Texas-raised, Nashville-based Country duo Smithfield have today announced multiple headline UK shows, in addition to their appearance at the British Country Music Festival in Blackpool. Their anticipated return will see them playing in London, Newcastle, York, Birmingham and Selsey.
“We have been anxious to make it back to the UK since our performances at C2C London 2023,” shares Smithfield. “We’ll never forget the welcome and warmth we received from the UK crowd and how deeply we felt that our music was appreciated. We’re excited to bring our music to several different cities this time and hopefully make a lot of new fans.
“We are honored that the British Country Music Festival asked us to headline, and we are committed to building our fanbase in the UK for the long-term, and making our British fans feel like part of the Smithfield family. We can’t wait to see you all again, share these songs with you in person, and hopefully meet a lot of you for the first time.”
The duo shared their latest single ‘Let You’ on Friday, the follow up to ‘Giving Up On Us’, released in March. Both songs give fans a taste of their forthcoming project, due for release later in the year. The new single – a playful, up-tempo track about finally giving in to undeniable chemistry, co-written by the duo (Jenn Fielder and Trey Smith) with GRAMMY-nominee Karen Kosowski and Emma D Ashlee, and produced by Smith.
An established name in the US Country scene with 150M+ global streams, 40 Grand Ole Opry appearances and a regular fixture at CMA Fest with their sold-out annual fan parties, Smithfield have been a rising force in music since forming over fourteen years ago. With powerful vocal harmonies and emotionally resonant songwriting, the duo have enjoyed critical acclaim while building a loyal fanbase worldwide.
An established name in the US Country scene with 150M+ global streams, 40 Grand Ole Opry appearances and a regular fixture at CMA Fest with their sold-out annual fan parties, Smithfield have been a rising force in music since forming over fourteen years ago. With powerful vocal harmonies and emotionally resonant songwriting, the duo have enjoyed critical acclaim while building a loyal fanbase worldwide.
30 August 2026 – The Crown Inn & Pub – Selsey, United Kingdom 4 September 2026 – Forty-Five Vinyl Cafe – York, United Kingdom 5 September 2026 – Rodeo’s BBQ – Birmingham, United Kingdom 6 September 2026 – British Country Music Festival, Blackpool, United Kingdom 7 September 2026 – The Cluny – Newcastle, United Kingdom 9 September 2026 – St. Pancras Old Church – London, United Kingdom 11 September 2026 – Nashville Nights Songwriter’s Festival – Odense, Denmark
Tickets for Newcastle are on sale now, while Birmingham and London go on sale this Friday. You can purchase tickets here!
Hella Rock Festival returns on September 5th, 2026 with a powerful and deeply personal announcement, confirming Phil Campbell’s Bastard Sons as this year’s headliners.
The appearance carries added significance, as legendary Phil Campbell was originally scheduled to headline before his passing in March earlier this year. Now, his sons Dane, Todd and Tyla will take to the stage to honour his legacy, delivering a high-energy tribute to his work with Motörhead in what promises to be one of the most unforgettable moments in the festival’s history.
“We knew straight away this year had to mean more, losing Phil Campbell hit the whole rock community hard, and we’ve worked closely with his family to make sure this is done right. Having his sons headline, alongside having Phil’s rig on display and backdrops from previous tours around the venue, means this isn’t just another show – it’s a celebration of his legacy, his music, and everything he stood for. Thus year is for Phil, and it’s for all the Motörhead and PCATBAS fans out there”
Hella Rock Festival is also proud to announce a new partnership with Road Crew Beer, bringing even more rock ‘n’ roll spirit to this year’s event. alongside the main stage chaos, 2026 will see the introduction of a second stage, the Road Crew Stage, dedicated to stripped-back acoustic sets, offering fans a more intimate side of the artists while still keeping the volume loud where it counts!
While tickets are going fast, there are still some available. Grab them while you still can here!
Just a few days after Charlotte Wessels and her band returned from their biggest tour to date with Epica and Amaranthe, she reveals that she will be taking The Obsession on their first headline tour in 2027, spanning major cities across Europe and the United Kingdom! Not only that, but joining her will be Melissa Bonny, vocalist of modern metal outfit AD INFINITUM!
The tour will kick off on February 4, 2027, in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, and conclude on February 27, 2027, in Charlotte’s hometown of Utrecht, the Netherlands. The full list of dates can be found below. Be sure to grab your tickets quickly at https://charlottewessels.nl/tour/
04.02.27 BE – Sint-Niklaas / Casino 05.02.27 UK – London / Islington Assembly Hall 06.02.27 UK – Glasgow / Slay 07.02.27 UK – Manchester / Club Academy 09.02.27 FR – Paris / La Machine Du Moulin Rouge 10.02.27 CH – Zurich / Komplex Klub 12.02.27 IT – Milan / Legend Club 13.02.27 DE – Munich / Backstage Halle 14.02.27 CZ – Zlín / Masters of Rock Cafe 15.02.27 AT – Vienna / Szene Wien 17.02.27 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra 18.02.27 PL – Krakow / Hype Park 19.02.27 DE – Leipzig / Werk 2 20.02.27 DE – Hamburg / Gruenspan 21.02.27 DK – Copenhagen / Pumpehuset 23.02.27 DE – Berlin / Lido 25.02.27 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal 26.02.27 DE – Essen / Weststadthalle 27.02.27 NL – Utrecht / TivoliVredenburg Ronda
Charlotte Wessels on the tour:
“After the unforgettable Arcane Dimensions tour with Epica and Amaranthe, announcing our own headline tour across Europe feels surreal. It’s such an emotional next chapter. The energy we’ve shared with all of you over the past months has been incredible, and we can’t wait to take that even further, with longer sets, new songs, and deeper moments together every night. Finishing the tour in my hometown Utrecht, at TivoliVredenburg – Ronda, is something I’m especially proud of and looking forward to.”
Charlotte Wessels’ latest release, The Obsession (2024), has been widely praised for its dynamic range, artistic growth, and emotional depth. Ever Metal highlighted its “skyscraper melodies” and Wessels’ “masterful vocals,” while Blabbermouth noted the album’s impressive variety. Louder Sound described it as “an auspicious and metallicized spin on her dark fairytale aesthetic,” while Metal Sucks called it “a transcendent collection of moving yet forceful and complex compositions,” further cementing her reputation as a versatile and evolving artist. You can even check out our review of it here!
For more than 50 years, George Thorogood and The Destroyers have remained one of the most consistent—and consistently passionate—progenitors of blues-based rock. And no one knows that better than the millions of fans who’ve seen them live. Formed in 1973 by guitarist, singer, and songwriter George Thorogood and drummer Jeff Simon, the Delaware-based band honed their sound on stages across the Northeast, building a devoted word-of-mouth following through their high-energy performances and blistering grooves.
The band have announced the final tourof the UK, as part of The Baddest Show on Earthtour of North America and Europe. There will be just two shows:Monday 29th June 2026 at University of Wolverhampton at the Civic Hall, followed by Tuesday 30th June 2026 at indigo at The O2 in London.
Speaking about The Baddest Show on Earth, Thorogood says, “When the lights go down, the downbeat hits and the audience erupts; all bets are off. The Destroyers are at their best when we play for the people, and these are some of our favourite—and rarest—performances from the past five decades. You wanted the baddest, you got it.”
Today, George Thorogood and The Destroyer – which currently consists of Jeff Simon (drums, percussion), Bill Blough (bass guitar), Jim Suhler (rhythm guitar), and Buddy Leach (saxophone)—have played more than 8,000 live shows. Career highlights include their record-breaking 50 States in 50 Dates tour in 1981; numerous high-profile tours alongside The Rolling Stones, Sammy Hagar, and ZZ Top, among others; over 15 million albums sold worldwide; plus landmark performances at Live Aid and Saturday Night Live.
Rock ‘n’ rollers Tuk Smith & the Restless Hearts are pleased to share a string of 2026 tour dates this summer. The 7-date stint will see them kick things off at Maid Of Stone festival before taking in the sights of London, Southampton, Wolverhampton, Leeds, Glasgow, and an as-yet-unannounced show. This follows a busy 2025 from the band, touring with Danko Jones and blessing Planet Rockstock with their Nashville-tinged melodies and riffs!
Mr Smith himself shared:
“I’ve always had a special place in my heart for the UK ever since I first started playing here a decade ago with my previous band. This is my first proper UK tour as a solo artist and I’m just as excited now as I was back then!”
In case you missed it, Tuk also put out an incredible EP just last year! We loved it, and you want to buy it, find it here!
Tuk Smith is the kind of rock ’n’ roll ambassador you didn’t think existed anymore. Punk maverick from rural Georgia, Biters frontman, producer and solo artist, he’s seen the best and worst of a music industry in constant flux. By turns it’s left him critically acclaimed, poised for stadiums, dropped, burned out, back in the game and beloved by those for whom rock is still everything. Now based in Nashville, and with his own label Gypsy Rose Records, he creates from a more real place than most.
“I want to do something that means something to people,” Tuk says, “because a lot of shit nowadays is so disposable and so plastic. I just don’t connect with that. I’d like to do things that impact people positively. It’s a weird time on the planet, so to have songs about hope, but not be cheesy about it, it’s something I think we need with songwriting. That’s the kind of music I want to hear.”
Again, there’s that dichotomy he speaks of. “Rock ’n’ roll is essentially the illusion of not giving a fuck, right? Like, you know Axl Rose was doing sit-ups and jump rope, and Paul Stanley was on a cardio machine, and they come out and act like it just happens. The point is I sit at that piano many hours, working on this stuff.”
A pretty stacked week as always this week, with everything from rock to country to metalcore. Let’s check it all out!
Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories
The legendary rock band are back with their 16th studio album. The gap between the last two albums was a whopping 19 years, so it’s so nice to see the band clearly finding their passion for writing again, returning with another only four years later. And, what’s even better… it’s good! Is it as good as some of their best work? Not quite. But for a band that are going on six decades at this, they are doing a phenomenal job. Buck and Eric’s vocals still sound just as great together as they did in the 70s, and come up with some awesome, catchy vocal hooks and melodies. Tracks like ‘Cherry’, ‘Soul Jive’ and the jazzy ‘Shot in the Dark’ are personal highlights. Heck, we even get a great punk track with ‘Kick Out the Jams’. However, honestly, there isn’t a bad track on the album. It’s great, fun, chilled out soft-bluesy rock, and if you’re a fan of the band already you’ll love it, I’m sure! It probably won’t make our Best Albums of 2024 list, but it’s a damn good album and one the band should be damn proud of after all these years. 8/10
Tyler Hubbard: Stronger
We’ve already reviewed this album! Check it out here!
Mark Knopfler: One Deep River
I’ve been a fan of the Dire Straits frontman for years at this point. Not to age him drastically (heck, not that he’ll read this), but my Grandad is a big fan of the man and passed on that fandom to me in my early teens. And, being not only a soft rock fan, but a wannabe guitarist in a blues-rock inspired band, of course said fandom continues to this day. And the album was exactly what I was expecting; chilled-out rock music filled with incredible guitar work and some awesome vocal lines. I enjoyed it all, but standout tracks were definitely ‘Scavenger Yard’ and ‘Before my Train Comes’. Honestly, I don’t really have much else to say about the album. As I said, if you know Mar’s work, you’ll know exactly what to expect heading into it. It’s slower, lower-energy Dire Straits. If that’s your sort of thing, you’ll like this, just like I did. However, I know it certainly isn’t for everyone. Still, it’s an easy 7/10 from me!
Kris Barras Band: Halo Effect
The UK rock frontman (and former cage fighter, bet you didn’t know that?!) Kris Barras and his band are back with their fifth album. I’ve been a fan of his work for a while now, ever since ‘Hail Mary’ came out and hooked me in. So, know this comes from a place of love when I say… this is fine. Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly some good songs, and some that stand out the more I listen to them. The foot-stomping ‘With You’, anthemic ‘Reflections’ and the almost power metal single ‘Secrets’ are all clear favourites of mine. However, there is so much music out these days that sounds like this that it risks getting lost in the shuffle a little. The heavier NWOCR sound, Alter Bridge/Black Stone Cherry mixed with early 2000s dad/butt rock, is being done very well by so many bands at the minute. Whether it’s Those Damn Crows, Florence Black or Stone Broken, or so many other bands not in the UK, there is tonnes of this style that is great. And this is also great, don’t get me wrong, but does it stack up to some of the best? Potentially not.
It’s growing on me more with subsequent listens, don’t get me wrong, but I’m going to struggle to work out what score to give it. The riffs are awesome and go hard from start to finish, Kris’s vocals are as good as ever, and it does have some massive, catchy choruses. I hate to be THAT fan, but I did find myself enjoying their older, more blues-oriented sound. It set them apart from the pack a little more while this just sounds like everything else. Still, again, it’s not a bad album, and I’ll most likely be listening to a good few of the songs a fair bit moving forward. 7.5/10
Imminence: The Black
The metalcore Swedes are back with their first album in three years. I have to admit, I am very much in two minds with it. When it goes hard and gets heavy, I love it. Tracks like ‘Desolation’ and ‘?’ are amazing thanks to the heavy guitars and brutal screams. Even when the vocals get cleaner in parts of the tracks, it still has a heavy edge to it all. Heck, ‘Heaven Shall Burn’ is essentially a deathcore song. The strings in it were also an excellent touch. However, other tracks, such as the opener or ‘Death By a Thousand Cuts’, suffer the knock-on effect of Bad Omens’ Tik Tok popularity. Don’t get me wrong, variety isn’t an issue and is even encouraged. However, I’m not a fan of the kinda winey, radio-bait sound of these songs, Bad Omens and BMTH’s modern stuff. I’m sure I am in the minority with that opinion, given the popularity of the style, but give me heavy or give me nothing, please! Heck, even just a more interesting ballad would have been nice!
Still, there is certainly enough on here that I liked and to keep me entertained. There are a good number of songs that I’ll certainly have on a lot in the coming weeks and months. However, as an album as a whole, it isn’t for me. If you are into any of the bands I previously listed though or that lighter, more atmospheric/pop end of metalcore, this will certainly be for you! 7/10
Týr: Battle Ballads
I never feel like there’s enough Viking metal on this page, so damn am I excited to inject some more into it! The bands ninth studio album goes just has hard as their last few does. The first release after the critically acclaimed live album A Night at the Nordic House, it had to pull out all the stops, and that’s exactly what this does. Right from the intro it is epic, folky heavy metal music, and I loved it until the very last minute. Tracks like ‘Unwandered Ways’, ‘Hangman’ and the title track are all massive highlights. Also, big shoutout to the beautiful ballad sung in their native tongue, ‘Torkils Døtur’, it’s awesome.
Don’t go into this expecting Amon Amarth as it’s certainly lighter than that, more of a NWOBHM meets power metal vibe. However, it certainly channels a similar energy and epicness and passion. It’s a solid album from start to finish and one that I will most certainly be listening to again. Now I just need to hear all of these live with an orchestra behind them, too. I’m not asking for much! 8/10, this was great!
Gun: Hombres
The British hard rockers have certainly enjoyed one hell of a career resurgence in recent years, thanks in large part to being an adopted uncle/godfather to the ever-growing NWOCR scene. This album certainly continues their impressive run of momentum. It’s a great album that perfectly fuses the modern sound and style with that of the 80s sleazy hard rock that inspired them. The Axl Rose-inspiration is clear in the vocals, as is Slash’s in the guitaring, while it also has a touch of the likes of Motley Crue and Love/Hate, but all modernised to fit with the current sounds. Honestly, it sounds like a new version of UYI-I, or what Chinese Democracy should have sounded like.
Tracks like ‘Take me Back Home’, ‘Lucky Guy’ and the very British ballad, ‘You Are What I Need’ are all perfect examples of what I mean, and are all big highlights of the album. However, the more I listen to the album, the more I fall in love with every track. There is a lot to love on this album, and there really isn’t a bad track on it. Being a fan of the band for a while, I can confidently say that this is up there amongst my favourite albums from them. Any rock fans should check this out, they certainly won’t be disappointed! I’m gonna be cranking this a lot in the coming weeks and months. 9/10, great stuff!
Tom Killner: Borrowed Time
British blues guitarist/singer/legend Tom Killner is back with his third studio album, and first in over half a decade! It certainly doesn’t feel that long ago, but also feels like a long time coming. I’ve been waiting rather impatiently since it was announced last year, so can’t wait to finally be hearing it in full!
It’s an awesome, chilled out rock album, that has a hell of a lot more to offer than basic blues. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of that too, on tracks like the opener and recent single ‘Light it Up’. However, tracks like ‘One Day at a Time’ have a more chilled-out, almost easy listening feel. Then ‘On the Other Side’ and ‘Borrowed Time’ have definite Lynyrd Synyrd/Blackberry Smoke country vibes combined with the blues, too. All the songs mentioned previously are certainly highlights. However, there isn’t a bad song on the album, and the whole thing is one big highlight, honestly. It’s clear a lot of love and dedication was put into this album, and I can’t fault it at all. I’m on my third listen through already this weekend which, given how much else I have to listen to, is a real testament to how great this release is. If you’re a rock, blues or country fan, or even if not, check this out, you won’t be disappointed! I have to. It’s an easy 10/10!
ERNEST: NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
The country superstar is back with his third record, and first in two years. Settle in, ladies and gents, it’s another long country album! It’s 26 tracks, nearly an hour-and-a-half, and honestly a little bit of a mixed bag. I’m a big fan of Jelly Roll, but damn if the opening track that features him isn’t just straight cringe. And the variety in the sounds, while good and greatly appreciated in this long of a release, does come across more of a ‘I used to write songs for others and haven’t quite found my own sound yet’ case. The song he does with Morgan Wallen, ‘Hangin’ On’, for example, just sounds like another Morgan song. Then again, his duet with Lainey Wilson is beautiful, and he and HARDY do a really interesting cover of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’. And the more upbeat, quirky tracks on here, like ‘Why Dallas’ and ‘Smokin’ Gun’, are definite album highlights. However, there is a LOT to this album, and a fair number of the tracks towards the back end are covers. I’d have much preferred he cut some of them out, did an EP or something with them instead, then load everything he had in the studio into one long release. It’s not a bad album at all, and if you’re into the more radio-style of country music, you’ll find plenty to enjoy. I just don’t think it’s anywhere near as consistent as it could be. 7/10
Another week of awesome new music for us to check out here at Overtone. You know the drill by now, read on!
PVRIS: EVERGREEN
Charlotte: Defying the idea an artist must remain within the boundaries of one genre, PVRIS’ EVERGREEN strikes the balance between gritty electro-pop-rock and pulsing synth sounds, some of which are reminiscent of Demi Lovato’s album HOLY FVXK (maybe it’s a capital letter thing?). The album switches between its rage-fuelled dance beat, confrontational and catchy lyrics, and cathartic instrumentation. Every song on EVERGREEN stands as it’s own work of art, but the songs are positioned in a way so that the album flows through the emotions – taking the listener on a journey through frustration, anger, power and release. 8/10
Voyager: Fearless in Love
Eurovision 2023 contenders and Australian prog rock titans Voyager released their eighth studio album last week. After ‘Promise’ was shown off to the world and exploded after the contest, the anticipation for the album was pretty high.
I would say, for the most part, it does live up to that hype. I do have to say, it’s not particularly my sort of thing. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great riffs throughout, and the breakdowns are a lot of fun. However, the heavy emphasis on the synth and 80s pop vocal melodies got a little old after a few tracks. It’s definitely an interesting contrast that has no right working as well as it does. It just simply didn’t do a lot for me. I also don’t think it helps that all 11 tracks sound pretty similar.
Still, there are a couple of highlights on the album, for sure. Of course their Eurovision track and big single ‘Promise’ is very good. Also, ‘Ultraviolet’ is amazing, in large parts to guest Sean Harmanis. If you’re into the style of music, it’s a damn good album. However, for me, it’s more of a 7/10.
Kim Dracula: A Gradual Decline in Morale
One of the most eagerly anticipated debut albums in recent memory, Kim Dracula has been gaining a lot of buzz from TikTok and YouTube. Their unique blend of industrial and nu metal with modern pop has garnered them a lot of attention, and everyone has been waiting impatiently for this release.
It’s… it’s certainly an album. The first thing I noticed was the arrangement didn’t work. A dark, sinister build-up for an opening track leads into a RHCP-esque funk bassline to begin ‘My Confession’ which felt very jarring. The track itself in general is a mess, going from that to a lazy Disturbed reference and then into generic pop music. The chorus is okay and feels pretty Papa Roach, before we get an awful harsh vocalled trap verse. But then the breakdown is good after that. See what I mean about the mess?
‘Luck is a Fine Thing’ feels like a blend of Panic! At the Disco, Faith No More and generic radio metal, while tracks like ‘Superhero’ and ‘Divine Retribution’ are trap-filled oddness. There are entertaining parts of a lot of the tracks; the Korn inspired scatting bits, the breakdowns and the funk sections are all a lot of fun. Even the trap stuff was fun. And there is no denying Kim’s talents at all. However, the styles just don’t mesh well, in my opinion. I admire the creativity, but it doesn’t work. It also feels like it’s trying a little too hard to be edgy, given the lyrical content. It’s clearly inspired by late 90s hip hop and the likes of Marilyn Manson, yet it feels like it is trying too hard to be different and controversial, a bid to gain more popularity instead of spread a message.
I’ll definitely be giving it more listens for the rest of the year, I’m sure. I completely get why it’s getting a lot of buzz, and I really want to like it. The singles like ‘Make Me Famous’ and ‘Drown’ are great and definite highlights. However, as a whole, the album feels incoherent and messy. 4/10, but it may go up by the end of the year!
Evile: The Unknown
This was very unexpected right from the offset. I was a big fan of this band as a kid, being a thrasher and all. I even did an in-depth review of their comeback album for my previous employer. Though I remember enjoying it, I remember finding it rather similar throughout the whole album, as well as to their previous work.
Right from the opening track, this felt and sounded different. It’s slower, groovier and more atmospheric. It is still thrashy and Evile, but feels fresh and different, a very entertaining quality! It’s really hard to pick a highlight track or two because of this, too. All 10 tracks are fantastic and showcase a varied, interesting and very fun side of the band. Having said the, though, the proggy, epic ‘When Mortal Coils Shed’ is excellent and maybe my favourite song the band have ever done. The Slayer and Metallica influences shine through so much with it, it’s amazing.
The whole album is stellar, though. If you are into thrash or just heavy metal in any capacity, you will find something to love on this album. 9/10
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real: Sticks and Stones
Owen: Lukas Nelson and his band Promise of the Real released their eighth studio album this week, titled Sticks and Stones. The 12 tracks are a country rock party from start to end. Chronicling some of the best nights of drinking and debauchery the members of the group have had. Each track brings something new. ‘Every time I drink’ introduces an old honky tonk piano to underpin the entire track. ‘Alcohallelujah’ pulls on the sound of gospel as you may expect from the title. ‘More than Friends’ enlists the help of Lainey Wilson to bring you a classic call and response duet.
As the son of Willie Nelson some may have expected Lukas to ride his fathers coat tails but eight studio albums have certainly cemented his place in the modern country scene regardless of his famous dad. Sticks and Stones will have you up and dancing from start until end, a testament to the talent of the Nelson family. 8/10
Project Renegade: Ultra Terra
A band I am rather familiar with after doing a reaction to them a few months ago. The band’s sophomore album promises to go even bigger than its predecessor, and from the singles so far it seems like it should be another great listen.
Kicking things off with the heavy, industrial ’23’ was a fantastic idea. It shows off what Project Renegade do best; heavy riffs, catchy choruses and amazing vocals. And it does it all to perfection. Meanwhile ‘The Millennium March’ is more of a power metal ballad that is rather emotional and meaningful. Singles ‘The Fix is In’ and ‘Bloodwitch’ are two more obvious highlights. Honestly though, there isn’t a bad track on the album, and it’s really well structured and put together.
It reminds me of the likes of Phoenix Lake or Stormbound (links to both reviews can be found hereand here). I’m honestly loving this modern sound of power/industrial metal, especially with powerful female vocals fronting it. 8.5/10, this is great!
Duane Betts: Wild & Precious Life
This country debut is a hell of a lot of fun. After a few years away from releasing music, Duane returned this year with a trio of singles leading up to this full-length release. His first new music since his debut EP in 2018 ups his game, too. It’s very good. Right from the first few notes of ‘Evergreen’, you know it’s going to be a relaxing, summery country rock album, and that feeling continues throughout. Singles ‘Waiting on a Song’, ‘Saints to Sinners’ and ‘Stare at the Sun’ are all amazing tracks and were the right choice to release first, they reflect Duane’s sound and talent perfectly. His guitaring is great, technical and full of feeling, and his vocals have a surprising air of Mick Jagger to them.
If you want an album to chill out to and admire some incredible guitaring, then look no further than this. Again, there isn’t a bad track on the album, and Duane certainly has a new fan in me! 8/10
After logistical issues stopped us last week, we’ve returned with a bumper double week of New Music Mondays, featuring the music from the last couple of weeks! Check it out with us below!
Queens of the Stone Age: In Times New Roman…
Controversial opinion time: I’m not a QOTSA fan. Sure, Songs for the Deaf is a good album. And yes, there are a couple of good tracks spread between their other albums (usually the opening tracks). But I don’t get why they have gotten as big as they have gotten. I do think it’s due to who’s in the band as opposed to the songs they write.
This new album didn’t really catch my attention at all. There wasn’t a ‘My God is the Sun’ or ‘The Way You Used to Do’ on here. It all felt kinda B-side from start to finish. Nothing stood out to me at all, even the singles seemed simple, mid-tempo and uninspired. I at least commend them for going back to the more grungy, sludgy desert rock sound over the more pop-oriented former album, but Villains definitely had more highlights. Lead single ‘Emotion Sickness’ was at least the right call as it’s the best track on the album, but it doesn’t live up to former singles from their previous three albums.
If you’re a fan of the band you’ll probably find a lot more to like than I do. I just feel like desert rock was perfected a fair time ago now by the likes of Masters of Reality and, ironically, Kyuss, that this feels like a bland rehash. Even as an only slight fan, I know they’ve done better than this before. 4/10
King Gizzard and the Lizzard Wizard: PetroDragonic Apocalypse…
Owen: After their 2019 album Infest the Rats Nest fans of King Gizz have been eagerly awaiting the bands return to thrash and stoner metal. PetroDragonic Apocalypse will not disappoint for those fans. The 7 tracks released this month showcase some of the best of the groups abilities. Similar to their previous exploration of these genres, the focus is on environmental ruin. Taking it a step further, the lyrics describe mayhem and chaos at the hands of large Godzilla-like creatures. Fans may have wanted to hear that there were more than 7 tracks being offered on this newest release but when you consider only one track is sub 5 minutes and 3 of them nearly hit the 10 minute mark, there’s more than enough to sink your teeth into here. All eyes are on the Australian outfit to see what they do next, being unpredictable in genre and releases to keep us all on our toes. 8.5/10
Chris Janson: The Outlaw Side of Me
The country singer returned with his fifth studio album just over a year after his last. I have to admit I knew the name but not really the music. After hearing this, I’m kicking myself, as it’s an awesome album! Opener ‘Rowdy Gentle Man’ is a blues rock ‘n roll shot in the arm and a great choice to start with. It set the tone for the album well as well as ‘Honkytonk Minute’ is a similar feel. Meanwhile the title track feels a little slower and darker, reminding me of the current pop-rock-country sound. It was awesome. Then single ‘All I Need Is You’ is a slower, radio ballad, and a damn good one at that. Following that is the guy that is feating on every country this year, Brantley Gilbert. ‘Hank the Hell out of the Honkytonk’ is another up-tempo blues rock banger, and Brantley fits in well.
Honestly the tracks following those were also awesome, but those first five tracks were something special. It’s so nice to hear a country album in 2023 that, for the most part, keeps the pace and energy high throughout. Don’t get me wrong, there are four more ballady tracks here, but for the most part they are spread out, aside for the closing two (the final track doesn’t count, fight me). Oh, and did I mention one of them, ’21 Forever’ features Dolly Parton AND Slash?! Another awesome song! And for the first time in a while, a mainstream country album doesn’t feel like it drags. The 13 tracks and 45-minutes go by in a flash. That’s the real testament to how much I enjoyed it. 8.5/10, this was awesome and he has a new fan in me!
So a Japanese experimental rock band teamed up with a New York industrial metal band, and this is their love-child. Honestly, I think the most flattering thing I can say is that I can actually hear both bands. The bands clearly wear their sound and influences on their sleeve as I can hear both styles throughout. And, they both blend together surprisingly well. Somehow the end product ends up sounding like a heavier, dirtier and messier crossover thrash style.
Now, don’t get me wrong, sitting down and listening to it from front to back was an interesting, enjoyable experience. However, I don’t think I’d really ever do it again. It’s a fantastic art piece and I’ve added a couple of tracks to my playlist, ‘No’ and ‘Endless Death Agony’. However, even at 32-minutes it feels too chaotic to do often. I’m clearly too much of a sucker for a radio sound! Still, 7.5/10, that was cool!
Gov’t Mule: Peace… Like a River
Southern prog rock… interesting. They are also classed as a Jam band which always feels like ‘we play live in the studio and just keep going until one of us stops’. Regardless, this was a lot of fun. It had elements of Dave Mathews Band and Yes, while also having enough southern swagger to match up to the likes of Molly Hatchett and Black Crowes. Heck, I even heard a healthy amount of Deep Purple and The Doors in here at times. They even got The Reverend himself to feature on ‘Shake Our Way Out’. His signature drawl was the perfect addition to the track and it was easily a highlight of the album. Some of the rest was a little too drawn out and prog for me, but ‘After the Storm’ was another definite highlight.
If you’re into the more experimental side of southern and early blues rock, you’ll find a lot to like here. I’d LOVE to see it live, but on track my easily-wandering mind gets too distracted. Still, 8/10, this was awesome!
Vexed: Negative Energy
We actually have a review of this coming out tomorrow. It’s good! Check it out once it’s up here!
Jake Owen: Loose Cannon
The first of the second week, Jake’s seventh album was out last Friday. More country; a heavy couple of weeks for the genre, probably due to the time of year (?). This did the exact opposite of Chris Janson. 50-minutes and 16 tracks of slowwww. Tracks like the cheesy ‘On The Boat Again’ and ‘When it All Shakes Out’ are at least upbeat, and ‘Hearts and Habits’ is a little darker and rockier and is an easy highlight. However, for its length, a LOT of it is slow acoustic stuff. Jake’s another artist that I’m sure would win me over live, but on track it isn’t my sort of thing. Heck, it’s not exactly written for metalheads like me, lets be honest! There’s some good ballads spread throughout but it feels generally pretty average. So… 5/10
Wooden Shadow: Eternal Land of Wrath and Mourn
Owen: This is the debut album for Finnish black metal project Wooden Shadow. Taking influence from melodic death metal and black metal, as well as folk music from Finnish culture. Having already released a handful of singles and an EP, this debut album showcases the broad talent of the one man behind it all. 23 year old Jeremia Ponto is at the helm of Wooden Shadow, recording, writing, and performing the tracks all by himself in his home studio in Ylöjärvi. Stand out tracks for me were ‘Chaosreign’, a brilliant mix of old and new sounds to create something really unique, and ‘Rain of Tears’ with its speedy percussion and sense of impending doom. For a debut album, Eternal Land of Wrath and Mourn is an impressive selection of tracks, and I, for one, am looking forward to what Wooden Shadow can do in the future. 6/10
Pyramaze: Bloodlines
This epic slab of power metal is Pyramaze’s seventh album, and may be their best yet! Right from the huge, symphonic intro/title track, it had me hooked, and didn’t let go until the very last note. Every track flows together like water, it’s almost seamless. And every track is awesome. ‘Taking What’s Mine’, ‘Broken Arrows’ and the epic closer ‘Wolves of the Sea’ are all personal highlights, but again every track is pretty solid. It’s like power metal meets Dream Theater, a combo I didn’t know I needed until just now. It’s also another album that you need to listen to from start to finish. Even though the tracks do work individually still, moreso than others on this list, it all builds through the whole album into the epic finale, giving it a sense of earning. 9/10, more of this please!
Cable Ties: All Her Plans
The Australian punk band returned with their fourth album this last week. It was alright. If you are a fan of the modern underground punk revival you’ll find a lot to love here. I am not particularly one of those people. It reminds me a bit of Wet Leg, and I really don’t get them either! Tracks like ‘Time for You’ and ‘Silos’ were standouts for me. The band are all good at what they do and some of the lyrics were great. But this wasn’t for me. At least it was only 9 tracks! 4.5/10
Royal Thunder: Rebuilding the Mountain
This was really hard to pin down to a genre. There were definitely elements of prog and psychedelic, but I get why most places just call it hard rock and be done with it. It’s a dark, brooding and very well written piece of music. I feels like it even drags together elements of folk and Americana to it. That, and all I hear times is Tool for some reason.
While this isn’t typically the sort of thing I’d listen to, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think it deserves a front-to-back listen at least once to really appreciate. Because of that, it’s hard to really pick highlight or standout tracks, as it feels like it was written to listen to as a collection. However, ‘The Knife’ felt like it stood out a little more than the others. It’s also more music that I think I’d love a LOT live. 8/10, good stuff.
Krashkarma: Falling to Pieces
Rounding out our bumper two week special is the awesome metalcore duo’s sixth album. Such is the theme this week, I’d not heard about these guys before getting the email through, but damn, this is amazing! Right from the title and opening track, they set the tone of the album perfectly; heavy, melodic and emotional. Niki Skistimas’ vocals have a great touch of Maria Brink to them which works so well with the heavier, faster pace, and Ralf’s harsher vocals provide an amazing contrast.
The band themselves claimed they wanted to ‘showcase what two people can accomplish when they’re fully committed to their craft‘, and I think they’ve done that and then some. The fact that two people have come up with all of this is massively impressive. Tracks like ‘Survive the Afterlife’ and ‘Shut Up’ are also massive highlights of an album full of them. 8.5/10, I’mma have to go back and listen to their older stuff now! And I NEED to see this live!
A quieter week of new music this week with a lot less MASSIVE releases. However, that doesn’t mean it’s any less awesome! Check it all out with us!
Extreme: SIX
After far too long, 15 years to be exact, Extreme return with their highlight anticipated album. One of the most talented bands in the world, they don’t get nearly the credit or praise they deserve. However, this album is phenomenal. I’d expected it from the singles I’d heard, but there really isn’t (nearly) a bad track on it.
It’s rare that an album these days doesn’t have some big epic intro, but here it just gets right down to business with lead single ‘RISE’. Then we reach one of the best tracks the band have ever written, and one of my favourite tracks of the year, ‘#REBEL’. It’s a little cringy lyrically for sure, but it’s massively catchy and the solo is *chef’s kiss*. Honestly, Nuno is just as good as he ever has been, if not somehow even better. And that’s not to take away from the rest of the band either, who are just as good.
Some may dismiss the album after the first four tracks, and I have to admit it was an odd choice to front-load the album with every single one of the singles. ‘SMALL TOWN BEAUTIFUL’ is a cracking ballad and arguably better than the one they used as the single. ‘THICKER THAN BLOOD’ had some cool electronic parts and dynamics to it that made the riff and chorus even bigger and heavier. The album gets a bit slower by the end which is a shame; it would have been nice to have ended with a bang. However, ‘HERE’S TO THE LOSERS’ was a great track and hit home in a horribly self-deprocating way. We just ignore ‘BEAUTIFUL GIRLS’… I don’t mind pop but it was not a good pop song…
Overall, a fantastic return from the band. I really wish we had more from the band as I LOVE every album. But I’ll take what I can get, and this is a good get! 8.5/10
Scar Symmetry: The Singularity (Phase II – Xenotaph)
I feel physically assaulted by that opening. However, fuck me, ‘Chrononautilus’ is a heavy, fast, yet proggy, catchy masterpiece. It’s whiplash in the best way, like a lot of Scar Symmetry’s stuff is.
That is how the vast majority of the proggy melodeath band’s seventh album is. And the fact that this is their first release in nine years is insane. I remember a friend of mine being big into them after Phase I, so this makes me feel old. The odd delay between albums (thanks, Meshuggah) made anticipation high, and from what I can tell, they haven’t disappointed!
While I couldn’t get into them at their last release, I’ve definitely grown to love the heavy stuff a lot more and liked a lot of this. Obvious radio-single ‘Overworld’ is great, ‘Hyperborean Plains’ is a melodic yet insanely heavy masterpiece, and ‘Soulscanner’ is maybe my favourite track on the album.
However, I do get some of the criticism, too. A lot of it does follow a similar format. It’s an hour of repeating tracks. And, given that this album was mainly written in 2016, it does feel a little stale. A lot of bands have done this sort of sound and evolved past it. So while Phase I felt groundbreaking and adventurous, Phase II feels, maybe through no fault of its own, like it’s playing safe. 7/10. Still great, but not quite as groundbreaking as could have been expected.
Godflesh: PURGE
A second album that shouted its track titles at me this week. However, unlike Extreme, I have no idea how to feel about this. Wait, scratch that, I do. I’m not a fan. Honestly, I don’t get it. It’s like a whole album of the messy, weird, decidedly worse parts of Machine Head’s debut album. There’s a few alright riffs and the sporadic-at-best hard vocals sound good. However, everything is drawn out FAR too long. There’s letting a riff breathe, and then there’s creating a six minute track of just that riff like ‘LAZARUS LEPER’. And the WHOLE ALBUM is like this.
Yeah, I don’t get it. I’m sure there are those that do, just like Metal Injection’s review, but it’s not for me. The hip-hop edge to metal was a fun idea in the early 90s, but it feels massively dated these days and has been done better by others. 3/10. I’m sorry, this bored me to tears.
Laura Cantrell: Just Like a Rose: The Anniversary Sessions
The late 90s, early 2000s country sensation (No relation to Jerry, I checked) is back with her first album in nine years. Conceived back in 2020 to mark 20 years since her debut, this album is a celebration of everything she has written and achieved in those two decades.
Opening on a fantastically produced honky-tonk number, ‘Push the Swing’, the album gets off on the perfect foot. Meanwhile tracks like ‘Secret Language’, a beautiful love ballad and a great slower number. Heck, it’s a surprisingly angry album beneath it’s relaxed, chilled country exterior. ‘I’m Gonna Miss This Town’ is a scathing teardown of a hometown in the modern age, while ‘AWM – Bless’ goes after, well, the American White Man. Both are cracking tracks and really show Laura’s amazing songwriting skills. Another massive highlight is her duet with longtime friend Steve Earle in a reimagining of her hit, ‘When the Roses Bloom Again’.
Overall, it’s a great traditional country album. Fans of Laura will know exactly what to expect and will no doubt enjoy it. And general country fans will find plenty to enjoy too! 7.5/10
Agora: Empire
We’ve already covered this awesome album! Check it out here!
Legion of the Damned: The Poison Chalice
Thrash legends Legion of the Damned return with their 13th studio album. It’s pretty much what you’d expect from a thrash/death metal band this late into their careers, too. It’s heavy, fast and a lot of fun. However, much like Dieth’s album last week, it does little of interest that qwe haven’t already hear from the genre in the last three decades. I get not every band is setting out to reinvent the wheel, and tracks like ‘Contamination’ and ‘Retaliation’ were definite highlights and great tracks. It definitely wore thin on me pretty quickly though after I’d heard the first couple of similar tracks. If you’re a big death metal fan, you’ll probably love this. Otherwise, meh.6.5/10
Shakra: Invincible
Owen: Swiss hard rock group Shakra release their new album Invincible this week, a monumental 13th studio album for the band. Like many others around the world, the group’s plans for the last few years have not gone smoothly due to the pandemic. The groups last studio album was actually released in February 2020, right as the world began to lock down. So with an album out and the group ready and raring to get on the road they had to drop tools and rethink. Luckily for us they decided rather than sit and wait for the world to get back on its feet they would carry on writing new music for their fans. This album is the product of these pandemic writing sessions and have taken inspiration from the worldwide panic and feeling that the world was standing still.
Standout tracks include; ‘The Matrix Unfolds’, a high-speed guitar led track showing the band at their best. ‘As I lay down to Sleep’ is a soulful balled allowing vocalist Mark Fox to show off his talent, and ‘House of Rock’ a powerhouse of classic rock showcasing the best of this group. 7/10
Dream Wife: Social Lubrication
I’m sorry for any fans of the band. Or to the band themselves, if they happen to read this. No, I didn’t like this. I think a good 90% of it comes from the vocals, too. It’s very nasally, reminding me of Cerys Mathews in all the worst ways. And the punky screams were grating. The spoken-word kinda delivery half the time also didn’t work for me, but it never has outside of the odd Lou Reed track. And some of the lyrics were really, really cringy (looking at you, ‘Hot’). All of it combined to make a not-so-enjoyable experience from the get go.
Obscure reference time: it reminds me of Zooey Deschanel’s intentionally terrible band in the movie Yes Man.
The rest of the band are actually pretty enjoyable. I like the old-school Arctic Monkeys meets funk-pop thing they have going on. And I also know that this music is definitely not written for me. There are going to be a fair amount of people out there who are huge fans of this band who are going to hate this review. If you like this album, awesome, I’m so glad. But I really struggled to get through it all. 3/10
King Howl: Homecoming
Owen: From the opening few moments, King Howl let you know what you are in for with their newest release, Homecoming. Hailing from Sardinia, the group have taken big inspiration from 1960’s American pop culture which is well reflected in their heavy blues sound. The 11-track album is said to be conceptual, describing the life of a young American protagonist who escapes a secluded small town on a train and encounters the challenges of life on the road.
Honouring the 60’s influences for track 10 the band have covered ‘Gimme Shelter’. The iconic 60’s track fits in well to the rest of the album and its interesting being able to compare the vocals of Pani to the great Mick Jagger, who’s vocals on this track are well imprinted on most peoples memory of the song. It is, however, missing the incredible female soul and gospel aspect originally provided by Mary Clayton for the Stones. It would have been brilliant to hear the band bring in some strong female vocals to pay tribute to this cover. Overall, a solid album from King Howl, I can see this album performing very well live with audiences all over Europe and the US. 7/10
Dayshifter: Hiraeth
So, when I was told about this band all I was told was they were “Melodic Hardcore” and genuinely that is the most fitting explanation of this band possible. They stick to this, and they know they are good at it. From the screams to the swelling chorus and the beautiful melodies that carry across the entire album, it really is something to listen to and it is somewhat reminiscent of Casey with the emotion and hard-hitting lyrics. There’s no wonder that this band has played gigs with Oceans Ate Alaska and Loathe. It is clear that this band wants to develop their craft and continue on to bigger and better things and I genuinely believe that they will within the next five years. 8/10
We caught up with our good friends The Outlaw Orchestra ahead of their amazing 3rd stage headlining set at Call of the Wild Festival. Check out as we chatted about the scene, new music and their next five years!
P.S. I’d highly recommend watching the video if you get the chance, there were times where I just couldn’t type up the back and forth nicely!
How’ve the last few months been since we last chatted?
Terrible. Really bad. We went to try and get a bank account and they turned us down as a band. They said we don’t have enough information. Admittedly I [Dave] was a bit lax in putting forth my side of things. But the music, it’s been dragging along a bit but we’ve been so preoccupied with the bank that we’ve done nothing!
And what’s it like to be a part of this NWOCR scene at the minute?
It’s brilliant. I think they’re spearheading the world of rock within the UK. I think they’re going to take Download festival, Castle Donington to task, and it’ll be the ‘NWOCR festival; formerly known as Monsters of Rock/Download festival’. And because they’ve been so good to us over the years, I’m sure that when it comes to it they’re gonna go ‘Outlaw Orchestra, we’ll put them in the top three on Saturday night!’.
They’ve always been so damn good to us and they’re a bunch of super nice guys. We always have a great laugh on interview with them. Literally from day one. And they’ve got their next CD coming out and we’re on it! It’s super cool!
It definitely seems to have diversified a lot in its time too!
That’s always the case. If you start something and it grows you’ve gotta try and gather all the marbles as they fall out and it becomes bigger and becomes a bigger monster. But good on them, they’re soldiering on with it! It’s nice to be part of it!
What’s it like to be playing these sort of festivals?
Yeah, since day one we’ve made so many friends and all the people here come and watch us time and time again. We’ve got so many supporters. Even the festival bookers are so positive about the flavour we bring to the festival.
We’re hoping as we grow and we know more of the crowd, maybe some of them work for Starling Bank!
Are we working on new music?
Yeah we are! We’ve always got Outlaw ideas to record. We just went into a studio, Rogue Studios, right by Wembley Stadium. So that was super cool. They’d just worked with the guys from Megadeth and then us. It was a good studio!
If you are a musician you should work with different people, work at different studios. You get an engineer you’ve never met and they are not familiar with you. You get their take on it. You’ve just gotta hope that there’s a chemistry and if it works, bingo!
So we’ve got a few tracks down for a new album. Here’s a question though: Does a band drop an album, or does a band release singles? Now, I’m from the school that you drop an album, but the new kids on the block are telling me that you do singles and hold back say four tracks, and bring out a collective album. Maybe add a little bundle package with a T-shirt etc. I still like the idea of bringing out an album but you could then argue on what format. You say CD and all the kids out there today get confused. What’s the alternative? Vinyl? So we’ve chucked about six grand behind minidisc!
Have you guys got much planned for the rest of the year?
Busy year for festivals! It’s looking very good. We have another festival in West Sussex, and Rockin Ribs down near Summerset, and Maid in Stone Festival. That’s the site and plan that Ramblin’ Man used to be at, but is a completely separate festival. We managed to play Ramblin’ Man, back when we were supported by Foreigner and whatever…
Rockin Ribs is a great one. It’s a mega mega Americana festival. Cars, trucks, BBQs, monster trucks crushing cars and stuff. It’s the UK redneck central, it’s brilliant. They even have a wrestling ring! It’s super cool. Some serious beer drinking at that one!
Other than that we’re on later today, in the tent by the exit.
What can we expect from your set?
A few covers. Some Motorhead covers. Some Beatles. We’ll do ‘Come Together’ as I thought Tina Turner did the best version of that. We were going to do Private Dancer but Pete’s moves weren’t up to scratch! Always gotta chuck in some covers. We did a tour with Warner Hodges who played for Jason and the Scorchers, and he said to us ‘do three of your own and chuck in a cover’. Keeps the crowd happy and it works a charm. ‘Finally, I know this one!’ and all that. ‘I didn’t realise it was these guys who wrote Rocky Mountain Way!’.
But yeah, that’s what you can expect from us! We’ll go warm our fingers up and then go do some rock ‘n roll!
Do you have any plans for the next say five years?
I don’t think we’ve got a five day plan, have we?
I really wanna play Shepherds Bush Empire. We love that venue. Super cool. Brixton Academy too. The Oprey would be something special. The Roundhouse. You can get a support slot here and there and play some really cool venues. Then you know you can pull a good crowd!
Five year plan… you never look beyond where you are. You never know how it’s gonna go.
In five years I want to have gone into rehab about three times. I wanna get hugely fat and then rehab, rehab, then reform after all the court cases, lose all the weight… Different rehabs each time too, drugs, booze, then sex, which was how all the weight was lost. They lead from one to the other. Then come back looking terrible but reformed. Arrested a couple of times for trying to score dope in Times Square or something like that. Then the cover of Rolling Stone!
So that’s the plan for five years… desperation. The desperation tour. Tagline ‘The Car Crash that Nobody Wants to Look At’. And we’re gonna start tonight!
