Latest Rock News - Album & Live Reviews

[Las Vegas, Nevada - May 5, 2026] - Multi-platinum hard rock powerhouse Five Finger Death Punch today announced the UK and European leg of their 20th Anniversary World Tour to take place in early 2027. Featuring special guest Lamb of God, the tour brings together two of hard rock and metal’s most dominant forces. The lineup will be rounded out by Bleed from Within from Scotland, for one of the strongest heavy tour packages of the year. The 20th Anniversary World Tour is both a celebration and a statement, honoring Five Finger Death Punch’s journey from their 2005 formation and release of debut album, The Way Of The Fist in 2007 to global arena headliners worldwide. The tour will kick off in the UK in Manchester on Saturday 16th January 2027 and will see the band perform in 21 cities across the UK and Europe, ending in Helsinki on 22nd February 2027. Five Finger Death Punch’s tenth studio album is expected to drop later this year, with the first new single anticipated to be released this month. The 20th Anniversary World Tour will showcase material from the new album, alongside classic anthems and #1 hits that defined the past two decades. 5FDP founding guitarist Zoltan Bathory states: “We built this band like a battleship, twenty years of everything life could throw at us, and we’re not just still here, we’re still growing. New fans discovering us every day, the fanbase bigger now than it’s ever been. This World Tour is the celebration that milestone deserves. First leg is America in 2026, then Europe in 2027, and we’re not stopping there! South America, Australia, Asia are all in the talks. This is going to be a big two or three years for Five Finger Death Punch, and we’re just getting started.” The band’s most current albums, Best Of – Volume 1 and Best Of – Volume 2 , feature newly re-recorded versions of Five Finger Death Punch’s biggest hits, including #1 single “I Refuse” feat. Maria Brink (Vol. 1) and #1 single “The End” feat. BABYMETAL (Vol. 2). “The End” reached #1 on the Japanese iTunes Metal Chart, marking a major milestone for an international rock release. In the U.S., the song made history as the first track featuring Japanese lyrics to chart at Rock Radio, ultimately reaching #1. Both albums were created in response to the sale of the band’s original masters, a decision made without their knowledge or opportunity to reclaim them. For over two decades, special guest Lamb of God have remained one of the most influential and respected bands in heavy music, known for their precision, intensity, and uncompromising sound. With multiple Grammy nominations and a fiercely loyal global fanbase, they continue to set the standard for modern metal. Lamb of God’s new album Into Oblivion is out now. Rising from the UK metal scene, Bleed from Within have built a reputation as one of the genre’s most exciting live acts, combining crushing heaviness with arena-ready hooks. Their relentless touring and critically acclaimed releases have positioned them as a breakout force in the genre. TICKETS: Tickets for the 2027 UK and Europe tour dates will be available starting with the 5FDP Artist and O2 (UK only) & Venue Partner Presales beginning Wednesday, May 6 at 10am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week, including Promoter, Venue, Local Partner Presales on Thursday, May 7 at 10am local time, with a Spotify Presale following at 12pm local time. General onsale begins Friday, May 8 at 10am local time. For France the rollout will follow a slightly extended schedule, beginning with the 5FDP Artist Presale on Wednesday, May 6 at 10am local time. The Spotify Presale will take place Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time,. Additional Local Partner and Promoter Presales will run Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12 at 10am local time, ahead of the general onsale on Wednesday, May 13 at 10am local time. For more information on Five Finger Death Punch, all 2026 North America & 2027 European tour dates, and VIP offerings visit fivefingerdeathpunch.com . 20TH ANNIVERSARY WORLD TOUR UK & EUROPE TOUR DATES Sat 16th January 2027 Manchester, UK - AO Arena Sun 17th January 2027 Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro Arena Tue 19th January 2027 Dublin, IE - 3Arena Fri 22nd January 2027 Birmingham, UK - BP Pulse Arena Sat 23rd January 2027 London, UK - O2 Arena Tue 26th January 2027 Düsseldorf, DE - PSD Arena Wed 27th January 2027 Hamburg, DE - Barclays Arena Fri 29th January 2027 Lodz, PL - Atlas Arena Sun 31st January 2027 Prague, CZ - O2 Arena *^ Tue 2nd February 2027 Munich, DE - Olympiahalle Thu 4th February 2027 Stuttgart, DE - Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle Sun 7th February 2027 Amsterdam, NL - AFAS Arena Mon 8th February 2027 Brussels, BE - Vorst National Wed 10th February 2027 Paris, FR - Accor Arena Fri 12th February 2027 Zurich, CH - Hallenstadion Sun 14th February 2027 Vienna, AT - Stadthalle Tue 16th February 2027 Berlin, DE - Uber Arena Wed 17th February 2027 Copenhagen, DK - Royal Arena* Fri 19th February 2027 Oslo, NO - Unity Arena Sat 20th February 2027 Stockholm, SE - Avicii Arena Mon 22nd February 2027 Helsinki, FI - Veikkaus Arena *without Lamb of God / ^with Dymytry

With a digital timer on The Cruel Intentions’ Spotify page ticking down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the release of ‘All Hail Hypocrisy’ into the world later this month, anticipation is building for, what even before its release, will be one of THE best releases of 2026. Featuring 11 tracks of undeniable ragged rock’n’roll beauty, The Cruel Intentions’ third album is easily their best - a comment all the more remarkable in its making, directness, simplicity and as I write it given the respective strengths of their earlier output. Provided with access to the album in late February (thanks very much guys), I’ve felt like a child counting down the days to Christmas until I could share this magical music which I have been listening to and not been able to talk about. But now I can. Take a listen to the first four songs to be released from the album and you’ll get a sense of the quality on offer. ‘Beating in My Chest’ was the first song to drop back in January … and what a drop it was. Fast, energetic, melodic and with a bass line which you’ll feel through every inch of your chest even at moderate volume. While Oslo-based, as the saying goes, you can take the boy out of Los Angeles, but you can’t take Los Angeles out of the boy. And in singer Lizzy DeVine The Cruel Intentions have a singer with one of the most distinctive and instantly recognisable voices in rock music who embodies the sound of the Strip; quite fitting in this song to the City of Angels. A wonderfully raw buzz cut guitar drives the second single ‘Living Out of Line’, followed by the haunting dark beauty of the acoustic ‘Wasteland’ and then the most recent single ‘All Hail Hypocrisy’. Only one line in to the title track and the sing-song gang pre-chorus “It’s alright, It’s okay” grabs you and claims you for its own before leading into another deceptively simple sing-song melody underpinning a raucous chorus. Really effective. Give the competition a chance, guys - they’ll never catch up at this rate. Having listened to the whole album for weeks, one thing is really apparent. Pre-releasing four songs of this quality is not without risk. Other bands or labels may have held one or maybe two of them back. But there is no need when the remaining seven songs not only match, but in some cases exceed the quality of the singles. I’ll not do a track-by-track review and will leave you with some things to discover for yourselves. But I do have to write about ‘When Eden Burn’. Starting with an unmistakably ‘80’s intro, this song is nothing short of epic. Featuring a life-affirming chorus, designed to be sung out loud, “Can’t you see we got one life, just one chance”, “It’s one way, all you got is just you and me together against the world”. Yes, in different hands this could be seen as schmaltzy or cheesy, but in The Cruel Intentions’ hands a massive song which John Hughes would have written a movie for if he was still alive. Or the type of chorus which will cable tie your heart and tattoo its lyrics on your brain. Having their earlier songs featured heavily on the soundtrack to the Peacemaker, it will come as no surprise that a number of these songs have soundtrack, no - make that blockbuster soundtrack written all over them; now all we need is someone to write and make the movie worthy of the songs. As fans of rock music, it tends to be all about the guitar. Make no mistake, Kristian Solhaug does a great job on guitar throughout, with some great riffs and melodic solos, leading on the fast and furious ‘Triple Threat’, but mostly weaving in and out and enhancing without dominating or over-powering the songs. But, I can’t remember the last time I listened to an album and one of the things which stood out most was the drums … yes, the drums (honestly, I’m not joking). Robin Nilsson (drums) and Mats Wernerson (bass) provide a formidable rhythm section. While they were solid on the band’s first two albums, they sound reborn and revitalised. But there is so much to listen to beneath the surface - no more so than Robin’s unexpected drum fills and pace of drumming. Even with regular leg days at the gym, few us could match his ferocity. So, what this isn’t - painstakingly, or painfully (delete as appropriate), re-created retro music; pastiche; parody; or pretend-to-be-tribute. What this is - modern sleaze: raw, rocky, edgy, fast, furious, oozing attitude, mainlining melodies and insanely large choruses which you won’t forget … and thankfully without the sexism (which hasn’t travelled well) or the misogyny (which never had a place) of 80’s sleaze. And they managed to leave the obligatory ‘Whoa-oh-oh’ until halfway through the last song. What more can I say, but Oooofft!! … a wonderful album and as good a slice of modern (or any) sleaze as you’ll hear anywhere. ‘All Hail Hypocrisy’ will be released by Indie Recordings on 29 May 2026 on all the usual platforms. GMcA

Either it’s because it’s a school night, or the people of Margate don’t have much taste, but it’s pretty quiet in the Dreamland Ballroom. It’s great news for me as I wander up to the barrier with ease (despite a detour to the toilet and another to the bar), but possibly disappointing for Massive Wagons, who have earned a reputation as one of the more exciting live bands on the scene and deserve the sellout shows they’ve achieved in other parts of the country. A modest, but pleasingly enthusiastic crowd has formed in time for openers Scarlet Rebels, and it’s obvious that many are thrilled by the Welsh rockers inclusion on the bill. Starting strong with the euphoric ‘Secret Drug’ and similarly uplifting ‘Take You Home’, these lads certainly know how to pen a catchy tune. It’s a breathless introduction, with barely a moment for applause between songs, but when the opportunity arises, the response is rapturous. An invitation from frontman Wayne Doyle to join Rebel Club is accepted, as he guides us through the call and response ‘woahs’ that make ‘Grace’ so special. Admittedly, he sings it somewhat better than we do, and though his voice is certainly one of the band’s strengths, it’s lead guitarist Chris “CJ” Jones who it’s difficult to take your eyes from, a man who is never stationary and delivers some show stopping solos whilst looking every bit the rock star. When Doyle asks if the Rebels should come back for a headline performance, the answer seems to be a unanimous yes; ‘It Was Beautiful’ indeed. Massive Wagons don’t deal in subtlety; from Baz Mills’ lairy socks (emblazoned with Pennywise the clown), to the broad smiles that are almost permanently present on the faces of guitarists Adam Thistlethwaite and Stevie Holl, everything about their image exudes a sense of fun. At the centre of it all, frontman Baz brings an energy so infectious that you feel almost guilty for standing in one place. High kicking, jumping and bounding around the stage, he never lets up for a moment, quite a feat given he has to sing too! The joy that radiates from the stage is reflected by the audience, helped by the band’s knack for catchy anthems, often with a message of positivity. There’s a sense that this is a band for everyone, particularly evident during ‘F*** the Haters’ when young and old shout the chorus with glee. Musically, Massive Wagons deliver no-nonsense rock, good and loud, just as nature intended. Taking classic rock as the template, they successfully update the genre with a modern stamp. The influences are obvious; the introduction to ‘Hero’ pure AC/DC with a riff only a few steps removed from ‘Have a Drink On Me’, but Mills’ snarling vocal ensures an identity that is entirely Wagons. ‘Germ’ is reminiscent of The Wildhearts, the bouncy upbeat chorus at odds with the barbed lyrics directed tonight at Boris Johnson. ‘Back to the Stack’ is a fitting tribute to the late Rick Parfitt with a familiar Quo style guitar hook, but it’s heavier, celebratory and an absolute setlist staple. Though I miss some of the older songs (bring back ‘Nails’ I say!), it must be increasingly difficult to put a setlist together. The Wagons have an ever expanding catalogue, and given that they specialise in crowd pleasers like the raucous ‘Bangin’ In Your Stereo’ and ‘China Plates’, just about any song from any album would go down well. I’m impressed by the dedication of the fans; Down the front with the die-hards, I’m actually a little frightened that I’ll be found out as less of a devotee! Many know every word, which is pretty special given ‘Generation Prime’ has some fairly rapid word play! The ‘Everywhere We Go’ tour is almost at its conclusion, but it’s clear that wherever these Wagons roll, a good time will follow. It’s hard to imagine anyone could go to see Massive Wagons or Scarlet Rebels and not enjoy themselves - those of us who made it to Margate this evening know what everyone else was missing. SCARLET REBELS Wayne Doyle - vocals/guitar Chris “CJ” Jones - guitar Gary Doyle - drums Carl Oag - bass SETLIST Secret Drug/Take You Home/You Take My Breath Away/Streets of Fire/Grace/It Was Beautiful/Declining/Let Me In MASSIVE WAGONS Barry “Baz” Mills - vocals Adam Thistlethwaite - guitar Stevie Holl - guitar Adam “Bowz” Bouskill - bass Alex Thistlethwaite - drums SETLIST Everywhere We Go/Fun While it Lasted/Please Stay Calm/Missing on TV/F*** the Haters/Germ/Hero/Glorious/Night Skies/The Good Die Young/Generation Prime/House of Noise/Bangin’ in Your Stereo/China Plates/Back to the Stack/In It Together 

Very few musicians can stake a claim on being a front-runner in both the Punk AND Post-Punk movements, and John Lydon is one of them. Forming PIL in 1978, directly after his departure from The Sex Pistols, the political and social climate of the time set the tone perfectly for the group's arrival. Riots, protests, strikes and demonstrations were rife. PIL's music seemed to represent the seismic shift in the air at the time. Since then, they've continually transmogrified themselves, refusing to sit still for any length of time whatsoever. John himself has often been quoted as saying that re-invention is totally essential to keep his interest fluid going forwards. This evening, PIL are the Colosseum at Watford, Hertfordshire. A Town Hall style venue, though at the larger end of the scale as far as those venues are concerned. The show starts with several songs in quick succession:- opener "Home", then "Know Now", "Corporate", "World Destruction", and "This Is Not A Love Song". Long-standing Guitarist (and former member of The Damned), Lu Edmonds is giving off very energetic vibes, also firing out some startling guitar licks. There seems to be a renewed sense of playing live for PIL at present, and this is extremely evident by the vigour of their showmanship this evening. John is on fine form vocally, wringing lots of emotion out of his voice in process.  The set is very well paced and thought out, highlighting the smorgasbord of differing sounds and flavours that the band have developed over the years. John (for him) is keeping chat to a relative minimum. "Flowers Of Romance", "Warrior" and "Public Image" seem to stand out a lot during the mid to tail-end part of the gig. PIL's rhythm section is very impressive, too. Scott Firth on Bass (Since 2019) and Mark Roberts on Drums (Since 2025) incorporate rich patterns into the music, pushing when required, too. John tells us that he's going to walk off for a few minutes, and only if we make enough noise are PIL going to return. The crowd doesn't take any chances. A wide range of cheers, whoops, whistles and other sounds come forth. PIL return with "Open Up", followed by a very extended version of "Rise". This works to great aplomb, sounding somehow constructed, and also a jam at the same time.  I'm not sure if there are any plans for a new album in the near future, though judging on tonight's performance, it would make complete sense. It's as if they are poised to move forwards. The Colosseum witnessed four Gladiators of musical invention this evening. Here's to the next part of the story.

“BAD BONES” ALBUM RELEASED 22ND MAY 2026

Release date: Friday, June 19th 2026 

"MONSTERS WE MADE" AVAILABLE 14TH AUGUST 2026

Live at Gothenburg Film Studios, Out August 14, 2026

Grand are thrilled to announce that they are returning with a new studio album, “Guilty Pleasure”, out on August 21, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl. To celebrate the announcement, they unveil the first single, “Wild Heart”, along with an official video, available below. The band stated: “Wild Heart” tells the story of a lost teenage love, exploring whether opposites truly attract. Driven by a strong, recurring keyboard hook, the song blends melodic rock, AOR, and synthwave into a powerful and cohesive mix.”

It's another Saturday at home, well maybe my second home. Tonight I'm back at Ivory Blacks in Glasgow. I am here this evening to see three bands, three bands where THAT question raises it's ugly head. Tribute bands, are they tribute acts if the real band are still touring, or just a "covers band"? It's a debate that could go on and on, possibly ending with a few punches being thrown. I have my own personal opinion on the matter, but that's for another time and place. The three bands are Arranthrax, Scotlands only Anthrax tribute, Brian Maiden, yip you did read that correctly, and Megadeth UK, no surprises who they are. One of my first reviews for Rockfiend featured two of tonights bands, Arranthrax and Megadeth UK, so fingers crossed that I have progressed a little bit since then. It was a typical Glasgow gig crowd, doors opened bang on seven o'clock, which is rare, there is usually a delay of some sort, there were a few bodies at opening, for the next fifteen minutes a few more joined, then just as Arranthrax hit the stage, BANG! We have a crowd! Arranthrax perform ten big hitting Anthrax tracks, Arranthrax, just like Anthrax, they have a time limit, so not everyone's favourites made it to the set, personally a little disappointed that "Only" and "In my world" never made it. However, other favourites of mine did. "Caught in a mosh" "Got the time" "Madhouse" "Indians" and "Antisocial" all made the list. There was one song, N.F.L (Efilnikufesin) they announced this was the first time they played the song in Glasgow, the song is a cautionary tale about drug abuse, written about the untimely death of American comedy legend John Belushi, if you don't know, read Efilnikufesin backwards, N.F.L Nice Fukin Life. Heavy Metal isn't all about throwing up "The Horns" and headbanging! One of the sad things about gig goers is the fact that not everyone turns up for the opening act, I just cannot understand that, people miss out on some incredible performances. Personally, I always try my best to be at the front of the queue for the doors opening. There have been more than a few times where I've seen the "support" band being just as good, or even better than the headline, I digress, lets get back to the show. Next up, I will admit, I was rather apprehensive about seeing Brian Maiden, when it comes to Metal, Iron Maiden are my No.1 band, by proverbial miles. even the name made me cringe. I really was not looking forward to this. Here at Rockfiend we always try to be positive about the bands we review. This was going to be difficult, was it? Well surprisingly, in one word, NO! Four lads come on stage, tune up a bit, then the Winston Churchill speech begins, they then burst into "Aces High", but something doesn't look right, there is a mic stand centre stage, but without a mic, it looks as if the guitarist is about to start singing, but how can he, there is no mic, trying to attract his attention to tell him someone forgot to put the mic onto the stand, seconds later "Bruce" or is it Brian? bounces in from stage left, wearing very similar attire, including an old fliers headgear, that Bruce Dickinson wears when performing said song. First song into a set of ten, I was pleasantly surprised, second song was a Paul D'Ianno classic "Wrathchild" This guy is pretty good at D'Ianno too! The singer, sorry, I never caught his name, yeah I know, Google, but I didn't, he loosely quoted the "Brian" part of the amazing Monty Python movie "The Life Of Brian" that they were not the Messiah, but they were naughty boys. Tres Drole! Next follows a list of classic Maiden favourites "The evil that men do" "Number of the beast" "Run to the hills" "Fear of the dark" "2 minutes to midnight". Next they played my favourite Iron Maiden song, "The Trooper" the singer left the stage after "2 minutes" and came back on with another wardrobe change, again coming back dressed in a red tunic, however, this is where I did cringe a bit, but I can understand why it was done, in Glasgow, in front of a Scottish crowd, keep the natives happy, he was waving a Saltire! Being a bit of a history buff, Scotland, as a nation, didn't fight at the Crimean War, maybe there were some who took part as part of the British Army, so it should have been the Union Flag, just like Bruce does when performing the song. Am I being too picky? probably! Another costume change for "Powerslave" this time donning a feathered mask, again similar to Bruce again. They rounded off their set with another Maiden live favourite "Hallowed be thy name" and yes, he held the notes almost as long as Bruce does. To say I was surprised with Brian Maiden is an understatement, I know they are NOT Iron Maiden, but it was very easy to get caught up with their performance, and with the crowd reaction throughout their set, it did feel like a Maiden gig! Highly recommended, and I would actually pay to see them again, and I really can't believe that. Next up are tonight's headliners Megadeth Uk. I have to admit in advance, that I have never been a fan of Megadave or his music, I'll be honest, there is only one Megadeth song I like, I'll come to that later, because there is a little bit of arithmetic to be done, education at a concert, who would have thought! Three fifths of Brian Maiden make up three quarters of Megadeth UK. As you will see from the photos the bassist, drummer and guitarist from Brian Maiden are the three quarters of Megadeth UK, the guitarist is also the singer, yeah I know, clear as mud! The crowd has even grown more! Megadeth UK open their eleven song set with the only song I like "Hangar 18", the crowd go ballistic! so most of this crowd are here for a night of Megadeth. Having been a Rock/Metal DJ for decades I do know ninety nine percent of the songs played "Wake up dead" "In my darkest hour" "Skin of my teeth" "Sweating bullets" the setlist shows that "Tornado of souls" it next, however, time is getting on and there is a karaoke night on after the gig, so they jump into "Symphony of destruction" "Peace sells...…" is the penultimate song, the singer apologises for cutting the set short and announce their last track, even although the gig should have ended ten minutes ago. They finish with "Holy Wars...". The crowd go nuts! I was talking with a young woman at the break between Maiden and Megadeth, she asked who I was there to see and if I liked Megadeth, I was truthful and told her I wasn't a fan, she then told me how Megadeth helped her through a tough part of her growing up, that was fantastic to hear, because I know some bands helped me through some tough times, again Heavy Metal is a lot more than "horns" devil worshiping and human sacrifices! Did I say that out loud? oh well the secret is out lol The crowd had a fantastic night of Heavy Metal from three bands that put everything into their performance. There is one thing about tonight that gets me rather angry, it's not the tribute/covers band debate, it's not the behaviour of the crowd, because they were perfect. It's the fact that they will quite happily pay twenty pounds for three tribute/covers bands, but won't spend twelve pounds to come and see local unsigned bands, playing their own songs. There is plenty space and time to accommodate local original bands, the huge name bands and the tribute/covers bands. If you don't support the small local bands today, there will be no huge bands tomorrow which means there will only be tribute/covers bands playing old songs either, which will be pretty sad, because there will be no new bands helping future kids to get through difficult times. Pick a random gig and go and support, even if it is one gig, it helps the bands, venues and the next generation.

Tonight we came with Rockfiend to the beautiful city of Osnabrück (Germany) to attend the Hardline + Sevi concert at Hyde Park. Sevi opened with great power and attitude, making it clear that beyond being the opening act, they are a well-built and polished band. They delivered a full set that revisited their previous albums and premiered a song from their new record, which they will release soon. With an exceptional vocalist, they showed a vocal range that amazed more than one person, backed by a band fully up to the task. A good sign of what was to come next. Hardline opened with a couple of songs from their new album Shout, which was being released worldwide that very day, also coinciding with the first show of their European tour. They followed with a careful and excellent setlist that moved through the classics that made Hardline famous in the '90s, from Life's a Bitch and Everything to Hot Cherie, Rhythm from a Red Car, and much more, mixed in with several songs from the already mentioned Shout. Johnny Gioeli, Alessandro Del Vecchio, and an excellent group of very solid musicians honored Hardline's history while also beginning to write their own with this new release, which by the way is highly recommended-absolutely fantastic! Johnny's great charisma made the show especially enjoyable, and the crowd sang, danced, and gave it everything to the rhythm of great songs. Surely this tour will delight everyone who goes to see this great band, rooted in the past and shining toward the future. Friends of Rockfiend: a great evening, total delight, and yet another demonstration that rock is more alive than ever.

Gene Simmons said in 2014 that rock music was dead, He ascertained that there had been no new rock superstars since the 80's and that the genre was finished killed of by its own fans streaming and and file sharing as well as no new icons coming through, Simmons doubled down on those comments as recently as 2024 when he said to quote “The Glamour and Excitement has gone from Rock Music” Well someone needs to send a private jet, limo, taxi, rickshaw or a pushbike to Mr Simmons door and whisk him to a Yungblud gig because right here right now we have a young man who has grabbed rock music by the short and curlies and catapulted it right back to the top of the tree. His latest album Idols and Idols 2 are the complete works, superb from start to finish pushing him even further that he had probably dared to dream, A sublime performance of Ozzy's changes at the farewell gig last year too him into homes and ears of many people who had maybe not come cross his talents and from there its been stratospheric. This tour could probably have sold out twice over such was the demand and I was unable to get any tickets on initial release but as luck would have it a random check revealed the Hydro had released their new Terrace Premium seating and two tickets were swiftly snapped up. Opening the show were UK punk band The Molotovs and they blitzed through a high energy set as the main hall filled up, Coming from the underground punk scene the band are not in the mainstream yet, their debut album Wasted On Youth was released early this year and the band is made up of brother and sister duo Matthew and Issey Cartlidge. They blast their way through a seven song set drawn from the album and an added cover of Bowie's Suffragette city to get the increasing audience warmed up. Next up we have Mexican sisters The Warning, a more rock/metal sounding power trio. The girls went viral when very young with a cover of the Metallica classic Enter Sandman. They are a polished and tight act having played together their entire lives. There is more than a hint of Halestorm to the sound and they are huge in their homeland. The band had played in Glasgow at the Garage back in 2024 and now take the Hydro stage and certainly do not look out of place and indeed there are good number of fans wearing band merch. The set is largely drawn from the 2024 album Keep Me Fed and also the latest single Kerosene and a new track called Ego. The will certainly be one to watch going forward. And so to the main event. The stage is a gigantic triumphal arch with massive video screens behind the stage and flanking either side. Its fair to say the audience is probably 70/30 female to male and there is no shortage of New Rock boots, fishnets and there is enough black eyeliner on show to make JD Vance insanely jealous indeed as a 57 year old rocker I was a little anxious I would look like a fish out of water but not at all, rock fans of all ages were here such is the appeal of the Doncaster born rocker. Opening with the iconic Hello Heaven the man himself appears on the giant video screen from backstage complete with a bottle of the infamous Buckfast tonic wine and a Scottish Saltire. “Are your F@cking ready Glasgow” he quips as the band burst onstage amid a massive explosion of confetti. The screams almost drown out the music and that never lets up, The opening track, All 9 minutes of it is a musical journey that shifts tempo and moods throughout its a mini musical in one song. The insanely catchy The Funeral follows and has the Glasgow audience in full on backing vocals mode. The title track from Idols follows, this is all killer definitely no filler material, Lovesick Lullaby, My Only Angel and the almost rap/metal like Superdeadfriends follow. Giant flame throwers line the stage and even in the seating you can feel the heat, move over Rammstein. Next up is Fleabag a total ear worm tune that as has become the norm an audience member is given the opportunity to get on stage and play guitar on the track, surely a nerve wracking moment but Glasgow's young rocker pulled it off without missing a note, balls of steel young man. Lowlife follows before a rendition of that Sabbath/Ozzy number that took young Dom into the homes of millions. Indeed winning a Grammy for best rock performance. 13,000 people inside the sold out Hydro a word perfect and Ozzy would surely be beaming down (or Up ) from his resting place. The success of Yungblud can not be praised without mentioning his Scottish guitarist and producer and co writer Adam Warrington as he has helped shape the phenomenon we are witnessing The show concludes with Ghosts from Idols and of course Zombie, a rock anthem for the new age. This is the Sweet Child, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Back In Black of a new generation. Grown men (OK me included) belting out this classic at the top of our lungs !! In short this is a clear vision of the future of rock music, an insane performance, its hard to see what can stop young Dominic Harrison from not only conquering the world but the universe !!

Tonight in the Glasgow Garage we were celebrating a birthday, The 35th birthday of Tyketto's monster debut album which was released on the 21st April 1991. 35 years to the very day from tonight's gig in Glasgow. That album came right at the point when grunge was pushing the melodic rock genre of the front pages of the rock music press but the sheer quality of the record meant that over time it became a cult classic among fans of the genre due it its superb songwriting and Danny Vaughn's unmistakable soaring vocals. Vaughn had already made his mark on the Waysted, Save Your Prayers album a record that lent more to the American aor scene than the bands earlier gritty bluesy metal sound and introduced many to the Cleveland born front man. This tour though is in support of the bands latest release Closer To The Sun, a whole ten years have passed since the band released their last album Reach and as Vaughn himself admits its been too long but shit happens most notably covid and along the way line up changes as well. The album made No 1 in the UK rock and metal chart on week of release and shows the UK's love for a band entering its 40th year. Opening the show tonight is Collateral, no stranger to Scotland and Rockfiend, the boys are on early for a short 30 min set and waste not time opening with No Place for Love from the Should've Known Better album. With such a short set there is not much time between songs, But we have everything that makes these boys a big favourite with fans, Angelo's infection smile, Jacks bare chested chest thumping head banging. Louis's guitar hero grimaces as he makes the fret board sing. And despite being lost in the darkness at the back of the stage we know full well new drummer Charlie is there somewhere as he keeps the beat. Fist pumping anthem Glass Sky is next and closely followed by Glass Sky always an emotional roller coaster of a song. Favorites Midnight Queen, Long Road, Merry Go Round and of course Big Shot round of the all too short set. And despite the early start the venue has filled up nicely along the way. I am sure it wont be long before the lads are back up north again soon for a longer set. Warrior Soul are a name I knew off but as for the music it was not something that had crossed my path before now. Fronted by original vocalist Kory Clark. Clark is every inch the rockstar and gives off Jim Morrison vibes as we struts around the stage complete with gold rimmed sunglasses. The sound is a contrast to the two other bands on the bill tonight with a much harder grittier edge, almost punk like at times. There is no doubt Clarke is the star of the show and he is a commanding presence center stage. They open with a cover of the Joy Division song Interzone, the punk edge is immediately apparent. Cargos of Doom maintains a grungy gritty sound with a heavy repetitive riff. Much the bands work is anti establishment anti political songs again just like punk was back in the late 70's. Love Destruction. The Party is a song that although written for the bands debut album in 1990 is still very relevant today as it deals with political elites and corruption. The theme continues with one of the more controversial songs from the bands career The Fourth Reich. A more polished industrial metal song the song is anti war and anti control song dealing with governments manipulating the people. The band finish with Punk and Belligerent and The Wasteland two of their more well known tunes and commercially sounding. The audience give them an appreciative reception, tonight was probably a tough gig for the band with the vast majority of those in attendance fans of the melodic rock style but the venue gave the band a good roar as they finished their set. And we move on to the headline act. Tyketto are one the big hitters in the melodic rock scene. That comes from the undoubted song writing ability of Danny Vaughn coupled with his amazing vocal talents, that 35 years on from the debut album have remained as strong as ever, there is no David Lee Roth comparisons here. Vaughn can still hit every note but jokingly admits he needs just a little longer to get his breath back in between numbers. Opening with Rescue Me from the Strength In Numbers album the band hit hard and quick immediately bursting into two of those big chorus sing along tunes from Don't Come Easy, Wings and Burning Down Inside, The Glasgow audience have always loved to chant and they need no warming up as they belt out every word. Woah Oh Oh during Wings and Vaughn could probably have taken a break during Burning Down Inside as word for word was coming back at him. He tells the story of how he knew Glasgow was a special place when he nervously took the stage at the Glasgow Barrowland in 1991 on the bands first ever Scottish show and saw those nerves Disappear as he saw a mass of bodies jumping in unison to Forever Young. The set is drawn mostly from that debut record but we also have four songs from the newest release. Following the unbelievably catchy track Reach we have The title track Closer To The Sun is first up followed by The Run from the also from the 2016 Reach album. We Rise is a song that starts as a slow ballad esque number that build into a full on first pumping anthem. A surprise on the new album was the cover of the Roxette song Harleys and Indians from the classic Crash Boom Bang album, a song included says Vaughn just because I love it, well what other reason do we need. The tempo slows down once more for Circle The Wagons and lets everyone catch their breath before we launch into the big finish home run, Seasons prepares us for one of the bands most iconic tunes, Standing Alone is as classic as they come a true giant tune in the genre. Men in their 50's and 60's are seen belting it out word for word. Its certainly one of my favourite tunes of all time. Another from the debut Lay Your Body Down is next and then a final track from the new record called The Brave a song written by Vaughn to pay tribute to the many who put themselves on the line for us to protect, serve and heal. And with that the band leave the stage but we all know there is one more song, I mean would they be able to get out the building without playing it, probably not. They return and that riff hits and as one the Glasgow choir is in full voice, No Sleepin She Waits Tables Late..... total and utter perfection in a song, fists pump, aging bodies jump around, voices are strained to the limit and smiles as wide as the River Clyde a few hundred yards away. One of the best feel good songs ever in my dodgy old photographer come reviewer brain and that's it the band take their bows and leave the stage although we wont have to wait long to do it again as they were confirmed 24 hours later as the remaining headline act for this years Winsterstorm Festival in Troon in November. Don't miss it.

PRIDE OF LIONS, led by Jim Peterik and Toby Hitchcock, are proud to announce their new album, 'Unbridled,' set for release on July 10th via Frontiers Music Srl. Produced by Jim Peterik and mixed by Larry Millas, 'Unbridled' marks the eighth studio album from PRIDE OF LIONS. To celebrate the announcement and offer fans a taste of what's to come, the band also shares the title track from the upcoming album, alongside an official music video, available to view below. Peterik comments on the album's arrival: “I am so excited about the release of the upcoming PRIDE OF LIONS album 'Unbridled.' It is always a pleasure to team up with Toby Hitchcock, as we have since POL started recording for Frontiers way back in 2003. His powerful voice and positive attitude are a blessing to me. "The album starts with the powerful title track and Greg Bizzaro video 'Unbridled' with Toby and me harmonizing at full power. "'Edge Of Forever' is a cautionary tale about a fragile planet at the verge of collapse. 'Is it really too late to turn back the hands of time?' The implied answer in 'No, not if we all work together to save it.' Every song in this collection expresses concern, yet always a ray of hope on the horizon for a better world. "I hope you enjoy the new PRIDE OF LIONS album as much as we did making it. Your enthusiasm for our music through the years has always inspired Toby and me to keep pushing ourselves to touch your souls and move your feet! Much love. Jim Peterik"

It felt more like a gathering of old friends than a gig when The Bates Motel returned to Kinross, exactly one year after I first saw them. A new song named "Bloodstains" marked the energetic start to their performance. They played three new songs during the evening: "Bloodstains," "Burned in Flame," and "Factory Road," all taken from their forthcoming album. Inspired by the industrial area where the band practices, "Factory Road" was the pick of the new songs. Its grit and drive suggested exciting future developments. Alongside the new songs, the band performed old favourites. The transition from "Shape in the Mirror's dark humour to the high-energy pace of "Put Your Hands on the Radio" was seamless. During "Hold On," the mood softened, an effect strengthened by the emotional weight of Les Young's harmonica. The audience chuckled when he confessed mid-set that he'd broken his tambourine, but it was his harmonica playing that truly stood out. The band skilfully adjusted its style while maintaining momentum throughout the evening. "Talkin' to Jesus" provided a wry plea for something better in a chaotic world; "Amador" showcased pure pop brilliance and was the evening's highlight. The last run of songs was a rock party. Their AC/DC homage, "Remains to be Seen," gave way to "Bartender," a song that recounts the difficulties of getting a pint in Whitley Bay. The run ended with a triumphant "Blues Ain't Gonna Feed Ya." Described by Davison as a blend of Dr Feelgood and Status Quo, Ally Lees christened it "Dr Quo". Lees announced he would channel his inner Rick Parfitt riffing style before he started this song. Encores followed as the band tried to squeeze as many songs as possible in before they had to finish. The atmospheric "Bridge Street in the Rain" led into the wistful "I Can See The Stars," which finished the evening off. Every song showcased the band's obvious confidence and easy chemistry. At the centre of everything was Chris "Bad Bob Bates" Davison. His vocals and guitar playing led the performance with ease and charm. Ally Lees's contribution included rock-star guitar and atmospheric keyboards. A single homemade guitar was all he played with for the whole evening. Its integrated electronics made it a perfect fit for his needs. When the chance presented itself, he also couldn't help but tease Davison about his five guitars. David Coates and Adam Forster's precision and flair, anchoring the set from behind the front line, established a rhythm section with genuine substance. A minor disappointment, however, was another modest turnout. The band might now know everyone in the audience by their first names. The audience, however, thoroughly enjoyed another evening of excellent music from a band that gets better with each show.

Describing themselves as playing “seasoned, unapologetic rock’n’roll”, Savage Gentlemen are a new side project formed by Ron Young (Little Caesar, Cruzados) and his original Kingpins’ bandmate and guitar player from the ‘80’s, Rich Thomas. And in true gentlemanly style, this description savagely under-sells the quality and depth of music which they’ve produced. If, like me, you weren’t living in the New York area in the 80’s, you’re probably not familiar with The Kingpins. Prior to moving to LA and forming Little Caesar, Ron and Rich lived in New York and formed The Kingpins who were described as “NYC roots rock/rockabilly” and plied their trade around various clubs including CBGBs, Peppermint Lounge and The Ritz. And while Ron enjoyed some success with Little Caesar, but nowhere near the level their talent deserved due to the emergence of grunge, Rich continued to play in a number of local bands. In getting the band back together, Ron and Rich were keen to avoid the nostalgia trap and joining them on this side project are Bo Conlon (The BoDeans) on drums and Joe Viers on bass and who, as owner of Sonic Lounge Studios, Columbus, Ohio, also produced the album. Featuring ten songs, early listening to their self-titled debut (including the first single and album opener ‘Runnin’ and the character-led ‘Lost Your Mind’) could cause you to think that, to quote the old Ronseal ad in the U.K., “it does what it says on the tin”. Straightforward, no-nonsense, heads-down, rock’n’roll/bar-room boogie. But dig a little deeper, listen a little longer and you will be richly rewarded. ‘Switchblade’ lays down a gently rolling rhythm and groove, between guitar, bass and drums somewhere between a strut and a swagger and by the time Ron’s raw and soulful vocals are layered on you’ll be wanting to swing your tush, tuck a cane under your arm and kick and extend those legs. Yessss, baby …. this song swings, but s-l-o-w-l-y; it rocks and it rolls like a bar-room burlesque cover of ‘I’m All Shook Up’. It reminded me of a female friend who once simply described Ron’s voice as “sex”. More on THAT voice later. And if it’s boogie you want, boogie you will get with ‘See You Later’ continuing the theme. Sandwiched in the mid-section of the album is a series of four songs which stretch the promotional description of their music further and in different directions. It’s probably now time to write about THAT voice. Fans of Little Caesar will be aware that Ron Young has one of the most distinctive and recognisable voices in rock music, who has taken care of his voice and is one of the few rock singers from the ‘80’s who can still sing really well and without a choir or army of backing singers to mask it or songs played in entirely different keys to help him to still carry a song; many have tried to cover the soul classics, but few (particularly white singers) can nail them and bring the soul in the way that Ron can. I give you Exhibit A (Chain of Fools) and Exhibit B (I Wish it Would Rain). Case closed. And at the risk of sounding like a fan boy, I could happily listen to him sing the telephone directory. Match this vocal quality with an opening line of “I knew you loved me when you keyed my car” and you have my attention. Dropping the tempo ‘All Over Now’ does this, captures your heart and soul, and much more. Underpinned by a drum beat which wouldn’t have sounded out of place in any number of Phil Spector-produced songs by sixties girl bands, the song is multi-textured and like a mournful bar-room Wall of Sound with some great guitar work which matches the emotion in Ron’s voice perfectly. Just wonderful, that’s all. ‘Looking Back Ahead’ turns the dial to “intimate”, oozes fragility and vulnerability and is played by the full band, but based mostly around an acoustic guitar. Recognising the need for the groove to return, ‘Pushing Water’ does as required before leading into ‘I Don’t Care’ which starts with a swaggering and strutting groove (what else) and gang chorus, and turns the groove up to eleven with swirling organ and other sounds added to the mix as the song spirals upwards before fading out. The shuffling ‘Soul Shakin’ varies the rhythm before the wonderfully different and more garage-based 60’s/70’s West Coast pop of ‘Everything is Easy’ closes the album. ‘Savage Gentlemen’ rocks, it rolls, it grooves, has so much soul and is an album of rhythm and tone which really needs to be listened to to get the most from it. It’s also surprising on a number of levels. For a side project, the quality of the musicianship is really high and the rhythm and grooves which they create and lock in would make you think they’d been playing together for years. The production is top drawer capturing the musical tones perfectly. And with THAT voice, hard to go wrong. Details of how to order the album can be found on the Savage Gentlemen’s Facebook page. GMcA

Legendary hard rock titans Lynch Mob are thrilled to announce the release of the live album “The Final Ride”, out on May 29, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl. The band share also a live rendition of “Wicked Sensation”, with a video available below. The live album follows the release of their highly anticipated ninth and final full length studio record “Dancing With The Devil”, out last November, that marked the final chapter in their storied career.

2025 saw the legendary Jefferson Starship coming off their successful 50th Anniversary “Runaway Again” Tour. The band are keeping the celebratory momentum alive with the announcement of the first part of their 2026 tour. Alongside North American dates, the band are set to play five UK and European dates in 2026. The five UK and European shows will see the band support Foreigner at Arenas in the UK and Switzerland and two headline shows in Germany. June 18th 2026 – AO Arena – Manchester, UK supporting Foreigner June 19th 2026 – OVO Arena Wembley – London, UK supporting Foreigner June 21st 2026 – Muffat Halle – Munich, Germany HEADLINE June 23rd 2026 – Parkbühne – Leipzig, Germany HEADLINE June 25th 2026 – Hallenstadion – Zurich, Switzerland supporting Foreigner The 2026 dates will be the first time the band has played the UK in over 10 years. The band have toured Europe (ex UK) as recently as 2024 (supporting Deep Purple). David Frieberg says, “It’s been a little over a decade since Jefferson Starship last played the UK , so coming back alongside Foreigner makes this run especially meaningful. Stepping onto the stage at Wembley Arena is going to be an incredible moment, and we’re excited to reconnect with UK and European fans.” The band will play global hits from their stellar back catalogue of Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and Starship – such as “White Rabbit”, “We Built This City”, “Jane”, “Sarah”, “Nothing Gonna To Stop Us Now”, “Find Your Way Back”, “Somebody To Love” and more… For tickets and further info please see https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/ About Jefferson Starship: Jefferson Starship is one of the most successful arena rock bands of the ’70s and ’80s, earning three platinum and eight gold albums along with a long string of Billboard Top 40 hits. Just celebrated their 50th anniversary—a milestone reached by only a few enduring rock acts—the band continues to honour its storied legacy while bringing their iconic catalogue to fans around the world. Founded in the ’70s by Paul Kantner, Jefferson Starship emerged as a collective of musical explorers whose work helped define an era of rock. Today’s lineup—founding member David Freiberg, drummer Donny Baldwin (since 1982), keyboardist Chris Smith (since 1998), guitarist Jude Gold (since 2012), and vocalist/guitarist Cathy Richardson (since 2008) — has become a powerful touring force, performing across all 50 U.S. states and on five continents. Known for their family-like camaraderie and high-energy live shows, the band continues to embody the adventurous spirit championed by Paul Kantner, who passed in 2016. As Jude Gold reflects, “That ‘Paul Kantner thing’—getting on a rocket ship and blasting off into the unknown—is the very essence of Jefferson Starship. And that spirit is very much alive in the band today.”

ENTER SHIKARI have revealed the official music video for track Find Out The Hard Way. The visuals were shot in South London by Jasper Visuals, and premiered last night on YouTube here. Find Out The Hard Way is the first track taken from their new album LOSE YOUR SELF, which was surprise released last Friday (10th April) with zero announcements or teasers from the band. The 12 tracks span exploring themes of desolation, futility and complete despair at the state of the world, but with glimmers of hopefulness and optimism threaded throughout. To accompany the album, they announced three intimate outstore shows - The Cavern in Liverpool, The Fighting Cocks in Kingston and London's Signature Brew, which have all sold out. The band will headline arenas this November, will full dates below. With zero announcements or teasers from the band, Enter Shikari last week surprise released their brand new album! Lose Your Self (released via So Recordings) spans 12 tracks exploring themes of desolation, futility and complete despair at the state of the world, but with glimmers of hopefulness and optimism threaded throughout. Whilst the likes of major pop stars including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber who have famously released albums out of the blue over the years, Enter Shikari have managed to not only release Lose Your Self digitally, but also physically, unlike their predecessors. This accomplished and ingenious body of work is available to stream and also buy in CD and vinyl format worldwide. Listen here. Frontman Rou articulates, "We’re delighted to present LOSE YOUR SELF, and give people the chance to hear a Shikari record like never before - as a cohesive whole. We want people to go on a proper journey with this album, and see where it takes them. No lead up, no singles, and no explanation. Forcing the listener to actually listen, without being drip-fed ideas out of context, or spoon-fed explanations. We simply present it all, for the listener to immerse themself in. Releasing in this way was also a decision to not be distracted by chart races, or accolades and “things”. We got the No.1 album on our last record. This is simply about the music being presented in a natural way. Despite turning out to be one our darkest and heaviest albums to date, it also preaches hope and offers answers. Shikari will always offer hope, because without hope there is no action. We’ll just always offer it with a dose of realism.” Yesterday, tickets for the band’s unmissable intimate album release shows completely sold out in a matter of seconds! Next week, Shikari will play The Cavern in Liverpool, The Fighting Cocks in Kingston and Signature Brew. These unmissable shows give fans a unique experience to see the band up close and personal, and a chance to see the brand new songs live for the first time. Earlier this year, Enter Shikari announced a UK and EU headline arena tour for November, their biggest yet, a headline run around Australia in May, and also around North America in June! The EU dates kick off on 3rd November at the Sporthalle in Hamburg, and include the band’s biggest ever German headline show, at Düsseldorf’s Mitsubishi Halle, boasting a capacity of 7500! The band will then begin the UK leg of the tour in Nottingham at the Motorpoint Arena on 13th November. Gigs in cities including Cardiff, Hull, Glasgow and Manchester will follow, before ending with not one but two shows at London’s Alexandra Palace on 20th and 21st November! They will be joined by Holding Absence and The Callous Daoboys as support for both the EU and UK leg. Every ticket sold for the band’s UK arena tour dates will include a £1 donation to the Music Venue Trust, supporting grassroots music venues under threat of closure in the UK. Enter Shikari were the first artist to implement the scheme which is one very close to their hearts, with ticket sales from their 2024 arena tour carrying the donation, paving the way for the likes of Sam Fender and Coldplay to follow suit with their own generous donations. UK & Ireland live dates: 21.4 - The Academy, Dublin - SOLD OUT 23.4 - The Cavern, Liverpool (Jacaranda outstore) - SOLD OUT 24.4 - The Fighting Cocks, Kingston (Banquet outstore) - SOLD OUT 25.4 - Signature Brew, London (Jacaranda outstore) - SOLD OUT 13.11 - Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham 14.11 - Utilita Arena, Cardiff 15.11 - Connexin Live, Hull 18.11 - Hydro, Glasgow 19.11 - CoOp Live, Manchester 20.11 - Alexandra Palace, London 21.11 - Alexandra Palace, London