The post LAST SCENE ALIVE: New Noise Magazine Streams World Class Pep Talk, The Skillfully Infectious Debut From Transatlantic Electro-Jazz Fusion Trio, Ahead Of Its Release This Friday appeared first on INFRARED MAGAZINE.
Reviewed by Dan Barnes
I’m going to show my age now and make the bold statement that melodic death metal reached its pinnacle when At the Gates released the imperious Slaughter of the Soul in 1995. I’m not saying everything that followed is inferior, just that it’s hard to improve on perfection, though many of tried.
Three other people who would be in agreement are the German trio, Serpent Icon, who issue their debut EP, Tombstone Stories as a kind of love-letter to the early Gothenburg sound, without trying to reinvent this particular wheel.
Formed in 2023, by previous members of Living Abyss, Gloryful and Night In Gales, the three have worked tirelessly to create a record that pays tribute to the whole of the genre in just five tracks. Here you’ll find nothing but the pure essence of the Gothenburg sound, free of clean vocals, breakdowns or modern synths, and just focused on raw power.
In opener, Circus of Mankind, you’ll recognise that Serpent Icon is the real deal when it comes to highlighting their influences. The driving rhythms from Hartmut Stoof’s relentless drumming and Tobias Dahs’ searing guitars, combined with gritty riffs, take you back to hearing In Flames and At the Gates for the first time.
The title-track blends thundering drums with soaring guitars, bringing an earworm of a riff to the pre-chorus, giving a little respite to the blistering speed without losing sight of the melodic aspects. Feels like this tune alone will win over most genre fans.
Both Ashes and Final Witness are built around sweeping, anthemic riffs, supplemented by powerful drumming and with vocalist, Christian, growling raw and guttural snarls, there is no mistaking the influence. Ashes gives a moment to a more ambient sound into the final third, with Tobias’ bass thundering it into the conclusion. Final Witness goes for a more grimy, dirtier sound, achieving a punchy result.
Closer, Sirens and Sinners, is pure At the Gates, with flailing, whiplashing riffs, rumbling drums and a face-melting solo; I’d like to think that late-great Tomas Lindberg would be proud of what he was so instrumental in creating.
All the melodic death metal tropes are here: harmonised guitars, blasting double-bass drums and low-pitched growling vocals. None of it feels forced and you can hear the passion from all three members of Serpent Icon in every note of the twenty-minute run-time.
It bodes well for a full-length some time in the future but, for now, there’re new kids in Melodic Death Metal Town, and may I suggest you take note.
The post EP Review: Serpent Icon – Tombstone Stories appeared first on The Razor's Edge.
Britney Spears has been arrested for a DUI, TMZ reports. The incident happened around 9:30 Wednesday night in Ventura County, California, when the singer was apprehended by California Highway Patrol and later booked around 3 a.m. Thursday morning. According to Ventura County Sheriff’s inmate records, Spears has since been released, and she’s scheduled to appear in court on May 4. Though she’s come under fire for unsafe driving habits before, this appears to be her first arrest. Meanwhile, Spears’ once very active Instagram account has now noticeably disappeared.
The post Britney Spears Arrested For DUI appeared first on Stereogum.
Extreme metal pioneers return May 1 with their 16th studio album – the first new Venom material since 2018.
The post VENOM Announce New Album Into Oblivion, Unleash Lead Single "Lay Down Your Soul" appeared first on Metal Injection.
While the band’s 2026 album and world tour are intended as a final chapter, the bassist admits new music could still happen down the line.
The post JAMES LOMENZO Doesn't Totally Rule Out More New MEGADETH Music appeared first on Metal Injection.
Rock for People’s 2026 international line-up is now complete! (Presumably some more local Czech acts will be added down the line.)
The Hradec Králové fest – which takes place between June 10 – 14 in Czechia – have added over 30 new bands, including All Time Low, Destroy Boys, High Vis, Mouth Culture, Keo, Sleep Theory, Trash Boat, The Molotovs, TX2 and more.
“We built this year’s programme with a strong emphasis on genre diversity, from legendary icons to the most exciting new discoveries,” explains Rock for People director Luděk Motyčka. “Last year’s 30th anniversary set an incredibly high bar in terms of production, dramaturgy and atmosphere. That made this year’s preparation even more challenging, but we believe the 2026 line-up continues to build on that level.”
These latest additions join headliners Gorillaz, Limp Bizkit, Bring Me The Horizon, Halsey and Iron Maiden, plus the likes of Electric Callboy, Megadeth, The Pretty Reckless, Trivium, Papa Roach, BABYMETAL, A Day To Remember, Alter Bridge and Knocked Loose.
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Posted on March 5th 2026, 3:03p.m.
Not exactly. Courtney Love confirmed she and Melissa Auf Der Maur are planning to tour together, but she insists it is not a full Hole reunion.
The speculation began when Courtney Love posted a video of Melissa Auf Der Maur on Instagram, soundtracked by Hole’s 1998 single “Malibu.”
Love tagged the bassist and wrote a simple but provocative caption:
“So do we tell the kids about the tour?”
For longtime fans of the influential alternative rock group, that was enough to spark immediate rumors that Hole might be returning.
Auf Der Maur responded in the comments with a cryptic line of her own:
“It starts with eternal love.”
Within hours, the internet began buzzing about the possibility that two key members of the band might finally share a stage again.
As speculation spread across fan forums and social media, Love stepped in to clarify the situation.
Her response was direct:
“Not a reunion baby. Me and @xmadmx touring new songs.”
So while the collaboration is real, the return of Hole as a full band appears unlikely — at least for now.
Still, the idea of Love performing alongside one of the group’s most beloved former members is more than enough to stir excitement among fans of 1990s alternative rock.
Even without the official Hole name attached, the pairing of Courtney Love and Melissa Auf Der Maur carries enormous nostalgia.
Auf Der Maur joined Hole in the mid-1990s and appeared on the band’s landmark 1998 album Celebrity Skin, which featured the hit single “Malibu.”
That record marked a major evolution in the band’s sound, blending alternative rock with polished songwriting and massive mainstream success.
Seeing those two musicians reconnect on stage — even under a different banner — will inevitably feel like a partial revival of that era.
The potential tour arrives at a time when Love appears ready to step fully back into the spotlight as a musician.
Earlier this year, a new documentary about her life titled Antiheroine premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Directed by Edward Lovelace and James Hall, the film follows Love over a five-year period in London as she worked on her first new album in more than a decade.
The project explores her career, controversies, and creative process while she prepared new material.
The film includes commentary from several prominent musicians who have crossed paths with Love throughout her career.
Among those appearing in the documentary:
Producer Julia Nottingham explained the motivation behind the film in an interview with Variety, noting that Love’s story extends far beyond the headlines that often defined her public image.
Love has also confirmed she is working on a new album, which will be her first since 2004’s America’s Sweetheart.
The upcoming record is expected to feature contributions from both Michael Stipe and Melissa Auf Der Maur.
Speaking about the project in the documentary, Love described the album in deeply personal terms.
She suggested it could be viewed as a “recovery record” or even a reflection on surviving some of the darkest chapters of her life.
“The more I write these songs,” she explained, “the more I get further and further away from the shit.”
While Love insists the upcoming shows are not a Hole reunion, the idea of seeing her perform alongside a key member of the band’s most famous lineup is still electrifying for longtime fans.
And once those two share a stage again, it’s hard not to wonder:
Could a true Hole reunion eventually follow?
No. Courtney Love has said the upcoming collaboration with Melissa Auf Der Maur is not a Hole reunion.
Melissa Auf Der Maur is a Canadian musician best known as the bassist for Hole during the Celebrity Skin era and later as a member of The Smashing Pumpkins.
Hole’s last studio album, Nobody’s Daughter, was released in 2010.
A release date has not yet been announced, but the album is currently in development.
Hole formed in Los Angeles in 1989 and became one of the most influential alternative rock bands of the 1990s. Fronted by Courtney Love, the band gained critical acclaim with albums such as Live Through This and Celebrity Skin. Known for their raw songwriting and confrontational energy, Hole played a major role in shaping the sound and attitude of the alternative rock era.
The post Courtney Love Sparks Hole Reunion Buzz With Surprise Tour Tease Involving Melissa Auf Der Maur appeared first on Loaded Radio.
Last year, the great veteran singer-songwriter Cass McCombs released his album Interior Live Oak. McCombs’ old friend and collaborator Chris Cohen co-produced the LP. Cohen, formerly of Deerhoof and the Curtains, has released a bunch of his own albums; the most recent is 2024’s Paint A Room. Now, McCombs and Cohen have gotten together to…
The post Cass McCombs & Chris Cohen – “Steel Reserve” & “Ignis Fatuus, Hinkypunk, Sharkfins And Ambergris” appeared first on Stereogum.
