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“It was every parent’s nightmare”

Back in what I guess we’ll call the Our Band Could Be Your Life era, J Mascis and Mike Watt were SST Records labelmates. In the time before American underground rock became big business, Watt was one third of San Pedro, California heroes the Minutemen, while Mascis led (and still leads) the blazing power trio…

The post J Mascis & Mike Watt Cover Each Other’s Bands On New Split appeared first on Stereogum.

Posted on May 22nd 2026, 3:13p.m.

The post IGORRR Announces North American Headlining Tour This Fall With Special Guests Secret Chiefs 3 And VMO; Tickets On Sale Now! appeared first on INFRARED MAGAZINE.

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith is having an incredible prolific moment. Last year she released two albums — GUSH and Thoughts On The Future. Not even six months later and she’s come back in full fucking force. Smith has announced another album titled Ruin: It’s Not Just Music, which she described on social media as “a f#%* you album. Not to you — but for you.” I love this concept — exactly what I need for this world. She clarified: “This is not ambient. 174bpm .” The announcement comes with the single “Ruin,” which is stealthy and cool as hell.

The post Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith Announces New Album <em>Ruin: It’s Not Just Music</em>: Hear “Ruin” appeared first on Stereogum.

– May 22nd, 2026 –

Tickets On Sale Now!

IGORRR will return to North American stages this Fall and on a month-long headlining tour! The journey begins on September 18th in Worcester, Massachusetts and runs through October 20th in Toronto, Ontario. Support will be provided by American experimentalists Secret Chiefs 3, led by guitarist/composer Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle) and Osaka-based experimental electronic black metal group VMO (AKA Violent Magic Orchestra).

Photo by Aurore Angelique Visuals

Comments IGORRR mastermind Gautier Serre, “We’ve been waiting to come back to the US for a long time now. The last tour was so intense that we’ve been extremely impatient for the opportunity to play for the people there again. We’ll see you on the road – very excited for that!“

Tickets are on sale now at: igorrr.com. See all confirmed dates below.

IGORRR w/ Secret Chiefs 3, VMO:
9/18/2026 The Palladium – Worcester, MA
9/19/2026 Wally’s – Hampton Beach, NH
9/21/2026 Roxian Theatre Presented By Citizens – McKees Rocks, PA
9/22/2026 The Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL
9/23/2026 First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
9/25/2026 Gothic Theatre – Denver, CO
9/27/2026 Treefort Music Hall – Boise, ID
9/28/2026 Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA
9/29/2026 Vogue Theatre – Vancouver, BC
9/30/2026 Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
10/03/2026 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
10/04/2026 The Novo – Los Angeles, CA
10/05/2026 Nile Theater – Phoenix, AZ
10/07/2026 Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX
10/08/2026 The Studio At The Bomb Factory – Dallas, TX
10/09/2026 Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK
10/10/2026 Warehouse Live – Houston, TX
10/12/2026 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
10/13/2026 The Underground – Charlotte, NC
10/14/2026 Nevermore Hall – Baltimore, MD
10/16/2026 Webster Hall – New York, NY
10/17/2026 Reverb – Reading, PA
10/18/2026 MTELUS – Montréal, QC * No VMO
10/20/2026 The Concert Hall – Toronto, ON

IGORRR will be touring in support of the outfit’s chart topping fifth album, Amen, released last Fall via Metal Blade Records.

French multi-instrumentalist and producer Gautier Serre has been operating under the name IGORRR for 20 years now, yet each new record still resounds with a startling freshness and radical vitality. Gautier’s steadfastly unclassifiable and stunning Amen full-length maintains this impact, blindsiding the listener with a new set of exploratory curveballs and continuing to surprise and unnerve even the most attuned enthusiast. The record includes guest appearances by Scott Ian (Anthrax), Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle), and Mike Leon (CKY, ex-Soulfly).

Since signing to Metal Blade in 2017, the IGORRR name has expanded from one man’s pseudonym to become a full group identity, but Gautier remains the project’s guiding light and mastermind, so he’s the best man to ask to describe the indescribable. “This album is definitely darker than its predecessors, it has such a very weighty and solemn vibe that has never been reached before in IGORRR,” explains Gautier. “The fact that I recorded a real choir in a church helped this a lot, but above all there has been very long and meticulous work on the sound and the choice of instruments, and deep experimental research to create a unique sound design. Of course, because it’s an IGORRR album, there are some more colorful tracks, like ‘Blastbeat Falafel,’ ‘ADHD…’ They contrast very much with the ambient heaviness. I need tracks like these on an album, it helps to really get through it fully focused, like a shot of limoncello before the next meal.”

With an urge to continually take IGORRR‘s multifaceted and challenging sound further forward with each release, Gautier has spent a lot of time cultivating multiple new modes and methods of working since 2020′s breathtaking, critically acclaimed opus Spirituality And Distortion – which even reached No. 12 on the official German album chart. Gautier has always made clear that IGORRR is as much about the influence of Bach and Chopin as it is about Cannibal Corpse, Aphex Twin, and Meshuggah, but the source of specific stimuli gets harder to ascertain as the process is refined. “It’s always difficult for me to know from where the inspiration comes,” he muses. “Music is an expression of life, and I would say everything, even what seems the most insignificant thing, can be a source of inspiration. I would say there hasn’t been one event or one experience that has led me on a creative process, it’s more like a cumulation of everything. I love making music, my brain processes music all the time. You cannot imagine the amount of albums and concertos I create during my sleep. The challenge is more how to sort these ideas to keep the ones with the best potential, the ones that I won’t get bored of, the ones that I really Love – with a big letter L.”

Watch IGORRR‘s previously released videos for “Daemoni,” “Headbutt,” “Blastbeat Falafel,” “ADHD,” and “Limbo” HERE.

Preview/purchase Amen at: metalblade.com/igorrr

https://igorrr.com
https://www.facebook.com/IgorrrBarrroque
https://www.instagram.com/igorrr
https://x.com/igorrrbarrroque
https://www.tiktok.com/@igorrr_official

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(DGR continues to do the heavy lifting at our site while many of us (and him) are off at Maryland Deathfest, and today’s it’s a vivid write-up about a new EP from the Swedish old-school thrashers Venthiax, out now on Dying Victims Productions.) Every year inevitably sees a smorgasbord of EPs released throughout the year. […]

The post VENTHIAX: “RITES OF RA” appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.

Korn’s Here To Stay proved the nu metal legends weren’t going anywhere, but its creation was chaotic and expensive

Aaron Lewis, the multi-platinum Staind frontman turned country traditionalist, is once again stirring the pot of American discourse. Lewis has officially announced his sixth solo country studio album, Give My Country Back, arriving July 17 via Big Machine Label Group.

Alongside the announcement, Lewis has unleashed the album’s blistering title track—a swampy, grit-infused anthem that channels his frustration with the modern political climate and the current state of American leadership. At 54, Lewis isn’t just looking for a political shift; he’s undergoing a personal one, revealing a new lifestyle of sobriety and health that fuels his most intense vocal performances to date.

Sovereignty and Self-Ownership: The Heart of ‘Give My Country Back’

With over 5.7 billion career streams under his belt, Lewis has built a bridge between the raw vulnerability of post-grunge and the unapologetic honesty of outlaw country. His latest project, produced by Sol Philcox-Littlefield, pairs roughhewn honky-tonk roots with “modern country muscle.”

“That’s life’s struggle right there,” Lewis explains regarding the album’s themes. “You are the master of your own destiny, and everything happens because of your actions—whether you want to admit it or not. Self-ownership is a huge thing to learn how to do in this life, and it’s always an internal battle.”

The title track, “Give My Country Back,” is a direct evolution of the patriotic fervor seen in his 2021 Gold-certified hit “Am I The Only One.” Lewis makes no apologies for his stance, stating: “I actually care about the fact we have people we put in their positions, who are in no way, shape, or form doing anything in any way that is better for us.”

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A Season of Change: Sobriety and Kickboxing

While the lyrics focus on the state of the union, the man behind the microphone is undergoing a radical transformation. Lewis admits that the realization that “life is more than half over” prompted a significant lifestyle shift.

“I wasn’t living as cleanly as possible, so I quit drinking. I quit smoking cigarettes. I’ve done some kickboxing,” Lewis reveals. “I’m on a healthier routine, and I want to get better before I can’t. The realization that life is more than half over will get you to change, if you allow it. That’s where I’m at.”

This newfound clarity is reflected in tracks like “The Door,” “Too High For This,” and “List Of Things To Quit,” which Lewis claims offer a look into his life more intimate than he may even realize himself.

The 2026 American Tour

Lewis is currently traversing the nation on his “2026 American Tour” alongside his longtime band, The Stateliners. The tour serves as the primary testing ground for the new material, which Lewis co-wrote with heavyweights like Jeffrey Steele, Bobby Pinson, and Travis Meadows.

Get your tickets at this location.

‘Give My Country Back’ Official Track Listing:

1. The Door
2. Bad Thing To Be Good At
3. Too High For This
4. List Of Things To Quit
5. Give My Country Back
6. People I’ve Known
7. Let Go Like The Rain
8. A Showman’s Life
9. Keeping Up With The Jonesin’
10. Duct Tape And Bailin’ Wire

FAQ: Aaron Lewis – ‘Give My Country Back’ Details

When does the new Aaron Lewis album come out? Give My Country Back is scheduled for global release on July 17, 2026, via Big Machine Label Group.

Is Aaron Lewis still in Staind? Yes. While Lewis has maintained a highly successful solo country career for over 15 years—earning two No. 1 Billboard Country Album debuts—he remains the frontman for the multi-platinum rock band Staind.

What is the meaning behind the title track? According to Lewis, the song “Give My Country Back” is an anthem rooted in freedom and frustration with the current political leadership, advocating for accountability and a return to traditional American values.

STAY LOUD: Catch the full breakdown of Aaron Lewis’s new album and his 2026 tour schedule on the Loaded Radio Daily Podcast with Scott Penfold. Visit LoadedRadio.com or download our free app now.

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TL;DR:

Aaron Lewis has announced his new solo country album Give My Country Back arrives July 17. The title track is out now, featuring Lewis’s signature patriotic grit. The singer also revealed he has quit drinking and smoking to focus on health as he continues his 2026 North American tour.

Is Aaron Lewis’s blunt political honesty the breath of fresh air country music needs, or is the Staind frontman pushing the “Outlier” brand too far? Let us know in the comments.

The post “Give My Country Back”: Staind’s Aaron Lewis Unleashes Fiery New Anthem and Announces 2026 Solo Album appeared first on Loaded Radio.

The post Pay-For-Play Industry Plants In The Music Business & How It’s Tearing Out The Heart & Soul Of Original, Human-Created Artistry appeared first on INFRARED MAGAZINE.