Photo Credit: John Gyllhamn

Swedish rockers Smash Into Pieces have showcased their new single 'Paradise', another bold step toward their highly-anticipated album, set for release autumn 2025. 

'Paradise' features the powerful vocals of Elize Ryd (Amaranthe), one of the most celebrated female voices in metal today, adding a dynamic and emotional depth to the song.

​Stream: https://orcd.co/smashintopieceselizerydparadise
Watch: https://youtu.be/TtBI3jVxA44

Following the album launch, Smash Into Pieces will embark on an extensive US & EU tour. This summer, the band will electrify audiences at over 25 major festivals, including Rock am Ring, Download Festival, and Graspop, among many others.

They continue their meteoric rise, building on the momentum of their chart-topping hits 'Six Feet Under' (double platinum) and 'Heroes Are Calling' (Gold-certified within weeks of release). Their futuristic, apocalyptic aesthetic and immersive storytelling—evident in their cinematic ‘ARCADIA WORLD’ series—set them apart in the rock scene, creating a unique fusion of music and visual storytelling.

With over a billion streams and views, the band has solidified its global presence. Their 2023 and 2024 tours saw them perform worldwide, including a major North American tour and headline runs across Europe and Scandinavia. Their groundbreaking Swedish Eurovision performances, with 'Six Feet Under' securing #3 in 2023 and another top placement in 2024, cemented their status as one of Sweden’s biggest rock exports.

Their ever-growing fanbase and consistent global radio presence—with 40,000+ spins in 2024 alone—prove that Smash Into Pieces is more than just a band; they are a movement. And with 'Paradise', Smash Into Pieces invite fans to dive even deeper into their world, where dreams and reality blur into an electrifying musical journey.

For more information:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2vhrwzjf9H3icunkVFi9tq?si=WcGyc23hQoKl8JkY2s-XCw&nd=1&dlsi=b65b2cd54c954fca
https://www.instagram.com/smashintopiecesofficial
https://www.facebook.com/SmashIntoPieces
https://www.tiktok.com/@smashintopiecesofficial

With their new song 'New World,' Revnoir reveal a softer, more emotional side, trading heavy sounds for acoustic vibes and raw vulnerability. The lyrics paint a haunting picture of waking up in a world filled with pain, confusion, and loss – like surviving a catastrophe but being emotionally numb. Despite the soft sound, the emotional weight is heavy, showing a powerful contrast between the music’s calm and the lyrics’ chaos.

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4tF5B2DiKw

Revnoir are:
Maxime Rodriguez-Medallo: vocals
Julien Ho-Tong: guitar, piano
Robin Leneutre: guitar
Kazumasa Yamane: drums
 
Revnoir online:
https://www.instagram.com/revnoir_
https://www.facebook.com/revnoirofficial
https://x.com/revnoir_

LANDMVRKS have carved out a sound that’s entirely their own. Over the years, they’ve evolved into one of the most exciting forces in modern metalcore – constantly pushing boundaries while staying true to their roots. With the album The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been, the band dives deeper than ever before, delivering their most intense, emotional, and genre-defying work to date.

The focus track of this album is 'Requiem', a song about feeling overwhelmed by inner pain and pressure, like being consumed by your own failures, with music becoming a personal requiem – a soundtrack to emotional collapse.

Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/landmvrks

LANDMVRKS are:

Florent Salfati - vocals 
Rudy Purkart - bass 
Nicolas Exposito - guitar 
Paul C. Wilson - guitar 
Kévin D’Agostino - drums 

LANDMVRKS online:
http://www.landmvrks.com
http://www.facebook.com/landmvrks
http://www.instagram.com/landmvrks
http://www.twitter.com/landmvrks

Photo Credit: Claus Cordes

For more than 50 years, the composer, musician and producer Klaus Schulze rolled out his extensive sounds and played his legendary sequences. He shaped the 'Berlin School' and was among the most influential of all electronic music artists.

Following the release of the album 101, MILKY WAY in November 2024, Bon Voyage (Live Hamburg Audimax 1981), another historic document from the archives of the master of the Moog synthesiser, has been released today, 25th April via SPV Recordings.

Order Bon Voyage here: 
https://klausschulze.lnk.to/bonvoyage

To coincide with the release of the album, a live performance video of the track ‘Moulin Bleu’ has been released on YouTube. It is an excerpt from the bonus DVD included with the 2CD version.

Watch the live performance of 'Moulin Bleu' here: https://youtu.be/rfiaEEOXLMc

In November 1981, Klaus Schulze was scheduled to go on a two-week tour through Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and France, which was to end in the Audimax Hamburg. Multi-instrumentalist Manuel Göttsching accompanied Klaus on tour as a special guest. This recording of the Hamburg Audimax concert was originally intended as a spontaneous, internal documentation; as a nice souvenir for everyone of a wonderful tour and now, after more than 40 years, allows all fans to share in the wonderful memories.

With this in mind, we wish you - certainly also on behalf of Klaus and Manuel - a safe journey. Bon Voyage!

Bon Voyage (Live Audimax Hamburg 1981) will be released as:

2CD+DVD Edition
Digipak incl. double live CD and video recording of the concert on DVD (NTSC, FSK 0)

2LP Edition
LP Sleeve with black 180g vinyl and LP booklet

10-Track Stream & Download Version

CD1
1 The journey begins 04:46  
2 Bon temple 30:06 
3 Ash Tari moderne 06:31 
4 Moulin bleu 16:32 
5 Kreisreise 05:27  
6 Ritus duplex 08:12  
7 Wiegenlied 03:45  
CD2
1 Voyage encore 14:59
DVD
Video - Live Audimax Hamburg 1981 - 93:59

LP1 - Side A
1 The journey begins 04:46
2 Bon temple Pt#1 19:25
LP1 - Side B
1 Bon temple Pt#2 10:57
2 Ash Tari moderne 06:31
3 Moulin bleu Pt#1 05:27
LP2 - Side C
1 Moulin Bleu Pt#2 11:13
2 Kreisreise 05:27
3 Ritus duplex 08:12
LP2 - Side D
1 Wiegenlied 03:26
2 Voyage encore 14:59

Colombian hardcore crossover unit Poison the Preacher have revealed their second single, 'One Man Army', taken from their upcoming debut album, Vs The World, set for release on 23rd May via Seek and Strike. Representing a major milestone in the band’s musical evolution, the album features guest appearances from members of Dead Heat and Sanguisugabogg. 

The latest single marks a bold turn in the band's sound, trading speed for groove and leaning hard into sheer heaviness. Built on a foundation of deliberate pacing and crushing riffs,'One Man Army' channels themes of self-reliance and standing firm against negativity. It’s a strong statement from a band pushing their boundaries to the limit, fusing elements of thrash, hardcore and crossover with the grit of bands like Drain, Judiciary, Municipal Waste and Sunami. 

Watch the video for 'One Man Army' here: https://youtu.be/AxKM1sxbPZk

Pre-save Vs The World here: https://orcd.co/ptpvstheworld

Comments vocalist/guitarist Juan Pablo: “The album's second single, 'One Man Army,' is one of the coolest songs we ever wrote. No question about it. We chose it as a single because it's way different from everything we've made. It's completely based on groove and heaviness, not speed. It’s just a crushing song that's a complete curveball on the record. Its overall theme is about not needing anyone and how you have to become an army of one to not let negative people drag you down.That's something that really speaks volumes to me and I hope that other people can find the strength to do anything they want in life. We abide by this logic, which is why we made this video to reflect the DIY nature. We have gotten to this point by ourselves and we wanna showcase that with clips from our travels, hometown shows, festivals, international tours, underground shows, big shows, etc. All that to make a little showcase of our history and how we got to where we are now." 

“This album feels like a huge leap forward for us,” Juan continues. “It’s the culmination of everything we’ve done up to this point. Everything fell into place and we’ve finally developed a sound that truly represents who we are. This is us, unapologetically.”

Vs The World is a testament to the band’s relentless drive to push further and evolve. "This record has put us in a mindset of constant improvement, experimentation, and growth,” he adds. "We don’t want to make the same song twice. Every track on Vs The World comes from a different place. There’s something for everyone here. Whether you're into thrash, death metal, hardcore or something in between, we’re bringing it all together in a fresh, unique way.” 

Poison the Preacher refuse to be confined to a single genre, blending elements of thrash, hardcore, death metal and beyond. "We’re not just a thrash band with breakdowns," Juan explains. "We’re a proud fusion of all the heavy music you love, with a perspective that challenges what you expect from a metal band."

For fans new to Poison the Preacher, Vs The World promises a diverse, genre blurring experience that offers something for everyone in the heavy music world. "If you’re into thrash, death metal, hardcore, anything in the heavy music world, there’s a song here for you," the band notes. "And for our fans, you’re going to see us evolve and diversify even more. We’re not reinventing the wheel, but we’re definitely bringing something new to the table."

With this album, Poison the Preacher cement their place as a band committed to musical evolution and offering a unique perspective on the world of heavy music.

For more:
https://www.facebook.com/poisonthepreacher 
https://www.instagram.com/poisonthepreacher
https://linktr.ee/PoisonThePreacher

Track-list:
1. Future Tense
2. Sucker Punch ft. Chris Ramos (Dead Heat) 
3. Dying Every Day ft. Devin Swank (Sanguisugabogg) 
4. 1312
5. Hate Too Much
6. Congelado en el Tiempo
7. Promise To Pay
8. One Man Army
9. Us Against The World 

German metalcore band SENNA return with their explosive new single 'Drunk Dial Anthem', the latest taste of their highly-anticipated debut album Stranger To Love, out 23rd May via SharpTone Records.

Speaking on the single, the band shares: “You never imagined a time without this person. For reasons beyond your reach they are not part of your life anymore, may it be through circumstances that life throws at you or the sudden realisation that your personalities reshaped each other incompatible. 'Drunk Dial Anthem' captures the exact moment and feeling - something between loneliness, comfort and obsession - where you just want to hear 'it‘s fine' by this very person.”

Following the momentum of previous singles 'High Note', 'Rain', 'Blackout', and 'Hurricane', 'Drunk Dial Anthem' continues to showcase SENNA’s knack for combining visceral energy with emotional depth. Each track brings listeners closer to the heart of Stranger To Love - a record that navigates the intricacies of identity, connection, and quiet transformation.

Marcel Dürr, SENNA's guitarist, speaking on the album’s themes, explains: "Stranger To Love is a collection of anecdotes from our own personal lives. These stories are not special in the sense that they are not extraordinary or unique to just us. They’re the kinds of experiences that happen quietly, in everyday moments... What makes these stories meaningful is not that they are special, but that they are real.”

For more:

https://linktr.ee/senna.band
https://www.facebook.com/senna.band
https://www.instagram.com/senna.band

1. Hurricane
2. Rain
3. Blackout
4. High Note
5. Bodyguard
6. Drunk Dial Anthem
7. Potential
8. Breeze
9. Cliffhanger
10. NS:LC
11. Polarised

Gothenburg's inimitable noise experimentalists Blessings will release their third album Blodsträngen on 1st August via Pelagic Records.

Today, the band have unveiled their first glimpse of their forthcoming full-length, the mighty 'Strings of Red'.

Stream and pre-order: https://orcd.co/blessingsb
Watch: https://youtu.be/_tyrONqduDQ

The new album begins and ends in the same space: the rehearsal room.
 
In between these moments however, Blodsträngen knows no boundaries; it rampages through your inner sanctum, upending everything it can, razing everything you hold dear and drawing on the walls whilst panting, drooling and muttering to itself in strange tongues...

With all four members of Blessings already veterans of numerous bands and several distinct scenes throughout their native Sweden, the group came together with the idea of creating something wholly their own, rather than compromising to fit in elsewhere. The resultant sound is a cacophony of influences where nothing is sacred and no idea is thrown out; all that matters is all playing disgustingly loud music together in a room.

Blodsträngen, which can be translated as ‘The Bloodline’ or ‘The Blood String’ is another bracing evolution of Blessings’ truly inimitable sound, pushing the band’s percussive and found-sound textural elements even further to embrace a wild sonic palette that blends modular synths with crushing guitar feedback and even the occasional cowbell.

It should come as no surprise that Blessings’ debut album, 2012’s Bittervatten, is abrasive, crusty and intriguingly in-your-face as the band barely manage to contain the barrage of influences from across the heavy spectrum. Years of near-constant touring and creative experimentation followed, and later came Biskopskniven in 2021; still deafeningly loud and defiantly confrontational, the album brought with it a sense of uneasy patience and seething restraint as the band trimmed the fat and found a new menace in machine-like repetition courtesy of drummer Mattias Rasmusson and synth player/percussionist Erik Skytt.

Each Blessings album to date includes a song by the name of ‘Strings of Red’, an unspoken narrative that charts the band’s unique journey through genre. As such, Blodsträngen opener and lead single ‘Strings of Red’ sets pulses racing with a loping percussive loop before the song abruptly explodes into a double-time thrash-metal dirge with Fredrik Karlsson’s gravel-soaked voice leading the charge and Johan G. Winther swiftly joining him. Before we know it though, the song turns on its heels again as a nightmarish, prog-like synth motif possesses the song and sends all into a downward spiral of equal parts euphoria and delirium.

Elsewhere, the likes of ‘No Good Things’ pairs the filthiest bass sound you’ve ever heard with a shuffling, playful xylophone-like synth refrain and haunting baritone vocals before collapsing in on itself as underneath colossal guitar riffs and black metal blast beats.

‘Alt Vi Kan Ge Ar Upp’ (All We Can Give Is Up) is as cutting, angular and cathartic as the song’s title suggests. A relentless 3/4 groove all but trips over itself as the growl of guitars builds to breaking point and the track spills into a half-time doom waltz with soaring bittersweet pipe organ melodies and a harrowed vocal lament colliding to briefly create something staggeringly beautiful before crumbling into its separate parts and melting away to nothing…

Blodsträngen is Blessings fine-tuning their deliberately dissonant sound whilst simultaneously casting their net wide for ever more left-field, experimental influences; a disparate collection of idiosyncrasies that the band somehow manage to pull into something cohesive, captivating and empowering. The band leave the messages and meanings behind their music open to interpretation as a means of sharing this attitude of openness with their audience because remember, when all is said and done, all that matters is all playing disgustingly loud music together in a room.

Blessings are:

Fredrik Karlsson
Mattias Rasmusson
Johan G. Winther
Erik Skytt

Blessings online: 
INSTAGRAM • FACEBOOK • SPOTIFY • BANDCAMP

Side A
1. Raised On Graves
2. Strings of Red
3. Clean
Side B
4. No Good Things
5. Alt Vi Kan Ge Ar Upp
6. Copper + Dirt
7. Through Veils of Glass and Silica

Renowned for their signature blend of uplifting yet melancholic progressive pop metal, Australia’s national treasures Voyager have returned after an unplanned hiatus. In a turbulent twist of events following the band’s post-Eurovision success, the upwards trajectory of the band took an unexpected downturn in September 2023, with vocalist Danny Estrin being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. 

Having undergone a significant amount of treatment since then, the future of Voyager was always uncertain. The band cancelled all international touring plans, and for a while it was uncertain if Danny would even be able to sing again. The sense of universal devastation felt for Danny and the band was palpable, and the outpouring of love and support from Voyager’s longtime and newfound fans provided solace in challenging times. 

Now, Voyager return, with new single 'Seen Better Days'.

Stream: https://listen.voyagerau.com/seenbetterdays
Watch: https://youtu.be/I69IhlRlLAY

'Seen Better Days' is a song borne out of the adversity that Danny and the band have faced these past 18 months, and it breathes new life and a new outlook for the band, whose strength and determination knows no bounds. Nobody knows what the future holds, but the present holds new music, and this song is a powerful reminder of the vulnerability of life.

Danny says this about the song:

“Difficult times yield dark music. It won't come as a surprise that 'Seen Better Days' is a personal account of the 18 months of hell, through chemotherapy, radiation and surgery that I have endured. Embracing the beautiful love and support I have received from friends, family and fans while often putting on a brave face in the horrid abyss of stage 4 cancer is no easy feat, so I felt it was right to put it to words and music. Somehow as brutally vulnerable as the song is, it still maintains an uplifting melancholy and, despite its crushing ending, manages a breath of optimism through the bleakness... after all, life is beautiful.”

In January 2025, Voyager returned to the stage for a brief 15 minute performance at the Rugby SVNS in Perth. This performance reignited the love for performing live, and allowed Danny to regain the faith in his ability to locally return to the stage in between treatments.

Voyager have now announced that they will perform two live shows in their hometown Perth this coming June/July and have announced the following dates:

21 June 2025 - Rosemount Hotel  (All Ages Family show, under 18’s to be accompanied by an adult)
4 July 2025 - Magnet House 

Tickets are on sale now: https://listen.voyagerau.com/voyagerperth25

Voyageronline:

Instagram https://instagram.com/voyagerau 

Facebook https://facebook.com/voyageraustralia 

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/voyageraustralia 

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/16fltNcwTM5V9rnxIlcha4?si=z-RAbUTnTOCEytOFXCRPNw 

Voyager are:

Danny Estrin - Vocals and Keytar
Simone Dow - Guitars
Scott Kay - Guitars
Ashley Doodkorte - Drums
Alex Canion - Bass

Illustration credit - Kate Kaznadey @ipelagus 

Additional graphic work - Ash Doodkorte

Photo Credit: Arne Beschorner

Fiery punk, indie rock band PLAIINS present 'Sports Bar', the second single of their debut album which will be released this summer via Long Branch Records. 

Stream 'Sports Bar' here: https://plaiins.lnk.to/sportsbar

PLAIINS have been on a steamroller since their inception in late 2020. Already playing with the likes of ITCHY, Cold Years, LEAP, Press Club and many more, the band bring a unique blend of British punk, indie and rock, pulling inspiration from the likes of IDLES, Hives, Soft Play, Bad Nerves, The Streets and Viagra Boys. PLAIINS have already released over twenty songs to date regularly hitting the top playlists on Spotify since the beginning as well as features on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing and there’s no stopping their momentum. 

"'Sports Bar' is a tongue in cheek poke about sports fanaticism," comments singer Chris Reardon. "I don't know how the concept was developed, the opening verse and chorus just spilled out. By the time it was written, I read through the lyrics and was laughing to myself. This happens a lot when writing, they come very in the moment and I just let it flow and not second guess what it's about or where its going. I just trust the creative process and what's coming out. We finessed the lyrics all together later, and one of the goals with this song was there had to "LOL" moments and had to paint the picture in the way of a caricature. The imagery I had in my mind is like a cover of a Tom Sharpe book. The illustrator is an artist called Paul Sample, one of my favourites, and I wanted the lyrics to have that over the top feeling but also comment on something a little more poignant underneath. We leaned more on our love of indie and garage rock on this track, bands like The White Stripes and Arctic Monkeys but pushing the almost rap like vocals from the likes of Mike Skinner from The Streets. He's been a constant inspiration, those first two albums, wow! Desert island discs for me. At the very end of the song I came up with in the studio whilst we were recording, I wanted to end the song with a kind of pub-like end of night drunken lullaby. You know when everyone's battered arm-in-arm and got their half filled pint glasses in the air and everyone's singing like it's their last days on earth. Although 'Sports Bar' is a little poke, there's something beautiful about the sense of community and passion for a sports club and I wanted to end the song with a tip of the cap to that."

PLAIINS hit you like a freight train - songs full of power and character, craziness and energy. Founded by singer Chris amidst the pandemic PLAIINS are growing on the soil made fertile by bands like IDLES, QOTSA and Turnstile. Since the release of their debut single 'The Wolf' in March 2022, Dizzy, Flo, Timon and Chris have racked up tons of streams, been featured in major editorial playlists on all important platforms (All New Rock, All New Punk etc) and been a recurring guest on big radio stations like BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing and RBB Fritz.

PLAIINS are:
Chris Reardon - Vocals, Guitars
Timon Lanzinger - Bass
David Suhlrie - Drums
Florian Kaninck - Guitars

PLAIINS online:
https://www.tiktok.com/@plaiinsband
https://www.facebook.com/plaiinsband
https://www.instagram.com/plaiinsband_
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3gUHDc3I3G1bFRElrj90fR?si=cIPo71aqRg-Cr_gHw_3svQ