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The “Maynard-Verse” is a complex web of sonic architecture, but few projects carry the atmospheric weight of A Perfect Circle. Formed at the dawn of the millennium by guitar tech Billy Howerdel and Tool mastermind Maynard James Keenan, the band bridged the gap between industrial grit and soaring melodic beauty.

With their 2026 “Pacific Ring of Fire” tour currently igniting global stages, fans are locked in a heated debate over which record defines the APC legacy. We’re stripping back the layers of atmospheric tension to rank the definitive discography of one of alternative rock’s most influential acts.

Also Check Out – Spiral Out: The 13 Best Tool Songs for a Mind-Bending Journey

4. eMOTIVe (2004)

Released at the height of political tension in the mid-2000s, eMOTIVe remains the most polarizing entry in the A Perfect Circle catalog. Primarily a collection of covers—ranging from John Lennon to Black Flag—the album was designed as a “protest record.” While the reimagining of “Imagine” is hauntingly effective, and the original track “Passive” (co-written with Trent Reznor) is a certified banger, the album often feels more like a thematic side-quest than a core evolution of the band’s sound. It’s an essential snapshot of the era’s friction, but it lacks the cohesive songwriting found in their original studio efforts.

3. Eat the Elephant (2018)

After a 14-year silence that had the “Information Gap” reaching critical mass, A Perfect Circle returned with Eat the Elephant. This record saw the band pivoting away from the heavy distortion of the early 2000s in favor of lush piano arrangements and electronic textures. Tracks like “The Doomed” and “TalkTalk” proved that Keenan’s lyrical bite hadn’t lost its edge, while the title track showcased Howerdel’s growth as a cinematic composer. It is a sophisticated, “grown-up” rock record that proved the band was still relevant in a rapidly changing industry, even if it lacked the raw visceral punch of their debut.

2. Thirteenth Step (2003)

The “sophomore slump” never touched this band. Thirteenth Step is a conceptual masterwork that dives deep into the psychology of addiction and recovery. It is darker, more patient, and arguably more atmospheric than its predecessor. From the tectonic shift of “The Noose” to the radio-dominant “Weak and Powerless,” the album solidified the Howerdel/Keenan partnership as a “Nuclear” force in alternative rock. It narrowly misses the top spot only because it trades some of the debut’s infectious energy for somber, mid-tempo introspection—but for many die-hard fans, this is the band’s intellectual peak.

1. Mer de Noms (2000)

The one that started it all. Mer de Noms wasn’t just a debut; it was a cultural shift. Arriving while Tool was in a state of legal limbo, this album introduced a more melodic, vulnerable side of Maynard James Keenan that the world hadn’t seen. “The Hollow,” “Judith,” and “3 Libras” aren’t just songs—they are the blueprints for the entire alt-metal movement of the early 2000s. The record strikes the perfect balance between Billy Howerdel’s ethereal guitar work and Josh Freese’s powerhouse drumming. It is a flawless execution of melody and aggression that remains as fresh in 2026 as it was on the day of its release.

We Also Recommend – Every Tool Album Ranked From “Masterpiece” To “Essential”: Where Does ‘Fear Inoculum’ Truly Land? [Exclusive]

FAQ: A Perfect Circle Ranking

What is the best-selling A Perfect Circle album? Mer de Noms remains the band’s commercial high-water mark, debuting at number four on the Billboard 200 and setting a record at the time for the highest debut for a new rock band.

Who plays on the latest A Perfect Circle tour? The 2026 “Pacific Ring of Fire” tour features the core duo of Billy Howerdel and Maynard James Keenan, joined by longtime collaborators like Josh Freese, James Iha and Matt McJunkins.

Is A Perfect Circle better than Tool? It’s not about “better”—it’s about the vibe. While Tool focuses on progressive complexity and mathematical patterns, A Perfect Circle is built on emotional resonance and melodic hooks.

Get your 2026 A Perfect Circle ticketing info at this location.

Band Bio: A Perfect Circle

A Perfect Circle was formed in 1999 in Los Angeles by Billy Howerdel and Maynard James Keenan. Known for their shifting lineups and atmospheric soundscapes, the band has sold over four million albums in the U.S. alone. Their influence can be heard in a generation of bands that blend heavy rock with cinematic production.

STAY LOUD: For the latest deep dives into the Maynard-Verse and 24/7 hard rock and metal, keep it locked to LoadedRadio.com.

TL;DR:

Mer de Noms takes the top spot for its genre-defining impact, followed closely by the conceptual brilliance of Thirteenth Step.

The post A Perfect Circle Albums Ranked: From Experimental Shadows to Alt-Rock Perfection appeared first on Loaded Radio.

Award-winning rocker Jasmine Cain is back with new music and a packed tour schedule. In this interview, we ask Jasmine about the inspiration behind her latest singles, the realities of managing a digital presence in today’s industry, and what advice she would give to her 2004 self.

Reuel

Hello Jasmine! I’m happy to chat with you again. How are you doing?

Jasmine Cain

I am running about as wide open as possible! Tour season is HERE and we are in deep!

Reuel

We last spoke in 2021, the year after you released Seven. You’ve put out new music and achieved even more since then. What stands out as your favorite moment from the past five years?

Jasmine Cain

Performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage and accepting our 2025 Josie Music Awards for Female Rock Artist and Best Rock Album “Attitude is Everything”.

Reuel

You’ve just released new videos for your songs “Are You Ready?” and “Hurt”. What was the inspiration behind these songs?

Jasmine Cain

“Are You Ready” is a song about excess and impulse and allowing yourself to do whatever you feel on a whim. It’s wild and dangerous. I wrote it for our SEVEN album, and this marks the SEVENth Anniversary, so we are giving it a little breath of air since we couldn’t tour on the album due to the pandemic. “Hurt” was written in the moment at a really painful time. I hate talking about it, and I never really wanted to release it because it brought up a really uncomfortable moment that both sides have completely mended and moved forward from, but the song still remains..and it’s good…and it deserves to be heard. Even if it brings up a bunch of painful memories for me. It means different things for different people but we’ve all dealt with some real betrayal and contemplated our entire lives from time to time. I don’t think there is a soul out there that hasn’t felt this song at some point in their life.

Reuel

This makes listening to the songs even more interesting now! Will those be standalone releases, or are you planning to follow them up with a bigger release soon?

Jasmine Cain

“Hurt” is a standalone release as we are getting ready to write the next chapter of Jasmine Cain in November. We plan on changing a few things up and perhaps taking it back to a more organic direction. But…that always remains to be seen when you get into the studio! We’ll all be surprised together, I guess.

Reuel

How would you describe your music using only emojis?

Jasmine Cain

Reuel

No doubt you’ve received tons of compliments regarding your music. Is there any compliment that comes to mind, either for being from someone special or because it made you think, “THIS is why I make music!”?

Jasmine Cain

It has happened a few times where people have told me that my music has saved their lives and that’s such a strange power that I never thought about when I first started writing. It’s not even a power I think I wanted? It’s a powerful thing to be able to change someone’s life in 3 and a half minutes and it must be handled with care. I take that into consideration with every deep emotional song I write.

Reuel

Today’s musicians have to balance managing their digital presence with being musicians, which is time-consuming but allows for a closer connection with fans. From your POV as a musician, do these advantages outweigh the time and effort required?

Jasmine Cain

It certainly adds a hefty amount of weight to a plate that is already plenty heavy. It’s been so interesting watching music change and morph into different things over time. I think about my great grandparents watching the main source of transportation going from horse and wagon to seeing the first space shuttle launch and a guy jumps out and walks on the moon. Music has been a lot like that for me. I’m dating myself, but we didn’t have home computers or youtube videos to learn songs. Now we are content creators that write songs in our spare time. I honestly work around the clock and I am still not able to juggle every single aspect of all the social media posts that I need to on my own. I’m constantly behind the ball. However, it has opened up a new job for people who spend all day going through your videos and doing your ads and posts for all your sites. If you can afford to hire them, they can help manage it much better so you can focus on the music, which is what you should be focused on.

Reuel

That’s true! You released your debut album in 2004. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give 2004’s Jasmine Cain?

Jasmine Cain

Hahahahaha…honestly, I would tell her she was right and to continue to be the stubborn, hard-headed, honest artist that she is. I knew who I was when I started, and I stood by my convictions. They haven’t changed. I am the exact same girl I always was. The only thing I would perhaps change is telling 2004 Jasmine to re-evaluate some things to see if they’re really worth beating your head against the wall for. Some of those fights that I fought were useless and I did it on principle but it wasn’t worth it in the long run. A cold shoulder and a hot coffee and I could’ve just moved on with less stress, but I had a lot more fight in me then!

Reuel

Brilliant! Thank you for your time, Jasmine! Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Jasmine Cain

I would love to invite you all to check out our website at jasminecain.com as we like to play some games throughout the summer and give away merch packages. The best way to know how to play along is to join our street team, which you can do through our website. I love to give things away!

The post Interview | Jasmine Cain: “It’s a powerful thing to be able to change someone’s life in 3 and a half minutes” first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.

Review: Blue Tears – Live In The UK Pride & Joy Music – May 15th 2026 Reviewer – Chris O’Connor Few melodic hard rock aficionados will have forgotten the impact of Blue Tears’ self-titled 1990 debut album. Blending the hook-laden energy of Bon Jovi with the polished melodic power of Def Leppard and the joyous […]

The post Review: Blue Tears – Live In The UK appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM.

The Beatle describes how one of his biggest hits creates a unifying moment at his concerts. Continue reading…

“The world keeps on turning, heedless of our pain, beneath the endless sky, in the dust of eternity.” Nero Kane

In The World Heedless Of Our Pain, Italian singer-songwriter and guitarist Nero Kane and his longtime collaborator Samantha Stella return to that border country where song, cinema, prayer, and ruin speak in the same lowered voice. Taken from Kane’s 2025 album For the Love, the Death and the Poetry, released by Subsound Records, the piece stands as a severe and beautiful condensation of the record’s central preoccupations: love as wound and lantern, art as a form of endurance, death as a room one keeps entering before the body has finished living.

Musically, Kane’s ritual folk draws from the severe American plain and the European chapel, from the grave authority of Johnny Cash and Nico to the devotional violence of Michael Gira, Swans, Jarboe, and Nick Cave. The song advances with a processional gravity, its voices rising not toward escape, but toward recognition. In the chorus, the homage to opera: “Vissi d’Arte, Vissi d’Amor,” literally “I lived for art, I lived for love,” becomes the work’s moral center. Against a world turning in its ancient, indifferent cycle, Kane and Stella hold up art and love as the last fragile forms of redemption between good and evil.

The film, directed, shot, and edited by Samantha Stella, is set inside a French castle, where Kane and Stella appear less like performers than figures held under glass by time. Shot in black and white, the room has the ornate pressure of a Baroque or Victorian chamber, dense with relics, lace, carved surfaces, and old objects that seem to have absorbed too many prayers. The camera moves slowly, almost with ceremonial caution, over these fragments of a romantic past. Kane, solemnly draped in old lace, seems at moments to belong to the furniture, the walls, the hush; Stella’s presence on vocals and mellotron deepens the sense of two souls suspended within a painting that has somehow learned to breathe.

Stella frames the film within a wider shared mythology, saying, “From the first film shot in the California deserts to launch the debut American album, to settings in religious sites ranging from the wooded walls of the 19th-century American prairies to Western Gothic and Baroque decorations, from Dante’s flowers of evil, to the objects relics of an ancient castle, my timeless journey with Nero Kane, in which we are also the protagonists in the images, echoes the symbols and artifacts that permeate the visions of the lyrics and music.”

The World Heedless Of Our Pain feels like a séance conducted for Beauty itself, a slow visitation in which desire, decay, and devotion share the same candlelit face.

Watch below:

Kane and Stella have performed in Los Angeles, Europe, and the UK, favoring churches, museums, theaters, music and cultural festivals. In addition to headlining concerts, they have opened for Zola Jesus, Jozef Van Wissem, Jonathan Hultén, Me And That Man (Behemoth), Xasthur, and Marissa Nadler.

Following their tours to promote the new album in Italy and across Europe between 2025 and early 2026, they have announced the following concerts, with additional European dates to be added.

Catch Nero Kane live:

• 16 May — Chiari, Brescia, Italy — ADMR
• 24 May — Capestang, France — Les Ondes Archaïques Festival, Château des Archevêques de Narbonne
• 29 May — Riddes, Switzerland — La Vidondée
• 25 September — Firenze, Italy — Arci Progresso
• 29 September — Milano, Italy — Arci Bellezza, with King Dude
• 30 September — Bologna, Italy — Freakout, with King Dude
• 1 October — Torino, Italy — Blah Blah, with King Dude
• 30 October — Montpellier, France — Ex Tenebris Lux Festival, Église Maisons des Chœurs, with Messa
• 31 October — Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Spain — Atzavara Club

Listen to The World Heedless of Our Pain below and order the single here.

Follow Nero Kane:

• Website
• Facebook 
• Instagram 
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Bandcamp

The post “In The Dust of Eternity” — Italian Dark Folk Artist Nero Kane Unveils Video for “The World Heedless of Our Pain” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

DEEP PURPLE have debuted the first single and video for the powerful, fast-paced hard rock tune “Arrogant Boy.” It’s the initial musical statement from SPLAT! the band’s new studio album set for a July 3 release on earMUSIC.

“‘Arrogant Boy’ is the story of Billy who couldn’t read or write,” says DEEP PURPLE frontman Gillian. “He is unhappy with things, so he speaks up, and finds a way of irritating, one way or another, the elite. And I can’t think of anything more fun than irritating the elite. It would be a joyous exercise for me every morning after coffee.”

The single arrives one week after DEEP PURPLE announced their new studio album SPLAT! Once again, the band has teamed up with producer Bob Ezrin, continuing a collaboration that has shaped the band’s recent studio albums, all of which reached #1 on the album charts in multiple countries.

Track listing (CD/2LP):
Side A
Arrogant Boy
Diablo
The Rider
The Lunatic
Side B
The Only Horse In Town
Sacred Land
The Beating Of Wings
Side C
Guilt Trippin’
Scriblin’ Gib’rish
Jessica’s Bra
Side D
Third Call
My New Movie
Splat!

Pre-order here: https://deeppurple.lnk.to/SPLAT 

The post Deep Purple share new single “Arrogant Boy” from forthcoming album ‘Splat!’ appeared first on The Prog Report.

This is the second album from blackened thrash metallers Tyrannus. Tyrannus play a mix of black and thrash metal, alongside other influences, and it hits the spot. On Mournhold they combine it all into a 40-minute infernal assault that this simplistic description doesn’t really do justice to. Brought to us by current/ex-members of Ashenspire and … Continue reading “Tyrannus – Mournhold (Review)”

Progressive alt-pop outfit Exploring Birdsong have today released their new single “Spy In The House Of Love,” the latest track taken from their upcoming debut album Every House We Built, out June 26 via Long Branch Records.

Speaking of the track, vocalist Lynsey Ward shares, “I came across the book ‘Spy in the House of Love’ by accident one day, and immediately felt compelled by how the phrase had organized a lot of messy feelings while being in the throes of a heavy break-up. There is actually very little that the book and our song have in common, but discovering it did catalyze a great deal of focus creatively and personally. Everyone at some stage has felt confused or betrayed in heartbreak, and we are far from the first to write a song about it. It is quite new territory for us, though!”

Stream “Spy In The House Of Love” and pre-order the debut album here.

EVERY HOUSE WE BUILT TRACK LISTING:
“Archipelago”
“42”
“Romanticise”
“Footprints”
“Arrhythmia”
“Spy In The House Of Love”
“I_You”
“The Warning”
“You Like It Best When It Hurts”
“Cartography”
“Every House We Built”
“Meadowlands”

Exploring Birdsong will embark on a headline UK tour this September, playing their biggest headline shows to date. The run of dates will see the band kick things off in Glasgow on September 23, before heading south for shows in London and Bristol and wrapping up the tour with a final date in Manchester on September 26. Get tickets here.

EXPLORING BIRDSONG ON TOUR:
9/23 — Glasgow, Scotland — Classic Grand
9/24 — London, England — Islington Assembly Hall
9/25 — Bristol, England — Strange Brew
9/26 — Manchester, England — Gorilla

EXPLORING BIRDSONG ARE:
Lynsey Ward — Vocals + Piano
Jonny Knight — Bass + Synthesizers
Matt Harrison — Drums + Percussion

The post Exploring Birdsong share single “Spy in the House of Love” from new album ‘Every House We Built’ appeared first on The Prog Report.

STREAM THE METAL BREAKDOWN DAILY BELOW:

 

NEW YORK, NY — The kings of New York Hardcore have officially reclaimed their throne. Madball has announced the release of their tenth studio album, Not Your Kingdom, slated for a July 24, 2026, arrival via Nuclear Blast. Delivering their trademark tales of survival with a raw, introspective edge, the legends have simultaneously dropped the anthemic first single, “Rebel Kids.” This marks the band’s most personal effort to date, bridging the gap between old-school grit and the modern heavy music landscape with the unrelenting energy that has defined them for nearly four decades.

The Catalyst: “Rebel Kids” and the Human Condition

The first taste of the new era comes in the form of “Rebel Kids,” a track that Freddy Cricien reveals was the cornerstone for the entire project. Despite being written nearly two years ago, the song’s sentiment and message served as the creative spark for the rest of the 14-track odyssey.

“We all loved the song immediately,” Cricien commented. “In the end, ‘Rebel Kids’ made the most sense musically and lyrically to be the first out of the gate. It’s a special one for us.” The accompanying music video, co-directed by Cricien and Dave Causa, captures the classic groove that has made Madball a global force.

Check This Out – The 13 Most Brutal Metal Breakdowns Ever Recorded (Ranked)

A Deeper Edge: The Making of Not Your Kingdom

Recorded at The Boneyard Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, Not Your Kingdom features a production powerhouse including Andrew Baylis, Aiden Thompson, and Grady Saxman. The album represents a shift toward a more reflective lyrical perspective on the current state of the world, without sacrificing the band’s signature “Family First” intensity.

The aesthetic of the album is equally high-caliber, featuring cover photography by the legendary Cornell Capa. This visual choice underscores the album’s mission to document the raw human condition through the lens of hardcore.

Healing the Lineup: Life After Hoya Roc

This marks the first full-length effort following the August 2023 departure of longtime bassist Jorge “Hoya Roc” Guerra. While the transition marked the end of an era, Cricien has maintained there is “no bad blood,” stating the parties were simply moving in different directions. The 2026 lineup features Freddy Cricien on vocals, Mike Gurnari on guitar, Mike Justian on drums, and Paul Delaney on bass.

‘Not Your Kingdom’ Official Track Listing

1. Tethered
2. Flammable
3. Rebelude
4. Rebel Kids
5. Don’t Misstep
6. What Say You
7. Stab Wounds
8. Sunrise
9. Life’s A Mural
10. Family First
11. Clockwork
12. IWI
13. The Ride
14. Chase A Dream

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FAQ: Madball ‘Not Your Kingdom’ Release

When does the new Madball album come out? Not Your Kingdom will be released globally on July 24, 2026, through Nuclear Blast Records.

Who produced the new Madball album? The album was produced and engineered by Andrew Baylis, Aiden Thompson, and Grady Saxman, with mixing and mastering by Lee Rouse.

Is Hoya Roc on the new Madball album? No. Paul Delaney has taken over bass duties following Hoya Roc’s departure in late 2023.

Band Bio: Madball

Originating in the late 1980s as an Agnostic Front side project, Madball has evolved into the definitive voice of New York Hardcore. Fronted by Freddy Cricien since his childhood, the band has spent over 35 years as the genre’s most consistent legacy act. Not Your Kingdom is their first studio release since 2018’s For The Cause.

STAY LOUD: Catch the full breakdown of today’s stories on the Loaded Radio Daily Podcast with Scott Penfold, or crank the hard rock and metal 24/7 on our live digital stream at LoadedRadio.com.

TL;DR:

Madball will release their 10th album Not Your Kingdom on July 24, 2026. The lead single “Rebel Kids” is available now.

The post NYHC Royalty Returns: Madball Announces ‘Not Your Kingdom’ Album and Unleashes “Rebel Kids” appeared first on Loaded Radio.

Coloring Book, the mixtape that launched Chance The Rapper to unforeseen levels of celebrity, turned 10 years old this week. Chance is celebrating that milestone with a 10th anniversary tour this summer and fall. Artist presale for tickets begins Tuesday, May 19 at 10 a.m. local time (register here), followed by general onsale Thursday, May 21 at 10 a.m. local time via ChanceStuff.com. Check out the dates below.

The post Chance The Rapper Announces <em>Coloring Book</em> 10th Anniversary Tour appeared first on Stereogum.