CREED CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF
WEATHERED
WITH NEWLY REMASTERED DELUXE EDITION

The 6X Platinum, No. 1 album featuring “My Sacrifice,”
“One Last Breath,” “Weathered,” and “Bullets” arrives November 20

Expanded 2-LP, CD and digital editions include four bonus tracks,
including Creed’s cover of The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm”
and an acoustic version of “Don’t Stop Dancing”

Available on vinyl for the first time

Click here to pre-order/pre-save Weathered (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

25 years after Creed’s Weathered debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and began an extraordinary eight-week run atop the chart, Craft Recordings celebrates the landmark album with a newly remastered and expanded Deluxe Edition, arriving November 20—exactly 25 years to the day after its original 2001 release—on 2-LP, CD and digital formats. Featuring the enduring hits “My Sacrifice” and “One Last Breath, alongside the title track “Weathered” and live staple “Bullets,”Weathered has been certified 6X Platinum by the RIAA and remains a defining rock album of the early 2000s.

The anniversary edition pairs the newly remastered original album with four bonus tracks from the era, led by Creed’s cover of The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm,” featuring legendary Doors guitarist Robby Krieger. Also included are edits of “My Sacrifice” and “Weathered” along with an acoustic version of “Don’t Stop Dancing.” The 2-LP edition marks Weathered’s first-ever release on vinyl and is presented in a gatefold jacket.

Alongside the wide release, the 2-LP set will be available in a range of limited-edition color pressings through the Official Creed Store (Sunspot Swirl), Craft Recordings (Ember Swirl), Revolver (Tiger’s Eye), Barnes & Noble (Moss Swirl), Urban Outfitters(Translucent Forest Green), Books-A-Million (Golden Yellow), and Indie Record Stores/Vinyl Voice (Burnt Red Swirl). All formats are available to pre-order/pre-save now.

Available to stream today is “My Sacrifice (Radio Edit / Remastered 2026),” a newly remastered version of the album’s lead single and one of Creed’s signature songs. Released in the fall of 2001, “My Sacrifice” became a major crossover hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helping usher in one of the most successful chapters of the band’s career.

###

By the time Creed began work on Weathered, the Florida rock band had already reached a level few of their contemporaries could match. Their 1997 debut, My Own Prison, established the band nationally, while 1999’s Human Clay propelled them into the mainstream with “Higher” and the GRAMMY®-winning No. 1 single “With Arms Wide Open.” When Weathered arrived on November 20, 2001, Creed were at the height of a remarkable run that had made them one of the biggest rock bands in the world.

Recorded in Florida with longtime producer John Kurzweg and co-producer Kirk Kelsey, Weathered found the band working as a trio: vocalist Scott Stapp, guitarist Mark Tremonti and drummer Scott Phillips, with Tremonti also handling bass throughout the album. Musically, the record pushed toward both ends of Creed’s sound.

The opening one-two punch of “Bullets” and “Freedom Fighter” ranks among the band’s heaviest recorded work, with “Bullets” becoming a lasting fixture of their live show, while “My Sacrifice” and “One Last Breath” leaned into the sweeping melodies and arena-sized dynamics that had become central to their appeal. Elsewhere, the title track “Weathered” paired a blues-inflected guitar riff with lyrics reflecting the pressures and scrutiny that accompanied the band’s rapid ascent, while “Don’t Stop Dancing” expanded the album’s palette with contributions from the Tallahassee Boys’ Choir. The brief “Lullaby” brought the record to an understated finish.

Weathered debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and remained there for eight consecutive weeks, ultimately earning a 6X Platinum certification in the U.S. Its two biggest singles crossed decisively into the pop mainstream: “My Sacrifice” reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “One Last Breath,” built around one of Tremonti’s most recognizable guitar figures, peaked at No. 6.

25 years later, the scale of Weathered’s original success is matched by the durability of its songs. “My Sacrifice” and “One Last Breath” remain fixtures of rock culture, while a new generation has increasingly embraced the music and culture of the early 2000s. At the same time, Creed’s return to the stage has introduced the band’s catalog to audiences who were too young to experience its original run. Weathered (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) revisits the album at the center of that moment—newly remastered, expanded and, for the first time, pressed to vinyl.

For the latest tour listings and ticket information, visit CREED.COM.

Click here to pre-order/pre-save Weathered (Deluxe Edition).

Top L-R: Sunspot Swirl (Creed store), Ember Swirl (Craft Recordings), Tiger’s Eye (Revolver), Burnt Red Swirl (Indie Retail)
Bottom L-R: Moss Swirl (B&N), Translucent Forest Green (Urban Outfitters), Golden Yellow (Books-a-Million), and Black (wide)

TRACKLIST

2-LP

Side A
Bullets
Freedom Fighter
Who’s Got My Back?

Side B
Signs
One Last Breath
My Sacrifice
Stand Here With Me

Side C
Weathered
Hide
Don’t Stop Dancing
Lullaby

Side D
Riders on the Storm*
My Sacrifice (Radio Edit)*
Weathered (Edit)*
Don’t Stop Dancing (Acoustic Version)*

CD & Digital
Bullets
Freedom Fighter
Who’s Got My Back?
Signs
One Last Breath
My Sacrifice
Stand Here with Me
Weathered
Hide
Don’t Stop Dancing
Lullaby
Riders on the Storm*
My Sacrifice (Radio Edit)*
Weathered (Edit)*
Don’t Stop Dancing (Acoustic Version)*

* Bonus tracks.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

· Dec. 11, 2026 — Las Vegas, NV — Fontainebleau Las Vegas
· Dec. 12, 2026 — Las Vegas, NV — Fontainebleau Las Vegas
· Dec. 14, 2026 — Highland, CA — Yaamava’ Theater at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
· April 17–21, 2027 — Miami, FL–Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas — Summer of ’99 & Beyond Cruise

THEORY OF A DEADMAN
Announces Canadian Headline Run
“The Northern Chaos Tour”
with Support from Mammoth

📸: Sean McGee

New EP ‘Part 1: Funeral Songs’
Out Now via ONErpm
Order HERE

Currently on The Dead / Seven Tour with Sevendust Fresh off the release of their new EP, ‘Part 1: Funeral Songs,’ out now via ONErpm, Canada’s own THEORY OF A DEADMAN are excited to announce an upcoming homecoming headline run, “The Northern Chaos Tour,” with support from special guests Mammoth. The tour will kick off on March 5th in Halifax at The Light House Arts Centre and run through March 31st where it will conclude at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. For a full list of dates, please see below.

Ticket presales will begin on September 9th at 10am local time, with general on-sale tickets and VIP beginning on September 11th at 10am local time. Supporting a great cause, $1 from each ticket sale will be donated to charity.

On “The Northern Chaos Tour,” frontman Tyler Connolly shares:

“Ohhhhh Canada, we’re coming home!! So pumped to come back and do an electric tour; it’s been way too long. We’re bringing our friends in Mammoth too, so it’s gonna be a great night of rock!”

“The Northern Chaos Tour”

March 5th – Halifax, NS @ The Lighthouse Arts Centre *
March 6th – Moncton, NB @ Molson Canadian Centre at Casino New Brunswick
March 8th – Quebec City, QC @ Theatre Le Capitole
March 9th – Montreal, QC @ MTELUS
March 11th – Ottawa, ON @ Hard Rock Casino
March 12th – Rama, ON @ Casino Rama – Entertainment Centre
March 13th – Toronto, ON @ The Theatre at Great Canadian Resort
March 15th – Sault Ste Marie, ON @ GFL Memorial Gardens Arena
March 17th – Windsor, ON @ The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
March 19th – Thunder Bay, ON @ Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
March 20th – Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre
March 22nd – Regina, SK @ Conexus Arts Centre
March 24th – Enoch, AB @ River Cree Entertainment Centre
March 25th – Calgary, AB @ Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
March 27th – Dawson Creek, BC @ Ovintiv Events Centre
March 29th – Penticton, BC @ Penticton Trade & Convention
March 31st – Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre

* No Mammoth

THEORY OF A DEADMAN have carved out their own lane as one of modern rock’s most unapologetic forces, racking up multi-platinum hits, chart-topping albums, and sold-out shows worldwide. Blending witty, candid songwriting with undeniable riffs and massive melodic hooks, the Canadian quartet—Tyler Connolly, Dean Back, Dave Brenner, and Joe Dandeneau—has built a career defined by both attitude and staying power.

From fan favorites like “Santa Monica” to gold-certified hit “All Or Nothing,” platinum singles “Hate My Life” and “Bitch Came Back,” and the double-platinum “Not Meant To Be,” the band has delivered a steady stream of rock staples. They’ve landed twelve Top 10 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart, including four #1 singles: “Bad Girlfriend,” “Lowlife,” “History Of Violence,” and “Rx (Medicate).” The latter stands as the biggest hit of their career, earning a nomination for “Rock Song of the Year” at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.

Along the way, TOAD have achieved two Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200, four Top 5 debuts on the Canadian Albums Chart, and multiple Juno Award nominations, while drawing praise from outlets including American Songwriter, Billboard, and Classic Rock Magazine.

Now, THEORY OF A DEADMAN is ready to further their prolific career with the release of their new EP, ‘Part 1: Funeral Songs,’ out now via ONErpm.

Order ‘Part 1: Funeral Songs’ HERE

‘Part 1: Funeral Songs’ Track List:

1. Barricade
2. Funeral Song
3. Winnebago (Lay Low)
4. Monster Truck
5. Deep End
6. Prenup

‘Part 1: Funeral Songs’ is available in the following formats:

=> CD
=> LP
=> Digital

THEORY is currently on The Dead / Seven Tour alongside fellow heavyweights Sevendust. For a full list of dates, please see below.

SHOOTER JENNINGS UNVEILS “SAME OLD BLUES (FEAT. JESSI COLTER),” A PREVIOUSLY UNHEARD COLLABORATION BETWEEN HIS LATE FATHER WAYLON JENNINGS AND HIS MOTHER, JESSI COLTER

“SAME OLD BLUES” IS THE LATEST LOOK INTO DIAMONDS, THE SECOND ALBUM OF UNKNOWN RECORDINGS BY THE COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR

DIAMONDS IS AVAILABLE ON LP, CD, CASSETTE AND DOWNLOAD NOVEMBER 13 AND STREAMING DECEMBER 11 – PRE-ORDER

SONG AND ALBUM AVAILABLE THROUGH SON OF JESSI/THIRTY TIGERS

“Waylon Jennings continues to inspire singers to share their stories through song.”
–PARADE

“Songbird–as well as its subsequent releases–was a labor of love, not simply as a tribute to his dad, but also as an offering to the generation of fans who have loved Waylon and the ones his music is still capable of reaching.”
–Holler

“…a massive, very important gift to country music fans…”
–Whiskey Riff

4x GRAMMY® Award-winner Shooter Jennings shares “Same Old Blues (feat. Jessi Colter),” the latest look into Diamonds, a new album of previously unheard songs by his legendary father, Waylon Jennings. On the track, Waylon is joined by his wife, and Shooter’s mother, Jessi Colter. “Way back in 2024 when I first opened the Waylon archives, I found a lot of music by my mother, from all eras, that also had never been heard before,” says Shooter.

“I knew with Songbird I was going to be reintroducing Waylon Jennings to the modern world, and I had a thought in the back of my mind that I would have to do something with my mom’s unheard music as well. Even though she’s alive and well, there was still a collection of material that I thought just had to be heard.”

LISTEN TO “SAME OLD BLUES”
WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO
WATCH CBS NEWS SUNDAY MORNING
FEATURE ON SHOOTER AND WAYLON JENNINGS

“When I started putting together Diamonds, there was a narrative in the storytelling happening across the songs, and I felt there were a few songs that really stood out to me of Jessi’s that fit the album. One of those songs was “Same Old Blues.” Written by J.J. Cale originally, this version was produced by Tony Joe White during a number of sessions that Tony Joe produced on Jessi. This one was so special to me because it featured Tony Joe White on one guitar and Waylon, with his signature guitar pickin’ style, alongside Richie Albright’s unmistakable drum feel,” continues Shooter.

“According to my mom, her singing style was different because Tony Joe White encouraged her to whisper-sing in her take, much like J.J. Cale, calling it her ‘Rock n’ Roll Voice’. Either way the song stood out to me as something that the world had to hear, and I felt including it, as well as her other song “I’m Tired” on Diamonds was a must.

The underlying story is that this, along with all of the songs on Diamonds, for the most part, are songs made by friends with a shared passion for music exploration and they had a good time doing it.

The video, directed by the great Will Acuña, was based on an idea my wife Misty had, just documenting the studio I work in and the process I went through restoring the sessions. I hope you all enjoy it!”

Diamonds is the second in a series of albums featuring unknown recordings by Waylon Jennings that his son Shooter Jennings recently unearthed. Shooter shared the first installment of newly uncovered songs last year with Songbird, which was met by widespread acclaim from such publications as NY Times, the Tennessean, Rolling Stone, Consequence of Sound, Billboard, Stereogum, Variety, American Songwriter, Parade, Whiskey Riff, Holler Country and many more.

Physical copies (CD’s, LP’s, Cassettes) and downloads of Diamonds will be available on November 13, and the album will be available to stream on all digital platforms starting December 11 via Son of Jessi/Thirty Tigers.

PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE DIAMONDS

“Back in 2024 when I opened my dad’s personal recording archives, I found a treasure trove of unheard recordings. It was a life-altering event and immediately ignited a feeling of urgency to get these recordings out there to our family of fans who had so loyally kept him alive by listening to and singing his music.

Last year I released Songbird and I was so touched and delighted at how well-received this music was for my dad. With his voice exalted, I was very excited to deliver on my promise for more music. So, here it goes! I give to you guys: Diamonds.

In the process of combing through and cataloging all of his recordings, I started to get a grasp on all of the music that had not been heard before, and a story started to emerge in my mind. The way I wanted to reveal all of this music to the world was part of my job. With Songbird I knew it would be an emotional journey, hearing Waylon, in his prime, sing new songs to us was going to hit hard. A set of songs almost immediately presented itself to me as Songbird. But there was a second set forming, anchored by the mysterious song “Diamonds”. It was a higher energy album, a “younger man’s” album, if you will.

I immediately knew which songs were attaching themselves to the second album, and they all shared stories about the rollercoaster of relationships and unrequited love. Among the many Jessi Colter songs I found in the batch, two stood out as part of what Diamonds was becoming, so I selected them to add to the album to weave the tale a little more colorfully. Again, the Waylors and legendary harp player Mickey Raphael helped me close the book on a few of these songs. We had a blast. Now, I’m done and Diamonds is in your hands. Pour yourself a cup of something, turn down the lights and let’s take a ride together.” –Shooter Jennings

 

• STYX / CHICAGO
• Morton Amphitheater – Riverside, MO
• August 25, 2026

 

 

Photos by Michael Smith/Media Mikes

 

I’m going to be 66 years old next week, which means my “wheelhouse” of music is most definitely from the 1970s and 80s.  Two of the biggest bands from that era came together recently at the new Morton Amphitheater outside Kansas City on what was billed as “the Windy City Tour” (both bands herald from the area around the city of Chicago) but was, for me, a ride back to some amazing music and memories.

I still have this hat!

I can’t remember when I wasn’t a STYX fan.  In high school I wore hat emblazoned with the band’s logo so often that when it came time to pick a name for the garage band my friends and I put together, we called ourselves the Hats!  Each album brought forward new songs that wove amazing stories and “Come Sail Away” continues to be an emotional gut punch to everyone that longs for yesterday.

Chuck Panozzo

The show began with a nice selection of classic hits, sounding just as good as they did when they were first released.  The group dedicated their early hit, Lady, to the memory of Dolly Parton, who had passed away earlier that day.   A combination of long time band members (band co-founders James “JY” Young and Chuck Panozzo, as well as Tommy Shaw, who joined the band in 1975), and longtime bandmates – lead singer and keyboardist Lawrence Gowan began fronting the band in 1999 – Styx did an amazing 15-song set that took the audience from the Grand Illusion to the Paradise Theater to a raucous visit with Mr. Roboto!  The set finished with an extended audience participation version of Renegade, which had the crowd on their feet!

Tommy Shaw Lawrence Gowan

I was actually living in the Chicago area when the band of the same name broke on the musical front.  I’m happy to say that my first slow dance was to Color My World, and that song always triggers a fond memory when I hear it.  The band has undergone many changes over the years, beginning with the tragic passing of guitarist Terry Kath in 1978.  When I’m asked how good a guitar player Terry Kath was, I simply mention that Jimi Hendrix once called him the greatest guitar player he’d ever heard!  With the recent passing of band co-founder Walter Parazaider, and the retirement from touring by Jimmy Pankow and Robert Lamm, the only original member of the group still touring is Lee Loughnane, an amazing achievement when you consider that the band has toured every year since they began as the Chicago Transit Authority in 1967.  The musicians may change but the sound….THAT sound that is so singularly Chicago, remains loud and clear!

The group mixed classic hits and rocking cover versions of songs by Jackie Wilson (Higher and Higher) and the Spencer Davis Group (I’m a Man) that had the crowd on their feet from the first song all the way through the encore.  Video tributes were also paid  to Lamm and Parazaider, keeping their spirit and music alive.  And let me wish a quick “Happy Birthday” to Jimmy Pankow, who turned 79 last month!

Nick Lane Lee Loughnane (l) and Eric Baines

To sum it up, the Windy City Tour swept into town and took those that attended on a wonderful ride.

 

SET LISTS

 

STYX

Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man), Lorelei, Build and Destroy, Lady, Too Much Time on My Hands, The Grand Illusion, Light Up, Crystal Ball, Rockin’ the Paradise, Our Wonderful Lives, The Best of Times, Blue Collar Man (Long Nights), Come Sail Away.  ENCORE:  Mr. Roboto, Renegade

 

CHICAGO

Dialogue (Part I & II), Alive Again, If You Leave Me Now, Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, Hard Habit to Break, You’re the Inspiration, Old Days, Beginnings, (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher, I’m a Man, Just You ‘n’ Me, Street Player, Hard to Say I’m Sorry / Get Away, Saturday in the Park, Feelin’ Stronger Every Day, ENCORE:  Free, 25 or 6 to 4

Legendary Hard Rock Icons
STRYPER
Share New Single “Here in Your Heart”
+ Music Video — Watch HERE

📸: Manuel Moggio, Hainecch

New Album ‘Throne of Thorns’
Set for Release on September 25th via Frontiers Music Srl
Pre-Order HERE

Tour Dates Announced!

Legendary Christian metal pioneers STRYPER proudly share their new single “Here In Your Heart,” taken from their upcoming 18th studio album, ‘Throne Of Thorns,’ set for release on September 25th via Frontiers Music Srl. Decades into their journey, STRYPER continues to reaffirm their status as one of the most influential and enduring bands in classic metal, seamlessly blending their signature message with a sound that remains as powerful and relevant as ever. “Here In Your Heart” arrives alongside an official music video, available below.

On the new track, the band comments:

“This song is the perfect representation of who we are now as a band. We work hard to retain our classic sound, but also mix in some modern flairs here and there. The message is always the same: God is always there. No matter what. We may not be, but he is.”

Watch the Music Video for “Here In Your Heart” HERE

‘Throne of Thorns’ showcases the band at the height of their creative powers, delivering a masterclass in songwriting and musicianship. The album is packed with grand, meticulously crafted arrangements, where thunderous rhythms, soaring guitar harmonies, and anthemic choruses come together in a style that is unmistakably STRYPER. Each track is infused with both intensity and melody, capturing the essence of classic metal while pushing their sound forward with renewed energy and purpose.

At the forefront stands the unmistakable voice of Michael Sweet, whose passionate, powerful, and instantly recognizable delivery continues to define the band’s identity. His vocal performance on ‘Throne of Thorns’ is nothing short of extraordinary, effortlessly moving between soaring highs and emotive depth, adding a timeless quality to every song.

Perry Richardson says:

“The best music doesn’t come from comfort. It comes from living, struggling, growing, and refusing to quit. I hope these songs find you exactly when you need them.”

With ‘Throne Of Thorns,’ STRYPER not only honors their legacy but expands upon it, offering an album that will resonate with longtime fans and newcomers alike. It’s a bold, inspired statement from a band that refuses to stand still—proof that true metal greatness only grows stronger with time.

Guitarist Oz Fox concludes:

“I’m really happy with the final outcome of this record and of the heart that went into it. Michael continues to pour everything he has into the music and the message; Robert brings the power and energy that has always been the pulse of STRYPER; Perry’s musicianship, vocal talents, and dedication are second to none, and I’m grateful to be on this journey with all of them.”

Pre-Order ‘Throne of Thorns’ HERE

‘Throne of Thorns’ Track List:

1. Throne of Thorns
2. Here In Your Heart
3. Falling
4. I’m Alright (I’m Okay)
5. Waiting For You
6. Carry The Flame
7. Hollywood
8. Beautifully Broken
9. Ashes To Roses
10. Alone Again
11. Shadowbreaker

Four decades and counting, STRYPER shows no signs of slowing down. The band will be back on the road starting this fall with a full U.S. For a full list of dates, see below.

STRYPER Live:

Sept 19th – Wissen, GER @ Loud and Proud Festival 2026
Sept 29th – Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall
Sept 30th – Wantagh, NY @ Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall
Oct 1st – Newton, NJ @ The Newton Theatre
Oct 3rd – Harrisburg, PA @ XL Live
Oct 4th – Warrendale, PA @ Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
Oct 6th – Marion, IL @ Marion Cultural and Civic Center
October 8th – McHenry, IL @ The Vixen
Oct 9th – Wisconsin Dells, WI @ Crystal Grand Music Theatre
Oct 10th – Green Bay, WI @ EPIC Event Center
Oct 12th – St. Louis, MO @ The Hawthorn
Oct 13th – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
Oct 15th – Nashville, TN @ The Cannery Mainstage
Oct 16th – Newton, NC @ Newton Performing Arts Center
Oct 17th – Kingsport, TN @ MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center
Oct 19th – Jacksonville, FL @ FIVE
Oct 20th – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
Oct 22nd – Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
Oct 23rd – Liberty, SC @ Pickens County PAC
Oct 24th – Hopewell, VA @ Beacon Theatre
Oct 25th – Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
Dec 5th – San Juan, PR @ Coca-Cola Music Hall

STRYPER are:
Michael Sweet – Lead Vocals/Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Robert Sweet – Drums & Percussion
Oz Fox – Vocals/Lead and Rhythm Guitar
Perry Richardson – Vocals/Bass

PRESIDENT ARE PLEASED TO REVEAL THEIR DEBUT ALBUM BLOOD OF YOUR EMPIRE TODAY, SEPTEMBER 4, VIA ATLANTIC RECORDS

BAND SHARES “SLEEPWALKER” — LISTEN

FIRST-EVER NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR COMPLETELY SOLD OUT + KICKS OFF TONIGHT IN NASHVILLE

Multi-million streaming, UK-based collective PRESIDENT are pleased to reveal BLOOD OF YOUR EMPIRE, their debut full length, out now via Atlantic Records. Listen and stream here.

Alongside the album release, the band shares “Sleepwalker.” Listen here.

The album arrives the same day the band kicks off its first-ever headline tour, which is completely sold out.

PRESIDENT, who embarked on their first-ever full U.S. tour supporting Bad Omens earlier the year, are now headlining venues across North America. The live campaigns will feature support from Showing Teeth on select dates. The tour launches tonight at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville, making additional stops across the U.S in Chicago, New York, Toronto, Boston, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles. and more before wrapping up in Dallas at House of Blues on October 14.

The album is truly a moment in the overall President campaign.

“Blood Of Your Empire was born out of my own struggle with existential crisis and trying to make sense of belief, mortality, and humanity’s relationship with faith,” President says. “Religion has inspired incredible compassion, purpose, and beauty in the world — but it has also been responsible for unimaginable suffering and bloodshed throughout history. This album lives in the tension between those two truths. Writing it became a way for me to confront the fear, confusion, and questions I’ve carried for years, and turn them into something I’m truly proud of.”

The album cover is a Eugène Delacroix painting, The Battle of Poitiers, which, consequently, hangs in the Louvre.

Launching in 2025 and operating under the cloak of minimalism and anonymity, PRESIDENT have been cultivating intrigue with each single and live performance. Refusing to conform to the traditional structures of genre or identity, PRESIDENT prioritize intent over image.

THE BLOOD OF YOUR EMPIRE TRACK LISTING:

“Angel Wings”
“DOOM LOOP”
“dark heaven”
“Pink Noise”
“Mercy”
“Sleepwalker”
“Dionysus”
“This Will Divide Us”
“Hate Figure” (Feat. Ando San)
“White Devil”

PRESIDENT 2026 TOUR DATES:

9/4 — Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl
9/5 — St. Louis, MO — Delmar Hall
9/8 — Chicago, IL — Riviera Theatre
9/10 — Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Paramount
9/11 — Toronto, ON — Danforth Music Hall
9/12 — Montreal, QC — MTELUS
9/13 — Boston, MA — Big Night Live
9/15 — Philadelphia, PA — Theatre of Living Arts
9/16 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore Silver Spring
9/19 — Huntsville, AL — Mars Music Hall
9/20 — Charlotte, NC — The Underground
9/22 — Lake Buena Vista, FL — House of Blues
9/23 — Atlanta, GA — Buckhead Theatre
9/25 — Kansas City, MO — Warehouse On Broadway
9/26 — Denver, CO — Summit Music Hall
9/28 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Depot
9/29 — Las Vegas, NV — Brooklyn Bowl
10/1 — Garden City, ID — Revolution Concert House and Event Center
10/2 — Seattle, WA — Neptune Theatre
10/6 — Berkeley, CA — The UC Theatre
10/7 — Los Angeles, CA — The Wiltern
10/9 — San Diego, CA — House of Blues
10/10 — Phoenix, AZ — The Van Buren
10/12 — San Antonio, TX — The Aztec Theatre
10/13 — Houston, TX — House of Blues
10/14 — Dallas, TX — House of Blues

SLASH’S MUSIC OF UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD–HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS RETURNS ON TWO NEW LIMITED-EDITION VINYL COLORS THROUGH SNAKEPIT RECORDS LLC AND DEKO ENTERTAINMENT

Just in time for Halloween, legendary GUNS N’ ROSES guitarist Slash is bringing back his acclaimed Music Of Universal Studios Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights collections with two brand-new limited-edition vinyl variants through Snakepit Records LLC and Deko Entertainment.

Following multiple sellouts in previous years, Music Of Universal Studios Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 return as exclusive vinyl-only releases featuring 21 original compositions written and recorded by Slash for the world-famous haunted attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood’s annual Halloween Horror Nights event.

For the past eight years, Slash has served as the musical architect behind many of Halloween Horror Nights’ most memorable haunted house experiences, creating immersive scores that enhance the atmosphere, suspense, and terror encountered by millions of guests each season. His compositions have become an integral part of the event, blending cinematic storytelling with his signature musical style to create unforgettable sonic landscapes.

Among the featured material is Slash’s score for 2024’s Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines, which spotlighted an all-female gathering of iconic Universal Monsters including The Bride Of Frankenstein, Dracula’s Daughter, She-Wolf Of London, and the ancient Egyptian princess Anck-Su-Namun. Also represented is music from 2025’s Scarecrow: Music By Slash, a haunting tale of nature’s revenge where sinister scarecrows become agents of destruction against those who have wronged the land.

Approaching each haunted attraction much like a film composer approaches a motion picture, Slash crafts music scene by scene, building tension and atmosphere while guiding listeners through every terrifying twist and turn. The result is a collection of compositions that stand on their own as compelling instrumental works while perfectly capturing the spirit of Halloween Horror Nights.

Both albums are presented in deluxe gatefold packaging and are strictly limited to just 300 copies each. Vol. 1 is available on exclusive “Swamp Thing” Colored Vinyl, while Vol. 2 arrives on “Yellow Smoke” Colored Vinyl.

Whether experienced as a companion to the attractions or as the soundtrack to Halloween night, these limited-edition releases offer fans a unique opportunity to own a piece of the Halloween Horror Nights legacy created by one of rock’s most celebrated guitarists.

Music Of Universal Studios Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 are available exclusively through Deko Entertainment.

For more information and to order, visit: https://www.dekoentertainment.com/slash

Slash also returns to Halloween Horror Nights this year to contribute to the original house “KILLceañera: Music by SLASH”.

Tickets available here: www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/Halloween

ABOUT SLASH

Slash is one of the most influential guitarists in rock history, best known as the lead guitarist of GUNS N’ ROSES. Beyond his work as a performer and songwriter, he has established himself as an accomplished composer, creating original music for film, television, and themed entertainment projects. His ongoing collaboration with Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights has produced some of the event’s most memorable and immersive musical experiences.

TRACKLISTING

Music Of Universal Studios Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights Vol 1.

Side A

01. “Universal Monsters Rising” (Universal Monsters 2018)
02. “Live Again” 3:15 (Universal Monsters: The Bride Of Frankenstein Lives 2021)
03. “The Monster Reborn” 3:07 (Universal Monsters: The Bride Of Frankenstein Lives 2021)
04. “The Gypsy Theme” 3:17 (Universal Monsters: The Bride Of Frankenstein Lives 2021)
05. “Sweet Licks” 4:16 (Clowns 3D 2014)
06. “Dracula’s Brides” 2:50 (Universal Monsters: The Bride Of Frankenstein Lives 2021)

Side B

01. “Danse Of The Dead” 4:23 (Universal Monsters 2018)
02. “Kharis The Mummy” 3:58 (Universal Monsters: Legends Collide 2022)
03. “Silent Screams” 5:14 (Universal Monsters: Unmasked 2023)
04. “We Belong Dead” 4:46 (Universal Monsters 2018)
05. “The Final Scare” 1:52 (Universal Monsters 2018)

Music Of Universal Studios Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights Vol 2.

Side A

1. “The Hunted Becomes The Hunter” 4:21 (Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives 2021)
2. “Monsters, Maniacs, And Madmen” (Universal Monsters Medley 2021) 5:08 (Universal Monsters 2018)
3. “The Blood Is Life” 3:38 (Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives 2021)
4. “The Collection Room / Dracula’s Lair” 2:45 (Universal Monsters 2018)
5. “The Ossuary” 1:47 (Universal Monsters: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man 2019)

Side B

6. “Cycles Of The Moon” 3:02 (Universal Monsters: Legends Collide 2022)
7. “Immortal Curses” 4:26 (Universal Monsters: Legends Collide 2022)
8. “Alucard” 2:21 (Universal Monsters: Legends Collide 2022)
9. “Bloodline Drawn” 5:02 (Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines 2024)
10. “Unholy Alliance” 3:15 (Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines 2024)

Shock Rock Legends
GWAR
Are Coming to Mutant Football League 2
Bringing the Antarctica Scumdogs to the Gridiron
in a Blood-Soaked New DLC

Watch the Release Announcement HERE

You prayed. GWAR heard. And they’re coming. Digital Dreams Entertainment Inc. is thrilled to announce Mutant Football League 2: Antarctica Scumdogs, a brand-new DLC pack starring the boundary-breaking metal band, launching for PlayStation 5, Steam, and XBOX Series X|S in October 2026.

GWAR tore a new cosmic wormhole in the fabric of space and spilled out into the Mutant Football League 2 universe, where sport is almost as violent as they are — where players are mutilated, referees can be murdered, cheating is encouraged, and sometimes the best defense is simply killing the other team.

It feels just like home for GWAR.

“MFL fans have been asking me for years, ‘When are you going to get GWAR into the game?'” said Michael Mendheim, president of Digital Dreams Entertainment, “Well, the wait is finally over. Football just got louder, bloodier, and a whole lot more GWAR. The Antarctica Scumdogs are coming to MFL2, and we’re making damn sure they’re the deadliest team in the game.”

For more than three decades, GWAR has brought its unique combination of heavy metal, outrageous characters, elaborate mythology, satire, and spectacular stage shows to fans around the world. Now the Scumdogs have found a new stage.

And this one has goalposts.

Check Out the Release Announcement HERE

If you think you know football, you’ve got another thing coming. MFL2 isn’t your typical game of toss the pigskin. It’s a bloodsport of the most brutal kind, where the refs expect dirty play, and a screw-up might just cost you your life. The stadium might kill you, too. It just depends where you’re standing when the buzzsaws start spinning, and the mutant worms start feasting.

It’s the perfect nightmare playground for GWAR, and a crossover MFL2 players have been begging for. Antarctica Scumdogs is the band’s first video game appearance in more than 30 years, and the only time you can be GWAR. The band’s MFL2 team includes:

Blöthar the Berserker
BälSäc the Jaws ‘O Death
JiZMak Da Gusha
Grodius Maximus
Beefcake the Mighty
Sawborg Destructo
Bonesnapper

GWAR lead singer Blöthar the Berserker commented:

“Today, the Antarctica Scumdogs of GWAR take to the frozen tundra of the Mutant Football League, where killing isn’t everything, it’s the ONLY thing! Let the games begin!!”

In true GWAR fashion, the Scumdogs are built to destroy everything in sight, but mainly you. They are the most physically destructive team in MFL2, designed around a philosophy of brutality and carnage and turning every match into a white-knuckle battle for survival. If you’re playing against GWAR, the score is the last thing on your mind.

It wouldn’t be GWAR without a killer venue. Antarctica Scumdogs introduces a spectacular new stadium steeped in GWAR mythology – along with a few surprises we’re saving for launch.

MFL2 + GWAR World Debut @ PAX, September 4-7, 2026

The GWAR: Antarctica Scumdogs DLC for Mutant Football League 2 will make its worldwide playable debut at PAX West in Seattle from Sept. 4–7, and attendees visiting Digital Dreams Entertainment’s booth can be the first anywhere to take GWAR onto the MFL2 gridiron. The GWAR: Antarctica Scumdogs DLC will be available to play at the Digital Dreams Entertainment booth at PAX West, Arch Building, Level 4, Booth #853.

Digital Dreams is also holding a daily raffle during the convention, giving attendees the chance to become immortalized as a playable member of GWAR’s Antarctica Scumdogs team.

 

 

• THE ROMANTICS/CHRISTOPHER CROSS/TOTO
• Morton Amphitheater – Riverside, MO
• August 24, 2026

 

Photos by Michael Smith/Media Mikes unless noted

 

Photo Credit: Tyler Cook / Live ’80s Kansas City

 

NOTE:  As the show began, I had a serious malfunction with my camera.  I want to thank my fellow photographers who were in the pit with me for figuring out and helping me correct the issues, especially Peter Amisano, who gave me a new SD card, and Tyler Cook, who very kindly supplied me with a great shot of the Romantics for this article.  You guys are the best!

 

In the past few years, I’ve heard the term “Yacht Rock” used to describe most of the music I grew up with as a young man.  Smooth and mellow, but always with a little touch of rock and roll.  On this night, the Morton Amphitheater became an ocean, with some of the greatest “Yachts” sailing in to an enthusiastic audience.

 

Kicking off the night, the Romantics played a fun, lively (11) song set, beginning with Rock You Up.  The band sounded great and had the audience on their feet almost immediately, ending their evening with a rousing What I Like About You.  I had never seen the Romantics live before and I’m glad I finally had the opportunity to cross the band from my Bucket List.

Christopher Cross

In 1981, Christopher Cross seemingly came out of nowhere to make Grammy Award history by becoming the first person to win Grammy’s for Best Album, Best New Artist and both Record and Song of the Year (Sailing).  That record stood until 2020 when Billie Eilish joined him in that rarified air.  Like Eilish, Cros has also won an Academy Award, having co-written Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do).  Cross kicked off his set with two straight hits (All Right and Never Be the Same), then took the audience on a journey playing both classic tunes as well as more current songs accompanied by some great musicians a trio of background singers.  Before Arthur’s Theme he gave a shout out to the song’s co-writer, Kansas City born composer Burt Bacharach.  It was the second time this year I’ve heard Bacharach honored this year, with Herb Alpert also paying tribute to the legendary songwriter this past spring.  Cross closed his set with another hit, Ride Like the Wind.

Backup provided by Bella Hicks, Lisbet Guldbaek, and Stephcynie

One of my earliest concert memories is seeing Boston in Largo, Florida.  There were two acts opening for Boston that night:  Sammy Hagar and a band called Toto.  Led by Steve Lukather, David Paisch, and Steve and Jeff Porcaro (brother Mike would join the band in1982), Toto hit the charts running with Hold the Line and never looked back.  In 1983, the band won (6) Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for Toto IV and Record of the Year for Rosanna, with Lukather also taking home an individual Grammy for co-writing the George Benson hit Turn Your Love Around.

L-R: Vocalist Joseph Williams, drummer Keith Carlock and bassist John Pierce

Toto began the evening with Goodbye Elenore before delivering a kick-ass performance of Rosanna which eventually featured three keyboardists!  Quick fun fact:  five years before Dirty Dancing, both Patrick Swayze and Cynthia Rhodes were featured dancers in the Rosanna video!  Still led by guitarist Lukather (sadly both Jeff and Mike Porcaro have passed and Steve Porcaro and Paich no longer tour with the band), the band is fronted by Joseph Williams, who revealed during the show that he was the singing voice of young Simba in The Lion King by sharing a few lines from Hakuna Matata!  Lukather also introduced the newest member of the band, an amazing musician named Dennis Atlas, who has serious musical chops!  The band was tight musically and Williams hit all the notes.  If it wasn’t for my hair loss and weight gain I would have sworn I was 18 again!  The show concluded with a powerful rendition of Africa, with Toto joined on stage by the Romantics and Christopher Cross.   The perfect ending to a perfect evening of music!

Dennis Atlas John Pierce

SET LISTS

THE ROMANTICS

Rock You Up, Do Me Any Way You Wanna, When I Look in Your Eyes, Got Me Where You Want Me, Little White Lies, Real Good Thing, Bop, She’s Got Everything, Stone Pony, Talking in Your Sleep, What I Like About You

CHRISTOPHER CROSS

All Right, Never Be the Same, I Really Don’t Know Anymore, Dreamers, Sailing, Think of Laura, I Know You Well, The Light Is On, Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do), Say You’ll Be Mine, Ride Like the Wind 

TOTO

Goodbye Elenore, Rosanna, Hydra, Georgy Porgy. I Won’t Hold You Back, Endless, Kingdom of Desire, Pamela, I’ll Be Over You, I’ll Supply the Love, Taint Your World, Hold the Line.  ENCORE:  Africa (with Christopher Cross and The Romantics)

• FOREIGNER/LYNYRD SKYNRD
• Morton Amphitheater – Riverside, MO
• August 14, 2026

Photo Credit:  Michael Smith/Media Mikes

 

 

Long time readers of Media Mikes know how much we love the band Lynyrd Skynyrd.  In the past we have featured interviews with group members Ricky Medlocke and Johnny Van Zant and covered their music.  I’ve been a fan since Sweet Home Alabama first hit my radio in 1974.  For five decades they have unapologetically personified Southern Rock.  I was in high school when I first heard Feels Like the First Time by a band named Foreigner.  My friends and I used to frequent a popular comic book shop owned by a gentleman named Dusty Hess from Rochester, NY.  He would tell us of a great local band called Black Sheep and how his friend, Louis Grammatico, was the lead singer.  Dusty played bass (he even jammed with my band once), but we could never figure out if he had been in the band.  One day we’re in the shop and Feel’s Like the First Time comes on the radio.  When it was over Dusty said, “that was Lou.”  It was.

 

Since then, both bands have endured highs and lows but have never stopped making music.  Last week they brought their high energy to the new Morton Amphitheaters and, plain and simple, rocked the house.

What is amazing about both bands is that they continue to create new music, and the evening was a great mixture of classic hits and newer songs.  Foreigner kicked off their set with a rousing version of Double Vision. From the opening chords, the band was tight.  Lou Gramm first left Foreigner in 1990 (though he did return and tour with the group until 2003).  He was replaced by Kelly Hanson, who left the band this year.  Today the band is fronted by Luis Maldonado and, as the night went on, he powered through each song as if he was born to sing them.  By the end of the night, he was physically drained but you couldn’t tell from his performance.  The show included such hits as  Head Games, Dirty White Boy, Say You Will and an encore that included a moving version of I Want to Know What Love Is, with the band accompanied by the choir from Liberty High School.

 

Skynyrd then took the stage, kicking off their set with a double dose of Workin’ For MCA and What’s Your Name?  Like Foreigner, they played a great mixture of much-loved hits and new material.  Lead singer Johnny Van Zant roared through the classics, with the crowd singing along with every song.  A touching moment came when, during Sweet Home Alabama, the stage included a microphone stand on which rested the iconic hat of the band’s original lead singer, Ronnie Van Zant.  It was a powerful image, especially to those of us who still remember that tragic day in October 1977 when a plane crash took Van Zant, fellow band mates Steve and Cassie Gaines and assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick.  Both the pilot and co-pilot were also killed.  Tribute was also paid to lead guitarist Gary Rossington, who passed away in 2023.

 

The night ended with an amazing performance of Free Bird.  A quick tip of my hat to drummer Michael Cartellone.  He never missed a beat during what has to be one of the longest and hardest songs to play along to ever!

 

 

Opening act Six Gun Sally put the crowd in the proper mood with a fun comgination of classic covers and a few original tunes.  Vocalist Aimee Jane Williams has a voice reminiscent of the late Janis Joplin, which she proved on songs like Piece of My Heart and Somebody to Love, as well as the title track of their upcoming album Ain’t Going Down.  They are definitely a band to keep an eye on.

SET LISTS

Six Gun Sally

 Sittin’ Pretty, Stand Up, Piece of My Heart, Ramblin’ Man, Ain’t Goin’ Down, Somebody to Love, Gypsy Queen, Fast Train

 FOREIGNER

Double Vision, Head Games, Cold as Ice, Waiting for a Girl Like You, Say You Will, Dirty White Boy, Break It Up, Feels Like the First Time, Urgent, Juke Box Hero, Long, Long Way From Home   ENCORE  I Want to Know What Love Is, Hot Blooded 

LYNYRD SKYNYRD 

 Workin’ for MCA, What’s Your Name, That Smell, Saturday Night Special, I Know a Little, On the Hunt, Don’t Ask Me No Questions, I Need You, Gimme Back My Bullets, The Ballad of Curtis Loew, Tuesday’s Gone, Simple Man, Gimme Three Steps, Call Me the Breeze, Sweet Home Alabama   ENCORE Free Bird

 

 

 

 

CANADIAN HARDCORE HEROES COMEBACK KID ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM CHOSEN HELL OUT NOVEMBER 6 VIA SHARPTONE (U.S.)/DINE ALONE RECORDS (CANADA)

PHOTO CREDIT: Keith Thompson

BAND SHARES VIDEO FOR TITLE TRACK — WATCH

ALBUM FEATURES GUEST APPEARANCES FROM SPIRITBOX’S COURTNEY LAPLANTE + INCENDIARY’S BRENDAN GARRONE

Canadian hardcore heroes COMEBACK KID are thrilled to announce their new album Chosen Hell. It arrives November 6 via SharpTone Records in the U.S. and via Dine Alone Records in Canada. Pre-order it here (US) and here (Canada).

Chosen Hell, the band’s eighth and latest LP, further distills the potency of the musical elements that have defined CBK since the beginning while once again evolving their creative spectrum, weaving in influences of blazing modern metal, piss-and-vinegar punk, and even vulnerable melodicism that adds compelling contrast to their longstanding and beloved sonic foundation.

Today, the band has shared the video for the title track. (Here for Canada). It pairs deeply introspective lyricism atop a punishing aural arsenal.

Watch it here.

“The theme of the title track ‘Chosen Hell’ on our new album touches on morality and ethics,” explains singer Andrew Neufeld. “Something as simple as right or wrong. Good or evil. Healthy or unhealthy, and our ability to make a choice. Often, we are incapable of choosing the right thing, and we find ourselves in situations that we know hold us back, therefore affecting our own well being. The outcome is what we make of it.”

Additionally, the album cover design is an actual structure built by Callum Preston in Melbourne, Australia.

CHOSEN HELL TRACK LISTING:

“Target On My Back”
“Vindication”
“Shedding Season” (Feat. Courtney LaPlante)
“Lost And Found”
“Underneath The Pressure”
“Chosen Hell”
“Yesterday’s Gone” (Feat. Incendiary’s Brendan Garrone)
“Tunnel Vision”
“Becoming”
“Heartland Elegy”
“Too Late”

The band will tour this fall. Additional U.S., Canadian, European, and UK dates to follow.

COMEBACK KID ON TOUR:

11/7 — Oklahoma City, OK — Flyover Fest
11/8 — Dallas, TX — Puzzles Deep Ellum *
11/9 — Houston, TX — Secret Group *
11/10 — San Antonio, TX — Paper Tiger *
11/11 — Austin, TX — Come And Take It Live *
11/13 — Las Vegas, NV — American Legion Post 8 +
11/14 — San Diego, CA — Corazon Del Barrio +
11/15 — Los Angeles, CA — 1720 +
11/16 — Berkeley, CA — Cornerstone +
11/18 — Portland, OR — Dante’s ^
11/19 — Tacoma, WA — Real Art ^
11/20 — Boise, ID — Shrine Social Club %
11/22 — Salt Lake City, UT — Metro Music Hall %
11/23 — Denver, CO — HQ ^

*Comeback Kid w/ Dead Heat, Fear Of Loss, Slow Pulse
+Comeback Kid w/ Defeater, Dead Heat, Barrio Slam
^Comeback Kid w/ The Warriors, Dead Heat, Barrio Slam
%Comeback Kid w/ The Warriors, Dead Heat, Time x Heist

Defying a sadly and increasingly pervasive trend in today’s heavy music scene, Comeback Kid have managed to not only maintain but expand the energy and urgency of their groundbreaking debut and sophomore LPs over the course of a decorated 25+ year career. Luckily — at least for their fervidly loyal fanbase — there’s a lot to be angry about these days…

The quintet, comprised of Neufeld, guitarists Jeremy Hiebert and Stu Ross, bassist Chase Brenneman, and drummer Terrance Pettitt, cut Chosen Hell with heralded producer/engineer Will Putney at his Graphic Nature Audio studio in New Jersey — an exercise that clearly elevated the impact, power, and passion of these 11 tracks. “He’s also been a supporter of ours from the get, so he knows where we’re coming from and really understood our vision,” shares Neufeld. “We all played to our strengths as best we could, and I think that’s really apparent in the final product.”

Two selections add new names to Comeback Kid’s long and diverse list of guest vocalists, with Spiritbox frontwoman Courtney LaPlante injecting her raw guttural glory into “Shedding Season” while Incendiary’s Brendan Garrone augments the ferocity of “Yesterday’s Gone” with his trademark swagger.

“Overall, I was able to let my guard down a little bit while writing for this one, and took more input from everybody else,” adds Neufeld. “It was really collaborative that way, which is also kind of new for us.”

It’s that blend of familiar musical fury laced with novel elements that’s earned Comeback Kid its loyal following and overall longevity — along with their ability to relay said fury from the stage. Through the years, they’ve toured relentlessly alongside iconic acts from every corner of heavy music — hardcore icons like Hatebreed and Sick of It All; punk pioneers including Dropkick Murphys and Bad Religion; metal masters like Gojira and Parkway Drive; and even rock radio mainstays like Rise Against and Alexisonfire.

There’s still plenty to be angry about, but Chosen Hell is a masterclass in processing that pain and rage and outputting something truly transcendent — a reward for conquering the hardships we all encounter. And if Comeback Kid can carry forward this trend of continually exceeding their own standards, then we can only eagerly await what might come next.

IN THIS MOMENT CAST AN UNBREAKABLE SPELL WITH WITCH ALBUM RELEASE TO COINCIDE WITH TODAY’S FULL MOON— PURCHASE HERE

INCLUDES NEW SINGLE “I WANT TO BELIEVE” FEATURING DAYSEEKER — WATCH MUSIC VIDEO HERE

BAND TO EMBARK ON TASTE OF CHAOS TOUR WITH HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD, I SEE STARS, VANA, + MELROSE AVENUE THIS FALL

IN THIS MOMENT, the GRAMMY® Award-nominated, multi-platinum heavy alternative force of nature, have dropped their ninth full-length offering and debut LP for Better Noise Music, WITCH, today, August 28. Get it HERE.

Bold, emotionally resonant, and unmistakably IN THIS MOMENT, WITCH embraces everything that has defined the band’s legacy while confidently expanding their creative vision through towering anthems, mesmerizing melodies, unforgettable guest appearances, and a striking visual identity.

To accompany the record, the band also unleashed an epic cinematic music video for the new single “I Want To Believe,” featuring Gold-Certified, Southern California heavy alternative phenomenon Dayseeker. More than a music video, it’s a feast for the senses, pairing the song’s emotional weight with the band’s signature screen-worthy grandeur.

Watch it HERE.

The track teems with emotion, energy, and essence of these creative outliers catalyzed by the back-and-forth of IN THIS MOMENT’s front-goddess Maria Brink and Dayseeker’s vocalist and mastermind Rory Rodriguez, whose smooth croon has elevated the band to one of the biggest breakout acts of the last two years. The sonic meeting point between two bands helping shape the future of heavy music creates one of WITCH’s most anticipated moments — a crossover that underscores the strength, evolution, and creative camaraderie thriving within today’s rock community. Giving fans a whole lot to believe in, it’s a once-in-a-generation pairing without comparison.

Regarding the single, Brink revealed, “‘I Want To Believe’ is the flicker of light you protect as shadows close in. It’s reaching for a hand that’s slipping away, knowing endings are inevitable, yet still clinging for the glow of hope. It’s the quiet fight to believe in light while the world shifts, knowing that even as one chapter fades, another will dawn.”

Rodriguez echoed this excitement, “We had a chance to tour with IN THIS MOMENT last year and they were so kind to us. I was very excited about the idea of us creating something together musically and I think people are going to love it.”

IN THIS MOMENT preceded the LP with the standout “Crawl.” Beyond plugs from Metal Hammer and more, Revolver raved, “‘Crawl contains brawny riffage, stagger-stomped industrial rhythms and a fiercely hypnotic vocal performance from frontwoman Maria Brink that runs from fair-warning whispers to confrontational screams. Consequence Of Sound attested, “The dynamic single ‘Crawl’ features Brink delivering percussive verses and a melodic chorus, with some heavy screaming thrown in, as well.” The Nu Metal Agenda perhaps put it best, “Singer Maria Brink brings back to her quasi-rapping, something only heard songs such as ‘Sex Metal Barbie’ or ‘Roots’ or songs of their ilk, ascending to her place as modern metal’s supreme.”

WITCH showcases every side of IN THIS MOMENT: The fury, the femininity, and the fire. It’s an 11-track opus that does not relent in intensity and introspection. However, the band didn’t go it alone. This time around, the band also tapped Kim Dracula for “Heretic” and Kat Von D for a cover of the Pink Floyd classic “Another Brick In The Wall.”

“WITCH is my declaration of inner transformation,” states Brink. “It’s about embracing the duality within — taking pain, persecution, and struggle — and alchemizing them into strength and power. The album reflects both ancient trials and my own journey — where being a ‘witch’ means being a creator, connected to the universe, manifesting my own reality.”

The spell has been cast. Allow WITCH to possess you.

ITM teased this chapter with “Sleeping With The Enemy.” Beyond reeling in over 1 million streams, it earned critical acclaim. Rock Sound hailed it as “blistering.”

Led by the magnetic presence of Brink, the band has turned its fusion of spectacle, vulnerability, and massive melodic hooks into a global phenomenon, earning platinum-certified success and more than two billion career streams along the way.

WITCH TRACK LISTING:
“Shame”
“I Want To Believe (Feat. Dayseeker)”
“Crawl”
“Into The Dark”
“Sleeping With The Enemy”
“Wrapped Around Your Finger”
“Heretic (Feat. Kim Dracula)”
“Father”
“Without Me There’s No You”
“Another Brick In The Wall (Feat. Kat Von D)”
“Something I Can Never Have”

WITCH is now available in the following formats:
CD
Standard Vinyl
Indie Vinyl
Band Store Vinyl
Label Store Vinyl
Revolver Vinyl
Indie Cassette

IN THIS MOMENT will tour this fall as part of Taste Of Chaos. They will be joined by Hollywood Undead, I See Stars, Vana, and Melrose Avenue. All dates are below.

IN THIS MOMENT ON TOUR:

9/15 — Pittsburgh, PA — Roxian Theatre (Headline w/ Melrose Avenue + Of Virtue)
9/17 — La Crosse, WI — Copeland Park (Co-Headline w/ Nothing More + Atreyu)
9/19 — Louisville, KY — Louder Than Life Festival

TASTE OF CHAOS:

9/22 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore
9/23 — Raleigh, NC — The Ritz
9/25 — Virginia Beach, VA — The Dome
9/26 — Reading, PA — The Theatre @ Santander Arena
9/28 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore Silver Spring
9/29 — Worcester, MA — Palladium
9/30 — New Haven, CT — College Street Music Hall
10/2 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore
10/3 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave – Eagles Ballroom
10/5 — Cleveland, OH — Agora Theater
10/6 — Grand Rapids, MI — GLC Live at 20 Monroe
10/8 — Omaha, NE — Steelhouse Omaha
10/9 — Waukee, IA — Vibrant Music Hall
10/10 — Maplewood, MN — Myth Live
10/11 — Chicago, IL — Aragon Ballroom
10/13 — Kansas City, MO — The Midland Theatre
10/14 — Chesterfield, MO — The Factory
10/16 — Houston, TX — House of Blues Houston
10/17 — Dallas, TX — The Bomb Factory
10/19 — Denver, CO — Fillmore Auditorium
10/20 — Salt Lake City, UT — Rockwell at the Complex
10/21 — Garden City, ID — Revolution Concert House
10/22 — Reno, NV — Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort
10/24 — Maricopa, AZ — Harrah’s Ak-Chin
10/25 — Las Vegas, NV — The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
10/26 — Anaheim, CA — House of Blues Anaheim

BAD WOLVES HONOR DOLLY PARTON WITH THEIR VERSION OF “JOLENE”

Dolly Parton was preparing to add vocals to heavy metal version of “Jolene”

Bad Wolves Will Donate Proceeds From “Jolene” releasing August 31 to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Her Honor

Bad Wolves join millions of fans around the world in mourning the sudden passing of the one and only Dolly Parton, whose legacy has touched generations of artists and fans globally.

In a poignant turn of events, Bad Wolves were recently in discussions with Parton’s management team about a special collaboration. Just weeks ago, the band had recorded a heavy metal version of the singer’s iconic hit “Jolene,” and Parton herself was planning to contribute her signature vocals to the recording.

Bad Wolves founder John Boecklin says, “Our new singer is a big fan of Dolly and had posted a bunch of videos of her covering ‘Jolene.’ So, we decided to make a heavy metal cover version for our next album. On hearing our version, our label CEO Dan Waite sent the finished demo to Dolly’s manager Danny Nozell with a request for Dolly to guest feature on our version. We heard back that Danny had played the track to Dolly, and that Dolly loved our version, and that Dolly was going to go into the studio and add her vocals very soon. We then sent over the stems for Dolly’s studio engineers to work with. Like everyone, we were devastated of this week’s news of Dolly’s passing.We will honor Dolly’s incredible legacy by donating proceeds from ‘Jolene’ to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.“

According to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, they have given away over 300 million books to children around the world.

Founded by Dolly Parton in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is the flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation; a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring a love of reading in children around the world. The program provides free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to registered children from birth to age five, regardless of family income, mailing each book directly to the child’s home. Today, the program mails more than three million books to children each month.

Boecklin continued, :With ‘Jolene,’ being able to use our platform to help deliver critical funding to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, we know that we can contribute to Dolly’s vision of giving access to books and improving literacy.”

In closing, Boecklin offered condolences on behalf of the band: “Our thoughts are with Dolly’s extended family, manager Danny Nozell, and all of the many thousands of people she touched in her extraordinary life who are grieving her passing”.

“Jolene” by Bad Wolves will release Monday, August 31, 2026.

YOSHIKI AND JOSH GROBAN UNITE FOR A NEW RECORDING OF “FOREVER LOVE,” ONE OF JAPAN’S MOST BELOVED BALLADS

YOSHIKI with Josh Groban

Recorded Live at Walt Disney Concert Hall,
the Bilingual Japanese-English Performance
Arrives Worldwide This Friday, August 28

Global music icons YOSHIKI and Josh Groban unite for a powerful new recording of “Forever Love,” arriving worldwide this Friday, August 28.

One of Japan’s most iconic and enduring ballads, “Forever Love” has resonated with generations of listeners in Japan and throughout Asia. In this new recording, captured live at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, YOSHIKI reimagines his celebrated composition for piano, orchestra, and voice. Groban performs a new English opening written by YOSHIKI before singing the song’s original Japanese and English lyrics.

More than a collaboration, the performance creates a rare cultural bridge: an enduring Japanese composition interpreted by two internationally acclaimed artists on one of the world’s most prestigious concert stages.

“Josh brought extraordinary emotion and depth to ‘Forever Love,’” YOSHIKI said. “Hearing him sing the song in perfect Japanese was deeply moving. This music has connected with people in Japan for many years, and I hope our performance carries its message of love to people around the world.”

“Yoshiki is an icon and ‘Forever Love’ is one of his most iconic songs. It was an honor and a joy to transcend language and genre with him and bring a new life to this beautiful song,” Groban said.

The performance was recorded on July 17, 2026, during the second of two sold-out concerts marking YOSHIKI’s debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall. With YOSHIKI at the piano and backed by an orchestra, Groban’s soaring vocals bring a powerful new dimension to the ballad while honoring its deeply Japanese emotional identity.

Originally written and composed by YOSHIKI for X JAPAN and released in 1996, “Forever Love” has become one of his most recognized and beloved works. Thirty years after its original release, its message of devotion, loss, and enduring love continues to resonate with listeners.

“Forever Love (Live)” by YOSHIKI & JOSH GROBAN will be available on digital platforms worldwide on August 28.

Pre-save: https://yoshiki.lnk.to/FLLPR
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81hl8dj2TAw

Punk-Metal Pioneers
SNOT
Officially Sign to BLKIIBLK

Adriana Torres

New Studio Album Coming Summer 2027

BLKIIBLK is proud to announce the signing of legendary California punk-metal pioneers SNOT to a worldwide recording deal. One of the most influential cult bands to emerge from the late-’90s heavy music explosion, SNOT is currently writing and recording its long-awaited new studio album – the band’s first collection of new material in nearly three decades – set for release in summer 2027, with new music set to arrive in early 2027, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of their landmark debut, ‘Get Some.’

Mikey Doling, founder and guitarist of SNOT, comments:

“I am beyond thrilled to announce SNOT’s signing with BLKIIBLK! From my very first conversation with Mike Gitter, it was clear that the team at BLKIIBLK and SNOT were a perfect fit. They truly believe in what we’re doing, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead. We’re proud to be joining the Frontiers/BLKIIBLK family. I’ve got my sunglasses on because the future is so bright! We’re fired up to bring the new SNOT songs we’ve been working on to our fans around the world. This is just the beginning!”

Mike Gitter, Head of A&R, Frontiers Label Group, adds:

“BLKIIBLK isn’t merely just proud to be working with SNOT but, more importantly, to be part of fulfilling a legacy that has only intensified as time has gone by. SNOT is really the high-octane stopgap between fellow Santa Barbara punk miscreants, RKL and Generation Nu-Metal. Mikey, John, Jamie and Andy are on fire and not only celebrating their history but making it much more than a classic-album-and-then-we’re-out proposition. F- that! SNOT lives!”

SNOT never played by anyone else’s rules. Originally formed in Santa Barbara, California, in 1995, they featured the charismatic Lynn Strait on vocals, guitarist Mikey Doling, bassist John Fahnestock, and drummer Jamie Miller. The band forged a sound that blurred the lines between hardcore, punk, funk, groove, and metal with an attitude that refused to fit neatly into any scene. Built around the unforgettable presence of frontman Lynn Strait, the unmistakable guitar work of Mikey Doling, and a rhythm section that balanced precision with swagger, SNOT created music that was as infectious as it was uncompromising.

Released in 1997 through Geffen Records, ‘Get Some’ has become one of heavy music’s defining cult classics. Its explosive combination of crushing riffs, undeniable groove, raw humor, and fearless individuality helped shape the emerging nu-metal movement while standing apart from it entirely. Decades later, the album continues to inspire generations of musicians across metal, hardcore, punk, and hard rock, earning its reputation as one of the era’s most distinctive and enduring releases.

Although Lynn Strait’s tragic passing in 1998 brought the band’s original run to an abrupt end, SNOT’s legacy only continued to grow. In 2000, the surviving members honored Strait with the acclaimed tribute album ‘Strait Up,’ featuring an extraordinary roster of guest vocalists including Jonathan Davis, Corey Taylor, Fred Durst, Serj Tankian, and many others. Meanwhile, SNOT’s members went on to help shape bands including Soulfly, Bad Religion, Amen, Lo-Pro, and Channel Zero, extending the band’s influence across multiple generations of heavy music.

In 2025, SNOT returned with powerhouse vocalist Andy Knapp, ushering in a new era while honoring the spirit that made the band a cult favorite.

Since returning to the stage, SNOT has experienced an overwhelming resurgence, fueled by passionate fans and acclaimed performances at major festivals including Welcome To Rockville, Sonic Temple, Inkcarceration, Louder Than Life, Aftershock, Download, Graspop, Alcatraz, and Motocultor, alongside sold-out headline club shows throughout North America and Europe. The response has firmly established SNOT as one of heavy music’s most celebrated comeback stories.

The current SNOT lineup features Mikey Doling (guitar), John Fahnestock (bass), Jamie Miller (drums), and Andy Knapp (vocals), with Doc Coyle joining the band as touring support guitarist for live performances.

Now signed to BLKIIBLK, SNOT is preparing to release its first new music in nearly thirty years, opening an exciting new chapter while staying true to the spirit that made the band legendary.

GET SOME. SNOT IS BACK.

Current SNOT Lineup:
Mikey Doling – Guitar
John Fahnestock – Bass
Jamie Miller – Drums
Andy Knapp – Vocals

Touring Support:
Doc Coyle – Guitar