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Where they from?
Chicago, IL. I downloaded a Gameboy Advance emulator and have been playing Pokemon: FireRed this past week. One thing that annoys me ceaselessly is any move that poisons one of my Pokemon. I think it’s a dirty move and has no place in my type of Pokemon battling. Now I gotta walk around like an asshole as my Blastoise slowly dies because some douche bag Oddish used poison powder, FUCK YOU!

Why the hype?
This band is aptly titled because their music is purely face-MELTING. Endless whirlwinds of early Carcass mixed into a stew of devastating D-beat. The production is intense but accessible and the vocals are absolutely insane. They sound like a grizzly bear got into a fight with one of the port-o-potties at Coachella. Seriously, kudos to the vocalist and please take some lozenges after every show.

Latest release?
Infatuation With Premeditation. Another fact I don’t like about Pokemon is any move that puts you to sleep. Like, what the fuck is that? How can someone sleep through a quick attack? Makes no god damn sense to me. And don’t even get me started on Snorla, worst Pokemon in history.

The post Blast Worship: Melting Rot appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

The “End of the Road” was merely a software update. In a massive 2026 cover story for Pollstar magazine, KISS icons Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have confirmed that their long-awaited avatar-based residency is officially slated to launch in Las Vegas in 2028. However, the bombshell for the KISS Army isn’t just the date—it’s the content. Simmons has officially revealed that the show will feature brand-new KISS songs written by the band specifically for their digital counterparts.

Developed in partnership with Sweden’s Pophouse Entertainment (the $1.3 billion music investment firm co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus), this $200-million venture aims to render current Las Vegas technology obsolete.

The ‘New Music’ Revelation: KISS Returns to the Studio

The most significant “Information Gain” for fans in 2026 is the confirmation of fresh material. While the band’s final “physical” show took place at Madison Square Garden in December 2023, the creative engine hasn’t stopped. When asked about the setlist for the 2028 show, Gene Simmons was blunt: “You’re gonna get all that stuff, and also new songs. Written by us. We have songs done.”

This marks the first time since 2012’s Monster that the band has actively discussed new studio recordings. By leveraging avatar technology, KISS has effectively decoupled their legendary “personas” from their physical ages, allowing them to release new music that can be performed “live” by 8-foot-tall, ageless digital superheroes.

We Also Recommend – The Demon’s Dirty Secrets: 13 Gene Simmons Facts That Prove He’s Rock’s Ultimate Marketing Genius

TL;DR: The KISS 2028 ‘Avatar’ Dossier

• The Launch: Scheduled for Las Vegas, 2028, as a permanent residency.
• New Tracks: Confirmed “New Songs” written by Stanley and Simmons are already completed.
• The Technology: A “4D roller coaster” experience involving fire, smell, and heat.
• The Venue: Pophouse is shunning the Las Vegas Sphere in favor of a bespoke, intimate site built specifically for this hardware.

Why KISS is Snubbing the Las Vegas Sphere

Despite the hype surrounding the $2.3 billion Sphere, KISS and Pophouse are moving in a different direction. Paul Stanley expressed concern that the massive scale of the Sphere actually diminishes the band’s presence. “At the Sphere, the band is on a postage stamp,” Stanley noted. “I want the band to matter. You forget that there’s a band on that little stage.”

Instead, Pophouse is developing a custom-built arena designed to maximize “emotional connection” rather than just visual scale. Former Pophouse CEO Per Sundin noted that in venues like the Sphere, audiences often go for the building rather than the artist. The KISS residency aims to flip that script, creating a specialized “KISS World” where the technology and the music are inseparable.

Check This Out – From Maiden to Motörhead: 13 Metal Snubs That Prove the Rock Hall is a Joke

‘Popcorn Farts’ and 4D Sensory Attacks

Gene Simmons, never one for subtlety, claims the KISS experience will make current high-tech shows look primitive. “People who go to Vegas to see a show in the Sphere are awed by the massive scale… I’ll go out on a limb and make sure people understand this is gonna make that seem like a popcorn fart,” Simmons told Ultimate Classic Rock.

The show is being spearheaded by a creative team led by Thierry Coup, a legend in the theme park industry. The experience is described as a “sensory attack” that goes far beyond traditional virtual reality.

“If you see a dragon coming in to scoop you up and it breathes fire, there will be fire all around you, and you’ll feel the heat,” Simmons explained. “The fire, the brimstone, the coffee—you’ll be able to smell it.”

We Also Recommend – Forget the ‘Big 4’: These 13 Bands Actually Built Heavy Metal

The Industrialization of Nostalgia

The deal with Pophouse, reported to be worth over $300 million, saw the company acquire the band’s entire song catalog, name, image, and likeness—including the iconic face paint designs. By moving fully virtual, KISS becomes the first American band to successfully industrialize their “personas” for a post-human touring cycle.

Simmons confirmed that while the show will launch in Vegas, the technology is designed to be staged “all around the world.” For the KISS Army, the message is clear: The Demon and The Starchild aren’t going anywhere; they’re just getting an upgrade.

Stay tuned to Loaded Radio for the latest updates on the KISS 2028 residency and the first listen of those brand-new tracks. Stream us 24/7 here.

The post KISS TO RELEASE NEW MUSIC: Gene Simmons Details 2028 Las Vegas Avatar Residency & ‘Mind-Blowing’ 4D Technology appeared first on Loaded Radio.

🔥 Who Will Rise as This Week’s Champion on the MDR Battle Of The Bands? 🔥
And who will dominate next month as Band of the Month on Metal Devastation Radio?
Last month’s winners, ETHEREAL DARKNESS, crushed the competition with a staggering   339,768 VOTES , claiming the title of Band of the Month on Metal Devastation Radio! You can check them out HERE !
This is the weekly championship edition of the Band Of The Month – Battle Of The Bands that we host every month on MDR!
How does it work?
Every Monday, we launch a new poll featuring bands that submit music each week on metaldevastationradio.com. Voting runs until Friday at 9PM EST .
Each Friday night , at the start of The Zach Moonshine Show , I’ll be spinning the Top Six weekly winners , and announcing the #1 band of the week live on air — getting thousands of listens on Mixcloud !
At the end of the month , all weekly votes are added up, and the band with the highest total votes becomes our Band of the Month !
Winning Band of the Month gets:
A featured post on our Facebook page, reaching thousands of fans
A front-page spotlight on metaldevastationradio.com , which pulls in hundreds of thousands of views every month
A free PR email blast from Metal Devastation PR, hitting 40,000+ contacts including labels, zines, stations, and more
Airplay every hour during general rotation
Tons of social media shares and exposure across our network
If you want the world to know who your band is, this is the easiest way to make it happen!
💥 Want in on the next battle?
Comment below with your band name and we’ll add you to next week’s poll — or email me at zach@metaldevastationradio.com with “Battle Submission” in the subject line.
Bands can compete as many times as they want , and if you enter multiple weeks in the same month, your votes combine toward the Band of the Month title!
👇 Click on the bands below to vote as many times as you like, or add your own! Poll closes Friday, April 17th at 9PM EST!




Who Will Rise as This Week’s Champion on the MDR Battle Of The Bands?? 04/13/26 – 04/17/26

New Bruce Springsteen covers are materializing like crazy this week, and not just the requisite “I’m On Fire” covers either. First came news of a Nicholas Krgovich’s Boss Tape and access to its opening track, “Gave It A Name.” Now we get a great one from Nation Of Language. The Sub Pop synth-pop trio has…

The post Nation Of Language – “Tougher Than The Rest” (Bruce Springsteen Cover) appeared first on Stereogum.

St. Louis-based independent artist Lost on the Metro is building significant momentum as 2026 unfolds. Known for a

Truck Violence have revealed that they have signed to The Flenser (home of the likes of Chat Pile and Agriculture) for their new full-length album.

It’s titled ‘The weathervane is my body’ and will be released on June 26.

The artwork looks like this:

Whilst the tracklisting is like this:

1. My dog would fuck the air
2. Jaundiced and reaching for a mother
3. Compelled by Christy
4. House caught fire
5. New Jesus
6. Your name, It’s walking
7. Stomach as a tower and the globules descending
8. Gerard, be quiet
9. Kindly, wash yourself

The band have also offered up a taste of what to expect from the record in the form of ‘New Jesus’, a wonderfully contorted and brilliantly wicked piece of noisy anguish. With flecks of hardcore punishment and lashings of angular alt-rock weirdness, it’s the sort of track that sticks to you like tar and refuses to wash off.

Vocalist/poet Karsyn Henderson had this to say about the track’s sentiments, stating, “’New Jesus’ is a rant about the blatant fascistic slide occurring both to the south of our border and on screen. It is loosely about the ABC—Trump settlement and the post-January 6th election fraud cases. The lack of any broader moral compulsions beyond centralizing power on the political right has led to a culture of post-truth, where there is no reward in accuracy unless it leads to an augmenting of one’s political capital, which it rarely does.” He continues, “This is as destructive in politics as it is in art. There is surprising apathy among young people in regards to this slide, who believe the acquisition of power and the subsequent lording over that occurs, is merely nature, essentially; what will happen, will happen. With these lines of thinking, you find more people sympathetic to this mode, if it is both natural and inevitable, why not acclimate and reap the rewards. Why not join the fascist grift, degenerate art through tiktok, etc…”

The band are set to make their way around Europe over the next few months. Here is where you can lose yourself in their art.

APRIL

18 – TILBURG Roadburn

JUNE

27 – MANCHESTER Outbreak Festival
28 – NEWCASTLE Zerox
29 – LONDON Windmill Brixton
30 – LONDON Windmill Brixton

JULY

02 – ROSKILDE Roskilde Festival
03 – MONTREUIL Le Chinois
04 – LEPER Ieper Fest
05 – ROTTERDAM Vessel 11
07 – NOTTINGHAM The Old Cold Store
08 – LEEDS Wharf Chambers
09 – WITHINGTON 2000trees
10 – NEWPORT Le Pub

The post Truck Violence Announce New Album ‘The weathervane is my body’ appeared first on Rock Sound.

Tim Nielsen of southern rock stalwarts Drivin N Cryin talks about how he keeps busy, what sustains the band financially, and what the band’s drummer eats most nights while on tour.

Look Outside Your Window, a long-shelved project recorded in 2008, is due to come out on Record Store Day, April 18

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is finally inducting metal greats Iron Maiden. Here’s why that’s so great for metal.

The post Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Finally Gives Nod to Iron Maiden appeared first on Audio Ink Radio.

Tonight is a journey that started forty years ago. It started with the incredible Australian Made Tour that swept the county back in 1986/7. Hobart was the first show of that tour on boxing day 1986. It was also the year of release of Icehouse’s “Measure For Measure” album and Kate Ceberano was everywhere. Even if you didn’t know her by name you sure knew her by voice. From her time with I’m Talking to being the female voice that cut through so vividly on The Models “Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight” album and singles. Ian Moss still hadn’t found his solo voice, but would only three years later.

This was a time where Australian Music was at it’s absolute peak, it was so good and so dominant we almost didn’t need the outside world or international artists. We were overflowing and in the best way. That Australian Made Tour was unlike anything I was aware or witness too back then. Sure, I had seen bands like INXS, Midnight Oil, V Spy V Spy and The Angels live at that stage, but a tour like this in Tasmanian of all places was unheard of in 1986.

“For The Working Class Man” was Jimmy Barnes’ second solo album and the one that has been certified 7 x Platinum. No mean feat by any standard. The album itself is a part of Australian cultural history.

With this tour spilling over from 2025 into now the last show of the tour, you knew you were going to get one heck of a show and this show is unique in being the only indoor date of the run. So how did it all play out? Read on.

The ever glowing Kate Ceberano was the first artist for the night. Ceberano joined by the super talented Katheen Halloran and Harts on guitars and bass make up the trio that has dropped jaws on Ceberano’s Australian Made Tour which ran through 2025 and will have an encore run later this year. Tonight’s set was a much abbreviated version of that tour. Ceberano’s thirty minute seven song set was sublime mixing in her own hits like ‘Pash’, ‘Brave’ & ‘Bedroom Eyes’ along with covers of songs by Models, Mental As Anything, Split Enz and James Reyne.

This trio is simply sublime. I was lucky enough to catch the opening night of Kate’s Australian Made Tour theatre tour last year. The chemistry on that night was next level and tonight it levelled up again. The musicianship and connective magic that came from that stage into Rod Laver Arena tonight just pulled you in, it engaged you, moved you and rocked you. The only down side was it was over before you knew it, but warmed up we were in another display of why Kate Ceberano, Kathleen Halloran and Harts are a power trio to be reckoned with, the combined flexibility and ability of each of them shines so brightly. Based on this performance alone I can’t wait to do it all again this year when her Australian Made Tour 2026 kicks off. If you haven’t seen this tour, I urge you to treat yourself when. It comes your way.

Ceberano stayed on stage while we witnessed one of the world’s fastest change overs. Ceberano acting as an MC of sorts as her keyboards were removed from the stage and was prepared for Ian Moss.

Ian Moss, what can I say about Mossy that hasn’t been said before. Ian Moss has to be one of the most consistent if not the most consistent performer I have ever seen. Every solo performance I have seen is a journey within itself. You get lost in his feel, his voice and the songs. Tonight we celebrated his incredible “Matchbook” record with ‘Such A Beautiful Thing’, ‘Telephone Booth’ and ‘Tuckers Daughter’ along with three Cold Chisel classics ‘My Baby’, ‘Choir Girl’ and ‘Bow River’. This short set of six songs just had all of the feels. It immersed you and had you singing along the whole way through. His band is perfect and the execution of this set is everything you would expect from one of this countries most beloved performers. Moss has lost nothing vocally and playing wise leaving me wanting another run of solo shows so that I can just bathe in the mastery of this man again. He is ageless and timeless in every sense.

Icehouse, now here is a band that just never disappoints. I mean how can they with a songbook as broad and textured as theirs is. Seeing Icehouse tonight is this shortened set just piledrives the impact of what an Icehouse performance is. Visually stunning, full of iconic songs and all of them delivered with the passion and energy that just proves age is just a number. Iva Davies is all smiles and charm, singing better than he ever has and his right hand man Paul Gildea (Guitar) shines on every riff, lick and solo. The rhythm section of Steve Bull (Bass) and Paul Wheeler (Drums) are as tight as ever. This iconic core line up of Icehouse truly do have a magic about them. However, it is the younger member of this band that put that magical icing on Icehouse live most notably Hugo Lee who has taken his role as saxophonist in Icehouse to another level. Michael Best on Keyboards and additional guitars is incredibly solid too. Tonight was a stunning performance and for me was the set of the night although it’s been incredibly difficult to pick a favourite. Icehouse are incredibly consistent live and tonight I think they gave one of their best performances of the last decade.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been forty-one years since “For The Working Class Man” captivated us and had us fall in love with Jimmy Barnes all over again. Not only did it re-establish Jimmy, but it took him to heights that I think surpassed Cold Chisel at their peak. The album itself is a part of the Australian musical tapestry, iconic and bold. Musically it’s a melting pot of styles that work incredibly well together. The players and writers on the album are truly the who’s who of the music world and the delivery is on point.

This show wasn’t just a celebration of “For The Working Class Man” it was a celebration of the career of Jimmy Barnes. Hearing the entire “FTWCM” album played live is something I didn’t think I would get the opportunity to experience. A lot of my favourite songs from the album weren’t the singles. Well, that’s not entirely true, I guess. Most of my favourite songs were on the debut from Mr. Barnes. The “Bodyswerve” record had this raw magic to it for me. It had all the grit of the Cold Chisel sound that I loved. “FTWCM” polished those songs and gave them a second chance, who says lightning doesn’t strike twice. 

Tonight was much more that just nostalgia, it was a reminder that whatever life throws at you there 

There are rock n roll survivors and then there is Jimmy Barnes. The man had had more lives than a cat. He has been to the very top of it all and been at the very bottom as well. His health in the last decade has taken on some serious battles and nothing has or can dim his light. I think the last time I saw Barnsey live was on one of the Cold Chisel reunion tours, solo it would have to have been maybe eight years ago, so it’s been a while and a lot has happened to the man in this time. What is obvious is that Jimmy simply loves being on stage is something that still satisfies his soul and lights a fire within, that is obvious tonight. 

At near seventy years old, what Barnes has in spades is youthful energy, presence and a playfulness that many fail to deliver at half his age. His voice is rough in all the right ways, the rasp, the grit and gravel we have all come to love is still there and at times has a little more bite than it did forty years ago. Then there is the tender, softer, soulful side of his voice that is magical.

The band, well god damn, this is one hell of a band, part family, part youth and a ton of experience. Let’s start with family first Jimmy’s wife Jane is keeping up with her younger backing singers and in perfect stride with their dance moves. Not only that but Jane is brought front and centre to play bagpipes on a couple of occasions. Jane is just as much an icon as her husband is and so valuable to the performance. Jane and Jimmy’s son Jackie has been the formidable powerhouse behind the kit for well over a decade and an essential part of the band providing backing vocals as well. I am forever in awe of watching Jackie do his thing live. Mahalia Barnes while not a part of the band tonight made an incredible contribution to ‘Too Much Ain’t Enough Love’ giving the song the soul, power and depth that brought it to life tonight. We move another generation and see Ruby Rodgers, Jimmy’s granddaughter take the stage and own the iconic ‘Flame Trees’ with a performance that wowed the crowd. The rock n roll bloodlines here are strong. Make no mistake about it there is a musical royalty about every Barnes generation.

Then you have the guitarists and keyboard player. Firstly Clayton Doley on keys is a phenomenal player, his parts are true to the recordings with a little of his own flair. Again a wonderfully selected player who gels with the rest of the band. Guitarists Danny Spencer, what a gifted player who stylistically fits perfectly, his slide contributions are immaculate and his ability to drive the guitar heavy stuff is incredible, his voice is a perfect addition to the Barnes choir. Ben Rogers is the perfect right hand man for Spencer and adds such a different approach to the songs. Both guitarists understand their parts and play off each other incredibly well and within each song. Bassist Angus Radley is so damn solid and locks in with Jackie Barnes so perfectly. Australian rhythm sections don’t get any better than this. The surprise for me tonight was seeing Michael Paynter on stage not only adding his magical vocals to the Barnes choir but also adding some great acoustic rhythm guitar. I first discovered Paynter with Icehouse and seeing Paynter share vocals with Barnes and Iva Davies on ‘Good Things’ was a treat.

Tonight’s show was more than just a celebration of “FTWCM”, it was a reminder that Jimmy Barnes is Australian rock n roll royalty. There will never be another. The songs are all engrained in our lives. While at times I found Jimmy to perhaps put a little too much grit on some of the songs, you have to wonder how he still does it, how he still has his voice and throat intact, but I guess that’s what makes him so great and so iconic and sets him apart from anyone else.

For just on two hours Jimmy Barnes proved that he is defiant, resilient and most of all incredible live. With a career that spans over five decades and shows no signs of slowing down. His performance was one for the books and had Rod Laver Arena singing with him, dancing in their seats and having the greatest time. There were too many highlights to single them all out, as a performance it was everything you would expect and then some.

As a package this tour is something to behold, the artist selection perfect and a true celebration of great Australian music and artists. I can’t wait to see what’s Barnsey has instore for us next as there are some pretty iconic records celebrating anniversaries soon.

Setlist : I’d Die To Be With You Tonight, Ride. The Night Away, American Heartbeat, Thick Skinned, Daylight, Promise Me You’ll Call, Paradise, Vision, Without Your Love, No Second Prize, Boys Cry  Out For War, Working Class Man, Last Frontier, Lay Down Your Guns, Too Much Ain’t Enough Love, That’s What You Do For Love, Merry-Go-Round, Flame Trees, Good Times, Khe Sanh.

Encore : Driving Wheels, Shutting Down Our Town, Resurrection Shuffle, Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)

Photos by Shot By Slaidins Photography
A huge than you to MG Live & Face To Face for the access and acreditaion.

Gallery

The post LIVE REVIEW: JIMMY BARNES Working Class Man 40th Anniversary Tour appeared first on The Rockpit.