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Journey have had a complicated history, and it may be about to get more complicated still, as frontman Arnel Pineda has hinted that he may be ready to “step back” from the band.

The hard rock legends are several months into their Final Frontier farewell tour, which launched on February 28 at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and is set to run through to November 28, back where it all started for the band, in their hometown San Francisco.

During the past week, the tour reached Japan, and on August 29, when the group kicked off their Japanese dates at the Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka, they surprised fans by bringing out Hugo Valenti – the former Valentine and Open Skyz singer who fronted Journey tribute band Voyage for the best part of two decades before founding Hugo – The Ultimate Journey Tribute – to sing 1983 single Faithfully with them for the first time, while frontman Arnel Pineda took a break from the stage.

“I wrote this next song in 1982 about the road life we live, how it takes people dedicated, people who are loyal, like you Journey fans out there,” keyboardist Jonathan Cain told the Fukuoka crowd ahead of introducing Valenti. “Thank you for coming tonight. We got a special treat for you tonight. We have a dear friend that’s coming all the way from New Jersey to visit Japan, and I thought we’d have him sing a song for you tonight. So give it up for our friend Hugo Valenti.”

It’s not uncommon for Arnel Pineda to step back during concerts and allow other members of the band to take lead vocals. Setlist FM reports that, in Fukuoka, drummer Deen Castronovo sang Lights and shared lead vocals on Anytime with Cain, while Jason Derlatka sang lead on Of A Lifetime and Suzanne.

But when Valenti showed up again with the band in Tokyo to sing both Faithfully and deep cut Keep On Runnin’ some eyebrows were raised.

Now, responding to an Instagram post showing photos of Valenti onstage at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Pineda has shared his own thoughts.

“that’s the band right there,” the singer posted. “now i can step back..congratulations @journeyofficial 🔥🔥🔥”

A post shared by Adam Holland (@adamhollandofficial)

A photo posted by

Earlier this year, Steve Perry shot down rumours that he is going to rejoin his former band on the tour.

The singer had been the subject of speculation that he would be returning to the group he fronted from 1977 to 1987 and again for a short stint in the 1990s.

In a statement on social media in February, Perry said: “To all my friends, I’ve been hearing these recent rumours, and I wanted to speak to you all directly.

“While I’m always grateful for the love people still have for Journey, the rumours about me rejoining the band are simply not true, and I want to gently put them to rest.

“I completely understand why people would hope for that. The music we created together means a great deal to me too.

“But I’m continuing to explore new creative work and really enjoy working on new music that reflects where I am today.”

Journey’s Final Frontier tour will continue at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on September 12. Full dates here.

The third single from the Alissa White-Gluz-fronted outfit.

The post Blue Medusa’s “Crocodile.” Music Video Released appeared first on Theprp.com.

I got to know Ace Stallings a few years ago, when he was maybe the busiest hardcore promoter in Richmond. Stallings is an extremely cool presence, both welcoming and imposing, and he’s about as passionate about hardcore as a person can be. He’s been a great frontman for bands like Break Away, Mutually Assured Destruction, and Sentinel. These days, Stallings is living out in the Bay Area, where he books tons of shows and fronts the straight-edge hardcore punk crew Eliminators.

The post Eliminators Release Shit-Stomping Debut Album <em>E.F.F.E.</em> appeared first on Stereogum.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HEXECUTIONER Announces New Single “Shapeshifter” and Upcoming Album Ascension Rock
Psych Doom / Stoner Doom / Heavy Metal
“Shapeshifter” Single & Music Video Arrive September 25, 2026
Ascension Rock Full-Length Album Arrives October 23, 2026
Listen / Follow / Pre-Order:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/hexecutioner/ascension-rock
Hexecutioner is preparing to unleash a new chapter of heavy, psychedelic darkness with the upcoming release of “Shapeshifter,” the first single from the band’s forthcoming full-length album, Ascension Rock .
Set for release on September 25, 2026 , “Shapeshifter” introduces listeners to the strange and expansive sonic world of Ascension Rock , with an accompanying official music video also in the works. The single will lead into the album’s full release on October 23, 2026 .
Drawing from doom metal, stoner rock, psych doom, hard rock, and traditional heavy metal, Hexecutioner crafts a sound built around massive riffs, melodic weight, psychedelic atmosphere, and a sense of ominous exploration. Ascension Rock pushes that formula into more epic territory, creating a record where crushing heaviness meets the feeling of something far more mysterious lurking just beyond the veil.
The band describes the world surrounding Ascension Rock as one of “high strangeness,” where energies of darkness and light, old and new, collide through wormholes, unseen forces, altered dimensions, and sound frequency rituals.
Following Hexecutioner’s well-received 2025 sophomore album, Tornit , Ascension Rock marks another step forward for the band. The new album features six tracks recorded with Dylan Wall at 7Hills Studio and introduces bassist Daniel McManus to the lineup alongside Erin Gravina (vocals/guitar) and Bryce Hebner (drums) .
The result is a carefully constructed slab of psychedelic heaviness designed to leave a lasting impression.
“Shapeshifter” arrives September 25, with Ascension Rock following October 23.
Hexecutioner Is:

Erin Gravina – Vocals / Guitar
Daniel McManus – Bass
Bryce Hebner – Drums
For Fans Of:
Doom Metal • Stoner Rock • Stoner Doom • Psych Doom • Heavy Metal • Hard Rock
Listen / Follow / Pre-Order:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/hexecutioner/ascension-rock
Check out this video: 







Connect: 



https://hexecutioner.bandcamp.com/album/ascension-rock
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/hexecutioner/ascension-rock
https://www.facebook.com/HEXECUTIONER
https://www.instagram.com/hexecutionerband/



Contact: hexecutionerband@gmail.com

King Crimson members ADRIAN BELEW and TONY LEVIN, alongside STEVE VAI and TERRY BOZZIO approach the next chapter of BEAT. The quartet has announced a tour of the U.S. that will stage 40 appearances. On this new podcast, Belew talks about performing with BEAT, the music of King Crimson, and the upcoming tour.

When the ensemble’s existence was first made public on April 2, 2024, the vision was simply to present a creative reinterpretation of the three iconic 80s KING CRIMSON albums – Discipline, Beat, and Three Of A Perfect Pair. Just over forty appearances were announced across the U.S., triggering a majority of those planned appearances reaching sold-out status in days. Additional performances were added, creating an inaugural run which staged 65 concerts across the U.S. Appearances in Mexico, South America and Tokyo’s legendary Budokan followed, most recently staging an extensive run of the U.K. and Europe performing in 31 cities this year.

Check out the podcast on these services:
Apple • Spotify • Amazon • PodBean • YouTube

Tickets here: https://beat-official.com/tour.

Confirmed appearances include:
10/09 Santa Cruz, CA Quarry Amphitheater
10/10 Napa, CA Blue Note Napa Summer Sessions at Meritage Resort
10/11 San Diego, CA Civic Theatre
10/13 Las Vegas, NV Theater at Virgin Hotel
10/14 Phoenix, AZ Celebrity Theatre
10/16 Denver, CO Bellco Theatre
10/17 Omaha, NE Orpheum Theater
10/18 Waukee, IA Vibrant Music Hall
10/19 Milwaukee, WI The Riverside Theater
10/21 Chicago, IL Copernicus Center
10/22 Madison, WI Orpheum Theater
10/23 Saint Charles, MO The Family Arena
10/24 Prior Lake, MN Mystic Lake Casino Showroom
10/26 Cincinnati, OH Taft Theatre
10/28 Columbus, OH Palace Theatre
10/29 Detroit, MI Masonic Temple Theatre
10/30 Cleveland, OH Agora Theatre
11/01 Toronto, ON The Theatre at Great Canadian Toronto
11/02 Montreal, QC Theatre St-Denis
11/04 Huntington, NY The Paramount
11/05 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
11/06 Boston, MA Boch Center Wang Theatre
11/07 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
11/09 Newark, NJ Prudential Hall at NJPAC
11/10 Washington, DC MGM National Harbor
11/11 Rochester, NY Kodak Center
11/13 Virginia Beach, VA Sandler Center
11/14 Reading, PA Santander Performing Arts Center
11/15 Philadelphia, PA Academy of Music
11/17 Durham, NC DPAC
11/18 Nashville, TN Grand Ole Opry House
11/21 Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
11/22 Daytona Beach, FL Peabody Auditorium
11/24 St. Petersburg, FL Mahaffey Theater
11/25 Atlanta, GA Cobb Energy Center
11/28 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall
11/29 Austin, TX ACL Live
11/30 Dallas, TX Music Hall at Fair Park
12/02 Inglewood, CA YouTube Theater
12/03 Riverside, CA Riverside Municipal Auditorium

The post BEAT (Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Tony Levin and Terry Bozzio) announce U.S. 2026 Tour Dates appeared first on The Prog Report.

Album Review: Godslave – Godslave

Reviewed by Matthew Caldwell

How do you like your thrash in the morning? Godslave serve theirs with optimism and resilience, and that’s exactly what the Teutonic thrashers deliver on their upcoming self-titled album.

It has been a full five years since their previous studio offering, Positive Aggressive, and the gap between releases has not hindered their creativity. This album is a statement: Godslave are back. What separates them from their contemporaries in the genre is their lyrical themes. This is an album filled with positivity and overcoming adversity. It’s about empowerment and self-improvement, but don’t let that put you off. Unless you delve into the words themselves, the first thing you notice about their music is pounding, riff-tastic thrash.

The opening track, Reset, Rebuild, Reclaim, is their modus operandi. It’s fast, intense, and would not be out of place on a Kreator album. It also served as their first single. Another single, Repaid in Kind, opens with a soundbite of Alec Guinness from the 1964 epic The Fall of the Roman Empire. He speaks about learning to have compassion and pity. The accompanying music video is a moving reminder of the value of talking to someone if you’re struggling. The message is wonderful, but the song is ferocious and full of hooks, and you’ll find yourself hitting the replay button.

Part of the Pack has a massive chorus which is screaming out to be, well, screamed. It’s about the search for a sense of belonging. It’s hard to feel alone when listening to this album. This is about community and the positive impact that can have.

Tracks like And Yet I Stand and The Road Not Taken highlight the strengths of the production. It sounds great. It’s big, and it’s heavy.

The highlight of this album is Let the Fire Come. A couple of black metal-inspired chords infiltrate their way into the verses, mixed with a death metal vibe, making for one hell of a combination that’ll have you raising your horns to the ceiling.

But all good things must come to an end and the penultimate track is an instrumental medley of the album’s riffs, which serves as a prelude to The Fire That Calls Me. The first surprise, after all that power and speed, is an acoustic guitar. The second surprise is a guest appearance from Burning Witches vocalist Laura Guldemond. Her voice blends brilliantly with singer Thommy to create a great album closer.

Overall, this is a return that the thrash world should embrace. If you’re new to Godslave, it’ll have you reaching into their back catalogue for more. If you’re already part of the pack, then you don’t have to worry: the five-year wait is worth it.

For all the latest news, reviews, interviews across the heavy metal spectrum follow THE RAZORS’S EDGE on facebook, twitter and instagram.

The post Album Review: Godslave – Godslave appeared first on The Razor's Edge.

I don’t know what it is, but whenever I hear the name Los Angeles, Randy Newman’s song “I Love L.A.” just pops into my head. Maybe it’s the video that went into heavy rotation on MTV, or perhaps it’s his voice, the character he plays, the sarcasm, the joy, the lyrics, and the melody—all of it has always resonated with me, and I’ve never forgotten that song. Of course, that’s not the only great song written about Los Angeles—there are thousands of them. This article aims to present 10 popular ones that we think define the city of L.A. in

The post 10 Best Rock Songs About The City Of Los Angeles appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

It’s been a few years since Steady Holiday, the one-woman project from LA musician Dre Babinski, released the album Newfound Oxygen. Babinski followed that LP with last year’s one-off single “Seasonal Optimism.” Later this fall, she’ll come out with It’s Your Trip, a new album inspired by brain-altering experience of becoming a parent.

The post Steady Holiday Announces New Album <em>It’s Your Trip</em>: Hear “New Generation” appeared first on Stereogum.

Folded arms to rest drinking tea and farmer’s mist

Away away don’t crawl away derelict summer and spaces kissed

Sew down the spring with needles and grins

Slip slip and quietly slip through cracks in all our limbs 

The House Flies make music for rooms where the wallpaper has started to peel, and nobody has bothered to ask what is growing underneath. On Derelict Crawl, the Moline, Illinois quartet drags post-punk through damp timber, rural vacancy, and a low electrical hum, then lets the guitars swell until the song feels too large for the walls holding it. There is familiar DNA in their sound: The Cure’s spacious ache, Joy Division’s repetition, Bauhaus at their most severe – but the band keeps grinding those references into something rougher and more physical.

Alex Riggen’s vocal delivery carries a tired, almost narcotized calm while Burnie Eckhardt’s guitar pushes against him in broad, abrasive layers. Ozzie Woods and Nick Pompou hold the center with a rhythm section that understands the usefulness of restraint; the song keeps moving without rushing toward payoff, allowing repetition to become pressure. By the time the refrain returns again, alienation has become less an idea than a condition of the body.

That approach suits lyrics full of skin, boiled leather, curled material, needles, tea, bone, and limbs splitting open at the seams. Domestic life gets strange fast, with ordinary objects contaminated by private meaning, as though somebody stayed awake too long in an old farmhouse and began assigning motives to everything in the kitchen. The recurring disconnection gives the song its ugly little heartbeat: people trying to remain near each other while every image suggests contraction, damage, or escape.

“‘We kept coming back to this one as the first song to release and show a glimpse into the new album,” says vocalist and guitarist Alex Riggen. “It has some of the record’s weight and repetition without giving away too much of what comes later.”

The video keeps the mystery intact, placing the band in silhouette while strange superimposed forms slide across the frame. Its near-psychedelic treatment suits a song already interested in warped perception, repetition, and bodies becoming unfamiliar to themselves.

“Derelict Crawl works more through images and repetition than a clear narrative, and we like leaving room for people to decide what it means to them. ‘We don’t belong’ is probably as close as the song gets to giving away its center. We approached the video the same way. It creates its own strange little environment without trying to explain the lyrics.”

Watch the video for Derelict Crawl below:

As the first glimpse of the seven-track Lions and Ore, due November 6, Derelict Crawl suggests The House Flies have learned how much menace can live inside patience. The band stretches its post-punk foundation toward shoegaze weight and gothic rock austerity, leaving enough empty space for every guitar surge to feel earned. Those hundred black vinyl copies may end up carrying one impressively diseased little document of Midwestern isolation.

Pre-order the album here.

On Friday, November 6, 2026, the band will celebrate the album release at Raccoon Motel, Davenport, IA, with King of the Weirdos, Company Dimes, and Half Loves.

Follow The House Flies:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website
• Spotify
• Apple Music

The post “Leather Stains the Bone” — Illinois Post-Punk Quartet The House Flies Share Video for “Derelict Crawl” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

Castle Rat’s Riley Pinkerton and Franco Vittore join James Wilson-Taylor to go over their Summer spent on the road, including playing on the same stage as Judas Priest at the Bloodstock Festival. They also comment on their incredible growth and what the future holds in terms of new music. Plus, they take on their own 7of30 questions to reveal what they will do when they retire, on-stage mishaps and who their biggest influences in life are.

The post Castle Rat On Their Incredible Growth & Judas Priest appeared first on Rock Sound.