Swedish metal band ELEINE release their new single and visualizer ‘Liars Linger‘ from their upcoming fifth studio album, ‘The Water Taste Of Blood‘, out December 4th via Algoth Records. Stream ‘Liars Linger‘ – here Where ‘Watch As We Rise‘ was the soundtrack of the empire coming down, ‘Liars Linger‘ is about the kind of betrayal […]
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Raven Records in Camden carries a warm, familiar energy by day, shaped by Chloe and Ben into a space people rely on. The shop blends an alcohol‑free bar with shelves of vinyl, giving the room a calm, inclusive feel where fans settle in with an alcohol‑free beer or a coffee as easily as they browse records. Regulars know how the space shifts when something special is happening. Chairs appear, displays are adjusted, and the room takes on a quiet anticipation without losing its sense of welcome.
That atmosphere held steady for the Castle Rat event celebrating their latest album, The Bestiary, released last year. Riley Pinkerton, the Rat Queen herself, was the only band member present, arriving with the same grounded warmth she carries offstage. Chloe and Ben guided fans inside as the room filled and the air grew heavier with excitement.
Raven Records has a way of making strangers feel familiar. That feeling settled into the space as Riley took her seat, ready to speak openly about characters, chaos, and the world Castle Rat have built during the Rat Queen Q&A.
Riley began by talking about her relationship with London. Camden’s The Underworld remains the hottest show the band have ever played, with sweat dripping from the ceiling and raining back down onto the crowd.
She remembers the moment the audience began chanting a riff back at them, something she described as feeling uniquely British. The energy was intense, loud, and a little terrifying in the best way, and it left a mark on the band.
Castle Rat’s universe started as an accident. The band name came first, followed by a couple of shows, and then a Halloween booking in Brooklyn where every group on the bill was dressing up. Riley decided Castle Rat needed a queen, so she built the first version of the Rat Queen from cardboard, a hockey‑stick scythe, and a costume assembled with DIY determination.
The plague doctor mask came from a simple idea, the vampire guitarist felt right, and the rat priest emerged from improvisation. The band stepped into those characters for the first time that night, and the response felt electric. Riley realised they had stumbled into something larger than the room they were playing in.
The characters developed over time. Riley guided the look and feel, painting faces, building props, and helping the band find their own versions of the roles. In the early days, she did everyone’s makeup, which became too much to manage, but the others learned their designs, practised at home, and sent her progress photos.
The Rat Queen herself sits somewhere between Riley and the character. She described it as a spectrum, a blend, where she stands on stage with her shoulders back in a warrior stance while internally panicking about what song comes next.
The live show is built on confidence. Riley talked about the emotional range she carries into a day, and how stepping into costume forces her to set those feelings aside. Once she is on stage, there is no option to be anything other than the Rat Queen.
That transformation is empowering, a moment of escape that allows her to deliver something extraordinary. Fans connect with that commitment, and the realm feels real because the performers give themselves fully.
The choreography developed naturally. Some moments began as accidents, repeated because they were funny or felt right. Other sections, especially the battles, were shaped deliberately to avoid the band hitting each other mid‑swing. Everything is planned, but there is room for gestures and interactions that grow over time.
Riley spoke at length about Castle Rat’s recorded world. Their first album, Into The Realm, captured a band still finding its direction. She described it as a meandering journey where all the riffs lived in C, a murky snapshot of the band before the realm fully took shape. She remains proud of that record.
The Bestiary, their second album, came with pressure. Riley talked about how no one cares when you make a first album, but people cared this time. The Kickstarter went “absurdly well,” hitting its goal within minutes.
She woke up, made tea, checked her phone, and found the campaign already complete. By the end of the day, they had passed numbers they never expected. That support was thrilling, but it also created a weight.
Riley spoke honestly about the challenge of honouring fans without writing for approval, and how people can sense when an artist is not standing by their work.
The band recorded The Bestiary live in Woodstock, surrounded by snow and cold. They played together in a circle, choosing takes based on feel rather than perfection. Vocals and solos were overdubbed later, but the core of the album came from those sessions.
Riley described Crystal Cave as the most difficult song to finish. It was the last track they worked on, and the band disagreed on which take was best. She wanted to keep going, but it was the final day and no one else wanted to continue. Tensions were high, but they chose the performance she believed in.
Riley also spoke about future plans. Castle Rat have an Australian tour coming up, followed by bigger US stages and then a full focus on writing album number three. She has been working on new masks and designs.
Fans asked about expanding the lore into other mediums, and Riley mentioned discussions about books, comics, and even film. The band have joked on tour about a story where a kid discovers the Book Of Lore and stumbles into the realm, blending reality with fantasy and crossing paths with characters who feel both mythical and familiar.
She also mentioned whispers of UK dates in 2027, though she laughed about how little attention she pays to the calendar.
The Q&A closed with the same warmth it began with, and Chloe and Ben guided everyone outside for a short break before the Castle Rat signing at Raven Records. The heat inside the shop had built up with so many people in the room, and the fresh air offered a welcome pause.
Raven Records shifted again, chairs moved aside, a table set up for records, the signing, and even a handmade gift. One by one, Castle Rat fans filtered back inside, part of the same Camden alternative community that keeps the shop alive day after day.
Some brought freshly purchased vinyl, others held posters, and a few arrived with gifts or items they had made. Riley welcomed every person with a quiet word, a moment of recognition, and a smile that softened the theatrical edge of her character.
The signing moved at a gentle pace, giving each fan time to speak, share, or simply stand in front of someone whose work meant something to them. Many left with a cherished photo taken in the warm light of a shop that feels more like a community space than a venue. Raven Records held the room together, just as it always does.
Castle Rat’s universe keeps expanding because the band keep expanding. The characters evolve, the lore deepens, and the music shifts into new territory. Riley mentioned Type O Negative as a major influence, especially the darker, industrial flavours shaping their new direction. Her favourite song is Love You To Death, a track she described as so good she wonders if she will ever write anything that reaches that level.
For now, Castle Rat remain a band who built a world by accident and then chose to live in it. The Rat Queen stands at the centre of that world, shoulders back, sword raised, ready to lead fans into the realm night after night.
The sweat, the battles, the characters, the lore, all of it comes together to create something that feels both theatrical and deeply human. Castle Rat are not just performing in the realm. They are building it, one show, one record, one story at a time.
Castle Rat have launched their first-ever online webstore, where fans can purchase VIP passes, exclusive merch, album variants and much more. Check out Castle Market at CastleRat.com.
For all things Raven Records, visit RavenRecordShop.com. You can visit them at 24 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DP.
Following the international success of their critically acclaimed album ‘Wilderness Of Mirrors‘ and a triumphant first leg of their European tour featuring numerous sold-out shows, Tunisian-French progressive metal visionaries Myrath unveil their bold new interpretation of Sting‘s timeless classic ‘Shape Of My Heart‘. Few songs possess the universal appeal and enduring legacy of ‘Shape Of […]
The post Myrath Releases New Single ‘Shape Of My Heart’ Ahead Of UK/EU Tour appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM.
Atlanta-bred guitarist, singer and songwriter Eddie 9V has released his new single, ‘Rock Your Baby’, a radically reimagined take on George McCrae’s 1974 #1 hit. The latest track from Eddie’s forthcoming album, ‘Down Here‘, out November 6th via Easy Eye Sound, was produced by GRAMMY® Producer of the Year winner Dan Auerbach and recorded live […]
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Libby Dale’s Prayer is a bright and beautifully understated Americana track that turns a deeply personal theme into something warm, playful and uplifting. The gentle folk-pop foundation is enriched by organ and pedal steel, giving the song a distinctive vintage character while keeping the arrangement light and inviting. Dale’s expressive vocals carry the emotional weight of the lyrics, balancing vulnerability with a sense of optimism and self-compassion. There is a lovely contrast between the song’s pleading subject matter and its energetic musicality, making Prayer feel both intimate and celebratory. A heartfelt, melodic Americana piece with plenty of warmth and personality.
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Posted on September 11th 2026, 10:16am
ABSOLUTE POWER have shared the title track of their forthcoming second album, “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”, due out on November 6, 2026 via Time To Kill Records. The song features former Judas Priest and Iced Earth vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens, contributing his unmistakable screams to one of the album’s most powerful statements.
For Shane Embury, the track is also deeply personal, looking back at the environment in which he and Simon Efemey grew up and the role heavy metal played during their formative years:
“This song, whilst being title track of our new record, also talks about how both Simon and I grew up in the West Midlands listening to heavy metal of 1980’s, all the classics as you would expect. The areas where we both came from were very much industrial areas! Working class families and for us, as teenagers, heavy metal was our escape from the everyday realities of our areas. You did what you had to, just to get by. Needs Must When the Devil Drives!”
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Nh-0ArGHMgc
Streaming: https://ffm.to/absolute-power-nmwtdd
Preorders:
https://timetokillrecords.com/collections/absolute-power
https://absolutepower.bandcamp.com/album/needs-must-when-the-devil-drives
Fifteen years after the release of their self-titled debut, the heavy metal project founded by vocalist and producer Simon Efemey and Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury returns with a powerful celebration of classic heavy metal.
Drawing inspiration from the timeless legacy of Judas Priest, Saxon, Black Sabbath, Dio and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, “Needs Must When The Devil Drives” combines old-school riffs, unforgettable melodies and larger-than-life songwriting, with the energy and attitude of a new era.
The world is in meltdown and we’re all going to hell in a handbasket. Thankfully, ABSOLUTE POWER are here to offer maximum-volume resistance to the madness, with their monumental second album, “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”.
ABSOLUTE POWER is the brainchild of vocalist and producer Simon Efemey and bassist/multi-instrumentalist Shane Embury, two heavy metal lifers who, between them, have left an indelible imprint on modern music.
Embury is the longtime bassist of grindcore pioneers Napalm Death, a band that began pushing music to its furthest extremes in the 1980s and has never stopped evolving. Efemey is one of the most influential British metal producers of his generation, having shaped the modern scene through his work with artists including Paradise Lost, The Wildhearts and Napalm Death, while also developing a reputation as one of the most charismatic figures behind the scenes.
Together, they spent five years crafting “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”, an exhilarating tribute to the classic heavy metal they grew up with, infused with the energy and attitude of 2026.
“I want people to have a good time in the old school way,” says Efemey of the album. “I want them to forget the mundane, boring or horrible parts of their jobs. I want them to forget themselves for a couple of hours. That’s what good music should allow us all to do.”
The album continues the vision that originally brought ABSOLUTE POWER together: a desire to recapture the sense of adventure, grandeur and excitement that defined the heavy metal of their youth.
“When we did the first album, we wanted to make songs like our heroes, Judas Priest, Saxon, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, everything we liked as kids,” explains Efemey. “When we were on tour buses, we’d have a few drinks and start blasting old-school heavy metal like Black Sabbath or Dio. One day we said we should write our own tunes like that.”
The debut album was embraced by fans of traditional metal, and “Needs Must When The Devil Drives” expands on that foundation, delivering a collection of songs built around powerful riffs, memorable hooks and a strong sense of identity. The title itself comes from an old proverb that Efemey and Embury would jokingly repeat to each other during the recording sessions.
Alongside the title track, “Saviour” the song “Kernschmelze” showcases the band’s most direct and energetic side, while “Mountain Of Hope” increases the epic dimension that’s always been central to ABSOLUTE POWER. “Within” temporarily strips away some of the heaviness in favor of a more atmospheric and hypnotic approach, recalling the psychedelic spirit of 1970s classics such as Black Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan”.
The album features a reinterpretation of Queen’s 1978 classic “Sheer Heart Attack”, preserving the original’s punk-driven energy while adding the unmistakable personality of ABSOLUTE POWER.
Efemey and Embury invited several respected musicians to contribute to the album’s expansive sound. Former Judas Priest and Iced Earth vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owensreturns after appearing on the first record, delivering his unmistakable screams on the title track. The Mission and Tricky guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite adds subtle layers and textures to several songs, expanding the band’s traditional metal foundation.
“I’ve known him for years,” says Efemey. “I recorded a demo for his old band years ago. I sent him some tracks and he put some magic on them. He added a little goth flavour to some of those tracks. It took it further than the first album, which was just straight-down-the-line traditional metal.”
Also appearing on the record are Napalm Death guitarist John Cooke and drummer Carl Stokes, whose career includes collaborations with bands such as Cancer and The Groundhogs.
At the heart of ABSOLUTE POWER, however, remains the partnership between Efemey and Embury. Both grew up in the West Midlands and shared formative experiences attending concerts at Birmingham’s legendary Odeon before following very different paths: Embury becoming one of extreme metal’s defining musicians, and Efemey establishing himself as a highly respected producer.
“Over the years our paths crossed, and we realized we had a similar love for music and a similar sense of humour – Monty Python, The Young Ones, really dark humour,” says Efemey.
Throughout his career, Efemey has worked with artists ranging from British indie heroes The Wonder Stuff to extreme metal pioneers Napalm Death, but his influence has always extended far beyond production. His larger-than-life personality and his approach to music have made him a unique figure within the British scene.
“You hear the stories from back in the day about these legendary bands and the mad stuff they’d get up to,” he says. “For me, that’s part of rock’n’roll. I never wanted to just be the guy sitting there in the studio nodding along with what bands say. It was more about entertaining people and entertaining ourselves.”
Yet behind all the chaos, Efemey has always remained focused on the most important element being the songs.
“We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we’re serious about the music,” he says of ABSOLUTE POWER. “We reject ideas that aren’t good enough. Every song needs a good riff and a catchy melody. I wouldn’t let anything go out that was just fodder. That approach has always been prevalent in my work.”
That philosophy defines “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”. The album carries the confidence of a band that knows exactly what it wants to achieve, embracing the foundations of classic heavy metal while sounding fully alive in 2026. As the world falls apart around them, ABSOLUTE POWER stand tall, armed with riffs, melodies and songs built to last.
“I can’t think of many new British bands doing what we do,” says Efemey. “I think people like our stuff because it’s old-school with melodies you can sing along to. We use the formula from the 70s and 80s because we know it works. We make this kind of music because we love it and we want people to sing along with us.”
Track-list:
1. Needs Must When the Devil Drives (feat. Tim “Ripper” Owens)
2. Saviour
3. Kernscmelze
4. Stand Up and Be Counted
5. Within
6. Mountain of Hope
7. Insanity
8. Hammer of Justice
9. Praise the Fire
10. Sheer Heart Attack
11. Orphans of the Storm
Line-up:
Simon Efemey – vocals
Shane Embury – Bass, Additional Instruments
Guests musicians:
Tim “Ripper” Owens – vocals (ex Judas Priest, Iced Earth)
Mark Gemini Thwaite – guitars (The Mission, Tricky)
John Cooke – guitar (Napalm Death)
Carl Stokes – drums (Cancer, The Groundhogs)
Joe Taylor – drums
Dominik Gryzbon – lead guitar
Ilsa Nielson – lead guitar
ABSOLUTE POWER:
https://absolutepower.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/absolute_power__uk_metal/
https://www.facebook.com/AbsolutePowerUK/
Time To Kill Records:
https://timetokillrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/timetokillrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/timetokillrecords/
https://timetokillrecords.com/
GORE. have revealed the details of a new EP titled ‘…Then You Cannot Love Me’, which will be released very soon indeed.
The EP will be released on October 09 via Spinefarm and serves as the follow-up to 2025’s ‘If You Do Not Fear Me…’. Very much the second half that makes up a poignant whole.
Vocalist Haley Roughton had this to say about completing the set:
“We always wanted to release it like that. We wanted a more looming, cynical sound in the first EP and as time went on, we wanted to develop the sound towards something closer to what we want to sound like as a band together. I’m hoping the fans, especially those who have been with us since day one, can see the evolution and how those two connect.”
The artwork looks like this:
Whilst the tracklisting is like this:
1. Lead Me To The Slaughter
2. Bones In the Garden
3. Crucified
4. Walk On Water
5. Hallowed Ground
6. Alone
You can hear the previously released ‘Lead Me To The Slaughter’, as well as the newly share ‘Crucified’, an insatiably catchy and beautifully patient piece of melodic brilliance.
Haley had this to add about the track:
“This song is about someone who is so seductive that they lead you right into temptation. They have you wrapped around their finger, and they know it. You idolize them. You try as hard as you can to resist, but there’s something both painful and pleasurable about their presence, so you give into them and whatever chaos you know they’ll bring.”
The band are set to support I Prevail on their upcoming tour across the UK. Here are the dates you can see them.
SEPTEMBER
19 – LEEDS O2 Academy
20 – GLASGOW O2 Academy
22 – MANCHESTER O2 Victoria Warehouse
23 – CARDIFF – Depot
25 – LONDON Alexandra Palace
The post GORE. Announce New EP ‘…Then You Cannot Love Me’ appeared first on Rock Sound.
La cosa nostra is back! American Mafia is back on Good Time Music with ‘Partners in Crime‘, a new ten-song album that features three remastered gems from the Holy Water era, the remixed 5-song EP ‘Made in New York‘, and two newly recorded, reimagined classics. American Mafia is a musical partnership between guitarist Thomas Jude […]
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