and Rory’s people. We weren’t going to let them down,” Bonamassa says. “The crowds on those three nights were rowdy, raucous and Cork did their favourite son proud.” The result is a live document that feels charged by that setting – deeply felt, high-wire, and rooted in the connection between artist, audience, and place.
Across 14 hand-picked songs, The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork moves through the many sides of Gallagher’s catalog – from the blistering attack of “Walk On Hot Coals” and “Bullfrog Blues” to the emotional sweep of “A Million Miles Away,” which will serve as the album’s focus track upon release. Other highlights include “Tattoo’d Lady,” “Bad Penny,” “I Fall Apart,” “Calling Card,” and “Cradle Rock,” each delivered with fire and conviction while honouring the shape and soul of the originals.
The release also captures several moments that carried special meaning across the Cork run, including Bonamassa’s performance of “As The Crow Flies” on Gallagher’s own 1930 National Triolian resonator guitar, loaned by the Cork Public Museum. It was a tangible connection to the artist whose presence still looms so large over the city and over generations of guitar players who followed him.
Additional footage, included on DVD and Blu-ray editions, expands the story with bonus material including The Inspiration of Rory, featuring conversations with Brian May and Slash, along with Rory’s Acoustic Guitar and Ballycotton – A Million Miles Away. Together, the audio and visual components offer a fuller picture of what these performances meant to Bonamassa, to Gallagher’s family, and to the fans who packed the room night after night.
In the end, Bonamassa sees the album as an offering – his band’s best attempt to honour a musician whose work helped shape his own. “What you hear on these recordings is our best effort to pay tribute to Rory Gallagher, a man I never met, but admire so deeply,” he writes. “His music is part of me and I’m grateful that we were able to contribute in some small way to his ongoing legacy.”
CD Track Listing
Cradle Rock (Live)
Walk On Hot Coals (Live)
Tattoo’d Lady (Live)
I Wonder Who (Live)
Calling Card (Live)
Who’s That Coming? (Live)
Messin’ With The Kid (Live)
Bullfrog Blues (Live)
Treat Her Right (Live)
Bad Penny (Live)
I Fall Apart (Live)
A Million Miles Away (Live)
As The Crow Flies (Live)
Back On My Stompin’ Ground (Live)
DVD / Blu-ray
The Spirit Of Rory (Opening Scene)
2. Cradle Rock
3. Walk On Hot Coals
4. Tattoo’d Lady
5. I Wonder Who
6. Calling Card
7. Who’s That Coming?
8. Messin’ With The Kid
9. Band Introductions
10. Bullfrog Blues
11. Treat Her Right
12. Bad Penny
13. I Fall Apart
14. A Million Miles Away
15. As The Crow Flies
16. Back On My Stompin’ Ground
17. Ballycotton (End Credits)
DVD / Blu-ray Bonus Features:
Ballycotton – A Million Miles Away
Rory’s Acoustic Guitar
The Inspiration of Rory (A Conversation with Brian May & Slash)
Vinyl (180 gram Red Marble Double LP)
Side A
Cradle Rock (Live)
Walk On Hot Coals (Live)
Tattoo’d Lady (Live)
I Wonder Who (Live)
Side B
Calling Card (Live)
Who’s That Coming? (Live)
Messin’ With The Kid (Live)
Bullfrog Blues (Live)
Side C
Treat Her Right (Live)
Bad Penny (Live)
I Fall Apart (Live)
Side D
A Million Miles Away (Live)
As The Crow Flies (Live)
Back On My Stompin’ Ground (Live)
U.S. SPRING TOUR 2026
April 10-12, 2026 – Miramar Beach, FL – Sound Wave Beach Weekend + +Sold Out
EU/U.K. SPRING TOUR 2026 April 22 – Hamburg, DE – Barclays Arena
April 24 – Rotterdam, NL – Rotterdam Rtm Stage
April 25 – Paris, FR – La Seine Musicale
April 27 – Esch-sur-Alzette, LU – Luxembourg Rockhal
April 29 – Mannheim, DE – SAP Arena
May 1 – Chemnitz, DE – Stadthalle Chemnitz
May 2 – Nürnberg, DE – Psd Bank Nürnberg Arena
May 3 – Zürich, CH – Hallenstadion
May 6 – London, UK – Royal Albert Hall
May 7 – London, UK – Royal Albert Hall
U.S. SUMMER TOUR 2026 June 26 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts w/ JJ Grey & Mofro & D.K. Harrell
June 27 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort
June 28 – Newark, NJ – New Jersey Performing Arts Center
July 29 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap w/ Gov’t Mule
July 31 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater w/ Gov’t Mule
August 1 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion w/ Gov’t Mule
August 3 – Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent
August 5 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater w/ JJ Grey & Mofro
August 7 – Selbyville, DE – Freeman Arts Pavilion
August 8 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion w/ Gov’t Mule
August 9 – Youngstown, OH – The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre w/ Gov’t Mule
August 12 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival
August 14 – Interlochen, MI – Kresge Auditorium
August 15 – Welch, MN – Treasure Island Resort & Casino w/ Gov’t Mule
August 16 – Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Theater w/ Gov’t Mule
August 19 – Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne Civic Center
August 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Eccles Theater
August 23 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
EU FALL TOUR 2026 October 21 – Helsinki, FL – Veikkaus Arena
October 23 – Stockholm, SE – Stockholm Avicii Arena
October 24 – Oslo, NO – Oslo Spektrum
October 25 – Gothenburg, SE – Göteborg Partille Arena
October 27 – Copenhagen, DK – K.B. Hallen København
October 29 – Rostock, DE – Stadthalle Rostock
October 30 – Berlin, DE – Uber Arena
October 31 – Dortmund, DE – Westfalenhalle
November 3 – Basel, CH – Baloise Session
November 4 – Milan, IT – Unipol Forum
VIEW HEAVY DIGIMAG #447 HERE VIEW HEAVY DIGIMAG #447 HERE
