Mad About Rock

  A Statement from Mastodon: "We are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief… last night (Wednesday 20th August) Brent Hinds passed away as a result of a tragic accident. We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many. Our hearts are with Brent’s family, friends, and fans. At this time, we please ask that you respect everyone’s privacy during this difficult time. RIP Brent" Statement posted on their social media Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Mastodon

  Manchester-based Art-Rock/Post Hardcore outfit Pleiades have been making waves since their critically acclaimed second EP ‘All At Your Mercy’ and now they are gearing up to release their highly anticipated debut album and are ones to watch in the rock/metal scene with their diverse sound and interesting topics they address on their debut which is titled 'Affinity With' which is released 29th September 2023. 'Affinity With’ is inspired by stories of empathy and human nature. We discuss the band's upcoming debut with vocalist Andrew Calderbank and bassist Josh Edmondson. I have to ask the obvious question before going into the album. How did you come up with your band name PLEIADES? Josh: So it was actually our old drummer who came up with it because we did initially set out to be a 3-piece with no vocalist as at the beginning we wanted to be a post-rock band so we were toying with that idea for the better part of six months and jamming and trying to make the whole thi...

  Always the most controversial album in Motörhead’s catalogue, Another Perfect Day was up against it from the start. After former Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson replaced Fast Eddie Clarke, the band’s sixth studio album presented what Lemmy called a more “musical” approach, the classic line-up’s full-tilt ferocity harnessed to more traditional guitar rock tropes enhanced by carefully crafted production. In 1983, it was initially startling to hear Lemmy and Phil’s patent hell-bound express draped in Robbo’s effects-laden multi-storey guitar overdubs instead of getting hot-wired by Eddie’s deceptively complex thermonuclear blues riffs and embellishments. Following the likewise lambasted Iron Fist and its reappraisal, Another Perfect Day stands before us, forty years on from the turbulent time that spawned it, as an inevitably divisive one-off chapter in Motörhead’s chaotic early history. Forty years on, Another Perfect Day holds its own as this most surreal detour in Motörhead’...

  Following a storming headline show at London’s O2 Kentish Town Forum this summer, powerhouse band FOZZY have announced a 10-date UK headline tour for February 2024. Ready to rock cities such as London, Manchester and Glasgow to their foundations, they will also be heading further afield to the likes of Northampton and Buckley, bringing their heavy melodic groove to the masses for one hell of a party. “The UK has always been the second home for Fozzy and we always look forward to rockin with all of you! The Spotlight tour is our biggest UK tour ever and we are stoked to bring the Fozzy party to your shores with new songs, a new show and the same Fozzy intensity & fun factor that you’ve come to demand and expect from us!” Chris Jericho / FOZZY With the superstar showmanship of frontman Chris Jericho tag-teamed with guitar genius Rich Ward, FOZZYare a band that deliver a truly rock n roll experience - a sonic assault of headbanging riffs, energy and most importantly, amazing ...

  The band that started the Swedish wave of heavy metal is back: HEAVY LOAD! Four decades have passed since HEAVY LOAD released their latest album: Stronger than Evil (1983). Years before the rest of the northern world, their songs ventured into Viking themes and existential lyrics, spearheading a movement way ahead of its time. The compositions are dramatic and render a great variety of moods, while passionate innovation and creative fervor are always shining bright in every song on the album – pioneering 101! HEAVY LOAD’s comeback album Riders of the Ancient Storm rings of their well-known sound and songwriting. Thanks to an epic pact between the band and No Remorse Records, the band’s whole back catalog is brought back as high quality re-releases. After releases in 2018 and 2019, more will follow. The records come with bonus tracks and old recordings never before heard by the public, and extensive booklets. It’s a release long awaited by people all over the globe – and it will ...

  The Rolling Stones, come roaring out of the traps today with the release of their rocking single 'Angry' ( Listen Here .) It arrives alongside the announcement of their hugely anticipated new album, titled ‘Hackney Diamonds’ and released on October 20th. The exciting news was shared today by Mick, Keith and Ronnie at a special media launch event at the historic Hackney Empire, East London's epicentre of pioneering art for almost 125 years. The launch was hosted by American tv star Jimmy Fallon and streamed worldwide via YouTube . The 12-track album, for which full track list information will be revealed in due course, was recorded in various locations around the world, including Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles; Metropolis Studios, London; Sanctuary Studios, Nassau, Bahamas; Electric Lady Studios, New York; and The Hit Factory/Germano Studios, also in New York. Pre-Order Hackney Diamonds The album is their first studio set of new material since 2005's A Bigger...

  Powerful heavy alt-rockers, SLEEP IN MOTION, are braced to stake a claim with the release of their highly engaging debut album, Existential, which arrives on Friday 10th November. The rising rock crew have also released their superb new single and video, 'Terminal', out now - https://youtu.be/6IPS9fX_h9c?si=ko8NnddcF7wr-Hzk Born in Nottingham, England in 2021 and consisting of Ryan Brooks (Vocals/Guitar), Lewis Brade (Bass), and Alex Smith (Drums/Percussion), SLEEP IN MOTION set out a manifesto to craft loud, distorted, groove-laden music that is dynamic and still maintains hooky sensibilities. Upon feasting your senses on the ascending alt-rockers, you’ll find that the rising trio have more than fulfilled their brief. With a slew of influences ranging from Alter Bridge and Avenged Sevenfold to Alice in Chains and Nirvana, SLEEP IN MOTION are a band stacked with venom, frustration and aggression which provides an intensely engrossing lyrical base for their musical endeavour...

  CORE OF iO return to the fold with their blistering new EP, Part I: iO, which lands on Friday 8th September. The highly absorbing rock crew have also unleashed their tantalising new single and video, 'Done' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQl-w0FIDhE Taking from the offerings of prog heavyweights and edgy alt rock pioneers like Karnivool and Tool, through to The Mars Volta, Fall of Troy and Sikth, CORE OF iO deliver a unique brand of heavy rock that leans on elements of mathcore, prog and tech metal. With a sound that boasts captivating vocals lines with intricate guitar work phrased by woven and ultra-engaging structures, CORE OF iO have already received widespread media praise from Metal Hammer, Kerrang! Radio, Kerrang!, and BBC Radio, and with their simply stunning new EP, Part I: iO, now set for launch, nothing can stop their imminent rise. Hailing from Sussex, England, and born at the tail of 2012, CORE OF iO were formed with a common goal to create music that is b...

  Sex Pistols are making their 3rd single available in coloured vinyl for the first time, another limited edition classic. Released on the 2 July 1977, in the post ‘God Save The Queen’ fall out, the band were careering toward their all time great album ‘Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols’, also released that year. Along the way, Pretty Vacant came screaming into life, with its iconic primal lyrics of national frustration - “We’re so pretty, oh so pretty, we’re vacant!” Deservedly a smash hit, it also brought the band onto Top Of The Pops for the first time, finally presenting their incendiary performance and music to the mass of British public. The B-Side is one of the Pistols’ great covers, ‘No Fun’ originally by The Stooges, perfectly complimenting the late 1970s frustration and malaise especially felt by young people in Britain. After the 4576 copy limited release of ‘Anarchy in The UK,’ ‘Pretty Vacant’ will match the 4577 physical records available for ‘Holidays ...

  London, UK 30 August: Pink Floyd and Warner Music [Sony Music outside Europe] today announced the upcoming stand-alone release of the newly remastered ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ on CD, LP and Blu-ray. These versions will be released on October 13th. First released as part of ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ 50th Anniversary Box Set, this is the first time that the new remaster of the classic album will be available on its own. The Blu-ray contains the Dolby Atmos and a 5.1 Surround mix as well as the remastered Stereo version. The package comes with commemorative postcards, stickers and a 24-page booklet. Originally released in 1973 and becoming one of the most iconic and influential albums ever, Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ continues to find new audiences globally. The famous sleeve, which depicts a prism spectrum, was designed by Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis and drawn by George Hardie. ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ has sold over 50 million copies worldwide. The 50th A...

  Dutch metal titans Within Temptation have released the music video for their brand new single ‘Bleed Out’. The video shows an AI-animated story of a woman being suppressed and chased by a malevolent entity, whilst AI-generated band members perform. For the music video, the band has worked together with their long-time friend and videographer SetVexy and digital designer RART. SetVexy captured the band's live-performance and RART molded this performance into an AI-driven, animated storyline. Within Temptation says that AI helps them realize their creative ideas, and thanks to this new technique, it enables them to make animation and CGI style videos at a quality that were previously unaffordable. The title track of the band’s forthcoming album Bleed Out (released October 20th), the song addresses the plight of women fighting for their rights in Iran after the murder of Mahsa Amini. Sharon den Adel explains, “I lived in Yemen when I was a kid. My parents lived in several countries...

  Following a rapturously received set on the main stage at BLOODSTOCK Festival and an exclusive release show in Camden's Black Heart, London metal trio URNE have announced their first ever headline tour of the UK. "We are extremely excited to announce our first UK headline tour! This will be the first time we debut a lot of the songs from A Feast On Sorrow, and it is also a chance for us to play some older songs we have never played before. We have a really exciting tour line-up to announce too, so keep your eyes peeled for that announcement." Catch them at the following shows in December: URNE - A FEAST ON SORROW UK TOUR 03.12 - LEEDS, Boom TICKETS 05.12 - CARLISLE, Brickyard TICKETS 06.12 - GLASGOW, Cathouse TICKETS 08.12 - NEWCASTLE, Think Tank TICKETS 09.12 - MILTON KEYNES, Craufurd Arms TICKETS 10.12 - MANCHESTER, Satans Hollow TICKETS 12.12 - BIRMINGHAM, Institute 3 TICKETS 14.12 - BRIGHTON, Patterns TICKETS 15.12 - BRISTOL, Exchange TICKETS 16.12 - LONDON, Bosto...

  Following the release of the critically acclaimed new album Take No Prisoners, the Los Angeles-born heavy metal icons Alcatrazz are thrilled to announce the launch of new single ‘Sign Of The Cross’ (out now via Silver Lining Music). “We hope our fans will be thrilled for the release of this brand new song” comments co-founding member and keyboardist Jimmy Waldo, “‘Sign Of The Cross’ was only recorded earlier this year, showing that even mere months after our latest album Take No Prisoners was released, we are not slowing down one bit!” Listen to ‘Sign Of The Cross’ at this location To coincide with the single release, Alcatrazz will perform a unique and one-of-a-kind free show on Thursday, August 24th, at London’s iconic Cart & Horses, the birthplace of Iron Maiden. Known for their incendiary and explosive performances, Alcatrazz promise to bring their new album to life, alongside all the classics and fan favourites, in such a characteristic and legendary environment. Joini...

  Taken from their newly released and acclaimed debut album 'Signed In Blood', Shadow Smile unveil news of their 'Before Every Fall' lyric video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHcNNY3irHE The Sheffield (UK) four piece launched their long awaited crowd-funded debut album on the 18th August 2023. A concept album exploring how the Seven Deadly Sins ideology still impacts upon modern life and our society. Over the course of two years, Shadow Smile have been finely crafting anthemic metal-edged tracks under the guiding hand of Daniel Jeffery at Treehouse Studios (UK). Since forming in 2019, the independent releasing band have propelled themselves onto the British metal scene, gaining an army of followers, headlining shows and making festival appearances, along with garnering support from both independent and national media. 'Signed In Blood' debut album is available now on all major digital platforms. https://open.spotify.com/album/647vzvwkc0zLtoukUPGJ44 Shadow S...

  Scottish rockers She Burns Red have been announced as guests on South of Salem’s U.K. tour this Halloween season. To coincide with the news, the band has premiered a colourful yet slightly chilling animated video for ‘Crosshairs’ that’s the stuff of nightmares if clowns aren’t to your liking. Previously featured on their 2020 EP, this single is a new studio recording and taken from She Burns Red's debut album, ‘Out of Darkness’, which will be released this September. Watch 'Crosshairs' (official lyric video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwHBTxAcM9M The band says, "‘Crosshairs’ speaks of bad relationships and how they can affect you. It's in these desperate moments that you're looking towards hope when all around you seems lost. It is far too easy to lose sight of what you have and blame others for what is happening to you when sometimes the answer to the question of what is wrong is yourself." Produced by Matt Elliss (Massive Wagons/Black Spiders),...

  Within Temptation, the renowned Dutch symphonic metal band, are set to captivate fans with their eighth studio album Bleed Out on October 20, 2023. Bleed Out signifies a bold leap forward for the band. From contemporary, hard-hitting djenty riffs to soaring melodies displaying their symphonic roots, Within Temptation have created a sonic journey that fuses diverse musical styles and thought-provoking themes. This is an album that is as epic as it is unflinchingly outspoken, and now more than ever, this is a band who aren’t afraid to make a stand on issues they care about. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Within Temptation have shifted their focus from writing about personal emotions and societal subjects to tackling global injustices and reflecting the tumultuous state of the world in a way that other artists seem unable or unwilling to do. Vocalist Sharon den Adel states, “The war in Ukraine has influenced us a lot. As artists we are inspired by the world, and we have t...

  UK metalcore newcomers ACHE have independently released their brand new single and music video ‘Dark Souls’, which premiered on BBC Radio 1 Introducing Rock with Alyx Holcombe. Written as a portrayal of the internal battles that so many of us have with our demons, it’s a sinister aural assault full of murky riffs and furious vocals, driven by an unsettling and often erratic delivery. Watch the music video to 'Dark Souls' here . Stream 'Dark Souls' here . On the new single, vocalist TJ Smith comments: "'Dark Souls' is a song about my experiences living with agoraphobia. The feeling of always having something looming over me, lurking in my shadow, and ultimately about being able to break free from its grasp. Some days, a simple thing like leaving the house feeling comfortable in my own skin isn’t so simple at all." The audio is accompanied by a horror-tinged music video, recorded with Loki Films and starring actor Neal Ward, that renders that feeling...