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MOONSPELL Announce North American Tour as Special Guests of CRADLE OF FILTH

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 17, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Cradle of Filth, MOONSPELL. Leave a comment
[Photo Credit: Chantik Photography by Sonja Schuringa]

Fresh off the release of their brand-new, internationally acclaimed studio album Far From God via Napalm Records, Portuguese gothic metal pioneers MOONSPELL have announced their long-awaited return to North America this fall as special guests of extreme metal legends CRADLE OF FILTH. The extensive U.S. and Canadian run will also feature WORM GLOOM and BLACK SATELLITE, bringing one of the season’s most compelling dark and extreme metal packages to stages across the continent.

Armed with songs from their latest offering Far From God alongside fan favorites and timeless classics, MOONSPELL will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of their landmark album Irreligious, delivering a set that spans the band’s remarkable career.

Fernando Ribeiro comments:
“Moonspell and Cradle of Filth, came a long way…

We first played together in 1994 and since then we’ve sharing stages all around the globe. It’s also our return to the North America and we sure want to make it count! Cradle is on a creative and touring roll so we’ll try to get ourselves some of their charm and deliver you amazing nights to the sound of our very own Portugal brand of Gothic Metal. We’ll be promoting our new album Far from God, the 30th anniversary or Irreligious and will go deep into our history and legacy. See you under the spell!”

Released on July 3, 2026 via Napalm Records, Far From God has quickly established itself as one of MOONSPELL‘s most celebrated works to date. The album earned several international cover stories and entered the charts at #3 in Portugal, #19 in Austria, #27 in Germany, #46 in Switzerland, and reached #22 on the French Rock & Metal Albums Charts, underscoring both the band’s enduring international appeal and the overwhelming response from fans and critics alike. 

Born out of five years of creative searching, doubt and ultimate rediscovery, Far From God marks a powerful return for the band. Far from playing it safe, MOONSPELL deliver a work that feels like a rebirth: darker, sharper and emotionally unfiltered. Rather than bending to modern trends, the band double down on identity and substance, presenting a bold and beautiful statement of Gothic Metal in its purest essence: dark, romantic, dramatic and unapologetically heavy.

Far from God – produced with Jaime Gomez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Sólstafir, Ghost among many others) – shines like a black diamond, luminous yet shadowed in texture and colour, both musically and sonically. It reconnects with the darker spirit of MOONSPELL’s classic era while sounding powerful and contemporary. Far From God is not nostalgia; it is a statement. A Gothic Metal hallelujah. MOONSPELL’s 21st century Irreligious. It’s not only a powerful reminder that MOONSPELL remain a defining force in the genre they helped shape, but an album that truly saves Gothic Metal from boredom and predictability.

Order Far From God here: http://lnk.to/Moonspell-FarFromGod

[Artwork painted by Eliran Kantor]

Far From God Tracklist:
1. Cross Your Heart
2. Far From God
3. Biblical
4. The Great Wolf in the Sky (ft. Alicia Nuhro on strings)
5. Your Promise of Light
6. For the Love of Mortals
7. Our Freedom to Fall
8. Reconquista

MOONSPELL Live Dates 2026:
06.08.2026 (DE) Schlotheim – Party.San Metal Open Air
20.08.2026 (PT) Leiria – Teatro José Lúcio da Silva
28.08.2026 (RO) Câmpulung Muscel – Posada Rock Festival
12.09.2026 (PT) Sintra – Quinta da Ribafria
18.09.2026 (UK) London – Cosmic Void Festival
19.09.2026 (TR) Istanbul – Bosphorus Open Air Metal Fest
31.10.2026 (PT) Porto – Hard Club (Halloween Show)

North American Tour Dates
with CRADLE OF FILTH, WORM GLOOM & BLACK SATELLITE:

Sept. 29: San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park
Sept. 30: Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
Oct. 03: Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
Oct. 04: Seattle, WA – Substation
Oct. 06: Vancouver, BC – The Vogue Theatre
Oct. 07: Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
Oct. 08: Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
Oct. 09: Butte, MT – Covellite Theatre
Oct. 11: West Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom
Oct. 12: Davenport, IA – Capitol Theatre
Oct. 14: Toronto, ON – The Opera House
Oct. 15: Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield
Oct. 16: Norwalk, CT – District Music Hall
Oct. 17: Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
Oct. 19: Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
Oct. 20: Boston, MA – Big Night Live
Oct. 21: Wilmington, DE – The Crown
Oct. 22: Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw
Oct. 24: Allentown, PA – Archer Music Hall
Oct. 25: Cleveland, OH – House of Blues Cleveland
Oct. 26: Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s

MOONSPELL is:
Fernando Ribeiro – Vocals
Ricardo Amorim – Guitars
Pedro Paixão – Keys
Aires Pereira – Bass
Hugo Ribeiro – Drums

For More Info Visit:
Website | https://www.moonspell.com
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/moonspellband
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/moonspellofficial
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/user/MoonspellYT
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/artist/17bYSQ9ZRnreVnJjE5X2x6
Napalm Records | https://label.napalmrecords.com/moonspell

Frontiers Music Srl Sign SHOGUN MOJO – New Collaboration Between Kiss Guitarist Tommy Thayer & Dan Reed

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 17, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Shogun Mojo. Leave a comment
Photo by Paja Hartmanova

Frontiers Music Srl is thrilled to announce the signing of Shogun Mojo, an exciting new collaboration between legendary Kiss guitarist Tommy Thayer and acclaimed singer-songwriter Dan Reed of Dan Reed Network fame.

Tommy Thayer commented:
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining forces with Frontiers Music for the release of the new Shogun Mojo album. Collaborating with my dear friend Dan Reed on this project has been an inspiring and rewarding experience from start to finish. We set out to create something that was both powerful and unique, a dynamic blend of rock & roll, funk, and fusion, and I truly believe we’ve achieved that. I’m extremely proud of this record and can’t wait for all our fans to hear it. Frontiers has been a fantastic partner, and I’m looking forward to sharing this exciting new chapter with music lovers around the world.”

Dan Reed also stated:

“Joining forces with Tommy Thayer on guitar, Bengt Jonasson on bass and Robert Ikiz on drums to make the debut album for Shogun Mojo has been a most inspiring journey so far! Bengt, Ikiz and I have been playing rock trio shows together for over 15 years, and when Tommy and I started spending more time together composing songs, it became apparent there was something brewing we just might have to release to the world. Writing this album together reminded me why I fell in love with writing songs as a teenager- For the simple fun of it!” 

“As the world gets more chaotic and politically divided, we have tried to make a collection of songs that celebrate rock and roll, celebrates life, an escape from the noise, a record with a funky backbone with all live performances, harkening back to the 70s, arguably the greatest era of rock! We knew that partnering with Frontiers Records would be the perfect marriage to get the album out to the world of true music lovers, and soon the public will be the judge if we hit that mark”, he continued.

Mario de Riso, A&R and Business Affairs VP at Frontiers, added: “Bringing together the songwriting brilliance of Dan Reed and the unmistakable guitar work of Tommy Thayer, Shogun Mojo is the perfect meeting of two exceptional musical minds. Timeless songwriting, world-class musicianship and undeniable chemistry make this one of the most exciting new additions to the Frontiers roster.”

Shogun Mojo is a powerhouse rock collective uniting decades of global experience and musical innovation. Leading the charge is legendary guitarist Tommy Thayer, best known as the lead guitarist of the iconic band Kiss, whose career has helped propel the group to over 100 million albums sold worldwide. Raised in Oregon and shaped by the raw energy of 1970s hard rock, Thayer honed his craft in the Portland club scene before achieving international success with Black ’N Blue and later stepping into one of rock’s most recognizable roles with KISS in 2002. 

On vocals, Dan Reed – frontman of the acclaimed Dan Reed Network – brings a dynamic blend of rock, soul, and storytelling to the band. Reed’s career has spanned multi-platinum success, world tours supporting The Rolling Stones and Bon Jovi, and a creative evolution into filmmaking and visual art after relocating to Prague, where he now balances music with family life and cinematic projects.

Completing Shogun Mojo’s lineup is a rhythm section rooted in deep musical chemistry and versatility. Sweden-based drummer and producer Robert Mehmet Ikiz contributes a genre-blending approach shaped by performances in more than 60 countries, fusing jazz sensibilities with electronic textures to create a distinctive rhythmic backbone. 

On bass, Stockholm’s Bengan Jonasson delivers melodic, groove-driven lines forged through decades of playing across rock, reggae, jazz fusion, and Scandinavian folk traditions. A longtime collaborator of Reed and Ikiz, Jonasson’s expressive playing and compositional instincts give the band its emotional depth and cohesion. 

Together, these four seasoned artists form Shogun Mojo- a band where classic rock pedigree, international influences, and fearless creativity converge into a powerful and modern sonic identity.

Co-Produced and Engineered by Joe Satriani protege, Geoff Tyson, and mixed by world renowned producer and artist, Rob Daiker, the upcoming Shogun Mojo’s debut album is a rocking, funk fuelled, celebration of life on an ever-growing dystopian world. Further details will be announced soon.

MISCREANCE Reach Peak Tech-Thrash on New Single ‘Oracle’s Rift’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 17, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: MISCREANCE. Leave a comment
Photo by © Alice Siega

When they first crawled forth from Italy’s underground four years ago, Miscreance were likened to Death, Sadus, Voivod and other immortal beings from the alternate timeline that is the history of extreme metal. But on the band’s upcoming second album, they deliver a mind-altering experience that’s far from just another blast from the past.

“[…] showcases the band’s signature fusion of razor-sharp riffing and complex tempo shifts, while introducing expanded instrumentation and a more experimental edge”, Distorted Sound wrote upon the announcement of Reminiscence.  

Today, Miscreance are releasing the second advanced single from their upcoming new album. By venturing deep into an unrecognizable past, the band reach peak tech-thrash on “Oracle’s Rift”.

“Through a collective hallucination, a voyage through time led us to discover a moment in human history that was lost”, the band says about the far-out path they took to Reminiscence. “‘Oracle’s Rift’ takes us to where the skies end. Whirl to the dirge of judgement and walk the path to oblivion”.

Reminiscence comes out August 28, 2026 on Season of Mist. Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/miscreancereminiscence

While recorded in Italy, Miscreance discovered the concept for Reminiscence by sifting through the sands of time. As the band chug, gallop and shred through steep shifts in tempo, “Oracle’s Rift” opens upon a hidden world where ancient cave dwellings house crystal dripstones and a shadowy all-knowing entity.  

“We are all very happy with how our first album turned out but we wanted to go bigger by tying Reminiscence to a specific concept”, guitarist Tommaso Cappelletti says.

Bassist Jean-Claude Rossignol explains further. “What we’ve created is a ‘lost album’, sent from an unknown civilization that’s both futuristic and extremely primitive. Through psychic powers and capabilities that transcend earthly comprehension, these primordial extraterrestrials have achieved total neural unity. Yet innate wickedness still lures inside of them, harboring the need for preys, scalps and lust”.

Old-school heshers will raise horns upon recognizing the mark of the greats on “Oracle’s Rift”. “We still play old-school tech-thrash”, assures guitarist Andrea Granauro. But while faithful to both Atheist and Dark Angel as it is scrupulous to Coroner, Reminiscence isn’t an attempt to recall death metal’s glory days.

“You’ve never known the face of death / But now it becomes yours”, drummer Andrea Feltrin growls from deep within the many twisted passages of the album’s new single. As Miscreance tear through the final sprint of “Oracle’s Rift” before cleansing themselves in the fires of hell, the last thing you see – or hear – is death metal’s future mutating right before our eyes into an otherworldly fusion of whammy bar and bongo.

Tracklist

1. Trait d’Union (4:31)
2. Vision (3:59)
3. Scalp Ceremony (3:14) [WATCH]
4. Synaptic Cortex Dissection (5:02)
5. Oracle’s Rift (5:06)
6. The Moaning Hill (2:45)
7. Symbiosis (4:12)
8. Zenith of a Dying Sun (4:19)
9. Mirage (4:27)

As is the custom in Italy, even the most obscene artists are well-versed in the classics.  

Upon signing with Season of Mist in 2022, Northern Italia’s Miscreance were likened to Death, Sadus and other undying greats from the alternate timeline that is the history of extreme metal. Fashioned in high-top sneakers and sleeveless band shirts, bassist Jean-Claude Rossignol, guitarists Andrea Granauro and Tommaso Cappelletti, and drummer/vocalist Andrea Feltrin proudly reflect the genre’s old-school spirit. But while its tech-thrash riffs and proggy tempo shifts will remind battle-tested heshers of the golden years, their second album isn’t just another blast from the past.  

“Through a collective hallucination, a voyage through time led us to discover a moment in human history that was lost”, the band says about the far-out path they took to their new album. “Reminiscence is a testimony of what we have seen, heard, perceived and imagined, told through our own perspective on old-school, thrashy, technical death metal”.  

In 2018, Miscreance quickly emerged onto the metal scene as a welcome mutation. While their initial incubation period under prior name Atomic Massacre fit the mold of Slayer, Kreator and Sodom, the band turned their morbid fascination with classic horror films and late ‘80s to early ‘90s tech-thrash into a debut that, while faithful to both Atheist and Dark Angel, gave the OSDM revival a much-needed jump scare. Convergence not only drew the favor of France’s premiere metal label but also attention from Decibel, New Noise and other international press.  

“We’re left wondering how band members who look so young also seem so well-steeped in so many different genre influences, and how technically masterful and wildly inventive they are in their songwriting”, No Clean Singing wrote upon the album’s release in 2022. “They seem inherently resistant to taking the easy way forward, and equally resistant to just mimicking their most prominent thrash metal forebearers”.  

Reminiscence isn’t an attempt to recall metal’s glory days. Opener “Trait d’Union’ doesn’t begin with blast beats but funky, bouncing, tribal percussion one associates with a time long before the dawn of Charvel guitars. “We still play old-school tech-thrash”, assures Granauro. With its eerie handcam footage, the music video for the album’s lead single will give tape collectors warm and fuzzy memories. However, while the band shred at a blood-thirsty pace, “Scalp Ceremony” bangs the long-haired heads of their captive audience with a flurry of bongos.

“We are all very happy with how our first album turned out, but we wanted to go bigger by tying Reminiscence to a specific concept”, Cappelletti explains. “Adding the tribal instruments to certain songs deepens the connection to the overall story that the album is telling”.      

While recorded in Italy, Miscreance discovered the concept for Reminiscence by sifting through the sands of time. Along with splintering riffs and trippy tempo shifts, the band uncovered a hidden world where jungle-dwelling hunters and digeridoo coexist with strange tongues, telepathic surgeries and a burning celestial corpse. As imagined by Iranian artist Mona Shiraz, the album’s cover art is a modern interpretation of the kind of painting that was all the rage during the Stone Age. “What we’ve created is a ‘lost album’”, Rossignol says. “It comes from an unknown civilization that’s both futuristic and extremely primitive. Through psychic powers and capabilities that transcend earthly comprehension, these primordial extraterrestrials have achieved total neural unity. Yet innate wickedness still lures inside of them, harboring the need for preys, scalps and lust”. Climbing “The Moaning Hill” is not for the faint of heart, but the intricate twists along its perverse path lead to truly sacred pleasures.

“You’ve never known the face of death / But now it becomes yours”, Feltrin growls amidst the many peaks hidden within “Oracle’s Rift”. As the band tear through a torturous passage with ruthless precision, the last thing you see – or hear – is death metal’s future mutating right before our eyes.

With Reminiscence, Miscreance unlock a mind-altering experience of old-school technical death metal.

Lineup
Andrea Feltrin – Drums and Vocals
Jean-Claude Rossignol – Bass
Tommaso Cappelletti – Guitars
Andrea Granauro – Guitars

Guest musicians
Leo Di Angilla – Percussion, Digeridoo, Flute, Berimbau

Recording and Production Credits
Recording Studio – Bridge Produzioni Audio in Susegana, Italy
Mixing and Mastering Studio – Majestic Studio in Silea, Italy
Producer – Marino De Angeli
Mixing, Mastering and Sound Engineer – Marino De Angeli

Cover art
Mona Shiraz

Follow Miscreance
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/miscreance/1502815524
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2v4mzDLx1JSnxzq8CsYDzD
Bandcamp: https://miscreance.bandcamp.com/music
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC09Rq5Qo2p914wCf7PVFjqQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Miscreance/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miscreance_official

WILLIAM SHATNER to Ignite Riot Fest 2026 with All-Star Band Bringing His Heavy Metal Vision to Stage

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 17, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: WILLIAM SHATNER. Leave a comment
photo by Manfred Baumann

Entertainment icon William Shatner is bringing his newly-conceived rock spectacle to Riot Fest 2026, joining one of the festival’s most celebrated lineups alongside Iggy Pop, Public Image Ltd., Morrissey, Blink-182, Weezer, Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, The Pogues, The Damned, Jawbreaker, and many more.

​Already renowned for fearlessly exceeding (and even contradicting) his audience’s expectations throughout a career that spans more than six decades, Shatner returns to the stage with a powerful live production that transforms both his past and most recent recordings into a full-scale rock experience.

​Backed by members of Nuclear Messiah and an all-star lineup of Cleopatra Records collaborators, the band features: Marcus Nand(Mike Tramp, Candice Night) – Guitar & Musical Director, Phil Soussan(Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, songwriter of Ozzy’s “Shot in the Dark”) – Bass, Britt Lightning(Vixen, Cactus) – Guitar and Fred Aching(Kings of Thrash, Dead Groove, Fraxures) – Drums

Together, they will deliver a dynamic performance that blends cinematic storytelling and hard-hitting rock with the unmistakable voice of one of popular culture’s most enduring figures.

“I’ve always believed that music, like space, is about exploration,” says William Shatner. “Riot Fest is exactly the kind of place where anything can happen. We’re bringing volume, intensity, and a few surprises. With this incredible band behind me, I expect nothing less than lift-off. I can’t wait to share this experience with the fans.”

The performance follows a series of critically acclaimed Cleopatra Records collaborations that paired Shatner with some of rock and metal’s most respected musicians, earning praise for their originality and fearless approach.

But Riot Fest marks the beginning of the next chapter, not only bringing those recordings to life on one of the world’s premier festival stages, but also foreshadowing Shatner’s next, and most audacious, album yet – a full scale heavy metal monster featuring some of the most spectacular musicians in that field and beyond.

“William Shatner has spent a lifetime redefining expectations,” says Brian Perera, founder of Cleopatra Records. “This isn’t a novelty performance—it’s a real rock show featuring world-class musicians behind one of entertainment’s greatest icons. Riot Fest is the perfect stage for this next chapter, and we’re going to deliver a performance worthy of the festival’s incredible legacy.”

For longtime fans and first-time audiences alike, Shatner’s Riot Fest appearance promises to be one of the weekend’s most distinctive performances – a head-on collision of rock, storytelling, and the pure live energy that only William Shatner could deliver.

One of entertainment’s most iconic voices. One of the world’s greatest alternative music festivals. One unforgettable performance.

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK Releases New Video Single ‘Drive’ from Upcoming Album “Faithfully”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 17, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK. Leave a comment

Internationally renowned vocalist and performer Englebert Humperdinck, one of the most enduring and beloved voices in popular music history, will release his highly anticipated new album Faithfully on August 28 via Cleopatra Records. Marking a powerful new chapter in a career that has spanned more than six decades, the forthcoming release stands as one of the most ambitious and hit-packed recordings of Humperdinck’s storied career.

Celebrated as one music’s most recognizable generational icons whose unmistakable voice has captivated audiences worldwide since he rose to superstardom in the 1960s and 1970s, Humperdinck brings fresh interpretation and emotional depth to a dynamic collection of blockbuster songs originally made famous by Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, Aerosmith and more. The album features a newly composed original track “Always My Love”, adding a very personal touch to the project.

The 15-track release is elevated by an extraordinary lineup of guests including Journey’s Jonathan Cain, legendary keyboardist Rick Wakeman (Yes, David Bowie), Grammy Award-winning guitarist Al Di Meola, Canned Heat’s Harvey Mandel, Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson and acclaimed guitarist Eric Gales. Rich, full orchestral and string arrangements underscore the albums sweeping production, blending classic sophistication with modern rock energy. 

“Our entire team at Cleopatra Records couldn’t be more thrilled to embrace this global legend into our beloved artist roster and are looking forward to what we feel could truly be a shining release in his remarkable career” says Cleopatra’s VP/General Manager, Tim Yasui

With a career defined by timeless hits such as “Release Me,” “After the Lovin,” “Spanish Eyes” and “The Last Waltz,” Humperdinck has sold over 140 million records worldwide and earned a place among music’s most distinguished performers. His ability to transcend generations continues to resonate, making this new release both a celebration of his legacy and a bold step forward. 

Says Humperdinck “I am so grateful for my good friends Brian Perera and Tim Yasui of Cleopatra Records for coming up with the fantastic idea of this album and the music videos we did for it. And I am really honored by all of the incredible renowned musicians who joined on the tracks. And not, by any means last, I want to thank my producers Adam Hamilton and Pete Mills plus our mixing engineer Jurgen Engler for the tireless hours that went into this production.”

In support of the album, Humperdinck will embark on a global tour, bringing his signature voice and renewed repertoire to audiences across North America, Europe and beyond. Tour dates and additional details will be announced in the coming weeks. 

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK TOUR DATES: https://www.engelbert.com/tour

The first single “Drive” was released on July 15th, accompanied by a music video shot on location in West Hollywood, California with a second single and music video for the song “Beth” dropping on August 12th. 

SINGLE: https://orcd.co/eh_faithfully

The new album will be available on all major streaming platforms, as well as physical formats, including CD and limited-edition vinyl through Cleopatra Records.

  • Pre-Order CD: https://cleorecs.com/products/engelbert-humperdinck-faithfully-cd
  • Pre-Order VINYL LP: https://cleorecs.com/products/engelbert-humperdinck-faithfully-colored-vinyl-lp
  • Pre-order DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/eh_faithfully

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK Faithfully Track Listing:

  1. Faithfully feat. Jonathan Cain & Keven Eknes
  2. Take My Breath Away feat. Al Di Meola
  3. More Than Words feat. Eric Gales
  4. Something feat. Carmine Rojas
  5. I Was Made For Lovin’ You feat. Harvey Mandel
  6. Mama, I’m Coming Home
  7. Drive
  8. Feel Like Makin’ Love feat. Ian Anderson & Bob Daisley
  9. Heaven feat. Marcus Nand
  10. I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing feat. Sonny Landreth
  11. Beth feat. Rick Wakeman
  12. Always My Love feat. Rene Le Blanc
  13. Alone feat. Steve Morse & Jonathan Cain [CD ONLY]
  14. Can’t Get It Out Of My Head feat. Marcus Nand & Jonathan Cain [CD ONLY]
  15. I Won’t Back Down feat. George Lynch [CD ONLY]

FAMOUS STRANGERS Deliver Anthem of Defiance with Crushing New Single ‘As Your Leader’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 17, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: FAMOUS STRANGERS. Leave a comment

Anger can divide, but it can also inspire change. On their new single “As Your Leader” (release: July 17), Famous Strangers transform frustration into determination, delivering one of the most powerful songs from their upcoming  new album “FAMOUS STRANGERS” (release: August 21).

Following the emotional intensity of their first single “Ghosts of Men”, the four Canadians  now unveil one of the boldest tracks from their upcoming self-titled album. Their new single, “As Your Leader”, is an unapologetic display of the band’s heavier influences, driven by thunderous riffs, soaring vocals, and relentless intensity. The balance between aggression and optimism, powered by crushing guitars, driving rhythms, and an unmistakable sense of urgency, makes the single stand out as one of the album’s most intense and defining moments. Amanda Kiernan’s passionate vocal performance captures both outrage and compassion, while the band’s explosive instrumentation reinforces every emotional shift throughout the song. Its lyrics confront manipulation, division, and the illusions that increasingly shape everyday life, while ultimately encouraging listeners to choose unity over fear. At its heart lies a reminder that change begins when people stop surrendering their own voices. Instead of accepting the illusion created by those in power, Famous Strangers embolden their fans to reconnect with each other and take responsibility for shaping a better future.

Buy the single: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/famousstrangers/as-your-leader?ref=release

With their self-titled debut album, the Edmonton-based band introduces a sound that refuses to be confined to a single genre. From crushing heavy metal and hard rock to stripped-back blues, the record moves effortlessly between power and vulnerability, creating a listening experience that is as dynamic as it is deeply personal.

At its heart, “FAMOUS STRANGERS” is an album about resilience, self-discovery, and finding strength through life’s challenges. Every song is rooted in genuine experiences, capturing moments of doubt, perseverance, triumph, and growth. As the band puts it: “At its core, it’s a reminder that no matter what you face, you’ll be okay and come out stronger on the other side.”

More than a debut, the album is a declaration of purpose: It reflects who the band is, what they stand for, and the connection they hope to build with their audience. Whether listeners find empowerment, comfort, reflection, or simply a place where they can feel understood, “FAMOUS STRANGERS” invites you to experience every emotion along the way. With a fearless first statement, Famous Strangers are ready to make their mark and leave a lasting impression wherever the road leads.

“FAMOUS STRANGERS” Album Tracklist

  1. Fire Inside
  2. Ghost Of Men
  3. Please Her
  4. As Your Leader
  5. Desires
  6. Far Away From Home
  7. Rain

Before we get to listen to the new album, the band will spend this summer doing what they do best: bringing their music to the stage. After kicking things off with festival appearances and select club shows, they’ll hit the road for an extensive Western Canadian tour throughout August, building momentum toward the album release. It is marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter and giving fans the first chance to experience the new songs live.

Upcoming Show Dates:​

June 27 – Decimate MetalFest – Millet, AB
July 3 – The Slice – Lethbridge, AB
July 4 – The Blox – Calgary, AB
Aug 6 through 20 – Western Canadian Tour
Aug 21 – Album Release Show 1 – Rec Room – Edmonton, AB
Aug 22 – Album Release Show 2 – Temple Starlite – Edmonton, AB

About Famous Strangers

Formed in 2023, Famous Strangers are the product of years of shared history within the music scene of Edmonton, Canada. Long before the band took shape, Jeff Kittlitz (Guitar, Backing Vocals) and Brian “Beej” Beejerson (Drums, Backing Vocals) had been writing together, following the dissolution of their previous band project This Is War around 2013. Their collaboration laid the groundwork for what would eventually evolve into something much larger.
As the years progressed, Braden Sustrik (Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals) joined through mutual connections, and the trio began developing instrumental material together. During the COVID era, their project shifted direction, transforming into a classic rock cover band. While this period refined their chemistry as players, the defining moment came when Amanda Kiernan (Lead Vocals) joined a rehearsal to jam. Her immediate connection to an original track marked a turning point. What had been an open-ended collaboration suddenly became a full-on band project. At that moment, Famous Strangers found their band identity.

Though officially formed in 2023, the members of Famous Strangers had spent decades crossing paths, sharing stages, and building friendships. This history fuels their chemistry and sound, with each member contributing to a cohesive and dynamic lineup.

Drawing from a wide range of influences, Famous Strangers blend elements reminiscent of Judas Priest, Pink Floyd, Halestorm, Spiritbox, and Metallica, while also reflecting inspiration from Iron Maiden, Nightwish, and beyond. At the same time, their roots remain firmly grounded in the Edmonton scene, drawing influence from local bands and veteran musicians who helped shape their early careers. Today, the band continues to build on that foundation, channeling years of experience, collaboration, and shared passion into a sound that is both unpredictable and distinctly their own.

Famous Strangers online
https://www.famousstrangersband.com/
https://www.bandsintown.com/a/15564138
https://www.instagram.com/famousstrangersband/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559110131774
https://www.tiktok.com/@famousstrangersband

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