Ruby AT delivers pure liquid drum & bass elegance on Flowers, a smooth and emotionally rich instrumental driven by rolling rhythms, atmospheric textures, and warm melodic depth. Floating between late-night introspection and dancefloor momentum, the track blends soulful harmonies, subtle vocal flourishes, and fluid basslines into a deeply immersive listening experience. Rather than relying on explosive drops, Flowers thrives on restraint, groove, and emotional flow, creating a sound that feels equally suited for headphone escapes and club systems alike. Lush, cinematic, and effortlessly hypnotic, it’s liquid DnB crafted with precision and heart.
On Tuesday, May 19, Stir Cove at Harrah’s Casino and Hotel in Council Bluffs, IA was the place to be as Yellowcard made their return to the Omaha metro area. There were many elder millennials in lawn chairs, more so than people in the pit, making me question: is Yellowcard classic rock? In a way yes, but that goes to show the longevity their music goes.
The Plain White T’s from Chicagoland kicked things off for the night. These guys have been together since 2003, at least this lineup of guys, so it was cool seeing these guys can still put on a damn good set. Tom Higgenson still sounds the same as the records from back in the day. He borrowed someone’s sunglasses from the crowd. I’ve never seen that happen before. They played hits such as “Our Time Now” (shout out iCarly) and “Rhythm of Love”, led by guitarist Tim Lopez. Near the end of their set, the band and crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to their photographer, Hailey Sherman. And, of course, you got to end it with “Hey There Delilah”, a sing along for the ages. So glad I got to finally see these guys live after their music has been in my life since my adolescent years.
New Found Glory from Florida was the direct support. This was also my first time seeing them. For a band that’s been around since 1997, they still bring energy to their live performance. Jordan Pundik (sporting a Militarie Gun shirt), lead singer, went out into the crowd at one point, a man of the people. They played some new songs off of their latest album, Listen Up!, as well as older material like “All Downhill from Here”. They even performed their cover of “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid, shouting out the Disney adults. Ian Gruska, dubbed the “sexiest bassist in all of pop punk”, had a ton of fun performing, even taking his shirt off, showcasing his body tattoos and suspenders. They ended their set with “My Friends Over You”, which got so many people excited. Never really engaged with New Found Glory’s music before this set, but I was impressed by their performance.
Finally, the crowd was ready for Yellowcard. This my second time seeing them live, the first on Halloween night 2025 in Lincoln, Nebraska. So, I was familiar with their live show. But they’ve added some moments they’ve added to their headlining set. They opened up their set playing the Top Gun theme. While they performed, they had clips of movies from the 1980s like Goonies and Stand By Me as well as nostalgic video games like Zelda and Mario. What I appreciated the most about this performance was how vulnerable Ryan Key was about becoming a father and his mental health journey. Despite the recent comeback and the successes that come with being a band that has a devoted following, being a working musician does take a toll on your mentality, especially being away from home. They had a pretty solid crowd, even a couple people crowd surfing in the chill evening. But this band continues to bring it live. At one point, they brought out some couches, lamps, acoustic guitars and slowed the set down a bit. They replicated that feel of hanging with friends downstairs at your parents’ house. This night felt like we were all back at Warped Tour, just making new memories with this music we love. They ended with “Ocean Avenue”, which got everyone moving and singing. Once again, I’m glad Yellowcard is back together and can bundle a tour together with their buddies that they have grinded with since the early 2000s. I hope we get some new music from them soon.
For some Christopher Cross represents a moment in time, basically 1980, when his debut solo album was a major success. He went on to win five Grammys a year later and his career was established. Of course, since that time, … Continue reading →
New Order will revisit their 1994 hits collection, The Best Of New Order, and its 1995 remix companion, The Rest Of New Order, this summer with a newly remastered, expanded collection featuring rare mixes, vinyl-only cuts, and previously unreleased remixes.
Due out on July 17th via Warner Music, The Best & The Rest Of New Order will be released in multiple formats, led by a 4CD deluxe edition that pairs both original compilations with two bonus discs of additional remixes — including four previously unreleased tracks.
Originally released in 1994, The Best Of New Order gathered 7-inch versions of the band’s classic singles from 1985 onward, along with four then-new 1994 mixes: “True Faith,” “Bizarre Love Triangle,” “1963” and “Round & Round.” Its companion set, The Rest Of New Order, followed in 1995, collecting club remixes including Hardfloor’s “Blue Monday-95.” Both compilations reached the U.K. Top 5.
The expanded 4CD edition includes remastered versions of both albums, plus bonus material featuring remixes by Sub Sub, Richie Hawtin, Joe T. Vannelli, Perfecto, Shep Pettibone, Armand Van Helden, K-Klass, Howie B., Dave Clarke, and more.
Among the previously unreleased tracks are a full-length version of “1963-94,” Sub Sub’s 12-inch remix of “Spooky,” the “Eschreamer” mix of “True Faith-94” and an alternate Richie Hawtin mix of “Blue Monday.”
Vinyl editions are also planned. The Best Of New Order will be released as a remastered 2LP set, cut at Abbey Road Studios, with an exclusive blue-vinyl pressing available through the band’s official store. The Rest Of New Order will appear as a 3LP set, also cut at Abbey Road, bringing together the original CD and vinyl remix selections on vinyl for the first time.
A standard 2CD edition of The Best & The Rest Of New Order will also be available. Pre-orders are open now through New Order’s official store.
Also in New Order news, Joy Division/New Order are part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, alongside Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with a broadcast planned for December on ABC and Disney+.
Any hopes of a full classic lineup reunion at the ceremony appear unlikely. Peter Hook has stated that he will not perform with Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, and Gillian Gilbert at the Rock Hall event.
Aside from a possible appearance at the induction ceremony, New Order currently has no 2026 live dates scheduled.
In recent years, Rhino has kept the band’s reissue campaign going with expanded 2CD editions of Movement, Power, Corruption & Lies, Low-Life, and Brotherhood, plus Blu-ray Audio editions of Movement, Low-Life, and Brotherhood featuring Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround sound, stereo mixes, and instrumentals by Steven Wilson.
Former New Order bassist Peter Hook will continue to carry the catalog on the road in 2026. Peter Hook & The Light have announced North American dates built around a full performance of New Order’s 2001 album Get Ready, with additional New Order and Joy Division favorites also in the set.
The Best & The Rest Of New Order — 4CD deluxe edition tracklist
German power metal force STORMHAMMER have released the official music video for their brand-new single“Wrath Of The Hammer”, the title track of the band’s upcoming studio offering.
With “Wrath Of The Hammer”, STORMHAMMER deliver a powerful first glimpse of their forthcoming album and once again prove why they remain one of the most consistent and exciting acts in the European power metal scene. The title track combines massive riffs, epic melodies and the band’s unmistakable energy into a modern metal anthem rooted in classic heavy metal spirit.
Phil Meyer (guitar, backing vocals) comments: “Tracks like Wrath of the Hammer perfectly represent the album’s direction, aggressive downstrokes, fast power chords and epic melodic moments coming together in a very classic yet modern Heavy Metal way.”
Drummer Ashley Guest confirms: “Wrath of the Hammer maintains the spirit of classic StormHammer while pushing the sound forward with a sharper and more aggressive edge.”
Following the acclaimed album Seven Seals,STORMHAMMER open a new chapter with Wrath Of The Hammer.The album combines traditional heavy metal roots with thrash-driven guitars, epic melodies and progressive elements while staying true to the band’s unmistakable identity.
“Wrath of the Hammer reflects all generations of Heavy Metal,”Phil Meyer says. “The old school, the melodic, the anthemic and the modern. That’s exactly who StormHammer are as a band today. We didn’t want the album to be purely melodic power metal. StormHammer has always had a more raw side, and we wanted to push that further by bringing in thrash elements, modern metal and even some ’90s punk roots without losing the band’s heavy metal identity.”
Vocalist M.Nox adds: “We went into this album with the idea that we didn’t want to play it safe. We mixed in elements of Thrash, Symphonic and Classic Metal while keeping it true to StormHammer’s Power Metal roots. With this album, you will hear StormHammer in a way you have not heard before.”
Recorded at Mastersound Studio with producer Alexander Krull, the album delivers a massive production, atmospheric arrangements and renewed creative energy throughout, showcasing a band that continues to evolve while remaining a vital force in modern power metal!
Horst Tessmann (bass, backing vocals) reveals: “Recording with Alex Krull was fantastic because we shared the same vision for how these songs should sound. He delivered a powerful and outstanding production. Wrath of the Hammer combines traditional Power Metal with Thrash Metal elements in a way that feels natural and energetic. The older I get, the faster and heavier I want the music to be.”
“This album feels honest and alive,” guitarist Christos Efstathiou states. “We challenged ourselves creatively while staying true to what StormHammer is about. There’s power, emotion and adventure in these songs.”
Track-list: 1. Beware 2. Wrath Of The Hammer 3. Ashes Of The Throne 4. Light In The Dark 5. Wheels Of Eternity 6. Guardians Of The Night 7. Veil Of Fire 8. Scars Of The Abyss 9. Shattered Dominion 10. The Dune
Album Review: Hammock – The Second Coming Was A Moonrise
Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez
Born in Nashville, a traditional hot bed for country music, Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson observed the masses and ventured in a different direction in and around 2005. Then, the project Hammock was born, a deep dive into a more experimental side of music. Early releases such as “Chasing After Shadows…Living With Shadows” explored ambient post rock like compositions that featured rather minimalistic ambient melodies that would often progress to huge atmospheric bursts with densely layered textures. This record is a little personal to me, seeing as though this featured heavily in my rotation whilst I was at university (in what feels like a life time ago!). Now two decades since their inception, Hammock present their most ambitious effort to date; “The Second Coming Was A Moonrise”.
Spoiler alert; this is epic! As close to post-rock perfection as you get, ranking up there with the likes of Explosions In The Sky, God Is An Astronaut, and Mogwai as true heavyweights and monarchs of the genre! This review could be painfully long, so instead let’s just go over the highlights of many MANY highlights! Starting with ‘Unsettling Sun’
Now this touched a part of my soul that hasn’t been touched for a long time! This is simply beautiful! Gentle, caressing, yet impactful, the dreamlike nature of this composition can heal aching bodies. This is achieved through sheer mastery of the guitar pedals, with the reverberations and tremolo given all the room they need to shimmer elegantly and massage your very soul, in a very clear less is more approach. Though Hammock can certainly up the ante and leave you enamoured with the huge atmospheric bursts that are also prominent in this song!
Then you get another dose of musical medicine in the shape of ‘Sadness’. Perhaps named paradoxically given the huge boost of dopamine that will flood your synapses when you first hear it! In particular with the simple yet simply gorgeous shoegazey guitars! Byrd and Thompson described the work on this album as a reflection of ‘their musical bonds becoming ever stronger’, and this song is a perfect showcase for this.
The lead single of the album, ‘The Second Coming Was A Moonrise’ builds upon these foundations and musical chemistry, with the dynamics shifting from gentle and caressing to densely layered and thoroughly euphoric! The sheer gravity of the song’s crescendo really is something else!
For centuries, the violin has been the centrepiece for some of the most evocative and emotional compositions in history. Here, Hammock lean into the power of this instrument during ‘Everything You Love Is Buried In The Ground’ to tug violently on your own heartstrings, one that could be a full on tear jerker if you allow it to be! ‘Deconstructing’ offers some temporary respite, in a short sharp burst. The vocals are haunting, ethereal, almost like Bon Iver, though seldom used throughout the album. With the slow build to ‘All The Pain You Can’t Explain’ you feel that it’s either going to let you unwind and decompress, ready to go back to the real world, or this will be the final high and last huge crescendo for the album. It takes a while, but the last avalanche of sound comes in the latter stages of the song…and it’s beautiful! This speaks to Hammock’s unpredictable song writing nature and taking the unconventional path to constantly challenge!
Then. Sadly. It’s over. All over. Kind of like when you’ve seen the last episode of your favourite TV series. You feel lost. “Now what?”. Well, either indulge in this masterpiece again, go through Hammock’s discography. Or just stare longingly into the abyss and contemplate your existence.
The masters of doomed heavy metal have finally broken their silence. Khemmis, the Denver-based powerhouse that has consistently redefined the boundaries of the genre, has officially announced the details for their upcoming fifth studio album, simply titled Khemmis. Set for a worldwide release on June 12, 2026, via Nuclear Blast Records, the album promises to be their most energized and profound work to date.
To celebrate the announcement, the band has unleashed the lead single and official music video for “Invocation of the Dreamer”. The track is a perfect distillation of the Khemmis sound: crushing riffs, soaring dual-guitar harmonies, and the hauntingly powerful vocals of Phil Pendergast. “This album is a culmination of everything we’ve learned as a band,” Pendergast shared. “It’s about finding light in the darkest of places.”
“Forsake The Light” World Tour
Alongside the album announcement, Khemmis has revealed the dates for their massive 2026 “Forsake The Light” World Tour. Kicking off in North America this spring and heading to Europe and the UK in the fall, the tour will see the band performing their most ambitious stage production yet. Known for their flawless live execution, this tour is set to be one of the highlights of the 2026 metal calendar.
As the band prepares to take their new sonic journey across the globe, the excitement in the metal community is palpable. Khemmis has always been a band that rewards deep listening, and their self-titled effort looks to be a landmark release for the decade.
Khemmis is available for pre-order now in various limited-edition formats. The journey into the Everblack continues.
156/Silence have just announced a new album.
Central Coast artist Mr Elusive has just launched a brand new single.
