(written by Islander) Six years after their last album, the Russian band Halter are returning this month with a new full-length. Titled Another Strong Hand For A Damned Land, it’s set for co-release on May 25th by Symbol Of Domination (Moldova) and the Russian labels Wroth Emitter and Arx Productions. It brings to the table […]
The post AN NCS VIDEO PREMIERE: HALTER — “HOLOCAUST JACKALS” appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.
The Irish band Theatre has a grand, churning sound, and they deserve your attention even though they chose, presumably of their own free will, to pick the word “Theatre” as their band name. Last month, Theatre released their impressive debut single “The Fall,” Their first EP Incarnate comes out next month, and they’ve got another…
The post Theatre Announce Debut EP <em>Incarnate</em>: Hear “You Are” appeared first on Stereogum.
Rostam and Clairo go way back. In 2019, the former Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij and the teenage indie-pop phenom Claire Cottrill worked together to produce Clairo’s debut album Immunity. Later this week, Rostam will release his new solo LP American Stories, and Clairo is the only featured guest. We already posted Rostam’s early singles…
The post Rostam – “Hardy” (Feat. Clairo) appeared first on Stereogum.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL — Metal fans witnessed a historic “baptism of fire” at Welcome To Rockville on Saturday, May 9, as Alissa White-Gluz made her unexpected solo debut as the frontwoman of Dragonforce. While the former Arch Enemy vocalist was initially recruited to share vocal duties with longtime frontman Marc Hudson, Hudson was forced to miss the band’s first 2026 performance entirely due to severe, ongoing battles with tinnitus and hearing loss.
Taking the fourth stage before a capacity crowd, White-Gluz commanded the set alongside live guitarist and backing vocalist Billy Wilkins, leading the UK power metal veterans through a high-octane setlist featuring “Operation Ground and Pound” and the iconic “Through the Fire and Flames.” As Alissa prepares for upcoming dates including Sonic Temple Festival, the heavy music community is closely watching her multi-project trajectory, which includes her new outfit Blue Medusa and her highly anticipated guest-heavy solo debut. Plans for Marc Hudson’s return remain unconfirmed as he seeks treatment for his auditory condition.
The Rockville performance marks Alissa’s most significant live appearance since her shocking departure from Arch Enemy in 2025. While her addition to the Dragonforce fold was intended to create a dual-vocal powerhouse, the sudden absence of Marc Hudson shifted the entire weight of the performance onto her shoulders. Reports from the festival indicate a “riotously received” set, proving that her versatile range—capable of both guttural roars and soaring cleans—is a seamless fit for the blistering speed of Dragonforce.
Beyond her current touring duties, White-Gluz is navigating an ambitious creative expansion. Her new band, Blue Medusa, has been described by the singer as a “creative melting pot” and the natural evolution of her artistry. Unlike her work in previous bands, Blue Medusa is expected to lean into more experimental territories, with a debut album rumored for release later this year.
In addition to Blue Medusa, Alissa continues to refine her long-gestating solo album. Speaking with Metal Hammer, she clarified that this record is a distinct entity designed to showcase her massive network within the industry. Having appeared on over 50 tracks for other artists throughout her career, Alissa is turning the tables for her solo debut.
“My goal with that is to give back to all the people I have collaborated with over the years,” she explained. “What if they appeared on my album?” Fans can expect a stylistic “wild card” of a record, as she has cited influences ranging from raw black metal to the operatic grandiosity of Queen and Muse.
Alissa will remain on the road with Dragonforce for their upcoming festival circuit, including a high-profile stop at Sonic Temple Festival in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday, May 17.
As for Marc Hudson, the band has not yet issued a definitive timeline for his recovery. Tinnitus and hearing issues are notoriously difficult to manage for touring musicians, and the band is reportedly prioritizing Hudson’s long-term health over immediate show dates.
Who is singing for Dragonforce in 2026? Alissa White-Gluz (formerly of Arch Enemy) is currently fronting the band.
Why did Marc Hudson miss the Welcome To Rockville show? Marc Hudson is currently suffering from ongoing hearing issues and tinnitus, making it impossible for him to perform safely.
What is Alissa White-Gluz’s new band called? She has launched a new project titled Blue Medusa, which is separate from her solo album and her work with Dragonforce.
Will Alissa White-Gluz be at Sonic Temple? Yes, she is scheduled to perform with Dragonforce at Sonic Temple on May 17, 2026.
STAY LOUD: Catch the full breakdown of today’s stories on the Loaded Radio Daily Podcast, or crank the hard rock and metal 24/7 on our live digital stream at LoadedRadio.com.
Alissa White-Gluz successfully fronted Dragonforce solo at Welcome To Rockville after Marc Hudson was sidelined by tinnitus. Alissa is also juggling her new band Blue Medusa and a guest-filled solo record.
The post DRAGONFORCE LIVE DEBUT: Alissa White-Gluz Takes Center Stage at Welcome To Rockville as Marc Hudson Sidelined by Hearing Issues appeared first on Loaded Radio.
Long-running Chilean death metal outfit Godless are quickly approaching the June 6 release of their new album, Adversus Parousia, on Nuclear Winter Records. In preparation, listeners can hear “Numenlagneia,” a new track from the album, right now. Steeped in the same brand of dark, moody death metal that Godless have long practiced, “Numenlagneia” carries trace DNA of bands like Incantation, Immolation and Dead Congregation. There’s a distinctly dark and sinister vibe to the music, which makes sense upon hearing what Godless have to say about the new song.
“‘Numenlagneia,’ conceptually speaking, presents itself as a way of exalting the archetype of Lucifer and his transgressive nature,” the band tells Decibel via email. “Musically, it delivers a dynamic amalgam of pulses and riffs, seeking to highlight the intentionality present in each phrase, while maintaining as a central characteristic a constant force and aggression that connects with the genre’s most traditional vibrations. Finally, it draws up a path that leads from proclamation to the most unrestrained paroxysm.”
You can listen to the new song below. Adversus Parousia is available for pre-order.
The post Track Premiere: Godless – ‘Numenlagneia’ appeared first on Decibel Magazine.
Great music doesn’t just provide a beat; it provides an identity. For decades, the gothic subculture has been anchored not just by fashion or architecture, but by a specific kind of storytelling. Today, we explore how gothic music lyrics evolved from literary roots to define a global movement.
The gothic movement has always been a conversation between the past and the present. When we write dark music, we are essentially acting as curators of a centuries-old tradition. From the brooding introspection of Lord Byron to the rhythmic, macabre obsession of Edgar Allan Poe, gothic lyrics are the natural descendants of romantic literature.
The transition from page to stage required a unique shift in craftsmanship. Where a novel has the luxury of time and space to build a world, a song has roughly three to four minutes. This forced songwriters to master the art of the evocative image—using specific, weight-bearing words to convey complex emotional states instantly.
In mainstream songwriting, the goal is often “clarity”—telling the listener exactly what happened. In the gothic movement, the goal is “atmosphere”—telling the listener how to feel. This is the difference between a journalist and a poet.
Gothic music lyrics rely on “show, don’t tell.” Instead of singing “I am sad,” a songwriter creates a landscape: the cold rain on a gravestone, the flicker of a dying candle, or the silence of a house once filled with laughter. By describing the external environment, the songwriter allows the listener to internalize the emotion without being explicitly told what to feel.
The Gothic movement thrived because it was communal. You didn’t just listen to the music; you lived inside it. This communal experience was built through the “refrain”—the repeated hook that acts as a mantra.
In gothic rock and post-punk, the refrain functions like a haunting. It is designed to be hypnotic. When a crowd sings a chorus in unison, the song stops being the artist’s statement and becomes a collective experience. This connection between the artist’s pen and the audience’s voice is what turned a collection of isolated fans into a thriving, global subculture.
Today, the evolution continues. Modern “noir rock” and dark wave artists are taking the traditional gothic music lyrics and stripping them down to their cinematic essence. We are no longer just referencing the gothic past; we are reinterpreting it for a modern world that is just as full of shadows, uncertainty, and beauty as the world Poe inhabited two centuries ago.
Listen to Edgar Allan Poets, The Noir Rock Band, inspired by Poe
Writing gothic music lyrics is an act of legacy. When you sit down to write, remember that you are adding your voice to a long, winding corridor of creators who found beauty in the night. Focus on your imagery, trust your rhythm, and don’t fear the dark—it is the best place to find the truth.
Wear your inspiration: Explore our latest dark art apparel
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This year, Babehoven’s Maya Bon has been in her collaborative zone. She really always is, since Babehoven is her Hudson, New York-based duo with producer and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Albert, but now she’s working with other people, too. Babehoven’s most recent album Water’s Here In You came out in 2024. Last year, the group had a…
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This year’s event takes place under new ownership.
The post 2026 ‘Furnace Fest To Feature Bring Me The Horizon (Playing “Count Your Blessings”), A Day To Remember & Many More appeared first on Theprp.com.