Mad About Rock

  Scottish rock band KELOWNA unveil their debut album, 'Superstar', on Friday 28th August. With the band growing and momentum building, we exclusively asked the guys for the songs that have greatly shaped their sound: Rival Sons - Nobody Wants To Die "The song's powerful blend of blues, soul and modern rock struck a chord with vocalist Davy Wilson, while still echoing the timeless influence of Free and Bad Company, two bands that have shaped him enormously as a singer-songwriter. That combination of raw emotion, dynamic musicianship and classic rock spirit is something we strive to capture in our own music. Our track ‘Midnight Rider’ in particular was heavily inspired by this". The Datsuns - Harmonic Generator "The Datsuns debut album was the first album bought by guitarist Paul Mooney with his own pocket money as a kid. He was drawn in by the simplicity of the guitar riff, and how rather than using complex chords or melodies, it's the static rhythm of...

  Scottish alt-rockers STAY FOR TOMORROW have released their alluring new single and video, Nonsense, out now. The track is taken from their forthcoming album, When Hope’s Gone, due Friday 25th September. Check out the video for Nonsense, here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFdj-ROonnQ Listen to the band at - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0wSKwPQseYDh9uczNFczmY Since forming in 2018, the Dunfermline four-piece have released a string of singles, such as Villains, Breathe and In The Way, and have toured the UK, developing a melodic, guitar-driven sound influenced by The Killers, Panic! At The Disco and Fall Out Boy. Their upcoming album, When Hope’s Gone explores themes of perseverance, resilience and self-belief. Speaking about the album, guitarist Nic Holson says: “This album shows the evolution of Stay For Tomorrow over the past few years, through lineup changes and the growth and solidifying of our sound. It carries a message of hope, resilience, and a reminder to stand up...

  LOST VELVET are carving a space between post-rock atmosphere, shoegaze haze, and industrial unease with a sound that feels vast, intimate, and slightly unhinged. They release their debut album Dark Cells on Friday 4th September, led by their brand-new single and video, Right Back, which is out now. Check out the video here: Listen to the band at - https://open.spotify.com/artist/43VZcpziN2RTPNRbrdMgAT Hailing from Reading, England, LOST VELVET are the project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Robert Butcher and vocalist Melissa Morris. The duo blend intertwining guitars, darkwave textures, and dual-vocal interplay into music that feels fragile yet immediate. Taking influence from Radiohead, Deftones, Nine Inch Nails, and Massive Attack, they build expansive sound worlds rooted in ‘90s alternative music with a darker edge. Since emerging in 2025, the band have drawn strong early attention, including support from BBC Introducing across multiple regions. Their work moves betwe...

  Download Festival, the greatest celebration of alternative music in the UK, united fans to witness its most expansive and diverse lineup yet. Over five incredible days, Donington Park, the spiritual home of rock, burst to life as the Download community joined forces once again. From returning champions of the main stage, to the genre's most formidable acts and hotly tipped newcomers, this year's festival had something for everyone. The beloved and long-running gathering of rockers, moshers and metalheads was headlined by Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses and Linkin Park, while the hardcore haven also stepped into new and exciting territory, shining a spotlight on the buzziest up-and-comers the genre has to offer. Limp Bizkit kicked off proceedings with a barnstorming set on Friday, sparking waves of crowd-surfing as far as the eye could see. Rock and roll legends Guns N’ Roses followed on Saturday with a vast catalogue of classic hits, while Linkin Park, returning 12 years after the...

  Taken from the recently announced expanded 20th anniversary edition of Kiss Of Death, the Lowlands Festival performance of ‘Be My Baby’ is taken from the previously unreleased radio broadcast of Motörhead’s 2007 performance at the hallowed Dutch festival. Originally released in 2006, Kiss Of Death is a ferocious reminder of Motörhead’s uncompromising, no-frills spirit—and a timely nod to the legendary status they’ve earned as one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time. Driven by Lemmy’s unmistakable growl, backed by Phil Campbell’s blistering guitar work and Mikkey Dee’s razor-sharp precision drumming, Kiss Of Death—their 18th studio album—picks up exactly where 2004’s Inferno left off. It’s Motörhead doing what they do best: loud, fast, and relentless. Leaning into the heavier edge of their sound, the album also features guest appearances from Mike Inez (Alice in Chains) and C.C. DeVille (Poison), and delivers standout cuts like ‘Sucker’, ‘Trigger’, and the fan-favourite ...

  Evanescence releases the official music video for their powerful new song “Who Will You Follow” — listen here /watch here Directed by Jensen Noen, the cinematic visual pairs thought-provoking imagery with an emotionally charged performance to explore the overwhelming impact of technology, misinformation, and digital culture, examining how constant online noise impacts us all. Both the lyrics and accompanying video emphasise the importance of seeking authenticity in an era where truth feels increasingly and intentionally corrupted. “Who Will You Follow” has already become the fastest-moving rock radio single of Evanescence’s career to date, entering the Top at US Rock Radio in under 4 weeks and earning the band its first-ever #1 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Song Chart. The track was co-written and produced by Zakk Cervini (Bad Omens, YUNGBLUD, Bring Me The Horizon, Spiritbox) and Jordan Fish (Bring Me The Horizon, Poppy, House of Protection, Architects). album, which features tracks...

  Hard rock giants BREAKING BENJAMIN are back with a brooding and haunting new single, ' Something Wicked ', signalling the latest chapter for the band and the tease of a forthcoming full-length album. Marked by their signature blend of atmospheric tension, thunderous instrumentation, and raw emotional weight, the track finds the band pushing deeper into their darker sonic territory while staying rooted in the sound that has defined them for years. 'Something Wicked' builds from a simmering, introspective opening into a powerful, anthemic crescendo, showcasing frontman Benjamin Burnley’s unmistakable vocals as they shift between vulnerable restraint and explosive intensity. Speaking on the single, Burnley shares: “'Something Wicked' is a quick look into our influences both musically and thematically. We challenged ourselves especially hard on this record and on this song. We pushed every boundary we’ve previously had as far as it will go, then pushed a little m...

  Originally released in 2006, Kiss of Death is a ferocious reminder of Motörhead’s uncompromising, no-frills spirit—and a timely nod to the legendary status they’ve earned as one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time. Driven by Lemmy’s unmistakable growl, backed by Phil Campbell’s blistering guitar work and Mikkey Dee’s razor-sharp precision drumming, Kiss of Death—their 18th studio album—picks up exactly where 2004’s Inferno left off. It’s Motörhead doing what they do best: loud, fast, and relentless. Leaning into the heavier edge of their sound, the album also features guest appearances from Mike Inez (Alice in Chains) and C.C. DeVille (Poison), and delivers standout cuts like 'Sucker', 'Trigger' and the fan-favourite 'God Was Never On Your Side'. Marking its 20th anniversary, this new edition sees the album newly half-speed mastered from the original tapes, with fresh liner notes from Dave Ling paying tribute to the contribution of the legendary Phil C...

  London, 5th May 2026 - The Rolling Stones today announce the release of their highly anticipated new studio album Foreign Tongues, arriving 10th July from Polydor/Universal Music. The incredibly vibrant 14-track collection follows less than three years after the band’s universally acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning Hackney Diamonds, which topped charts worldwide and achieved multi-platinum success. The new album will be introduced by the upbeat and infectious lead single ‘In the Stars’, released digitally on 5th May alongside the album’s opening track ‘Rough and Twisted.’ In The Stars receives a physical release on 15th May. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood are set to attend a media launch for Foreign Tongues later today in Brooklyn, New York. In the lead-up to the announcement, the band have been subtly building anticipation for the new project, including the limited white label release of the track ‘Rough and Twisted’ only on vinyl under the name The Cockroaches. Circul...

  Brit alternative rockers VERSUS have thrown down a serious marker with the release of their enticing new single and video, 'This Is Everything', which is out now – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB3XRUJshOk Listen to the band at - https://open.spotify.com/artist/67pt9vgrdK8u8meLF6B0km Making waves with their high-energy blend of post-hardcore grit and emotionally charged songwriting, VERSUS has quickly built a reputation for live performances that go beyond the typical gig, combining dynamic lighting, powerful visuals, and crowd-driven moments to deliver truly immersive experiences. Drawing on influences from grunge, emo, and heavy rock, the Leeds-based alt-rockers balance raw aggression with melodic accessibility. Vocalist, Shortie states: “This track explores the aftermath of a deeply toxic relationship, where prolonged gaslighting and manipulation suddenly become clear. That moment of clarity forces acceptance of the damage done, reshaping the entire mindset and drivin...

  We checked in with rising UK hard hitters OPENSIGHT and asked the band to exclusively reveal the five songs that have greatly shaped their sound, and here's the lowdown: "Choosing only five songs was difficult, but it was also a really interesting and cool exercise. Opensight has always drawn inspiration from different places: heavy metal, hard rock, cult cinema, vintage video game music, progressive music, spy themes, horror scores and plenty of other corners. Rather than choosing five favourites, we thought it would make more sense to pick songs that connect in some way with the ingredients behind our new album, The Outfit. Of course, that means leaving out a lot of artists who have been hugely important to us, including Faith No More, Iron Maiden, Cynic, Fabio Frizzi, Jerry Goldsmith, Black Sabbath, Henry Mancini, Stelvio Cipriani and many more. Their influence is still there somewhere." OPETH - The Lotus Eater "The entire journey of Opeth has influenced Open...

  London’s NIGHT THIEVES are coming in hard and fast, and they’re not easing up for anyone. The alt-metal four-piece have been building serious momentum off the back of a sound packed with crushing riffs, razor-sharp hooks, and huge, fist-in-the-air choruses. Their debut album 'Metaxis' is out now, and it’s a clear statement of intent. The band have just unleashed a new single 'See You on the Other Side' (featuring Jessie Powell from Dream State), which is also out now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek1eL0mu0_ Listen in via - https://open.spotify.com/artist/42azirKNGgnSrqW10zeJju Already picking up heavy support from Metal Hammer, Planet Rock, Kerrang!, BBC Radio One and more, the band are quickly forcing their way into the conversation around the UK’s next wave of heavy hitters. On stage, they’ve been earning their stripes too, sharing bills with the likes of Marisa and the Moths and Chuggaboom. Following 2024’s Polarity EP, NIGHT THIEVES teamed up once again wi...

  FangSlinger, the chief purveyors of 'UNDEAD REDNECK ROCK ’N’ ROLL', unleash their debut album 'Welcome to the Lost Souls Saloon': A band of Vampire Outlaws blending southern grit, gothic atmosphere and cinematic storytelling into a hard rock sound that is rooted in big riffs, blues-soaked grooves and dual-vocal interplay. Their music draws from the swagger of Guns N’ Roses and Black Stone Cherry, with a darker edge that sets them apart from their peers. Released today on 24th April 2026, the 10-track album is available on all major digital platforms and CD format. At the core of FangSlinger is a narrative thread of three outlaws bound by a curse, roaming a fractured Old West in search of souls. While that world adds depth and identity, FangSlinger’s true strength lies in their ability to deliver songs that land just as hard in a packed venue as they do through headphones. Their debut album, 'Welcome to the Lost Souls Saloon', brings that vision fully into f...

  AMONGST LIARS triumphantly return with their brand new single and video, 'Repair Myself' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvm4fcbCEgE We exclusively caught up with the band and asked them to throw down the top five tracks that have greatly shaped their sound: Rage Against The Machine - Bulls on Parade "Anything Rage wise kinda helped shape our sound. This is a personal band fave though for sure. So punchy and full of attack! Tom Morello knows how to write a heavy simple riff that sticks in your head. We deffo take some cues from RATM". Bring Me The Horizon - Teardrops "Bit more electronically heavy and very Linkin Park esq I guess both Bring Me and Linkin Park are high up on influences when it comes to style. Bring Me seem ahead of the game all the time making cutting edge tunes and rolling with the times so well. So much respect for that and again it's how we want to be. Keep evolving and never standing still". Highly Suspect - Lydia "H...

  Evanescence are back with a new song “Who Will You Follow” — listen   here  - which was co-written and produced by Zakk Cervini (Bad Omens, YUNGBLD, Bring Me The Horizon, Spiritbox) and Jordan Fish (Bring Me The Horizon, Poppy, House of Protection, Architects). The track is a preview for their forthcoming album Sanctuary, set for release June 5th — pre-order/save here . The album, which features tracks produced by Cervini/Fish as well as songs produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Korn, Foo Fighters, Rush) will be available from June 5th as a Digital Album, Standard CD, Deluxe CD and limited-edition Box Set. A double vinyl of the album will be released on September 4th. Amy Lee said, “This album is over three years in the making, and finally listening back to it all at once, about to release it to the world, I am so damn proud of every second of it. It’s overwhelming. Working on it has been my outlet for so much that feels wrong and out of control, and a place to ignite ho...