SLUTSTATION TJERNOBYL BASSIST IS DEAD
Swedish trallpunk band SLUTSTATION TJERNOBYL has lost their bassist, Michael Edström, who passed away yesterday (May 23).facebook.com/SlutstationTjernobyl
3 SINGLES AND A SPLIT
FIMBUL WINTER: Crowned In Ash (melodic death metal)EXHUMED/IRON REAGAN (reissue) (gore metal/hardcore punk/crossover)
DRAKKAR: 666 'n' Rock 'n' Roll (Tribute To Them) (speed/heavy metal)
CRIMSON DAY: Song Of Fire (heavy metal)
BOMBUS WORKING ON NEW ALBUM
Swedish metal band BOMBUS are currently working on a new album, which they plan to release in early 2027. They are also booking a European tour for spring 2027.facebook.com/bombusmusic
CRYSTAL EYES DONE WITH NEW ALBUM
The recordings of local (Borås, Sweden) power metal veterans CRYSTAL EYES's 9th album is complete. Now they will mix and master it at Studio Fredman before it's ready to be released.
facebook.com/crystaleyessweden
DIMMU BORGIR RELEASES NEW MUSIC VIDEO
Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR have released a cinematic music video for "As Seen In The Unseen", the latest single from their new album, "Grand Serpent Rising", which was released yesterday (Friday, May 22) via Nuclear Blast Records.youtu.be/x1K4gVUQkDU?si=WuWYlxqz6v8xNoqo
AVATAR ANNOUNCES EUROPEAN TOUR
Swedish theatrical metal band AVATAR have announced a headline tour across Europe in the end of the year.The tour kicks off on November 20 in Wolverhampton, U.K. and runs through until December 19 in Wrocław, Poland. The Danish death metal band NECKBREAKKER will be support on all dates. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, May 26 at: avatarmetal.com
MIKKEY DEE WITH FRIENDS at Liseberg in Göteborg, Sweden on May 22, 2026
Swedish drummer Mikkey Dee (SCORPIONS, LEX LEGION, ex-MOTÖRHEAD, KING DIMAOND, DOKKEN) played some MOTÖRHEAD songs at the tivoli Liseberg last night together with 2 guys from action rockers The DRIPPERS. You should have been there!
Read all about it and see some photos
HARDCORE SUPERSTAR ANNOUNCES SCANDINAVIAN TOUR
In October/November, Swedish street hard rockers HARDCORE SUPERSTAR are going on their biggest Scandinavian tour in years. The "Dirty Halo Tour" is hitting 21 venues across Sweden, Finland and Estonia before continuing into Europe and the rest of the world during 2027.
Tickets go on sale this Monday, May 25 at: hardcoresuperstar.com/tour
THE CASUALTIES ADD DATES IN ITALY AND GERMANY
American punk veterans The CASUALTIES has added a date in Italy and 3 more in Germany to their upcoming European summer tour.Tickets and dates: thecasualtiesofficial.com/tour
NEW SINGLE WITH MOLIOR SUPERUM
Swedish retro hard rockers MOLIOR SUPERUM have released a new single, "Spegeln".moliorsuperum.bandcamp.com/track/spegeln
NEW SINGLE WITH STRÖM
Swedish-singing hard rockers STRÖM have released the second single, "Mer Ström Åt Folket", from an upcoming album that will be released in early October.youtu.be/PMMHtCogvLY?si=CSYTy_okoiVv-EV0 | facebook.com/TidenSjunger
NEW SONG WITH THE SOLAR LODGE
Swedish goth/rock veterans The SOLAR LODGE have also released a new single, "Skiter I".solarlodge.lnk.to/YvUDrU | facebook.com/thesolarlodgesthlm
ERIK GRÖNWALL ANNOUNCES JAPANESE DATES
Swedish hard rock singer Erik Grönwall (MSG, ex-SKID ROW, H.E.A.T) are going to Japan in November for his first solo dates there.There will be 2 shows:
Nov. 4 - Tokyo, Ebisu Gardens Hall
Nov. 5 - Osaka, Umeda Club Quattro
linktr.ee/erikgronwall
OZZY BECOMES A.I. AVATAR
On Wednesday (May 20), Sharon and Jack Osbourne announced the creation of an A.I. avatar of Ozzy Osbourne during a talk called "The Enduring Legacy Of A Rock Icon And His Family: Ozzy Osbourne And The Osbournes" on the License Global main stage at Licensing Expo at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The digital Ozzy is coming to life through a partnership between Hyperreal, the digital human technology company behind the patented Digital DNA process, and Proto Hologram. Together they will enable the avatar to have conversations with fans and move, speak and respond as Ozzy would.Digital Ozzy will appear in Proto Luma units - described as life-size, patented holoportation devices that can display live or pre-recorded content with its 86-inch multi-touch volumetric display, 4K resolution, high fidelity speakers, and spatial computing / conversational A.I. capabilities - in the U.K. and U.S. beginning late summer.
THE DARKNESS RELEASES THEME SONG FOR NEW "Masters Of The Universe" MOVIE
British rockers The DARKNESS have released "Masters Of The Universe", the theme tune to this year's long-awaited He-Man movie "Masters Of The Universe", which premiered earlier this week at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California.youtu.be/G_lonD5RUVY?si=wz2PA76b_Dmix8J9
NOFX TO RELEASE SOUNDTRACK TO NEW DOCUMENTARY
American punk rock veterans NOFX have released a video for their song "40 Years of Fuckin' Up". The song appears in their documentary of the same name, which is screening in select theatres around the world, and you can see a complete list of upcoming screenings here: 40yearsoffuckinup.com/tickets.The song is also on the official soundtrack and score album which will be out on August 28 via Fat Wreck Chords. The album features 26 songs in total, including new original score songs, 2 unreleased singles - "40 Years of Fuckin' Up" and "We Did It Our Way" - rare demos and covers, and live versions of NOFX songs.
THIS ROCKS
US: Yo-Yo Revolution (rock)VACUM: Bensin Och Låtsaspengar (punk rock/post-punk)
64 FUNNYCARS: Happy Go Lucky (teaser) (power pop/pop punk)
TAXI GIRLS: Say It! (punk anthem)
NEW SINGLE WITH FINNTROLL SINGER LILLMÅNS
Last year, Mathias Lillmåns - recognized by most as vocalist "Vreth" in Finnish folk metal institution FINNTROLL - dug through his personal vaults and released "Remains", a 17-track collection spanning 3 decades of his work with different bands. And now he returns with his first solo single, "In Glorious Black and White", under the name LILLMÅNS.ffm.to/in-glorious-black-and-white
TWIN PIGS CONFIRMED FOR VRÅLET
TWIN PIGS, DEATH BY UNGA BUNGA and VET HUT! have been confirmed for the punk and rock festival Vrålet!, which happens at Filmstudion in Göteborg, Sweden on November 6-7.
vralet.se
3 AT THE GATES ALBUMS TO BE RE-RELEASED ON CD
3 albums with Swedish death metal legends AT THE GATES will be re-released as remastered CD editions this Friday, May 22. The albums are "The Red in the Sky is Ours", "With Fear I Kiss the Burning Darkness", and "Terminal Spirit Disease".
Peaceville.lnk.to/At_The_Gates | facebook.com/AtTheGatesOfficial
METAL CHURCH GOES TO JAPAN
American metal veterans METAL CHURCH are going to Japan for 3 shows at Holiday Shinjuku in Tokyo on October 9-11.linktr.ee/metalchurchofficial
NEW SINGLE WITH SKID ROW BASSIST RACHEL BOLAN
As you might know, SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan will release his debut solo album, "Gargoyle Of The Garden State", on June 12 via earMUSIC. The official music video for the LP's third single, "Memory", is out now.youtu.be/7ZNqpC1KPtQ?si=Ob2ZqbTD32yxSjfV
ADRIAN VANDENBERG ANNOUNCES U.S. CO-HEADLINE TOUR WITH VINNIE MOORE AND MARCO MENDOZA
Dutch guitarist Adrian Vandenberg (VANDENBERG, WHITESNAKE) is bringing a powerhouse night of classic hard rock to U.S. audiences this August with "My Whitesnake Years" tour. The tour features an all-star lineup including acclaimed guitarist Vinnie Moore and veteran bassist/vocalist Marco Mendoza, celebrating decades of iconic rock music spanning WHITESNAKE, THIN LIZZY, UFO, Ted Nugent and beyond.Tickets and a VIP meet-and-greet packages are available for purchase here: vandenbergband.com/tour
OUT ON FRIDAY (May 22)
NORTHBORN: Northborn (melodic death metal)MöTT: Best Is Yet To Come (classic American hard rock)
NEW SINGLE WITH MOB RULES
German power metal veterans MOB RULES have unveiled their brand-new single "Above The Maelstrom", taken from the forthcoming studio album, "Stories From The Verdant Vale", set for release on August 21 via ROAR - A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music.mobrules.rpm.link/maelstromPR | mobrules.rpm.link/storiesPR | facebook.com/mobrulesband
ARCH ENEMY ANNOUNCES NORTH AMERICAN TOUR WITH THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
ARCH ENEMY and The BLACK DAHLIA MURDER will return to North American stages this fall on a co-headlining tour. The "Wrath Across America 2026" tour runs from October 5 through November 19. Additional support will be provided by SEPTICFLESH, CRYPTA and THROWN INTO EXILE.
More info: archenemy.live
KAM LEE TO FRONT BENEDICTION FOR LATIN AMERICAN TOUR
MASSACRE frontman Kam Lee, who was a member of an early version of DEATH as well as the pre-DEATH band MANTAS alongside guitarist/vocalist Chuck Schuldiner and guitarist Rick Rozz, will handle lead vocals for British death metal veterans BENEDICTION during their November 2026 tour of Latin America.Lee's addition to BENEDICTION's touring lineup comes 1 week after it was announced that BENEDICTION vocalist Dave Ingram was stepping down from the band due to ongoing health issues. BENEDICTION confirmed that Ingram will still appear at select shows throughout 2026, depending on his health. BENEDICTION will also play other concerts with fill-in vocalists, including Oscar Rilo and returning frontman Dave Hunt.
GOOD AND BAD
DEEP PURPLE: Arrogant Boy (classic hard rock)DESECRESY: The Secret Of Death (dark death metal)
FATAL VISION: Four Sides To Every Story (melodic rock)
LION'S SHARE RELEASES NEW VIDEO
Swedish heavy metal band LION'S SHARE have released the new video for "We Are What We Are", celebrating the song's milestone of over 1 million Spotify streams.The band released their latest album, "Inferno", in March this year. It was their first studio album in 17 years, and "We Are What We Are" has become one of the standout songs on the album.
youtube.com/watch?v=CU-yIM4XUIE | lionsshare.org
TESLA COVERS QUEEN
TESLA just released a new cover of QUEEN's 1977 classic "Spread Your Wings", from their upcoming album, "Homage", to be released on July 17 through Frontiers Music Srl.youtube.com/watch?v=Up-iugVdxpg | ffm.bio/tesla-homage
BIRTHDAY BASH FOR BON SCOTT IN NYC
The third annual Bon's Birthday Bash will be held on Thursday, July 9 in New York City at The Cutting Room. The only U.S. tribute event authorized by the Bon Scott estate, the Birthday Bash will feature vocal luminaries Corey Glover of LIVING COLOUR, Constantine Maroulis, Steve Brown of TRIXTER, Jimmy Kunes of CACTUS, and many more. The band will once again be Paul McGilloway on lead guitar, John Jackson on rhythm guitar, Ivan Bodley on bass, and Kenny Soule on drums, with the evening hosted by legendary rock radio personality Terrie Carr. The event will also feature a Morrison Hotel Gallery pop-up showcasing never-before-seen images of Bon Scott by legendary rock photographer Steve Joester. Prints will be available for sale.Tickets: wl.eventim.us/event/the-third-annual-official-bon-scott........
THE DWARVES RELEASE NEW VIDEO
American punk rock veterans The DWARVES have released a new music video for their song "We Are The Scene", that's off their upcoming album, "Jenkem", which is out June 6 via Greedy Records.youtu.be/QkUyYug9MyA?si=d_oH9QuPQ0pgsfQt
CIRKUS PRÜTZ ANNOUNCES NEW SINGER
Earlier this year, CIRKUS PRÜTZ singer Christan Carlsson announced that he wanted to step off the blues rock cirkus to focus on other things in life and his other band The QUILL, who just released a new album. New singer and harmonica player is Nicolas Vowden.facebook.com/cirkusprytz
GOOD STUFF
SOCIAL DISTORTION: Born To Kill (punk rock veterans)STEPPIN' RAZOR BLADES: Stay Sharp (ska/punk rock)
Klubb Hades Festival at Åhaga in Borås, Sweden on May 15-16, 2026
There was a metal festival here in Borås during the weekend, and I was there..
Read about it and see some photos
THE EROTICS SHARE NEW VIDEO
New York street hard rockers The EROTICS have a new video out for the song "Trapped In Nowhere", taken from their latest album, "Just What The Devil Ordered", which was released in February.youtu.be/fXzEuEmGdxQ?si=TLurnqOa5QIrwPGF | theerotics1.bandcamp.com/album/just-what....
DE LYCKLIGA KOMPISARNA AND LASTKAJ 14 CONFIRMED FOR VRÅLET
DE LYCKLIGA KOMPISARNA, LASTKAJ 14, PERKELE, CITY SAINTS and THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE ZUGLY have been confirmed for the Vrålet! punk and rock festival in Göteborg, Sweden on November 6-7.
vralet.se
NEW SINGLE WITH MANDY MANALA
Finnish heavy rockers MANDY MANALA has released a video for "Shoebox", a song taken from their upcoming second album, "Something Wicked", which will be released on May 29 through Argonauta Records.
youtu.be/NOoMTJvYGt8?si=FF9xBXMqlORHkv-d | facebook.com/MandyManala | facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords
PAUL Di'ANNO DOCUMENTARY TO BE SHOWN IN UK AND USA
Cleopatra Entertainment has announced the theatrical release of the documentary film "Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer" into U.K. cinemas from May 1, 2026 at Birmingham's Mockingbird Cinema, followed by screenings through June 2 in the U.K.'s Light Cinema chain. Full listings and ticket purchase links can be found at musicfilmnetwork.comAt U.S. film festivals such as Sound Unseen in Minneapolis (May 13) and the San Francisco Documentary Festival on (June 3), the film will also see its North American theatrical premiere for public audiences at the Lumiere Music Hall Theater, 9036 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, California 90211 on June 9 at 7:00 p.m., which is also the official North American release date for both the digital VOD and home entertainment DVD/Blu-ray formats.
Trailer: youtu.be/Oqk4b4IJJ6o?si=g_bydtIoMTlHvzGj
MELODIC STUFF
GENERATION RADIO: Take Two (AOR/West Coast rock)DÅZR: Do Or Die (melodic hard rock)
NEW LIVE RELEASE WITH L.A. GUNS IN JULY
L.A. GUNS will release a new live CD and DVD, "Live From The Guild Theatre", on July 3 via Cleopatra Records. It was recorded on July 10, 2025 at The Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, California.cleorecs.com/products/l-a-guns-live...
NEW SINGLE WITH REVOLTING
Swedish death metallers REVOLTING gives us a second taste, "A Midnight Massacre", from their upcoming 10th studio album, "Supernatural Anthems", which will be released on June 4 via Xtreem Music.youtu.be/137KGbBKBLE?si=TKhwixOvkOe-lWZz | shop.xtreemmusic.com | facebook.com/revoltingdeathmetal
CATCHY PUNK SINGLES
SMALL TOWN SAVIOURS: Alkaline (punk rock/pop punk)RISE FROM YOUR GRAVE: Stay Awake (horror punk)
NEW SINGLE WITH FIMBUL WINTER
Swedish melodic death metallers FIMBUL WINTER - with 3 former members of AMON AMARTH - has released the new single "Crowned In Ash".The band released their debut EP, "What Once Was", last year.
youtu.be/rKgSmM9tgrw?si=oEXlSoabZOr2cusf | fimbulwinterswe.bandcamp.com
BOOK ABOUT METAL ALBUM COVERS
The new hardcover book "...And Justice For Art: Stories About Heavy Metal Album Covers - Ultimate Edition" is now available.This book includes 372 color pages, 700 graphics, and more than 120 exclusive interviews about the making of hundreds of iconic metal album covers. This epic journey through the art of heavy music features stories about the sleeve artworks for albums like BLACK SABBATH's "Black Sabbath", IRON MAIDEN's "Killers", METALLICA's "...And Justice For All", AT THE GATES' "Slaughter Of The Soul", SLAYER's "Reign In Blood", OPETH's "Heritage", DARKTHRONE's "A Blaze In The Northern Sky", among many others.
Order: andjusticeforart.bigcartel.com/product/pre-order-book.... | andjusticeforart.com
BLUE ÖYSTER CULT's ERIC BLOOM TO MISS A FEW SHOWS
BLUE ÖYSTER CULT singer Eric Bloom will miss some of the band's upcoming shows after undergoing an unspecified "non-life-threatening" surgery. Kasim Sulton (UTOPIA) will be standing in for him for a few shows.The band is scheduled to play its next gig on May 16 in Oroville, California, with additional dates on the itinerary through the summer and fall.
x.com/theamazingBOC
4 ALBUMS
DEATH LENS: What's Left Now (alternative rock/power pop/pop punk/punk rock)John Corabi: New Day (American classic rock)
degreed: Curtain Calls (hard pop/hard rock)
CREYE: IV Aftermath (modern melodic hard rock)
NEW SINGLE WITH STEPPIN' RAZOR BLADES
New England ska punk rockers STEPPIN' RAZOR BLADES release a new video for their second single, "Coming Of Age", this Friday, May 15. It's a song taken from their debut album, "Stay Sharp", which will hit stores on Friday, May 22.THIN LIZZY RE-RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM
THIN LIZZY's self-titled debut album returns for its 55th anniversary, newly expanded with 15 unreleased recordings, rare BBC sessions, brand new stereo mixes, and for the first time ever, a Dolby Atmos mix. Out on July 10 as 4LP, 3CD/Blu-ray boxset (with 40-page hardback book), 2LP Green Vinyl, and 2LP Blue Vinyl.facebook.com/ThinLizzyOfficial
MURDER JUNKIES ANNOUNCES U.S TOUR
American punk band MURDER JUNKIES are going on a 35th anniversary Summer tour across USA in August.facebook.com/ggallinofficial
MOTÖRHEAD ANNOUNCE 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF "Kiss Of Death"
MOTÖRHEAD are pleased to announce the 20th anniversary edition of the album "Kiss Of Death", out July 3 via BMG on expanded double LP and 2CD including a previously unreleased radio broadcast concert from Lowlands Festival 2007. It will also be available digitally.
You can watch a new lyric video for the fan favourite "God Was Never On Your Side" here: youtu.be/bAIt20SWzi0?si=YG_OCSzdT11TcSpT
Pre-order/Pre-save: motorhead.lnk.to/KissofDeath20thPR
imotorhead.com
NEW 7" WITH CENTINEX IN JULY
Swedish death metallers CENTINEX will release a limited picture 7" vinyl, titled "Crime Divine", on July 10 through Steel Breaker Records.The single features a DISMEMBER cover and a live track.
facebook.com/Centinexofficial | facebook.com/steelbreakerrecords
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