Mad About Rock

  We exclusively caught up with Brit alternative rock trio VEINS who are poised to drop their long-awaited debut album, 'A New Forever', due Friday 5th June. The band have given us this track by track breakdown of the album: “ Criminal is about how life can shift in an instant. Perceptions change with the press of a button. Good becomes evil, and public opinion rules, regardless of the facts. In a world where clickbait is king, reality becomes distorted and the truth is ignored". " Reign Down is about defying the hand you’ve been dealt. Inspired by frontman Stevie Rees’ sister’s battle with neurofibromatosis type 2, a genetic disease causing tumors on the brain and spine, the song explores survival, resilience, and the relentless urge to embrace life fully, cherishing every fleeting moment." "I Keep Falling is inspired by the short film Nuit Blanche by Arev Manoukian. It captures a fleeting, magical moment between two strangers, revealing an intense yet...

  Diverse Alternative quartet Opensight are back with their highly anticipated follow-up to 2022's 'Mondo Fiction'. With their new album 'The Outfit', they exhibit more purpose and creativity, expanding on their unique and engaging sound. The first full song, 'Killer Outfit', is very diverse, enthralling, and incredibly catchy, especially aided by the wah-wah guitars, making it hard to resist. 'In Plain Sight' is a fun, infectiously melodic offering that embraces a 70s vibe and is highly memorable, getting its hooks in. Changing the tone with the cinematic 'Defying Eye' with a more dark sound, which is vast and immersive. Further in, they mesmerise with the atmospheric 'Mantra', which is a striking and intriguing track. The alarming and alluring 'Heist' is an eerie yet beautiful progressive track which is very reminiscent of Opeth, and you can easily lose yourself in. The final track, 'Delusion' is rich and layered, so...

  ALFONSO CONSPIRACY is fronted by talented multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Max James. With a debut album, 'The Explicit//The Exploited', set for release on Friday 5th December, we exclusively caught up with Max and asked him lay down the tracks that have shaped his fiery sound: Architects - These Colours Don’t Run "I don’t think the impact of this song and Architects in general can be understated with me growing up. I remember hearing this song when it came out and my older brother put it on and the creepy ambience, the soaring vocals, and of course the breakdown just changed the game for me. It was like a light went off in my head where I was like yeah this is what I love and this is what I do. It's so heavy but so haunting and I still am yet to hear a modern metal song that even slightly touches this." Nine Inch Nails - Reptile "Reptile, The Downward Spiral and Nine Inch Nails in general have massively shaped Alfonso Conspiracy since the day I hear...

  Today marks the highly anticipated release of III – Candles & Beginnings, the third studio album from AURI — the visionary musical collaboration of vocalist Johanna Kurkela, Nightwish keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, and multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley. With III – Candles & Beginnings, AURI once again open a portal to an otherworldly soundscape where folk, progressive rock, symphonic textures, world music, pop, and avant-garde elements entwine. At the heart of the album lies Kurkela’s ethereal voice, soaring across lush sonic landscapes crafted by Holopainen’s emotive keyboard playing and Donockley’s eclectic instrumentation. This new release is a tapestry of emotion and imagination, where each track tells its own story — from nostalgic reflections to deeply personal experiences. Coinciding with the album’s release is the launch of the third single, 'Blakey Ridge', accompanied by a brand-new lyric video. Joyful and transportive, the track pays tribute to The Lion I...

  Multi-platinum GRAMMY® Award-winning Sacramento band Deftones are set to return to arenas across Europe and the UK in early 2026 in support of their forthcoming 10th studio album, private music, out August 22, 2025 via Reprise/Warner Records. Pre-order the album HERE The 2026 EU/UK Tour kicks off January 29 at the Adidas Arena in Paris. It includes 15 shows across major cities, including Brussels, Berlin, Amsterdam, Manchester and Dublin, before wrapping at The O2 in London on February 20. Deftones will be joined by Denzel Curry and Drug Church as support across these dates. Full routing below. The announcement follows the release of Deftones' brand new single, “my mind is a mountain”, premiered by Zane Lowe on his Apple Music Radio show. Watch the episode HERE . Stream the new song HERE . The track gives fans a first glimpse into the sound and direction of private music, a record co-produced by the band and GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz, who previously collab...

  Music has the power to open inner worlds - crafted from voices, sounds, and emotions that resonate deep within the soul. Today, AURI invites listeners into their ethereal soundscape with the release of 'Museum Of Childhood', the second single from their highly anticipated upcoming album, III – Candles & Beginnings, out August 15, 2025. 'Museum Of Childhood' is a vibrantly beautiful composition, stirring emotion and sending shivers down the spine. It is a shining example of AURI’s ability to transport listeners away from the noise of reality into a dreamlike realm of serenity and wonder. Accompanying the single is a stunning music video that immerses viewers in AURI’s enchanted world - where light and shadow dance with emotion and imagination. Open your heart and ears. Let AURI be the beacon of light that guides you through the dreamscape. Johanna Kurkela comments: “As we venture deeper into the enchanting realm of our new album 'Candles & Beginnings', ...

  UK solo punk artist, TOOTH GORE, will release his gripping new album, 'For Losers, By Losers', on Friday 6th June. TOOTH GORE has also released the deeply engulfing single and video, 'I Hate My Collarbones', out now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdHbFF0uWLQ Listen via - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5RRVoUOAYvQxZiU2ZxlgT8 TOOTH GORE (aka Kobi Joe) is a uniquely talented and captivating artist who hails from the quaint seaside town of Newquay, Cornwall. TOOTH GORE was born at the end of 2021, however it wasn’t until 2024 that Kobi really began to attract attention and really make his mark. With a deft ability to fuse meaty fuzzy guitars and by drawing from earnest raw punk vigour of contemporary acts such as FIDLAR, The Frights, PUP and Jeff Rosenstock, Kobi Joe also mixes alluring reverb soaked doo-wop vibes (which are enthused by the music of the 1950s) and has constructed a sound that is distinctive and undeniably appealing. Kobi’s lyrics display his fears a...

  The ethereal trio AURI returns with their long-awaited third studio album, III - Candles & Beginnings, set for release on August 15, 2025. Propelled by the celestial voice of Johanna Kurkela, the lush sonic landscapes of Tuomas Holopainen, and the boundless instrumental artistry of Troy Donockley, AURI once again invites listeners into a world that defies genre. Fusing elements of folk, progressive and symphonic music with touches of world, pop, and avant-garde, III - Candles & Beginnings promises an immersive journey for the senses. The creative process for this new chapter began in 2023, shortly after the completion of Nightwish’s 2024 opus Yesterwynde. While Troy composed in the serene landscapes of Yorkshire, Tuomas and Johanna crafted melodies and lyrics from their home base in Kitee, Finland—bridging worlds both musically and geographically. As a first glimpse into AURI’s evolving soundscape, the hauntingly beautiful lead single 'Shieldmaiden' is available now, ...

  PVRIS have announced a 10-year Anniversary tour of the pivotal debut album, "White Noise". The tour which takes in dates across the United States in the Spring, and UK/Europe in the Summer will see the album which Teen Vogue called "addictively edgy" played from start to finish. White Noise was applauded on a global scale and saw PVRIS be one of the breakout acts of the time. MTV hailed them as "our fave band", DIY said "There’s hype, and then there is PVRIS" and The Huffington Post “a perfect pop-rock confection with edge”. Full tour dates are below and tickets are onsale 24th January 2025. PVRIS- WHITE NOISE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY TOUR LEG I 13th March Atlanta, GA - The Eastern 15th March Dallas, TX - The Factory 27th March Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre 29th March Los Angeles, CA - The Novo LEG II 29th June- Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle 1st July - Berlin, Germany - Hole 44 2nd July- Munich, Germany - Technikum 5th July- Cologne, Germany - Kantine...

  Today the highly anticipated line-up is revealed for the first ever edition of Forever Now, a monumental new one-day festival for passionate music lovers, taking place at legendary venue The National Bowl, Milton Keynes on 22 June 2025. A true celebration of alternative culture, the event will explore the cultural phenomenon of the dark side of creativity, featuring many of the greatest pioneers of new wave, post-punk, psychedelia and alternative rock. From electronic innovators Kraftwerk to punk icon Billy Idol and alt-rock legends The The, Death Cult, Johnny Marr, The Psychedelic Furs and The Jesus & Mary Chain, the festival will be a unique gathering for fans of post-punk music, fashion and literature, with a line-up unlike any other in the UK. Forever Now is more than just a festival—it’s a vibrant homage to the creativity and countercultural spirit born from the late 70s and early 80s that remains just as influential to present day culture. From the fashionably dark to...

  After a 2024 filled with high notes, "UK rising stars" (Kerrang!) Pleiades return with new single 'CV5 (Constant Variation)'. Recorded in their hometown of Manchester between festival appearances at ArcTanGent, Strangeforms and Portals, the track is the band's first release since their 2023 debut album 'Affinity With’. While their previous release utilised expressive narratives and folklore storytelling, this new chapter of Pleiades brings into focus the band's collective roots. The notion of ‘hiraeth’ - a bittersweet feeling of longing for home - is explored across a forthcoming collection of tracks, with each song a reference to individual band members’ hometowns. This first song, 'CV5', is an ode to guitarist Andrew Packwood's upbringing in Coventry, and combines reflective, progressive influences with melancholic post-hardcore in a way that captures the idyllic carelessness of youth. Speaking about the track, Andrew comments: “The song hi...

  Following on from this years incredible, sun baked, sold out (and probably best so far) 10th Anniversary event, the much loved and mighty award winning ARCTANGENT Festival can today announce the first set of bands (including a main stage headliner) for next year. Taking place on the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th of August 2025, tickets for the event are on sale now, and available from - HERE The first 2025 main stage headliner comes in the shape of the phenomenal Australian progressive metal band Karnivool, who will be making their ARCTANGENT Festival debut in 2025, as well as perform there as a 2025 UK exclusive show. A stunning band whose last studio album 'Asymmetry' was released back in 2013, and is considered and revered (quite rightly) as a modern masterpiece. With new music confirmed and on the way as well, this headline set is an absolute nailed on, not to be missed spectacle. Also announced today are Washington legends Melvins (UK festival exclusive), one of the finest e...

  UK newcomers, DRENCHED, continue to rise and are loaded with their towering debut EP, Grey, out Friday 23rd August. The Northern heavyweights have also released brand new single, 'Cycles'. Check out the video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0P9oKyfio Listen to the band at https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dbL3o2ukEyzu8Ty4rjsRi Unleashing a potent sound that draws from Grunge, Nu metal, and edgy modern rock, DRENCHED have crafted a brand of progressive alt rock that emits everything from emotive and intimate ballads to full-throttle savage barnstormers. With combined influences panning from Deftones, Loathe, Tool, and Sevendust, DRENCHED have an impressive depth of adaptability and solid musicianship at their disposal, and are ready to strike out to hit the upper echelons of the UK scene. Hailing from Newcastle, England, DRENCHED were formed in 2020. The band, however, were only really set when bassist, Mak Wilson, joined the ranks which allowed vocalist, Marc Mitchell ...

  Brighton-based duo WREX have released their new single and music video for 'Take a Walk'. The nu-metal inspired opening track is the third to be taken from the band's upcoming EP, This Hell Goes a Long Way Down, due 16th August. This Hell Goes a Long Way Down was engineered and produced by guitarist George Donogue, with other credits that include Cassyette, Harpy, River Becomes Ocean, and Orchards. Watch the music video for 'Take a Walk' here  or below: Stream 'Take a Walk' here . Pre-save This Hell Goes a Long Way Down here . On the new single, duel vocalists George and Mae comment: "'Take a Walk' is like going out and getting fucked up, and leaving a voicemail to yourself about all the things you hate about yourself. There is an angel and a devil at play in the lyrics; one voice is the embodiment of all those negative characteristics, and the other is at war with it to save you from becoming that person, and from digging your own grave....

  Brit hard-hitting newcomers, DRENCHED, are set to make their mark with the release of their hugely striking debut EP, Grey, out Friday 23rd August. The EP is backed by their powerful new single, (in)sane, which is out now https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dbL3o2ukEyzu8Ty4rjsRi . Watch the video, here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaSvnQuFnow With a sound that tips its hat to Grunge, Nu metal, and edgy contemporary rock, DRENCHED dispatch deeply captivating immersive slabs of progressive alt rock that range from emotive and intimate ballads to full-throttle savage barnstormers. Citing influences such as Deftones, Loathe, Tool, and Sevendust, DRENCHED have a wealth of versatility and strong musicianship at their disposal, and are ready to stake their claim as one of the new breed of bands to break out to the vanguard of the music scene. Coming at you from Newcastle, England, DRENCHED were formed in 2020. The band, however, only really solidified when bassist, Mak Wilson, join...

  2000trees Festival previously announced the headliners The Gaslight Anthem, The Chats and Don Broco plus 7 new bands The Sleeping Souls / Tigress / Blanket / The Hara / Mimi Barks / Seán McGowan / Nate Bergman. They have now shared a host of exciting information from Charity partners, the kids schedule, new food stalls, the expansion of the silent disco and more. THE CLASH FINDER IS OUT NOW We would love fans to share their schedules on social media so we can all find some must-see bands. Those sharing will have the chance to win VIP upgrades. 2000trees is the first festival to have a stage dedicated to live band sets via Silent Disco headphones every night to keep the party going late into the night after the headliners have finished. "We’re excited to be the first festival to have a stage dedicated solely to live acts performing via the silent disco every single night. There’s no better setting for it than our Forest Stage with some of the most exciting artists in UK ro...