Mad About Rock

  70000TONS OF METAL, The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise, is thrilled to announce the first bands that will be part of this year’s lineup: ÆTHER REALM ARCH ENEMY BRAINSTORM ENFORCER EVERGREY EQUILIBRIUM MORS PRINCIPIUM EST OBSCURA THULCANDRA WARBRINGER Also joining the lineup is musical visionary and innovator ULI JON ROTH, whose career spans five decades and includes his pioneering work with Germany’s legendary metal band SCORPIONS. Andy Piller, CEO, Founder and “Skipper” of the fan-favorite metal cruise states: “As part of his two sets on 70000TONS OF METAL, Uli will be paying tribute to two iconic SCORPIONS albums, both celebrating their 50th anniversary. In his first set, Uli will perform ‘VIRGIN KILLER’ in its entirety. In his second performance, he’ll heavily focus on ‘IN TRANCE’. We’re delighted he’s joining the party this year!” Roth is widely recognized as a key founder of the neoclassical metal genre, having revolutionized guitar technique by fusing b...

  Brit post-hardcore unit MERCERS will unveil their debut EP, 'The Liminal Tapes', on Friday, 17th July. The band have also just released their new single and video, 'New Stockholm'. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwoUNQCAMM8 Listen to MERCERS on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0hUc6FIsCsAGv1muQXWDHZ . Formed in 2025, MERCERS bring together vocalist Olly James and guitarist/programmer Phil Bashford, both previously known for their work in nu-metallers, FONY. However, this is not a reunion, but a continuation of a long-standing songwriting partnership behind much of FONY’s material, including Routine Irregular and Circles. What began as an idea to revisit and reshape older material into the form it was always intended to take quickly developed into something far bigger. With the addition of drummer Richard Titheradge and guitarist Simon Glover, the project evolved beyond its original concept and found its own identity. The Liminal Tapes...

  UK metallers FAIL THE ENEMY return with new music and a heavier, synth-driven sound. The band will release a new EP, Sandcastles, out Friday 9th October, alongside their current single, Borrowed Hope, which is out now. Listen to Borrowed Hope, here - https://open.spotify.com/track/5JaYkmazk4o1RHA6wNr5UC , and watch the video, here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPQAbqWqbe8 Since reforming in 2023, the three-piece have been rebuilding their sound from the ground up, bringing together modern metalcore, anthemic rock, and 80s-inspired synth textures. The result is a sound that’s heavy, melodic, and built on contrast and atmosphere. Their new material draws on themes of mental health, love, loss, and the aftermath of difficult years, shaped by what the band have been navigating since getting back together. The upcoming EP has been in the works for around three years, and the band say it’s the closest they’ve come to capturing exactly what they set out to do when they returned. Th...

  XENITH continue their rapid rise with new single and video Killer Instinct, out now. The track is the first to be lifted from their debut album 'To No Avail', due Friday 28th August, and showcases the band’s fierce energy and intent. Watch the video for 'Killer Instinct' here: Check out the band on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6JlB8LJTRgdQTgOtO8XVb8 Hailing from Manchester, UK, and comprised of vocalist and guitarist Billy Hourigan, drummer Karim Treifi, bassist Jamo Morris, and guitarist Casey Dennis, XENITH emerged in 2024 with their fiery self-titled debut EP, which blended razor-sharp thrash with bludgeoning melodic death metal. The release introduced a band defined by relentless musicianship and a clear sense of identity. They followed swiftly with the faster and more aggressive single, Swim, before closing the year by sharing the stage with thrash legends, Evile, proving themselves to be a formidable live act. Their debut album, To No Avail, conti...

  Having wrapped up their vast Arcane Dimensions Tour earlier this year, symphonic metal powerhouse EPICA have now unveiled a soul-stirring live version of their track 'Sirens - Of Blood And Water', featuring the formidable Alissa White-Gluz, Elize Ryd and Charlotte Wessels. This spine-tingling version which was also captured on video, was recorded early this year at EPICA's biggest headline show to date - a sold-out night at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome in front of 10,000 fans. Watch the video for 'Sirens - Of Blood And Water (Live At Ziggo Dome Amsterdam)' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrHXFY3Gzs8 Listen to 'Sirens - Of Blood And Water (Live At Ziggo Dome Amsterdam)' here: https://epica.bfan.link/sirens-of-blood-and-water EPICA - TOUR DATES 29.06.26 | Middenvijver Park | Antwerp, BE w/ Iron Maiden 17.07.26 | John Smith Rock Festival | Laukaa, FI 23.07.26 | Hills of Rock | Plovdiv, BG w/ Sabaton & Savatage 25.07.26 | Release Athens | Athens, GR w/ S...

  THE LARCHES continue their climb with the release of their biting new single and video, 'Raxidermy', out now. Watch the video here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELxzR2DSSoM The band will also unveil their much-anticipated new EP, Nihilistic Majesties, on Friday 24th July. Hailing from Teesside, THE LARCHES deliver an intense fusion of raw heavy alternative rock and sludge metal. The band are carving out a sound that will resonate with fans of Acid Bath, Eyehategod, and Crowbar, combining punishing low-end weight with earnest emotional intensity. Known for their uncompromising approach, they are rapidly establishing themselves within the modern sludge underground. Their upcoming EP, Nihilistic Majesties, comprises five blistering and brutal tracks that drag listeners through murky soundscapes of despair, defiance, and decay. The record stands as their most unfiltered statement to date, channelling the suffocating atmosphere of early sludge pioneers while pushing further...

  Rising from the UK underground, GARROW HILL return with a new release that builds on everything they’ve been developing over the years: heavy, dark, and firmly on their own terms. The band have just dropped their engulfing new single and video, Eaten by Crows, which will be followed by their five-track stunning EP, IX, out on Friday 31st July. Check out the video here: Listen to the band at - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HtlCT7j5PgwprquhXHjP5 . The York-based duo formed by lifelong friends Stewart King and P.G. Branton have often been labelled too obscure or too DIY, but GARROW HILL have stuck to their own path, shaping a sound that draws from alternative heavy rock, post-punk, and the harsher edges of ’90s metal. There’s a strong sense of place running through it, reflecting York’s mix of a polished surface with something darker underneath. IX sees that sound pushed further — tighter and more direct, without losing the atmosphere they’ve built over time. Eaten by Crows se...

  Riding high after an all-timer homecoming show at Desertfest London this weekend, and hot on the heels of announcing their long-awaited fourth studio album, Necropolitan (to be released on Friday September 11th 2026) Green Lung announce a black crusade of the UK and Europe this winter... the Dance to the Grave Tour MMXXVI. Special guests on this run will be High On Fire with support from Gnome. The tour poster was designed by the band's frequent collaborator, Richard Wells. Tickets will go on general sale: Friday, May 22nd @ 09:00 AM BST Pre-sales will be running from: Tuesday, May 19th & Wednesday, May 20th GREEN LUNG DANCE TO THE GRAVE TOUR MMXXVI w/ High On Fire & Gnome 03-Dec BE Antwerp @ Trix 04-Dec DE Frankfurt am Main @ Batschkapp 05-Dec DE Munich @ Backstage 07-Dec AT Vienna @ Arena 08-Dec DE Leipzig @ Anker 10-Dec DE Hamburg @ Große Freiheit 36 11-Dec DE Berlin @ Astra Kulturhaus 12-Dec DE Cologne @ Carlswerk Victoria 13-Dec NL Tilburg...

  Welsh Bilingual nu-metal duo C E L A V I continue their rise with their fiercest release yet, 'PLASTER', which is a cathartic, high-impact anthem that merges raw aggression with captivating hooks. The track is out now and is taken from the band’s highly anticipated upcoming EP, produced by Romesh Dodangoda (Bring Me The Horizon, Motörhead, Nova Twins). Watch the video here: Listen to the band at - https://open.spotify.com/artist/4OEzNJIkgsH8PTw0y86ATx Formed by married duo Gwion Griffiths and Sarah Wynn Griffiths, C E L A V I have built a reputation for emotionally charged performances and high-impact releases that explore identity, mental health, and self-expression. Their bilingual approach continues to champion the Welsh language within modern alternative music while pushing into a wider global space. Following support from Metal Hammer, BBC Radio 1, Kerrang Radio, and BBC 6 Music, plus a Match of the Day sync, the band continue to build major momentum. BBC Radio 1 have ...

  Multi-GRAMMY® award-nominated New York heavy metal titans Anthrax - Scott Ian (guitar), Charlie Benante (drums), Frank Bello (bass), Joey Belladonna (vocals), and Jonathan Donais (guitar) - will unleash their long-awaited 12th full-length studio album Cursum Perficio on September 18th via Nuclear Blast Records and Megaforce Records (North America). It marks the band’s first record in ten years since 2016’s For All Kings, which debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. Cursum Perficio will be available in various physical configurations to pre-order/pre-save; click HERE . The phrase Cursum Perficio is Latin for “My journey has come to an end,” “My journey is over,” or “I complete my journey.” It proves apropos for such a complete body of work. For Cursum Perficio’s first single and video, 'It’s For The Kids', the quintet bulldoze the way for the album’s impact. It’s a classic Anthrax ripper locked and loaded with buzzsaw-sharp riffs, explosive drumming, and a howling and he...

  Rising from the UK underground metal scene, IMPERIUM are quickly establishing themselves as a leading modern thrash act. Known for razor-sharp riffs, groove-laden force, and commanding vocals, they’ve built a reputation for explosive live shows. Their engulfing debut album, 'Exodus Unknown', releases via Heavy Metal Records on Friday 17th July, with the title single out now. Watch the video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3tPzXOlM34 Listen to the band at - https://open.spotify.com/artist/7ytn24lvOAoMKq8pbszxO1 After breaking through in 2022 with their debut EP and winning London’s Metal 2 the Masses, which earned the ba.nd a spot at Bloodstock Festival, IMPERIUM have now shared stages with a number of prominent acts and have grown their fanbase nationwide. Now officially signed to Heavy Metal Records and endorsed by Gibson/Kramer/Epiphone, IMPERIUM have entered a new phase in their career and set the stage for their highly anticipated debut full-length album, Exodus...

  Canadian hardcore heavyweights Cancer Bats have announced they will release their new album, ‘Give Me Dirt’, on August 7th. The band have joined forces with the formidable Marshall Records for the release. “We are beyond excited to be joining the Marshall Records Roster! From the amps that helped define the sound of our favourite bands, to their support of independent venues and their absolute punk rock approach to everything they do, we feel like this is the perfect home for Cancer Bats! Can't wait to work with them on our new album and many more to come!” said the band. Steve Tannett, Director of Music Platforms at Marshall Records, adds: “We are so chuffed to have the legendary Cancer Bats join the Marshall Records roster in our 10th year, which coincides nicely with the band's 20th year. The new studio album Give Me Dirt is testament to a band built on solid rock foundations, and we look forward to a brilliant release and lots of incredible shows - just how we like it!” ...

Alternative/nu-metal force A Killer’s Confession has joined forces with internationally acclaimed producer Zardonic for a high-octane reimagining of “In Case Of Emergency (ft JMANN).” The remix brings Zardonic’s signature aggressive drum & bass sound to the track, bridging the raw intensity of modern metal with the pulse and precision of global bass music. The original track joined A Killer’s Confession vocalist Waylon Reavis with fellow former Mushroomhead vocalist JMann, and was the first single from AKC’s early 2025 album Victim 2. For A Killer’s Confession, the remix continues the band’s evolution into hybrid soundscapes that blend industrial textures, electronic elements, and emotionally charged songwriting. The track further expands the sonic universe of their ongoing Victim album trilogy, which explores the psychological tension between morality and darkness. In addition, A Killer’s Confession sets off on their U.S. Tour with Kottonmouth Kings today. Full dates are: May 5 ...

  DOWN’s special cover of Dr. John’s 'Right Place, Wrong Time', released in video form for a limited time to celebrate Mardi Gras earlier this year, is currently available on all streaming platforms! New Orleans native Dr. John was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. His music combined New Orleans blues, jazz, R&B, soul, and funk. 'Right Place, Wrong Time' was the first single from Dr. John’s 1973 album, In the Right Place, and became the most popular single of his career. The song has been featured in various films and television shows, including Dazed And Confused and American Horror Story: Coven. DOWN’s cover of 'Right Place, Wrong Time' is an homage to Dr. John and his appearances on The Midnight Special TV series, a late night musical variety show that aired from 1972 to 1981. Stream DOWN’s rendition of Dr. John’s 'Right Place, Wrong Time' HERE .​ In related DOWN news, the band will serve as direct support to Slayer on the special 40...

  How about a whole host of excellent BLOODSTOCK news that doesn’t announce a single band? BLOODSTOCKers, we know you’ve been asking, and HQ wants you to have pleeeenty of time to plan the most splendid FANCY DRESS outfits, so without further delay, here are the themes for 2026! On Thursday, we know it’s been done before, but with HEAVYSAURUS on the bill and it being SO MUCH FUN, it has to be DINOSAURS again. That costume you bought a couple years back is now excellent value for money, huh? On Friday, we embrace the dark, the macabre, and the creative… we want to see how you interpret TWISTED FAIRYTALES as a theme! Black widow bitten Miss Muffet? Malice in Wonderland? Goth fairies welcome! Saturday rolls back the clock to the 1980’s! Bring out your best ‘80’s fashion (mullets encouraged, neon leg warmers optional), or be a character from your fave ‘80s movie, TV show, or band! There is no such thing as too much leopard print. On Sunday, there’s a special treat in the RAM Gallery, a...