SNIPPETZ: THURSDAY May 7 2026
This week’s Snippetz includes: Belle Roscoe, Rageflower, Taj Mahal, Mel Parsons, Obscura, Slayyyter, Ernie Garland Jr, Godsmack, Kramer & Thurston Moore, The Bulldozer, Beethoven, The Breakers, Accept, Sevendust, Nestor, Black Spikes, Lex Legion, Ruby Jones, Mr Elusive, Koe Wetzel, Ritviz’s Kurta Saree Dance Party, Kerry King
BELLE ROSCOE ENTER NEW ERA WITH NEW MUSIC, GLOBAL PERFORMANCES & AN INDUSTRY DEFYING STORY
Australian sibling duo Belle Roscoe return with a new body of work and a renewed global presence, marking the beginning of a defining chapter in their career. Known for their distinctive blend of harmony-driven folk/rock and blues-infused grit, the band comprised of Matty and Julia Gurry have spent over a decade building an international reputation rooted in independence, resilience, and creative control.
Often compared to the melodic sensibilities of Fleetwood Mac alongside the raw energy of The Black Keys, Belle Roscoe have developed a sound shaped not by formal training or industry convention, but by lifelong musical instinct and collaboration.
Their career to date reflects a sustained international reach. Highlights include performing to audiences exceeding 150,000 in a single year, closing the Cannes Film Festival, and representing Australia at World Expos in Dubai and Osaka. Their live performance history spans sold-out shows across the UK and Europe, festival appearances including Isle of Wight and Black Deer, and headline venues such as London’s O2 Arena, New York’s Bowery Electric, and Los Angeles’ United Artists Theatre. In 2025, the duo completed a 24-date tour across Japan, further cementing their global footprint.
Despite these achievements, Belle Roscoe’s journey has also been shaped by significant industry challenges. The band have experienced multiple record deals disrupted by label liquidations, lost royalties, and setbacks involving management, highlighting ongoing structural issues within the independent music sector.
The onset of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic compounded these challenges, halting international touring and limiting access to funding while the duo were based in London. During this period, Matty Gurry also faced a very serious autoimmune illness, adding further personal strain.
In response, both artists diversified their professional work. Julia Gurry moved into high-end television and film production, and produced her first feature film in 2025, while Matty Gurry expanded his career as a Creative Director. Throughout this period, Belle Roscoe continued to create music independently.
One notable output from this time was the video for “Soho Shoes,” filmed during lockdown in central London. Featuring a lone walrus character dancing through empty city streets, the project captured the atmosphere of the period and demonstrated the band’s commitment to creative expression under constraint.
Just prior to the pandemic, Belle Roscoe recorded a collection of songs in Nashville at The Bomb Shelter studio with Grammy-winning producer Matt Ross-Spang (Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Calexico), members of The Alabama Shakes and Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit, and engineering from the studio’s owner Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Phosphorescent). The band made the decision to delay releasing this material, citing a desire to preserve its impact rather than release it during a period dominated by digital over-saturation.
In 2025, the duo travelled back to the US, this time to Muscle Shoals, Alabama to visit friends and explore one of modern music’s most influential recording hubs. While on a guided tour of FAME Studios, they struck up a conversation with a band preparing for rehearsal. One thing quickly led to another, and by that afternoon, they were in the studio recording with the legends of Muscle Shoals including guitarist Will McFarlane, bassist Bob “The Swamper” Ray, drummer Chad Gamble, and keyboardist Pete Levin.The sessions took place under the guidance of producer Jimmy Nutt.
And if the day couldn’t get any better, it was capped off by meeting Norbert Putnam.For two artists raised on Elvis Presley, coming face to face with Elvis’s bass player wasn’t just a career moment, it was something closer to mythology made real. Putnam represents a direct thread back to the records that shaped generations, and suddenly, that history was no longer distant, it was in the room, in conversation, in the music.
Both the Nashville and Muscle Shoals recordings are now being released as part of their forthcoming EP, “Talking to the Walrus.” The songs are characterised by a live, organic recording approach, emphasising performance over production and capturing the immediacy of the band’s sound.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBDZpwoaGCE
The EP is described as cinematic and emotionally driven, with themes of resilience and transformation. It includes the latest single “Last Goodbye From New York,” a reflective ballad exploring loss and renewal. Centred around the beautiful vocal harmonies of siblings Matty and Julia Gurry, the signature Belle Roscoe sound, is a cathartic love song that captures both the exciting energy and the overwhelming loneliness of New York City. It is as though we are listening to a song around a campfire in the middle of Times Square on a winter’s night watching the snow fall.
We are immediately connected to the emotional journey as soon as Julia’s honest and vulnerable vocals commence. Julia’s vocals are soon after perfectly intertwined with Matty’s harmonies, providing us with the visceral journey of the truth, grief and hope – all natural phases of ending a long-term relationship. The song’s subtle dynamic shifts build in quiet waves before opening into a hopeful bridge, driven by Matty’s harmonica. The key element of achieving the song’s warm, naturalistic live sound was recording 100% analogue and direct to tape.
As it reaches new listeners, “Last Goodbye From New York” has all the makings of a standout New York City love song.
Julia from Belle Roscoe commented – “The song is ultimately a farewell love letter inspired by personal heartbreak. In my search for new love and courage, I travelled alone to New York to discover the city for the first time. At 4am one morning, I was awoken to city’s sirens and the sound of snow falling onto the apartments nearby fire escape. In the vein of Audrey Hepburn playing guitar on the windowsill in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, I was inspired to reach for a guitar that I had borrowed from my dear friend (and well renowned NYC music promoter), Jake Szufnarowski.”
Belle Roscoe are set to support the release with a series of live performances, including shows in London and residencies in New York and Miami, alongside appearances linked to major international events. With a combination of new music, international touring, and a track record of navigating industry adversity, Belle Roscoe continue to position themselves as an independent act with global relevance.
As Matty states, “We didn’t go anywhere – we just had to survive.”
SPOTIFY LINK https://open.spotify.com/album/1QWCBc27N2Sn2xSIKtDW92
WEIRD FISHES ANNOUNCE LATEST MANAGEMENT SIGNING, RAGEFLOWER
Following a breakout first-year of operation, today Australian Artist Manager of the Year Nominees, Weird Fishes, announce their latest management signing, RAGEFLOWER. The first new signing since the Weird Fishes launch in August 2025, the RAGEFLOWER signing is a huge coup for the company with much-justified hype surrounding Madeleine Powers (aka RAGEFLOWER) following her stand-out performance at BIGSOUND last year, with her two break out singles, Desk Job and current single, Control both receiving high-rotation on triple j.
Excited to welcome RAGEFLOWER to the Weird Fishes family, co-founder Aidan McLaren said, “RAGEFLOWER is without doubt the most exciting new artist we have seen in the last few years. The creativity, the songwriting, the captivating live show, the connection, it’s all there. What Maddy is creating is something really unique, very special and strikingly authentic. We couldn’t be more pleased than to be joining the team to help bring the RAGEFLOWER world to life, and to bring it to people around the globe”.
“There’s a magnetic intensity to RAGEFLOWER that you just don’t see every day,” says Alanna Vullo. “She isn’t afraid to push boundaries or bare her soul, and the result is art that genuinely moves people and leaves a lasting mark. We are absolutely thrilled to step in as her management team and back such a fiercely creative talent”.
Having only performed two headline-shows in Australia (both selling out in advance), but with some impressive support tours under her belt (including The Temper Trap and The Darkness), the glowing live reviews have both the music industry and the general public taking notice.
RAGEFLOWER recently signed to Select Music (Rob Giovanonni) for Australian live bookings and has also grabbed the attention of UK industry legend Paul Wilson and Nikos Kazoleas of CAA who have joined the team for UK/European live bookings. Paul Wilson books Sam Fender, Lianne La Havas, Tracey Chapman, Dermot Kennedy. Kazoleas spent more than a decade as a music agent at UTA, working with artists such as Sombr, GAYLE, Rebecca Black, Trixie Mattel, BANKS, Joshua Bassett, and more.
Assisting on day-to-day management alongside Aidan McLaren will be the newest Weird Fishes team member, Alanna Vullo, who joined the company late last year.
RAGEFLOWER’s latest single, Control is out now, a new single Push Pin is coming next week and her second EP is slated to drop later this year.
It’s been a wild nine months since Aidan McLaren, Joe Miles and Rhett McLaren launched their independent artist management company, and their artists’ achievements during that time have been impressive.
“What a first 9 months! Aside from being six of the busiest/most intense months of our careers, it has also been six of the most rewarding,” says Aidan McLaren. “Two #1 Australian Artist Albums, one #2 Australian Album, some of our artists’ highest headline ticket-sales across multiple countries, mainstage slots on some of the biggest and best festivals in the world, millions of streams, many meaningful moments and memories, and most-importantly, getting to do it all with awesomely talented, hardworking, amazing, creative people from all over the world that we feel incredibly lucky and grateful to be able to call colleagues, partners, artists and friends.”
Boy & Bear secured the ARIA #1 Australian Album (released independently) in December, and performed the biggest headline show of their career at the iconic Sydney Opera House Steps to over 5,500 people.
The Dreggs performed to massive crowds and conjured many sing-a-long moments across their mainstage slots at Spilt Milk Festival (headlined by Kendrick Lamar), and Strumming Bird Festival (headlined by Jelly Roll), as well as across their debut North American tour, and they’re currently recording the best songs they’ve ever written.
Steph Strings has clocked over 1 million socials followers, released her stunning debut album (landed #2 on the Australian artist album chart earlier this year) and was announced on leading international festivals including Bonnaroo, Summerfest and Borderlands. She’s currently playing sold out headline shows all over the world.
Pete Murray released his first independent album in over 20 years, landing at #1 on the Australian artist album charts. Pete sold more headline tickets than ever over the past 12 months and continues to build substantial growth and momentum across socials and streaming platforms. He will be touring the Netherlands, UK and Canada later this year (for the first time in years).
Tim Hart’s (Boy & Bear) last two solo EPs have had more than 4.5million streams across Spotify and Apple worldwide. And as a producer, Tim is quickly gaining attention both locally and internationally having produced Steph Strings’ debut album, as well as Stu Larsen’s upcoming album and more than 10 other artist singles, just in the last 6 months alone.
For information on Weird Fishes and their talented roster, visit https://weirdfishesmusic.com/
TAJ MAHAL RELEASES NEW ALBUM ‘TIME’ OUT NOW VIA RESONATIN’ RECORDS/THIRTY TIGERS – LISTEN HERE
Legendary singer-songwriter and musical force Taj Mahal has released his new album Time, available everywhere now via Resonatin’ Records / Thirty Tigers. A deeply soulful and expansive collection, Time stands as both a reflection on a six-decade career and a powerful statement of continued creativity, offering a masterclass in soul, roots, folk, reggae and blues from one of American music’s most enduring and influential voices. Listen to the album HERE.
At the heart of the album is its title track, “Time” a never-before-heard composition written by the late Bill Withers, originally recorded only as an unreleased demo before being brought to Mahal by close friend and music industry executive and producer, Steve Berkowitz, who with the blessing of both Bill and Marcia Withers, brought the song to Mahal and the band. Listen to the song HERE & watch visualizer HERE.
The song is a mellow groove with just enough swing—a testament, Mahal says, to Withers’ unique approach to music, his timing that often defied popular convention.
“I had a lot of reverence for the brother, ”Mahal explains. “He was able to bring that acoustic guitar and just sing. He wasn’t trying to show up in sparkling platform shoes and jump up and down on stage. And it resonated so deeply with people, because there was nobody doing that.”
Few artists have shaped American roots music as profoundly as Taj Mahal. A recipient of the 2025 GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award, Mahal is a genre-defying musician, composer, and cultural ambassador who has mastered around 20 instruments and collaborated with a who’s who of musical icons, including the Rolling Stones, Etta James, Eric Clapton, and Ziggy Marley. Mahal has shared stages with Otis Redding and The Temptations and, in 1972, acted in the film Sounder while landing his first Grammy nomination for contributing to the movie’s score. Yet Mahal, who has since collected five Grammys on 18 total nominations, as well as the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Blues Hall of Fame, never felt like the accolades were the true reward.
“I know I’m lucky, knowing that music is what I’ve been given to do,” he explains. “I’m 84, and I’m just thrilled to be doing it.”
The Withers track – has become the perfect anchor for a new body of work. Its message was both poignant and serendipitous, not just because of all the time Mahal had spent on this planet, adding his contributions to the Western musical canon. It was all that and more: the time he’d spent cutting records with his backing band, the Phantom Blues Band, and the stretch of years that had elapsed since their last project, 2008’s Maestro.
“It was time,” Mahal says.
He’d never intended to have a band, but the connection with the crew on 1993’s Grammy-nominated Dancing the Blues was undeniable. There was chemistry, a camaraderie. Percussionist Tony Braunagel and bassist Larry Fulcher call it a shared dialect. “Music is a language,” Fulcher explains. “If you understand it, you can get with other people who understand it and have a musical conversation.”
For the Phantom Blues Band—which Fulcher says is actually far from just a blues band—that language is Black music. Each of the band members grew up listening to it and learning to play it on their respective instruments while coming to understand it as the foundation of the American sound. Mahal, a product of the American South and the West Indies, was, of course, born into it.
“North America, Central America, South America, the Caribbean…the music has been enhanced by our presence in the Western Hemisphere,” Mahal says. “I am a part of it, and that is a part of my DNA. It’s also part of the DNA of the music that we’re listening to nowadays.”
During the 18-year hiatus after Maestro, the PBB cut a couple of their own albums and continued picking up gigs and sessions with other artists. Yet the goal was always to return to Mahal, to the maestro himself. Braunagel set out to make it happen; he, too, knew it was time.
There are some changes this time around. Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band are still independent but releasing the project with Thirty Tigers, a Nashville-based marketing and distribution company that provides artists with label-like support without claiming ownership of masters or publishing.
The music also came together differently, with Mahal and the individual members of the PBB each tracking their parts separately. Braunagel laid drums before passing it to Jon Cleary for keys. Fulcher got it next, then Johnny Lee Schell for guitar, Joe Sublett and Les Lovitt for horns. Mahal got it last, to listen and review and track his soulful vocals.
The result is a collection of covers and newly written songs by band members and friends that perfectly encapsulates Mahal’s musical aesthetic and career approach. In addition to “Time,” focus tracks include “Wild About My Lovin’,” a 1920’s tune reworked into a playful, island vibe, and the Afro-Cuban-inspired and album focus track, “You Put the Whammy On Me.” (listen HERE)
It’s real music, with real instrumentation, rooted in the African diasporic tradition. And all of the songs are decades old.
“I think it’s important that people get to hear this kind of music at this particular time,” Mahal says. “I’ve always played the music that I want on every album, and what we’re doing, essentially, is showing people that, just because you didn’t hear a song when it came out, does not mean it isn’t good.”
“I’ve spent almost 70 years playing this music. It’s time to listen.”
Aotearoa award-winning indie folk artist, MEL PARSONS, announces new album CASTLE HILL – out August 7 + releases delicate new single and video, ‘Grain By Grain’
Critically acclaimed singer and songwriter Mel Parsons has today announced her seventh studio album, CASTLE HILL, set for release on August 7. The news comes alongside her latest single, the emotive new ballad ‘Grain By Grain’.
Listen to ‘Grain By Grain’ HERE
CASTLE HILL will join the ranks of Parsons’ celebrated previous records; her 2019 album GLASS HEART winning Best Folk Artist at the AMA’s and her most recent album SABOTAGE (2024) being nominated for the prestigious Taite Prize and Album of the Year at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards.
“This album [SABOTAGE] really locates the mournful quality in Mel Parsons’ voice, and highlights what a remarkable instrument it is; oceans of feeling sounded out with apparently little effort” – Tony Stamp, RNZ
Out today in tandem with the announcement is Parsons’ heartfelt new single ‘Grain By Grain’. Like the gentle push and pull of the ocean, ‘Grain By Grain’ embraces the feeling of being washed and worn away by the tide; each time reshaping with continuous change.
“Loosely, ‘Grain By Grain’ is an ocean metaphor – the beach being washed and worn away only to be built back up again; but in a different way, by different tides, on different days,” says Parsons. “The song embodies a sense of calm – an acceptance of how things are the present moment.”
The single comes with a new music video – behind the scenes on tour, with Parsons and her band warming up for a show on the floor of famed Lyttelton venue ‘Loons’. Filmed and edited by Adam Hogan of LORE Films, the visuals feature long time bandmates Jed Parsons, Aaron Stewart and Josh Logan.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
The single joins her latest releases: the nostalgic ‘Caravan’, which followed ‘Don’t Leave The Light On’ – a heart-rending alt-folk ballad which laid bare the harsh reality of domestic abuse. 2025 saw ‘Be Here Now’ featuring Mitchell Froom (Crowded House) on keys, ‘Brick By Brick’ and ‘Post High Slide’ – all of which spent multiple weeks on RadioScope’s alternative music charts.
Mel Parsons is one of Aotearoa’s most celebrated songwriters and prolific touring musicians. Recent years have seen her extensively touring both sides of the Tasman, opening for Crowded House, performing at Folk Alliance in Montreal, Canada and, most recently, headlining Auckland Folk Festival.
With Mel Parsons only building momentum, this year is shaping up to be another pivotal one for the celebrated artist.
FOLLOW MEL PARSONS: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube
OBSCURA Release New Video For ‘The Sun Eater’ + Heading To Australia For Shred Fest 2026
German progressive metal masters OBSCURA have officially shifted into high gear with a double-pronged assault on the global metal scene. Ahead of their The Sun Eater Asia tour—which kicks off on May 1—the band has unleashed a brand-new music video for the track ‘The Sun Eater,’ perfectly capturing the technical precision and atmosphere of their live show.The Sun Eater video has been produced by OBSCURA’s long term director Mirko Witzki (Arch Enemy, Powerwolf, Electric Callboy).
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/GaCcBvF_N2Y
September 2026 – Prepare your necks and brace your ears — SHRED FEST 2026 is coming! The renowned travelling metal festival will storm across Australia and New Zealand, delivering an unmatched celebration of technical excellence, intensity, and musical precision.
This year’s edition features two of the most acclaimed names in modern extreme metal Obscura (GER) & Fallujah (USA)- Nuclear Blast:
OBSCURA (GER) – Progressive death metal pioneers and masters of technical virtuosity. Following two successful Australian tours along with a return to NZ OBSCURA are back to present their latest album A Sonication as part of their ongoing world tour.
FALLUJAH (USA) – The visionary force of progressive and atmospheric technical death metal, set to unleash their transcendental soundscapes across southern shores.
Dates
03/09 AUS Perth – The Rosemount
04/09 AUS Adelaide – Lions Art Factory
05/09 AUS Brisbane – Soapbox
09/09 AUS Canberra – The Baso
10/09 AUS Sydney – Manning Bar
11/09 AUS Melbourne – The Corner
13/09 AUS Darwin – The Ampitheatre
15/09 NZ Auckland – Whammy
16/09 NZ Wellington – Valhalla
17/09 NZ Christchurch – Churchills Tavern
19/09 AUS Hobart – Altar
^ Fallujah Appearing all shows bar NZ and Hobart
SHRED FEST 2026 promises a diverse and uncompromising showcase of extreme metal — from technical precision to devastating heaviness. Expect the ultimate convergence of musicianship, passion, and power.
Tickets on sale via www.yourmatebookings.com & https://www.shredfest.net/
SLAYYYTER (USA): POP DISRUPTOR ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN ‘WOR$T GIRL IN THE WORLD TOUR’ DATES FOR AUGUST 2026
+ Tickets on sale Fri 8 May
Fresh from two massive capacity-busting weekends at the Mojave Stage, Coachella, US cult-favourite pop disruptor sensation SLAYYYTER announces her highly anticipated Australian ‘WOR$T GIRL IN THE WORLD TOUR’ dates for August 2026.
Presented by MG Live, I OH YOU and Frontier Touring, the ‘WOR$T GIRL IN THE WORLD TOUR’ are SLAYYYTER’s first Australian shows in three years and will play the east coast with two shows at the Enmore Theatre, Sydney on Sunday 9 & Monday 10 August then Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane on Friday 14 August before two shows at the Forum, Melbourne on Monday 17 & Tuesday 18 August.
The artist presale commences Wednesday 6 May, 11am local time. Frontier Members and MG Live Members can access their presales commencing one hour later at 12pm local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday 8 May, 10am local time. Tickets and tour information via frontiertouring.com/slayyyter
Watch: SLAYYYTER – ‘DANCE…’ (Official Video)
From her breakthrough 2019 self-titled mixtape to her 2021 debut Troubled Paradise and 2023’s STARFUCKER, SLAYYYTER proved herself to be one of the great shape-shifters of our time, taking the past, present, and future of pop and twisting it to her will. Early successes — “Daddy AF” went from viral hit making SLAYYYTER’s name online to soundtracking a key scene in the Oscar Best Picture winner Anora — fueled accolades from publications including Billboard, Paper, Variety, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and more, while earning SLAYYYTER opening slots with forebears like Tove Lo and Kesha. But even with all that, SLAYYYTER decided something wasn’t quite right. She decided to become who she was all along, underneath it all: the WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA.
SLAYYYTER’s third album is the most authentically her, while also boasting her most fully realized creative direction yet. She revisited her upbringing in St. Louis, and decided to make “iPod music” — a free-for-all of feral punk, corroded pop, and raunchy rap — conjuring the “Midwest-core tweaker bar rat” characters of her youth. Early singles “BEAT UP CHANEL$,” “CANNIBALISM!,”, “CRANK” AND ‘DANCE…” steadily built hype for the project over the course of 2025, with fans fervently embracing the raw, swaggering Slayyyter that emerged from the ashes of her past selves. WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA is both revelation and evolution, killing the SLAYYYTER we thought we knew so SLAYYYTER could be born for real.
Released Fri 27 Mar, the album peaked at No.1 on the US Billboard Top Dance Albums chart! SLAYYYTER has just released her latest single ‘BROKE BITCH FREE$TYLE’.
Watch: SLAYYYTER – BROKE BITCH FREE$TYLE (Official Visualizer)
Following her highly anticipated debut at the iconic Coachella 2026 in Indio, California, SLAYYYTER is also announced as part of the The Governors Ball 2026 lineup in New York City taking place this coming June and Lollapalooza in Chicago this July.
With the ‘WOR$T GIRL IN THE WORLD TOUR’ North American leg sold out and upcoming shows in Brazil, Europe and the UK, these Australian dates are sure to sell out fast.
SLAYYYTER
WOR$T GIRL IN THE WORLD TOUR
AUSTRALIA
AUGUST 2026
Presented by MG Live, I OH YOU, Frontier Touring & triple j
FRONTIER MEMBER PRESALE
via frontiertouring.com/slayyyter
Runs 24 hours from: Wednesday 6 May (12pm local)
or until presale allocation exhausted
MG LIVE MEMBER PRESALE
via mg.live/slayyyter
Runs 24 hours from: Wednesday 6 May (12pm local)
or until presale allocation exhausted
TICKETS ON SALE
Begins: Friday 8 May (10am local time)
Sunday 9 August
Enmore Theatre | Sydney, NSW
Lic. All Ages
ticketek.com.au
Monday 10 August
Enmore Theatre | Sydney, NSW
Lic. All Ages
ticketek.com.au
Friday 14 August
Fortitude Music Hall | Brisbane, QLD
Lic. All Ages
ticketmaster.com.au
Monday 17 August
Forum | Melbourne, VIC
18+
ticketek.com.au
Tuesday 18 August
Forum | Melbourne, VIC
18+
ticketek.com.au
ERNIE GARLAND JR ‘WHAT CAN I DO’ (SINGLE)
Ernie Garland Jr releases uplifting new single ‘What Can I Do’ taken from his forthcoming album Dealin’ Out The Healin’. Ernie Garland Jr returns with his vibrant new single ‘What Can I Do’, the third track lifted from his upcoming album Dealin’ Out The Healin’ set for release Thursday 14 May. Written by Garland ‘What Can I Do’ delivers an irresistible groove inspired by the warmth and feel-good pulse of Bill Withers’ classic ‘Lovely Day’, blending soulful reflection with dance-floor energy.
At its heart, ‘What Can I Do’ is about recognising when something has run its course and finding the courage to let it go. While change can feel daunting, especially when it’s unexpected, the song carries a message of optimism, reminding listeners that adaptability is one of humanity’s greatest strengths and that what feels like an ending can often be the beginning of something better.
“I wrote this song drawing from past experiences over a long period of time to talk about how when change is thrust upon you without your wanting, and coming out the other side, realising it was actually for the better.” – Ernie Garland Jr
Garland enlisted songwriter, musician and producer Darren Seltmann, co-founder of the globally recognised Australian act The Avalanches, who took the album track from almost being discarded, to being the current single that pulses with groove-driven instrumentation and rich live textures. Garland takes the lead on vocals and is joined by Tom Kelly (guitar, bass, keys), Illya Szwec (guitar), Billy Ward (saxophone), and Simon Ferenci (trombone), with engineering by Rich Belkner.
The recording journey itself mirrors the song’s theme of transformation. What began as a fairly pedestrian beat with the same chords and a middle 8, Garland wasn’t sold on and was nearly left off the album altogether. Then came an epiphany: reach out to Seltmann to create a rough beat, rebuild the song from scratch, and hand it back to Seltmann.
The result: eight nuanced variations of the original rhythm carefully mapped across the track, creating subtle shifts that reward close listening while maintaining an effortless groove
Influenced by the likes of Teddy Atlas, Phoenix, Steely Dan, and The Roots, ‘What Can I Do’ follows previous singles ‘Baby Mama Drama’ and ‘Going Home’, all taken from upcoming album Dealin’ Out The Healin. Ernie, previously the frontman of the celebrated nine-piece roots-reggae outfit Kinsky, has found his stride as a solo artist. This new body of music was born in solitude during Sydney’s second pandemic lockdown, when he relocated from Bondi Beach to his family’s suburban granny flat. With just a piano and a simple home studio setup, he composed and produced the record largely on his own, a first in his career
With its infectious rhythm and uplifting message, ‘What Can I Do’ invites listeners to dance, embrace life’s new horizons, and trust that change can lead somewhere brighter.
Follow Ernie Garland Jr
Bandcamp: https://erniegarlandjr.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erniegarlandjr/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErnieGarlandJr
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2P4HNWBrNK6hmI9TA2V3a7?si=HxeItXvnQPWcsKs3UF4Bhg
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ErnieGarlandJr/videos
GODSMACK RELEASE NEW ALBUM ‘LIVE AT MOHEGAN SUN’ — OUT NOW HERE
Godsmack unleash their brand‑new live album, Live at Mohegan Sun, out today, May 1, via Primary Wave—arriving just as the band prepares to take the stage for one of the most anticipated hard‑rock tours of the year. The album captures Godsmack’s sold‑out October 26, 2024 performance at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, delivering a thunderous, career‑spanning set that now serves as the sonic launchpad for the Rise of Rock World Tour 2026. After three decades, 20 million albums sold, 27 Top 10 singles, and 13 No. 1 hits, Godsmack channel the full weight of their legacy into a performance that feels both monumental and forward‑looking. Godsmack Live at Mohegan Sun is available now HERE.
“Live at Mohegan Sun captures a moment we’ll always carry with us—the energy, the connection, and the gratitude we feel for the fans who’ve taken this journey with us,” says frontman Sully Erna. “Releasing this album as we launch the Rise of Rock World Tour feels powerful. It honors where we’ve been while pushing us forward into what’s next.”
In tandem with today’s release, Godsmack premiere the official live video for “Surrender,” filmed during the explosive Mohegan Sun performance. Watch the new video HERE.
Click on the image above to play the “Surrender” video.
Recorded in front of a fiercely devoted New England crowd, Live at Mohegan Sun captures the band at full throttle—channeling three decades of grit, power, and connection. From the opening surge of “Surrender” to the towering finale of “I Stand Alone,” the album documents Godsmack’s unmatched live chemistry through staples including “Awake,” “Voodoo,” and “Cryin’ Like a Bitch!!,” alongside modern anthems like “When Legends Rise,” “Bulletproof,” and “You and I.”
The release arrives just days ahead of the band’s Rise of Rock World Tour, which kicks off May 10 in Bristow, VA, and tears through amphitheaters across North America before expanding to major European festival dates this summer, then returning to the U.S. in September. With Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy joining select shows, the tour unites generations of hard rock in what frontman Sully Erna calls “a hit factory of real rock bands.”
“I haven’t been this excited about a tour in a long time,” adds Erna. “Between Godsmack and Stone Temple Pilots, it’s nothing but songs people know and love. This tour is about celebration—of rock music, of history, and of everything that got us here.”
While Live at Mohegan Sun documents a powerful closing chapter for Godsmack’s classic lineup—Sully Erna, Tony Rombola, Robbie Merrill, and Shannon Larkin—it also signals the band’s forward momentum. “It wasn’t an ending,” Erna reflects. “It was closing one chapter and welcoming what comes next.” Beyond today’s U.S. release, Live at Mohegan Sun will also be available internationally on CD and LP on June 26 HERE.
Fans around the world who are unable to attend one of the group’s global tour dates, can join Godsmack for a live, interactive global watch party when Live at Mohegan Sun streams exclusively on Stagepilot on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The event will feature the full concert film along with a special Q&A session with frontman Sully Erna—giving fans everywhere the chance to experience the show and connect with the band in real time. Tickets for the Godsmack global watch party on Stagepilot are available now: HERE.
With Live at Mohegan Sun and the Rise of Rock World Tour 2026, Godsmack reaffirm their status as one of hard rock’s most formidable live forces—celebrating the past, commanding the present, and charging headlong into the future.
TRACKLISTING — GODSMACK: LIVE AT MOHEGAN SUN
Side A
Surrender
You and I
When Legends Rise
1000hp
Side B
Cryin’ Like A Bitch!!
Speak
Straight Out of Line
Awake
Side C
Keep Away
Voodoo
Battle of The Drums
Side D
Whatever
Under Your Scars
Bulletproof
I Stand Alone
Above: Godsmack Live at Mohegan Sun arrives in digital and physical formats including Double Vinyl, Blu-Ray, and CD.
2026 marks a major milestone for Godsmack with the worldwide release of Awake (25th Anniversary Edition), celebrating the enduring impact of the album that propelled them into rock’s top tier and fueled everything from sports and gaming to film and television. The expanded edition—featuring bonus tracks including a new mix of “Why” and a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Sweet Leaf”—offers a rare glimpse into the band’s creative headspace during a pivotal era. “It’s definitely a different time in our lives,” says Sully Erna. “It’s when we changed our sound. It’s when we wrote ‘I Stand Alone.’ It was the last of us not knowing who we were. From that record forward, we started to figure it out.”
The Mohegan Sun performance also serves as a summation of everything that has made Godsmack one of the most enduring forces in hard rock. The set flows seamlessly through career‑defining moments, from the primal stomp of “Voodoo” to the explosive closer “Whatever.” Erna highlights “The Battle of the Drums”—a live spectacle perfected over decades—as one of the night’s most meaningful moments. “It’s an intricate piece,” he says. “Me and Shan have worked on it for decades and really perfected it into a spectacle.”
Available now in digital and physical formats including Double Vinyl, Blu-ray and CD, Live at Mohegan Sun—stands as a powerful document of connection between band and audience. “The music is what dictates the career, and the music always comes first,” Erna says. “We’ve understood along the way that our music is bigger than who we are as individuals. I hope people can see the sincerity in what we do.”
The pride and emotion of the night are unmistakable, especially in the final moments as the four musicians lock arms for a bow. Backstage, as cameras follow the band into their dressing rooms and “Best of Times” plays, the sense of brotherhood and history is palpable. “I’ve cried several times watching this thing, but it’s a happy emotion, filled with a sense of accomplishment,” Sully Erna adds. While the Mohegan Sun show marked the close of a defining chapter for the band, Erna is clear that it is not the end of Godsmack. “It was just closing one chapter and welcoming whatever the new version of our career may be,” he says. “Anyone who’s taken this ride with us will see that. This last show was amazing—and it’s only the beginning of what comes next.”
Above: Godsmack (L-R): Shannon Larkin, Sully Erna, Robbie Merrill, and Tony Rombola.
Watch/share the live single and video for “When Legends Rise” from Godsmack’s new album Live at Mohegan Sun HERE.
GODSMACK — LIVE AT MOHEGAN SUN
Out Now on CD & LP: U.S. HERE
Intl. on June 26 HERE
Godsmack ‘Live at Mohegan Sun’ Global Livestream on Stagepilot: May 28 HERE
Watch the album trailer HERE
Godsmack: GODSMACK | TOUR | FB | IG | YT | TT | X | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC
Kramer & Thurston Moore Release First-Ever Album-Length Collaboration ‘They Came Like Swallows’
Out Now on Silver Current Records
A Portion of Proceeds to Benefit World Central Kitchen
“This album is our duo-exchange for human dignity, it is our soul music for any semblance of a peaceful planet.” – Thurston Moore
“If I had to make this record again, I’d do it all exactly the same way. It’s like jazz, you don’t think about it. You just do it. It was miraculous…” – Bonner Kramer
“Here, Moore’s playing style retains the idiosyncratic features that rendered it a totemic and canonical part of experimental and alternative music. Kramer’s additions, however, reveal layers of emotion to Moore’s improvisation, which becomes a form of unconscious emotional expression.” – The Quietus
“Beyond the colossal level of technical skill, improvisational brio and the searing activist frustration that anchors the record thematically, what Moore and Kramer create here is also something that is just starkly beautiful. And in that sense alone, They Came Like Swallows is already a triumph – a ragged, exhausted exhale on all our behalf.” – Post Trash
“Kramer and Moore interact with each other’s fiery and ungovernable sounds effortlessly, often finding anger and peace within the same tune. They craft an atmosphere that stays in this tenuous balance for the entirety of the album, acknowledging suffering and universal loss while always keeping the hope for something better as a guiding light.” – All Music
They Came Like Swallows, out today via Silver Current Records, is the first album-length collaboration between Thurston Moore and Bonner Kramer, two giants of alternative/ experimental music. The accomplishments and influence of these two artists in the world of independent music cannot be overstated and the result of their artistic union is a startlingly cohesive statement that burns through landscapes of primitive outsider rock, avant-garde composition, progressive ambient and further locales boldly and beautifully unnamable.
“I had composed and recorded a few pieces at my home studio over the course of a couple weeks. Thurston was spending the winter in South Florida, so I flew down and spent a few days recording his guitar parts in his home there. Watching him spontaneously compose his parts was pretty astonishing, to say the least,” says Kramer. “Once we’d finished working on those pieces, we began improvising and following wherever the music pointed us, and another few pieces were born. We got straight to it, without anything driving us other than the joy of finally working together. My personal goal was to remain present and catch as many surprises as I could from Thurston’s guitar work, and there were plenty during those few days. We had a blast.”
“Kramer and I reconnected in Miami, Florida, a few years back, many many years after each of us had departed NYC on separate life adventures. It was only a matter of time before we started making plans to record together and with his irrepressible due diligence he quickly set up a mobile recording contraption in the pad I was decamped, the Florida sunshine flowing through the palm leaves, lithe lizards skittering across the windowsills, and we just went for it,” says Moore. “What transpired is They Came Like Swallows, offering our music as a sonic activism and as a beneficent energy. This album is our duo exchange for human dignity, it is our soul music for any semblance of a peaceful planet.”
Not a moment is wasted as the duo immediately taps into the heightened core of improvisational tension across these seven offerings. Volcanic opener “Urn Burial” notches a similar historic union (John Cale and Terry Riley) to meet the circumstances of the moment, with swirling mists of organ and pounding toms over guitar that thickens the atmosphere with jagged, grimy dissonance. Solemn strings open the second track, “The Redness In The West,” with Kramer’s cello and viola in dueling bow beneath the high tension drive and sustain of Thurston’s electric guitar, tapping out a Morse code of tension that mounts endlessly into a fog of inevitable war by the end.
Moore and Kramer’s sense of experimentalism is in free and full grandeur throughout They Came Like Swallows, though the duo keep a strong and constant sideways eye on melody, composition and architecture, to the ends that any strict lines between song and improvisation are blurred beyond qualification. As if to punctuate this point, the album closes with a nightwork cover of Joy Division’s “Insight,” a doleful coda that breathes out with a solemn inner grace under Moore’s instantly stylistically recognizable guitar melodies as they weave into he and Kramer’s unison voices. As the lone vocal piece and only traditional ‘song’ form on the album, “Insight” is unique to this set and as a closing statement draws connective lines back to the kind of dynamic, electrified melodicism that wove deep, melancholy patterns into the untamed fire of Sonic Youth’s Sister and Daydream Nation. In the album’s final moments, the two voices repeat the lyric “I’m not afraid anymore” as mantra, underscoring the heavy, unsettled themes and methods that preceded it.
“If I had to make this record again, I’d do it all exactly the same way,” Kramer says. “It’s like jazz, you don’t think about it. You just do it. It was miraculous, and you don’t mess with a miracle.”
They Came Like Swallows (Listen Here)
Bonner Kramer & Thurston Moore – “Urn Burial” (Listen/Watch/Share)
Bonner Kramer & Thurston Moore – “Insight” (Listen/Watch/Share)
They Came Like Swallows
Track Listing:
1. Urn Burial
2. The Redness In The West
3. The Third Migration
4. They Came Like Swallows
5. The Living Theater
6. The Oceans Are Crying
7. Insight
They Came Like Swallows is out now on Silver Current Records.
Vinyl, CD & Digital Available Here
About the Artists: Bonner Kramer decoded the sounds of Galaxie 500 as producer on all of their records, as well as producing Low, Will Oldham, and Urge Overkill’s hit single “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” for the Pulp Fiction soundtrack, to name just a few of his over 370 producer credits listed on Discogs. He is the proprietor of iconic indie label Shimmy-Disc (a one-time home to Daniel Johnston, Ween, Boredoms, and John Zorn’s Naked City among countless others), and an esteemed recording studio mastermind.
Thurston Moore is a founding member of Sonic Youth and responsible for Chelsea Light Moving and a massive and varied solo career. He remains an era-and genre-defining composer, cultural critic, prime mover of all things cool, and one of the most iconic, singular guitarists in rock music’s long tail, the keystone of the explored tension between rock and noise.
Oi! punk band The Bulldozer take grannies to bingo on their new single
The Helsinki-based oi! punk band The Bulldozer unleash a fierce, old-school punk outburst with their new single “Kicking Grannies.” The track stomps firmly in the boots of bands like Cockney Rejects and Anti-Nowhere League.
Despite its title, the band is not actually kicking grannies.
“I’m not the one kicking grannies with my boots. Did you know most dangerous men wear suits,” goes one key line in the song.
Kicking Grannies tells the story of older women who still have plenty of fight left in them. The narrative features a rough-looking crowd escorting them to the pub for a game of bingo. At the same time, the track continues a familiar theme for the band: the real threat doesn’t always look like one, it often hides behind neatly dressed figures in positions of power.
Formed in 2023, The Bulldozer represent the SHARP movement (Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice) and combine oi! with traditional punk, spiced up with touches of ska and reggae.
The band’s previous release, Battle Scars EP, explored similar themes, tackling working-class frustration and social inequality. In particular, the track “Breathtakingly Ordinary Man” took aim at “men in suits” disconnected from the realities of everyday people.
The Bulldozer’s debut release was the Shit Drops Keep Fallin’ On My Head EP, released in 2024.
Kicking Grannies won’t be the band’s only release this spring. A four-track EP is set to follow at the end of May.
Kicking Grannies single:
Spotify
The Bulldozer:
* Jaska: Vocals
* Ilkka: Guitar, Backing Vocals
* Marko: Bass, Backing Vocals
* Jukka: Drums, Backing Vocals
BOTH BEATHOVEN and THE BREAKERS RELEASE ARCHIVAL ALBUMS
Archival albums from bona fide ’70s Apple Isle pop stars & Beatle freaks BEATHOVEN, and the long-lost ’79-’80 Sydney power pop band, who appeared in the film Puberty Blues and who crazily featured members of chart toppers Ol ’55 and seminal Melbourne ’77 punks Babeez & News, THE BREAKERS, out now!
BEATHOVEN AT PASCOE VALE HIGH SCHOOL 1977 and THE BREAKERS NIGHT AFTER NIGHT out now on limited edition coloured vinyl pressings with CDs and digital releases coming in May.
Grown Up Wrong! Records follows up its recent Lipstick Killers’ Tour De Force: Live in Adelaide 1979 LP with more exciting Australian rock’n’roll from the vaults: a reissue of a classic Australian 45 by THE EASTERN DARK and archival LP releases from two Australian power pop bands of the late ’70s, BEATHOVEN and THE BREAKERS. Exclusive editions of each are avalable for RSD UK.
BEATHOVEN – AT PASCOE VALE HIGH SCHOOL 1977 LP & CD
Beathoven At Pascoe Vale High School 1977 is a previously unreleased live album from the legendary Tasmanian ’70s pop revivalists/power pop precursors who later turned into the Innocents. Loved by the current generation of indie power poppers, including the Lemon Twigs, Beathoven appeared some years ahead of the punk/new wave-inspired power pop explosion of ’78 with a sound that was equal parts Cavern Club and later day Beatles-inspired bands like Badfinger and Rockin’ Horse, and briefly rose to prominence alongside the emerging punk scene. As Beathoven they only released two singles in their day but they recorded numerous demos, some of which were released on an ’80s Raven Records Beathoven/Innocents collection.
An essential addendum to that release, Beathoven At Pascoe Vale High School 1977 sounds not unlike The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl transposed to lunchtime at a ’70s suburban Melbourne high school!
Recorded in stereo courtesy of two mic’s taped to the front of the stage and with the non-stop screaming pushing excitement levels to fever pitch, this a raw, raving snapshot of a young band living out their big beat fantasies for the world to see and hear.
Frequently described as the Bay City Rollers of Tasmania, Beathoven were a mid-’70s phenomenon on the Apple Isle – genuine local hitmakers with their first single “Darlin'”, and heart throbs – and they moved to the Australian mainland in ’77 hoping to break nationally. Somewhat unsuited to the pub circuit, the band decided to play high schools to get themselves heard. It worked; this very recording helped them get a deal with EMI. Bizarrely though, the label wanted them to ditch the early Beatles style and they sat on their hands while the band amassed a legion of school age fans to rival what they had at home. After one more single “Shy Girl”, a couple of Countdown appearances and a Best New Group nomination on TV’s Countdown Awards – which caused a small riot when another group won – Beathoven were cut loose. They were still label-less when American manager/Svengali-type Kim Fowley met up with them in Melbourne around Xmas ’78 and the next chapter soon began as The Innocents.
Beathoven At Pascoe Vale High School 1977 is at once a time capsule of more innocent times and a breathless blast of rampant rock’n’roll pop hooks. It is an essential listen for students of power pop history and the Australian rock scene alike.
The Breakers are a long-lost ’79-’80 Australian power pop band and the unlikely meeting of members of chart topping ’50s/60s revivalists Ol’ 55 – songwriter/bassplayer/heart throb Jimmy Manzie (who also produced The Innocents’ classic “Sooner or Later” single) and drummer Geoff Peterkin – and infamous early Melbourne punks Babeez and News – guitarist Jarryl Wirth.
Formed under in ’79 under the long distance guidance of infamous LA producer/Svengali Kim Fowley (Runaways, Hollywood Stars etc, and a man with writing credits for Kiss, Alice Cooper and many more) they only released one single in their lifetime but recorded enough high quality demos for an album, which, as presented here, reveals a hitherto untold story significant in terms of both Australian rock history and the lore of international power pop might-have-beens….
The vinyl edition of Night After Night brings together fourteen of the The Breakers’ best tracks, all studio recordings bar great live recordings of the News classic ‘Sweet Dancer Au-Go-Go’ and a great and otherwise unrecorded original called “Can You Hear Me Singing On The Radio”. Included is the track “‘The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes” which the band appeared performing on stage in a Sydney pub in the cult Australian film Puberty Blues, and superior demo versions of the two tracks featured on their sole single, “When I’m On TV” (which they performed on Countdown) and “Lipstick And Leather”, the latter being a Manzie-Fowley co-write which also featured in Puberty Blues as was later demoed by Kiss!
Pretty much everything on here could be a hit single, and over the fourteen tracks you’ll hear echoes of the likes of The Innocents, Cheap Trick, The Cars, The Rubinoos, The Records, The Quick and even later bands like Candy and Redd Kross!
The LP features a four-page full colour 12×12 insert featuring numerous images, press clippings and lengthy liner notes by Grown Up Wrong!’s Dave Laing, who compiled and annotated last year’s acclaimed I Wanna Be A Teen Again: North American Power Pop of the ’80s 3CD set for Cherry Red. The CD packaging features the same contents converted to a 16-page booklet.
The CD and digital releases album include an additional TEN tracks including the later and more polished single recordings of “When I’m On TV” and “Lipstick and Leather”, and fantastic high energy live covers of the Monkees, Beatles, Easybeats and, revealing their taste in truly sublime ’60s pop, Cat Stevens’ 1967 baroque gem “Matthew & Sons” and Herman’s Hermits’ Graham Gouldman-composed masterpiece “No Milk Today”. As a special treat for Innocents fans, the CD and digital releases also include a demo of “Night After Night” featuring Greg Cracknell on lead vocals!
Also available on Grown Up Wrong!
THE EASTERN DARK – “JULIE IS A JUNKIE”/”JOHNNY & DEE DEE”
Classic 1985 single – and love letter to the Ramones – finally reissued!
Available in black, yellow, green and red vinyl pressings!
THE LIPSTICK KILLERS – TOUR DE FORCE – LIVE IN ADELAIDE 1979 LP
Classic high-energy garage punk from the late ’70s heirs to Radio Birdman’s throne in Sydney!
300 in orange vinyl, and 300 in black
THE LIPSTICK KILLERS – STRANGE FLASH: STUDIO & LIVE 1979-81 2LP
Includes the “Hindu Gods” & “Sockman” 45s, Mesmerizer LP recording and unreleased demos!
A 500 copies-only red vinyl edition following sold-out black and orange editions
To purchase any and all of these titles, Australian customers are directed to
Grown Up Wrong! – sound-merch.com.au
UK/Euro customers are directed to https://www.recordstoreday.co.uk/record-shops, and US customers are directed to https://midheaven.com/label/grown-up-wrong
GROWN UP WRONG! – ROCK’N’ROLL RECORDS SINCE 1986
www.facebook.com/grownupwrongrecords
Grown Up Wrong! releases are distributed worldwide by Forte Music Distribution, in the US by Revolver and in Australia by Tweak.
ACCEPT Celebrate 50 Years of Heavy Metal With New Album Via Napalm Records!
Teutonic Titans 1976-2026 Features 50 A-List Guests! German heavy metal legends ACCEPT celebrate 50 years of pure power, by bringing together the scene’s A-list musicians for a landmark release. Teutonic Titans 1976–2026 stands as a definitive statement of the band’s legacy, forged in steel and driven by unmistakable riffs. Arriving September 4, 2026, via Napalm Records, the album delivers some of the most iconic songs ever written in heavy music.
Led by guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, the longtime architect of ACCEPT’s sound, the band is joined by a staggering 50 guests across 19 reimagined versions of their biggest tracks. Teutonic Titans 1976-2026 is ACCEPT’s most ambitious and star-studded release to date, reaching far beyond their country’s borders. Featuring the biggest names in heavy music paying tribute to the German icons, the record cements the band’s standing on the global stage. This is more than an album; it is a manifesto of metal! Pre-orders are now available in various exclusive formats.
Wolf Hoffmann about Teutonic Titans 1976-2026:
“There is no better way to celebrate this 50-year anniversary than to have our musical peers, friends, and inspirations come together with us to record these classic ACCEPT songs, which I am honored and proud to share with the World. I hope everyone enjoys this very special record as much as we all enjoyed making it.”
Get Your Copy Of Teutonic Titans 1976-2026
https://lnk.to/Accept-TeutonicTitans/napalmrecords
Chronologically progressing through albums from their formative years, from I’m a Rebel (1980) to Eat the Heat (1989), ACCEPT present their songs with an all-new, all-star lineup, alongside the signature voice of Mark Tornillo and Wolf Hoffmann’s unmistakable riffs. By enlisting a Who’s Who of metal, no two songs on Teutonic Titans 1976-2026 are the same. Every track features a different combination of vocals, guitars, bass, and drums, giving each classic a fresh edge.
Tobias Forge delivers a commanding performance on the track “Save Us” (I’m a Rebel, 1980), joined by Ray Luzier on drums. Phil Anselmo, Kirk Hammett, and Mikkey Dee tear through the speed metal classic “Fast As A Shark” (Restless and Wild, 1982). “Balls to the Wall” surges with the powerful range of Metal God Rob Halford, alongside the guitar work of Matthias Jabs, while the reimagined “Love Child” is elevated by Billy Corgan and David Ellefson (both songs from Balls to the Wall, 1983).
Other guest stars on ACCEPT’s extraordinary release include K. K. Downing, Bobby Blitz, Hansi Kürsch, Chris Jericho, Ralf Scheepers, Billy Sheehan, Ola Englund, and Jeff Loomis. The album also features a re-recording of “Hellhammer” (Eat the Heat, 1989), performed by ACCEPT’s current lineup: Wolf Hoffmann, bassist Martin Motnik, guitarist Philip Shouse and drummer Christopher Williams, joined by Jason McMaster on vocals.
Teutonic Titans 1976-2026 will be available in the following formats:
– 2-LP Gatefold Liquid Edition, incl. LP-sized Booklet, Certificate of Authenticity (numbered, Napalm mail order exclusive)
– 2-LP Gatefold White Label Edition, incl. LP-sized Booklet, Covercard (numbered), Certificate of Authenticity (numbered, dated, Napalm mail order exclusive)
– 2-CD Deluxe Box in Metal Box, incl. Flag, Sweatband, Lanyard, Backstage Pass (Napalm mail order exclusive)
– 2-CD Earbook, incl. 48-page Booklet (Napalm mail order exclusive)
– 2-LP Splattered Black Smoke/Black White, incl. LP-sized Booklet (Napalm mail order exclusive)
– 2-LP Gatefold Solid Silver
– 2-LP Gatefold Black
– 2-CD Digisleeve
– Digital Album
SEVENDUST Release Visualizer for “Construct”. 15th Studio Album ONE Out Now via Napalm Records
With their 15th studio album ONE arriving tomorrow, GRAMMY® Award–nominated metal icons SEVENDUST unleash “Construct,” the final track to be released ahead of the album’s worldwide debut.
Comprised of Lajon Witherspoon (vocals), Clint Lowery (guitar), John Connolly (guitar), Vince Hornsby (bass), and Morgan Rose (drums), the band once again delivers the signature sound that has earned them both critical acclaim and a fiercely loyal fanbase. Early reviews of ONE make it clear: SEVENDUST has not lost their edge.
On “Construct,” the band balances crushing intensity with a message of resilience and hope. As the pre-chorus drops and Witherspoon declares, “When it comes don’t run now, love wins somehow,” SEVENDUST reinforces their enduring ability to pair raw power with emotional depth. Their ability to infuse their music with a sense of positivity has remained a defining element throughout their three-decade career.
“Construct” is available now on all digital streaming platforms.
The visualizer for “Construct” can be seen here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRmVyw8Xs-4
Building on their unmistakable sound while continuing to evolve, ONE proves why SEVENDUST remain a vital force nearly three decades into their career. From the driving opening riff of the title track “One” to the dreamy, atmospheric vocal outro of “Misdirection,” the album takes listeners on an emotional journey that only SEVENDUST can deliver. Tracks such as “One” and “We Won” stand confidently alongside the band’s most iconic material, reinforcing their legacy while pushing their sound forward.
The album’s first single, “Is This The Real You,” was released in January to both fan and critical acclaim. The video—directed by Paul Ribera—has amassed over 2 million views since it was released, signaling strong anticipation for the band’s next chapter. The video for “Threshold” released in April marks the return of animator Ollie Jones and continues the storyline introduced in the band’s video for “Fence.” That video has already been viewed over 1.5 million times in less than a month.
Since forming in 1994, SEVENDUST have become a cornerstone of modern metal, known for their explosive live performances, chart-topping releases, and unwavering commitment to authenticity. With ONE, the band continues to honor their roots while embracing growth—proving that their creative fire is as fierce and focused as ever.
ONE arrives May 1st via Napalm Records and the album is available for pre-order in multiple configurations including digital downloads.
Get your copy at lnk.to/Sevendust-One
NESTOR: Melodic Hard Rockers Announce First Live Album Live at Gothenburg Film Studios, Out August 14, 2026, via Napalm Records
NESTOR are set to present their thrilling live energy on record for the first time with new album Live at Gothenburg Film Studios, out August 14, 2026, via Napalm Records! Originally formed back in 1989, the band took the international rock scene by storm with its comeback and first music releases in 2021, unleashing the debut album Kids in a ghost town (earning a Swedish Hard Rock/Metal Grammis nomination!). The following studio album Teenage Rebel (2024) entered several charts internationally (incl. #12 on Official German Album Charts and #19 in Sweden), and the band has gathered millions of streams on several of its hits.
On Live at Gothenburg Film Studios, NESTOR showcase their nostalgic, 80s-inspired melodic anthems in a new light — infused with their signature, radiant live presence. The band has won over live audiences around the world, from huge European festivals to the Monsters Of Rock Cruise in the U.S. and headline shows in Japan, and shared stages with legends like KISS and Europe. Now, the band is gearing up to release its first-ever live album. Make sure to pre-order your physical copy, and stay tuned for the first single!
Vocalist Tobias Gustavsson comments:
“When I listen to Live at Gothenburg Film Studios it becomes clear to me that it shows everything that NESTOR was about, from the beginning. A live performance with all the little quirks and mistakes that makes it human, a thing that I have learned to love even more in an era of AI generated music. Live at Gothenburg Film Studios is less clinical and more of a human experience in comparison to our studio albums and shows a different side of NESTOR. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we did recording it up on stage.”
Pre-Order Your Copy of Live at Gothenburg Film Studios
lnk.to/Nestor-LiveatGothenburgFilmStudios/napalmrecords
Live at Gothenburg Film Studios treats fans old and new to a hefty selection of live versions of future classics from NESTOR’s celebrated catalogue. The band brings the heat with a new rendition of the track “Firesign” (originally from Kids in a ghost town, 2021) – catchy riffs and rhythms carry the heavily 80s-inspired, authentic sound that is topped with impressive rock vocals. The nostalgia-drenched following track “Teenage Rebel” (title track of the latest studio album, 2024) gets audiences singing along without a failure with its irresistible chorus that is accompanied with emotion-loaded melodies and massive riffs. Further highlights of this extensive, 16-track offering include a live rendition of one of the biggest NESTOR hits to date, “On The Run” (also from the praised debut Kids in a ghost town, 2021), featuring epic, AOR-inspired keys and guitars, and another one of the band’s possibly catchiest singalong-choruses so far.
This comprehensive live album, available even as a DVD, draws from NESTOR’s impressive repertoire of arena-worthy anthems and rock ballads, polished with the very best AOR and classic 80s rock influences. Without a doubt, NESTOR continue their steady mission to restore the glory of rock!
Live at Gothenburg Film Studios track listing:
01. Intro
02. We Come Alive
03. Kids In A Ghost Town
04. Stone Cold Eyes
05. Perfect 10
06. The One That Got Away
07. Last To Know
08. Unchain My Heart
09. Signed in blood
10. Victorious
11. Caroline
12. Firesign
13. On The Run
14. Teenage Rebel
15. 1989
16. It Ain’t Me
BLACK SPIKES: Lithuanian Rising Stars Release Endearing Second Single, “REVANA”
Modern Progressive Album, Ydos, Will Be Released August 28
Just back from their tour with INFECTED RAIN, avant-garde quintet BLACK SPIKES release a second single from their upcoming album, Ydos, which will be released on August 28, 2026 via Napalm Records. “REVANA” continues the album concept in which every song depicts one of humankind’s vices: a personification of revenge, haunting the Lithuanian breakout band’s dark realms with beautiful melodies, “REVANA” adds highly recognizable riffs to the album. Alongside the song, BLACK SPIKES release a cinematic video.
BLACK SPIKES about “REVANA”: “REVANA is the name that we’ve chosen for revenge. Revenge promises closure but often delivers continuation. It keeps the story going instead of ending it. You don’t ‘get even’—you stay entangled. In the music video, we depict a story inspired by the witch hunts that also reached Lithuania in the 17th century. Women who stood out for their curiosity or who did not easily fit into society were often falsely accused of witchcraft and revenged by death sentence for causing misfortunes in their communities.”
Watch the Official Music Video for “REVANA” https://youtu.be/miZbo-cww1s
Emerging from the shadows are BLACK SPIKES, bringing the darkness right along with them on their new album, Ydos, out August 28, 2026. The Lithuanian breakout band’s first release with Napalm Records, coming shortly after their nomination at their home country’s Grammy-comparable M.A.M.A. Music Awards, deals with the eponymous flaws of humanity, conceptually interwoven with modern progressive metal, serving as a complex mirror for us all.
The depth of its concept is reflected in every note of Ydos, from every heavy riff to every proggy twist. Leaning into electronic music while holding on firmly to their metal roots, the Lithuanian band creates a distinctive sound, alluringly dark and captivatingly heavy. BLACK SPIKES venture into gloominess, filling the void with spine-tingling philosophical thoughts and posing as Janus-faced companions on a fateful journey into the self in which every step should be taken with caution because a trap just might snap …
BLACK SPIKES about Ydos: “Ydos is a conceptual album—a dark fairytale about human vices. The idea was there from the very beginning and guided the entire songwriting process. Each vice has its own name and story, and many songs will be brought to life through music videos where these vices take shape. It was our first time creating a conceptual album, and we really enjoyed starting with an idea and expressing it through music.”
Get Your Copy Of Ydos lnk.to/BlackSpikes-Ydos/napalmrecords
Initiating the story of Ydos is the eerie “PASAKA” (engl. fairy tale), an intro setting the mood with menacing ticking sounds growing into orchestrals and singer Agni’s high vocals layered with screams. A calming lullaby exploding into growls, thunderous blast beats, and elaborate guitar riffs, “MOTINA” (engl. mother) describes the birth of humankind’s vices and therefore serves as an exposition for the storytelling aspect. Throughout the ten songs of their second album, BLACK SPIKES explore the relationships with flaws we all carry within, devoting a song to each of them. “MELAS” (engl. lie) introduces trap beats and rap to the mix, all with an approach clearly rooted in modern metal with sophisticated progressive elements. “MARA”, investigating excessive curiosity, beautifully contrasts calmness and calamity, with the quintet allowing their different elements to breathe while still entwisting them persuasively. Following, “ZELVAR”, which features the album’s only English lyrics, and “REVANA” add endearing, highly recognizable riffs to Ydos, further opening the gates to the hauntingly beautiful realms BLACK SPIKES are unfolding as they delve into greed and revenge, respectively, the concepts personified in the form of demons. The raw rage evolves into carefully structured “APATIJA” (engl. apathy), whose futuristic intermezzi make for especially interesting headbanging rhythms throughout which Agni’s voice acts as a gentle guide. “AUREA” continues BLACK SPIKES’ cinematic approach in its depiction of pride, unleashing a storm of rapacious riffs and galloping drums, frequently broken up by halcyon parts, their cleverly placed tranquility conveying comfort in seemingly hopeless hazes. With pressing “SENAS DEMONAS” (engl. old demon), BLACK SPIKES free yet another hellish entity, before “DULKĖS” (engl. dust) picks up on the melodized cinematography, wrapping up this bleak exploration of what it means to be human.
LEX LEGION – Comprised Of King DIAMOND Band Members – Unleash New Single ‘Gypsy Tears’
Following the explosive debut of their first single, LEX LEGION returns with ‘Gypsy Tears,’ a haunting and powerful new track that further reveals the depth and identity of this veteran supergroup. LISTEN | WATCH
Drummer Mikkey Dee says, “It’s now time to release our second single; ‘Gypsy Tears.’ Another great song with a lot of fire and bite, this one is a real driving banger! The video, it’s more of a short movie, does a great job of telling the story in the lyrics. Check it out!”
Vocalist Nils K. Rue says, “At its core, the song is a dark portrait of obsession, told through the eyes of a watcher who cannot let go. The video reimagines this as a timeless story of love and longing that stretches beyond reality itself. Through layered metaphors, the lyrics transform personal conflict into vast, symbolic landscapes—where emotional collapse feels like war-torn ground.”
Guitarist Pete Blakk adds, “’Gypsy Tears’ is the essence of me, Mikkey, Andy and Hal. With me and Andy trading off solos and the power of Mikkey and Hal’s rhythm section all supporting the powerful vocals of Nils, the song really brings a new dimension to metal in 2026. The video is tasteful, mystical and raw. It’s a piece of art that will leave no one untouched.”
Featuring members of the classic KING DIAMOND lineup—Mikkey Dee, Andy La Rocque, Pete Blakk, and Hal Patino, alongside vocalist Nils K. Rue (Pagan’s Mind), Lex Legion continues to channel decades of heavy metal mastery into something both timeless and fresh.
Where their debut single ‘Sleep Eternally’ hit with immediate force, ‘Gypsy Tears’ showcases a more atmospheric and dynamic side of the band. Built on eerie melodies, driving rhythms, and soaring vocal lines, the track balances mysticism with raw power—shifting between evocative passages and undeniable, headbanging momentum.
Driven by Mikkey Dee’s unmistakable groove, layered with intricate twin-guitar work from La Rocque and Blakk, and anchored by Hal Patino’s melodic basslines, the song creates a cinematic soundscape that feels both classic and forward-looking. At the centre, Rue delivers a commanding vocal performance filled with drama and intensity.
‘Gypsy Tears’ is the second single from Lex Legion’s upcoming self-titled debut album, set for release on June 12, 2026 via MNRK Music Group. The album captures the spirit of classic heavy metal while embracing the experience and chemistry that only decades of musicianship can bring.
With ‘Gypsy Tears,’ Lex Legion continues to build momentum toward one of the most anticipated hard rock/metal debuts of the year.
‘Gypsy Tears’ is available now on all major streaming platforms, and can be ordered via this link: https://lexlegion.ffm.to/lexlegion-album
LEX LEGION LINEUP:
Nils K. Rue – vocals
Pete Blakk – guitar
Andy La Rocque – guitar
Mikkey Dee – drums
Hal Patino – bass
LEX LEGION TRACK LISTING:
1) Sleep Eternally 3.56
2) Gypsy Tears 3.57
3) When The Stars Align 3.52
4) (I Am) The Resurrected 4.27
5) Lost Inside 3.33
6) Darkness 4.28
7) Saviours 4.03
8) Life Eternal 3.25
9) Far Away 2.58
For more information, visit: https://lexlegionofficial.com/
RUBY JONES REVEALS 11 TRACK ALBUM, SOUVENIR. OUT NOW
Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Ruby Jones reveals her 11-track album Souvenir on Wednesday 6 May, featuring the track ‘Loved By You’. To celebrate, Ruby and her band are set to take over the Northcote Social Club, Naarm, Melbourne on Saturday 6 June, joined by local Americana musician Riley Catherall.
Souvenir is a deeply reflective body of work shaped by themes of climate change, environmental destruction, and collective resilience. The feature single ‘Loved By You’ is about the strange desire to put as much distance as possible between yourself and a painful moment in time. “Sometimes the only way to survive something is to let it drift further and further into the past until it softens enough to look at again.” – Ruby Jones
With Souvenir, Ruby Jones continues to carve out her place as a singular voice in modern music, delivering a record that is intimate yet expansive, grounded yet adventurous, and deeply attuned to the emotional and environmental landscapes that shaped it. The songs were influenced by Ruby’s experience of the 2019 East Gippsland bushfires, which devastated the landscape where her family is based, and carry a quiet sense of grief, longing, and determination to hold onto what remains.
The album’s title track, ‘Souvenir’, was written in lockdown while watching aeroplanes; the song contrasts the inability to leave home with the memory of constant touring. The stillness softened the past’s highs and lows. ‘Feeling of Falling’ reframes the pandemic as a toxic lover interested only in a fleeting romance. ‘Not Mine’ was recorded on vintage 1970s tape machines to achieve its warm, cinematic sound. Beneath its cosmic-country texture, the song explores the quiet heartbreak of letting go of an “almost-love” that existed more in dreams than in reality. ‘On Fire’ was born after the 2019 Black Summer bushfires; the song reflects on creating music during a climate catastrophe. ‘Double Feature’, a love letter to St Kilda, is inspired by sorting through childhood photos. It’s filled with local references and is meant to be a musical postcard from the past.
Moving into the second half of the album, ‘Falling Stars’ addresses the fragile nature of creative work and the moments of doubt that lead to questioning everything. ‘Bad Idea’ is the upbeat desert-country psychedelia anthem grappling with Catholic guilt, repression, and internal battles. ‘Breaking My Own Heart’ was inspired by watching friends remain in toxic relationships. The song reflects on the helplessness of witnessing loved ones repeatedly hurt themselves and the quiet hope that they will eventually choose themselves. ‘Loved By You’ is about the desire to distance oneself from a painful moment, allowing time for the memory to soften enough to look at again. The album’s closer, ‘Ghost Story’, is a fictional, one-sided conversation with an estranged person who lingers like a ghost. Writing the song was an attempt to exorcise that presence, or learn to live alongside it, a process connected to sobriety, therapy, and music. It ends the record by acknowledging the ghosts we carry and learning to “sing them to sleep.”
Drawing further into acoustic alt-folk, the album is rich with layered arrangements, warm backing vocals, and evocative mellotron textures that blur the boundaries between contemporary folk and rock. A truly independent project, Souvenir was a collaborative effort, with production led by Ruby’s long-time guitarist Jules Pascoe, engineered by drummer Selwyn Cozens, and arrangements developed collectively by Jones, Cozens, Joel Loukes, and Pascoe. The record’s intricate yet organic sound is further enhanced by the beautiful backing vocals of Jess Deluca and Loretta Miller, and mastered by Matt Redlich.
Step into this new era of desert dreamscapes with Ruby, acknowledging the ghosts we carry, and learning how to sing them to sleep.
Album: Souvenir out Wednesday 6 May 2026 via Xelon and Bandcamp.
Souvenir Track Listing:
1. Souvenir
2. Feeling of Falling
3. Nightwalker
4. Not Mine
5. On Fire
6. Double Feature
7. Falling Stars
8. Bad Ideas
9. Breaking My Own Heart
10. Loved By You
11. Ghost Story
MR ELUSIVE DEBUTS NEW TRACK ‘MEDICINAL LIQUOR’
Since making his debut in 2021, MR ELUSIVE has stayed consistent when it comes to producing music that pushes him creatively, while also continuing to grow his presence as a fresh voice to pay keen attention to.
Hailing from the Central Coast, the hip hop artist has counted artists like Juice WRLD and XXXtenacion as influences, while his own sound has threaded a genre-bending ambition together with sharp lyricism and performance charisma.
Returning with his first piece of new music for the year, MR ELUSIVE shares ‘MEDICINAL LIQUOR’.
A personal track that sees the artist pull from tough life experiences, the latest single from MR ELUSIVE is an engaging offering.
“‘Medicinal Liquor’ comes from things I buried for a long time and eventually had to face. There was a point where I was using alcohol to try and numb everything, but the track flips that. It’s about taking everything that’s tried to weigh you down and turning it into something powerful, becoming someone you can’t ignore.”
“This was the first track where I really leaned into that raspy melodic style, and even people close to me didn’t realise it was me singing. It kind of showed me a new lane I didn’t even know I had yet.” MR ELUSIVE
Fans of artists like Jelly Roll and Post Malone will find a kindred spirit in what MR ELUSIVE has been doing here, blending country-influenced sounds with melodic rap and his spirited energy. For the artist himself, he has found his own pocket of comfort in the crossover of these genres, leaning confidently into the country elements of the song as he has done with the bars.
“I was stuck on a lyric halfway through recording when my dad called me mid-session and randomly mentioned ‘Copperhead Road’. it instantly clicked. I had to hang up on him just to finish the line I was stuck on, and it ended up becoming a key part of the song.” MR ELUSIVE
To date, MR ELUSIVE’s catalogue of music has accrued over 1.2 million streams across Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music. Proudly independent, the artist has created a platform and community that is based on demonstrating the pay off of a determined work ethic and desire to connect.
More than just sound, his music is about impact. Helping listeners process their own experiences, push through adversity, and turn setbacks into strength. As he continues to evolve and experiment across genres, Mr Elusive is carving out a lane that’s entirely his own.
MEDICINAL LIQUOR is OUT NOW
MR ELUSIVE: Facebook | X | TikTok | Instagram | Triple J Unearthed | YouTube
KOE WETZEL DELIVERS THE NIGHT CHAMPION. WILDLY AWAITED SIXTH STUDIO ALBUM ARRIVES JUNE 12
While in Australia on his The Night Champion World Tour … 50+ Dates Spanning US, Canada and Australia’Hurts Like You‘ Available Everywhere This Friday, May 8
Koe Wetzel didn’t have a master plan, beyond play loud, play hard – and hopefully have a place to sleep – when he began chasing music in Texas’s roughest bars and roadhouses, then Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado and beyond. Little more than a decade later, the hard-charging performer/songwriter finds himself as a force for the music industry, even more than the law, to reckon with.
After his Gold-certified 9 Lives delivered a five-week No. 1 and the most played song at Country radio in 2025 with “High Road”, Wetzel returns with The Night Champion. Capturing the aftermath of a wild run, it delivers all the signature force, punch and ragged details people expect, tempered by the clarity that comes with surviving it. Set for release June 12 via Columbia Records, the album is available to pre-order / pre-save HERE.
Turning chaos, excess and hard-earned perspective into something built to endure, The Night Champion fuses all that’s happened since Wetzel first hit the road with a van and the drive to see how far he could take it. He didn’t foresee sold-out arenas across the U.S., Europe and Australia, a headlining turn in front of 70,000+ at the Houston Rodeo and award nominations spanning both country and rock; but those things sharpened the contrast between where he started and where he realized he could go.
“It’s a continuation of 9 Lives, from that record to now,” Wetzel offers of the follow-up to his globally connecting release. “Really, it’s everything that’s happened – because you don’t go from kids playing for beer to headlining Red Rocks, arenas all over the country, partying and trying to make sense of it all and not shift. My head space is clearer now. I can look back, see how it fits together. It doesn’t make sense, exactly, but it all happened. That search for what it all means keeps bringing me back.”
That tension sits at the heart of the new record, moving between hard-edged rock and wide-open, desolate ballads, balancing the chaos that defined his early years with a perspective that only comes from living through it. Feeling like both reckoning and release, the album grounds in the reality of all the things Wetzel’s outlasted. “It’s crazy I’m not in jail or dead as hard as I went these last 15 years,” he marvels. “Right now, I’m the best version of myself I’ve ever been. I survived the night side of me. I’m coming out of it a champion. That’s the essence of the record.”
Across The Night Champion, that reality plays out in full. It echoes on the muscular ‘Time Goes On‘, weighing what was, what could’ve been and what’s happened since he was a kid who didn’t know better, shooting out the lights and living a reckless life on the edge. On the jaggedly propulsive ‘Hurts Like You‘, arriving this Friday, May 8, Wetzel offers the raw intensity fans expect, but with a vulnerability and surrender to desires that cut you open.
“It’s kind of where I am now: an edgy roughness to all the songs that doesn’t give a fuck, but there’s a tenderness to it, too,” he explains. “Whatever happens, I’m man enough to deal, but the focus and headspace have shifted; I’ve grown up and become okay with looking back.”
Written beyond the confines of rigid sessions, leaning into his instincts rather than schedule, The Night Champion reflects his continuing creative growth. “You’ve gotta go in and get the music behind the feeling,” Wetzel explains. “When you force it, people feel it. I know what I want to say now, where the songs should go, and I want them to come from a space, not an appointment.”
Whether fans were there from those first nights in Texas, the wake of his indie breakout Noise Complaint or found the music during last year’s radio rush, The Night Champion is built to offer a sense of all the phases as it brings the disparate audiences together. “I’m not torn between the worlds,” Wetzel says of the convergence. “This is where all the fans meet. No matter when they got here, this is that moment.”
Pollstar’s “firebrand live sensation” is bringing the new music to fans across the globe with The Night Champion World Tour, his 50+ headlining shows slated for the U.S., Canda and Australia. Shane Smith & The Saints, Ole 60, Wyatt Flores, Corey Kent, Wade Bowen, Bayker Blankenship, Kolby Cooper and Logan Jahnke join as support in varying combinations.
For more information, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com. Follow on TikTok @Koe_Wetzel an on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic.
The Night Champion AustralianTour Dates
Support Details Available via KoeWetzelMusic.com
May 5 | Sydney, N.S.W (Australia) | Enmore Theatre
May 9 | Brisbane, Qld. (Australia) | Fortitude Music Hall
ABOUT KOE WETZEL: Roughneck, rule-breaking, red-dirt rocking, Koe Wetzel has forged a harder kind of country that draws on grunge, rock and Texas outlaw country. Starting as a kid in a beat-up van, he rose to regional then national prominence as – as Rolling Stone said – “the ultimate if-you-know-you-know artist.” Headlining arena tours even before signing with Columbia, his raw, unabashed music that prompted the cover headline on touring bible Pollstar “Red Dirt Renegade Smashes Confines and Rocks the F out!” found even greater success in the mainstream. Triple-Platinum hit “High Road,” his debut Country radio single, spent five weeks at No. 1 – and became the most played record of 2025.
Exhaustively touring the U.S., Europe and Australia, Wetzel built a global audience, amassing over 6 billion worldwide audio streams en route to 15 RIAA certifications. Having appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “This Past Weekend with Theo Von,” the covers of USA Today, the LA Times, Pollstar, Billboard and more, he kicked off 2026 playing to over 70,000 at the storied Houston Rodeo. His 50+ date The Night Champion World Tour sees the fever pitch growing for the Pittsburg, Texan who’s tough, tender, ready to shoot out the lights, but also willing to reckon with where he comes from.
Ritviz brings Kurta Saree Dance Party (KSDP) to Australia – and with it, a new global identity for South Asian youth
Something has been building quietly across dancefloors from Pune to London – not a genre, not a scene, but a feeling. This July, that feeling lands in Australia!
Ritviz’s Kurta Saree Dance Party (KSDP) arrives in Sydney on Friday 24 July at Liberty Hall and Melbourne on Sunday 26 July at 170 Russell.
Not as a touring show, but as a cultural moment in motion – one that collapses the boundaries between music, fashion and identity. It rebuilds them in real time on the dancefloor.
Because KSDP isn’t just about what you hear, it’s about how you show up.
A DANCEFLOOR THAT LOOKS LIKE ITS AUDIENCE
At KSDP, the crowd is not separate from the experience – it is the experience. Kurta meets sneakers. Saree meets streetwear. It’s heritage – worn differently.
What emerges is something rarely seen in nightlife: a room where South Asian identity isn’t adapted for the world, but expressed on its own terms.
A generation that grew up between cultures is no longer negotiating that duality – it’s celebrating it.
FROM INTERNET VIRALITY TO REAL-WORLD COMMUNITY
Ritviz stands at the forefront of India’s independent music movement, crafting a sound that transcends borders and genres.
From the viral breakthrough of Udd Gaye to fan-favourite anthems like Liggi and Sage, Ritviz has built a global following with over 700 million streams worldwide.
Blending Indian classical textures with contemporary electronic production, his music lives between nostalgia and now – a signature “happy-sad” pulse that resonates across cultures.
But KSDP is where that sound leaves the screen and becomes physical.
This isn’t about scale anymore. It’s about belonging.
REIMAGINING WHAT A SHOW CAN BE
KSDP rejects the idea of a standard club night. Instead, it operates as a fully curated cultural takeover: Immersive décor rooted in desi nostalgia, interactive food experiences, fashion as participation, not performance, a high-energy headline set by Ritviz + special guests
This is not programming. This is world-building.
WHY AUSTRALIA, WHY NOW
Australia marks the next chapter in a rapidly expanding global movement that has already begun to take shape across Europe, Asia, and North America.
But more importantly, it reflects something deeper – a diaspora audience that is no longer waiting to be represented, but creating its own spaces.
Sydney (Eora) and Melbourne (Naarm) won’t just host KSDP. They will add to it.
This isn’t a tour, it’s a signal, but the geography is secondary. What matters is the pattern: Different cities, Same energy. One shared cultural language. This is not a party you attend. This is a culture you step into.
This is Kurta Saree Dance Party.
Ritviz Presents: Kurta Saree Dance Party
Ritviz (90-minute set)
Supports: TBA
Friday 24 July – Eora / Sydney
Liberty Hall
Sunday 26 July – Naarm / Melbourne
170 Russell
Exclusive Pre-Sale – Monday 11 May 2026
General On-Sale – Wednesday 13 May 2026
REGISTER HERE
KERRY KING Announces FROM HELL I RISE: EXTENDED DELUXE EDITION Arriving On June 19
KERRY KING is giving fans more. The iconic SLAYER songwriter/guitarist is releasing an Extended Deluxe Edition of his acclaimed debut solo album From Hell I Rise via Reigning Phoenix Music on June 19, 2026, expanding the record with five previously unheard demos and new visual elements, including cover artwork by James Bousema and a revamped layout with additional photos.
The demos offer a rare window into King’s creative process, complete with scratch vocal performances by Kerry. Something that he’s been doing for many years, and it’s never been heard outside the studio, until now.
Accompanying the Extended Deluxe Edition is the earbook, an essential for fans and collectors. Limited to only 666 copies worldwide, the earbook includes 2 LPs, a live CD, and a live Blu-ray of the band’s first ever show at Reggies Chicago. The earbook is exclusive to Reigning Phoenix Music, available for mailorder in Europe and the US.
Pre-order From Hell I Rise: Extended Deluxe Edition HERE!
From Hell I Rise Line-Up:
Kerry King: Guitar
Paul Bostaph: Drums
Kyle Sanders: Bass
Phil Demmel: Guitar
Mark Osegueda: Vocals
Connect With KERRY KING Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | X | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
From Hell I Rise: Deluxe 2 Year Anniversary Tracklist:
01 – Diablo
02 – Where I Reign
03 – Residue
04 – Idle Hands
05 – Trophies Of The Tyrant
06 – Crucifixation
07 – Tension
08 – Everything I Hate About You
09 – Toxic
10 – Two Fists
11 – Rage
12 – Shrapnel
13 – From Hell I Rise
14 – Crucifixation (Demo Kerry King Vocals)
15 – From Hell I Rise (Demo Kerry King Vocals)
16 – Two Fists (Demo Kerry King Vocals)
17 – Rage (Demo Kerry King Vocals)
18 – Trophies Of The Tyrant (Demo Kerry King Vocals)
About Reigning Phoenix Music: Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme and hard music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists by offering best services and practices in the industry. RPM’s paramount goal is to help the artists amplify their music and talent to a winning formula for success.
Don’t forget to subscribe to Reigning Phoenix Music on YouTube to stay updated and listen to the latest tracks in the RPM New Releases playlist on Spotify. Subscribe here: https://rpm.link/spotifynewreleasesPR
RPM: reigningphoenixmusic.com | Facebook | Instagram | X | TikTok | YouTube