London progressive stoner rock heavyweights STEAK have revealed the details of their forthcoming self-titled studio album, Steak, set for release on October 9, 2026 through Stickman Records in Europe and Ripple Music in the US. Alongside the album announcement, the band has released its new single “Infinite.” Album pre-orders are available now.
Written and recorded as a five-piece for the first time in the band’s career, Steak marks another bold evolution for a band that has spent more than a decade pushing at the boundaries of desert rock, psychedelia and progressive heaviness. Combining crushing riffs, cinematic atmosphere and the band’s unmistakable melodic edge, the new record sees STEAK moving further into darker and more progressive territories explored on 2022’s acclaimed Acute Mania, while further defining a sound unmistakably its own.
STEAK comments on the new single: “Infinite is about getting lost in your own head…where thoughts and fears can grow until they feel bigger and more real than everything around you.”
Emerging from the shadows of London’s underground heavy rock scene, STEAK has spent more than a decade carving out a reputation as one of the UK’s most distinctive progressive stoner rock bands. Since forming in 2012, the band has built a loyal international following through relentless touring, acclaimed releases and an ever-evolving sound that fuses desert rock, psychedelia and progressive heaviness.
Following early releases and its debut album Slab City (Napalm Records), STEAK joined Ripple Music for 2017’s No God To Save, taking the band across Europe and North America alongside John Garcia (Kyuss), Monster Magnet, Greenleaf and The Atomic Bitchwax, as well as an appearance at SXSW.
In recent years, STEAK has continued to build momentum with appearances at Freak Valley Festival, Resurrection Fest and multiple editions of Desertfest, alongside UK and European tours with All Them Witches, Elder and Slomosa. From London’s iconic Roundhouse to some of Europe’s biggest heavy music festivals, STEAK has continued to bring its explosive live show to ever-growing audiences. With their signing to Stickman Records and the new full-length on the horizon, STEAK continues its upward trajectory with its most ambitious and expansive work to date, setting the stage for the band’s most exciting chapter yet!
Polish thrash metal band KOMUTATOR are set to release their long-awaited second studio album, “We Don’t Owe You Anything“.
Founded in 2006 by guitarist Michał “Kinder” Kowalski, KOMUTATOR quickly established themselves within the Polish underground metal scene with their debut album “Metal Sadism“. Following years of inactivity, the band now return after a 13-year hiatus, bringing new energy and a renewed creative vision while remaining faithful to their uncompromising approach to heavy music.
Recorded between 2024 and 2026, “We Don’t Owe You Anything” was developed over an extended period, allowing the material to evolve naturally through multiple recording sessions. The album was recorded at Heinrich House Studio and Turnia Studio (Halny), while mixing and mastering duties were handled by Filip Hałucha at Heinrich House Studio (Baalzagoth, Behemoth, Deus Mortem) resulting in a powerful, modern and uncompromising sound.
Musically, the album is KOMUTATOR‘s most diverse work to date, combining relentless thrash metal aggression with moments of melancholy, tension and reflection. The lyrics explore the gradual collapse of humanity, not through apocalyptic destruction, but through the everyday choices that erode values, freedom and human identity.
Lyrically, new album focuses on humanity’s self-inflicted decline. The album examines a world where truth is distorted, freedom becomes illusion, and people are treated as resources rather than individuals. Through its uncompromising perspective, KOMUTATOR encourages listeners to reflect on how much of this downfall is driven by our own decisions.
The album features several guest appearances, including Wojciech Kostrzewa (Asgaard), Szczepan Inglot (Wolfpack Heading Nowhere) and Jacek Hiro (Sceptic).
“We Don’t Owe You Anything” will be released on September 18th, 2026 in digital format and on CD by Polish label Via Nocturna (pre-order).
Commenting on the album, band founder Michał “Kinder” Kowalski states:
“It is our most diverse release to date, moving between relentless aggression and moments of melancholy, tension and reflection. We never tried to force a balance between those extremes, we simply wanted the music to reflect the emotions behind each song. We Don’t Owe You Anything is an honest and uncompromising record. It doesn’t try to provide easy answers. Instead, it invites the listener to face the world as it is and to ask how much of humanity’s decline is the result of our own choices.“
KOMUTATOR presents the lyric video to the new single “Inhuman Resources“, now available on all streaming platforms (pre-save).
TRACKLIST: 1. Harbinger 2. The Doom We Crave 3. Let It Bomb 4. Inhuman Resources 5. Metathesiophobia (instrumental) 6. Watch Beauty Die 7. Monster 8. Season of Storms 9. We Don’t Owe You Anything
LINE-UP: Andrzej Halupczok – drums Michał “Kinder” Kowalski – guitars, vocal (backing) Jacek Zema – vocal Maciek Zalsiński – guitars
Guests: Wojciech Kostrzewa (Asgaard) – samples in song “Metathesiophobia” Szczepan Inglot (Wolfpack Heading Nowhere) – lyrics in “The Doom We Crave” and “Inhuman”, guest vocal in “Inhuman” Jacek Hiro (Sceptic) – guest solo in “Watch Beauty Die”
Swedish symphonic metal visionaries ZORNHEYM unleash the third single, “The Funeral March”, taken from the band’s upcoming studio album “Descending Into Madness”, set for release on October 2 via Noble Demon.
Inspired by Frédéric Chopin’s legendary ‘Funeral March’, the new track sees ZORNHEYM merging crushing riffs, cinematic orchestration and subtle Scandinavian folk influences into one of the album’s most dramatic and emotionally charged moments.
“‘The Funeral March’ is the perfect marriage between classical music and Zornheym’s cinematic symphonic metal sound,” the band explains. “The choir takes on the role of mourners and pallbearers, lamenting the tragic fate of Dr. Bettelheim’s beloved wife as they accompany her final journey. Lyrically, the song marks the defining moment in Dr. Bettelheim’s descent into madness, as grief, guilt and despair finally consume him.“
With“Descending Into Madness”, ZORNHEYM continue to expand their elaborate narrative universe centered around the infamous Zornheim asylum. Each release adds new layers to a story that blurs the line between horror, history and madness – where it is never entirely clear who the real inmates are.
Formed in Stockholm by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Zorn (ex-Dark Funeral), ZORNHEYM have built their identity on the fusion of symphonic metal, cinematic orchestration and melodic death metal influences. Their work is further enhanced by visual storytelling, graphic novels and short-film-style music videos, turning each release into a multi-dimensional experience.
Tracklist: 01. Prologue: From the Depths of Sêlasee 02. Deus Rex 03. Somewhere Far Beyond 04. Deep Below 05. Anneliese 06. Alone in the Dark 07. Gallow’s Oak 08. The Funeral March 09. Descending 10. Come Sweet Death 11. The Foreboding (CD Bonus Track) 12. None For All (CD Bonus Track)
“Descending Into Madness” will be coming out on October 2 via Noble Demon and is availablefor pre-order atTHIS LOCATION. The album will be available in a variety of exclusive formats, including colored marbled vinyl, a limited Collector’s Edition CD, a Digipak, and an A5 book.
German melodic power metal stalwarts MOB RULES celebrate the release of their new compilation album, Stories From The Verdant Vale, via ROAR – A Division OfReigning Phoenix Music. Available now on vinyl and across digital platforms, the release invites fans back into the narrative world of the band’s acclaimed 2025 album, Rise Of The Ruler, while revealing another side of its story.
The material for Stories From The Verdant Vale was written during the final stages of the Rise Of The Ruler sessions and now emerges as a special standalone release. More direct and compact than its predecessor, the record remains unmistakably MOB RULES, combining melodic power metal, atmospheric depth and the compelling storytelling that has long defined the band.
“During the final stages of completing the album, we discussed possible bonus material for the earbook edition with the label,” vocalist Klaus Dirks recently revealed.“We were reluctant to use demo versions or similar material. This motivated us to write a few new songs. We were well aware of what we were getting ourselves into, but we also wanted to challenge ourselves a little.”
Originally conceived in part as exclusive material, the songs are now receiving a full vinyl and digital release following high demand from fans. While Stories From The Verdant Vale expands the concept of Rise Of The Ruler from a different perspective, each track has a character of its own, making it both a natural extension of the album and a powerful release in its own right.
Stories From The Verdant Vale was mixed by Markus Teske, with artwork by Stan W. Decker.
Side A: 1. Savage Land Reprise 2. Master Of The Black Crow 3. Masquerade Ball 4. Above The Maelstrom 5. Balance Of Power
Side B (Bonus Tracks) 6. Celebration Day (2014 Version, feat. Bernhard Weiß) 7. Insurgeria (2014 Version, feat. Udo Dirkschneider) 8. Coast To Coast (2014 Version, feat. Chity Somapala) 9. End Of All Days (2014 Version, feat. Amanda Somerville) 10. Broken
About MOB RULES
Formed in Northern Germany in the early 1990s, MOB RULES have established themselves as a constant force in melodic power metal. Known for their concept-driven albums, strong melodies and atmospheric depth, the band has built a loyal international following over the decades.
With ten studio albums to date, including the critically acclaimed Rise Of The Ruler, MOB RULES have continuously refined their sound while staying true to their roots. Their blend of classic heavy metal influences and modern production has secured them a lasting place within the genre.
MOB RULES is: Klaus Dirks – Vocals Sven Lüdke – Guitar Florian Dyszbalis – Guitar Markus Brinkmann – Bass Jan Christian Halfbrodt – Keys Sebastian Schmidt – Drums
British blues-rock artist Joanne Shaw Taylor returns today with “The Girl That You Loved Before,” the latest single from her forthcoming studio album The Trouble With Love, due Friday October 23rd via Journeyman Records. Released alongside a cinematic new official music video, the song finds Joanne looking back on a past relationship through the distance of time, exploring the nostalgia, unanswered questions, and lingering connection between two people who intimately once knew each other.
Moving with an easy, infectious pulse, “The Girl That You Loved Before” pairs Joanne’s expressive vocal performance with a melody that carries an underlying sense of longing. That warmth contrasts with the uncertainty at the heart of the lyrics, building toward a fiery guitar solo that gives the song’s bottled-up emotion somewhere to finally break free.
“This song came from looking back at past relationships and realising how much we change over time,” Joanne shares. “It’s about being remembered for who you were, not necessarily who you are now. I wrote it to explore that nostalgia, that longing, and the bittersweet ache it brings.”
Those feelings come into sharp focus through the song’s central question: “Who am I if I’m just a girl you loved before?” Elsewhere, Joanne wonders how two people who were once deeply connected could eventually become strangers, capturing the disorienting experience of looking back at a relationship and trying to understand where that former version of yourself fits into the person you have become.
The accompanying official video gives the song an appropriately cinematic setting, moving between Joanne performing the track and solitary moments in a dimly lit bar. The imagery complements the song’s reflective mood, creating the feeling of being caught between the present and memories that continue to surface long after a relationship has ended.
“The Girl That You Loved Before” offers another window into The Trouble With Love, Joanne’s highly anticipated studio album produced by Kevin Shirley. Across the record, Joanne dives headfirst into the beautiful chaos of the human heart, blending blues, rock, soul, and Americana while exploring the many forms love takes in our lives: the reckless kind that sweeps you off your feet, the quiet kind that steadies you, the kind that breaks you open, and the kind that puts you back together.
The new single follows a series of releases that have gradually revealed the album’s emotional range. “The Trouble With Love,” featuring Joe Bonamassa, captured the intoxicating push and pull of romance, while “What Good Is My Love?” featuring Orianthi confronted the pain of love that isn’t returned. “Hell Or High Water” delivered a defiant blues-gospel message of resilience, “This Is Who I Am” explored acceptance and self-worth, “Tired Of Being Right” examined the difficult decision to finally leave a relationship behind, and “Bad Boy” ventured into the thrilling and destructive pull of intense, complicated love. With “The Girl That You Loved Before,” Joanne turns her attention toward what remains after love is gone: memory, nostalgia, and the versions of ourselves we leave behind in other people’s lives.
Produced by Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, The Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Joe Bonamassa), The Trouble With Love continues the artistic evolution that has defined Joanne’s recent work. Rather than approaching love from a single perspective, the album moves through longing, heartbreak, desire, resilience, acceptance, and renewal, pairing some of Joanne’s most personal songwriting with the formidable guitar playing that has made her one of contemporary blues-rock’s most acclaimed artists.
The Trouble With Love by Joanne Shaw Taylor
1. The Trouble With Love feat. Joe Bonamassa 2. Hell Or High Water 3. This Is Who I Am 4. Tired Of Being Right 5. Bad Boy 6. What Good Is My Love? feat. Orianthi 7. The Girl That You Loved Before 8. Never Gonna Please ‘Em All 9. You And Me (Rachel’s Song) 10. Death Wish
The release comes as Joanne continues a busy year on the road, with U.S. dates continuing through September before the October 23rd release of The Trouble With Love. She will then launch an extensive Fall U.S. tour beginning October 28th in Albuquerque, with dates across the Southwest, Mountain West, Pacific Northwest, and California. Select shows will feature Bywater Call, followed by a run with Robert Jon & The Wreck. Known for her commanding stage presence, fiery guitar work, and emotionally immersive performances, Joanne continues to bring together new material from The Trouble With Love with fan favorites from across her acclaimed catalogue.
August 19 – Lexington, MA – Cary Hall August 20 – Norfolk, CT – Infinity Music Hall Norfolk August 21 – Buffalo, NY – Electric City August 22 – Interlochen, MI – Interlochen Center for the Arts September 10 – Paw Paw, MI – Warner Vineyards September 11 – Dayton, OH – Levitt Pavilion Dayton September 12 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
2026 Fall U.S. Tour
October 28 – Albuquerque, NM – KiMo Theatre * October 29 – Flagstaff, AZ – Orpheum Theater * October 30 – Phoenix, AZ – Celebrity Theatre * November 1 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre * November 3 – Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theater * November 5 – Colorado Springs, CO – Phil Long Music Hall * November 6 – Ft Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre* November 7 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater * November 9 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room ** November 10 – Boise, ID – The Egyptian Theatre ** November 12 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory ** November 13 – Tacoma, WA – Rialto Theater ** November 15 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater ** November 17 – Grass Valley, CA – The Center for the Arts ** November 19 – Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre Napa ** November 20 – Bakersfield, CA – World Records ** November 21 – Monterey, CA – Golden State Theatre **
* with Bywater Call ** with Robert Jon & The Wreck
Formed in Sweden in 1995, WOLF was among the first bands to resurrect and rejuvenate the traditional heavy metal sound in the ’90s, when the genre was considered dead. Inspired by classic heavy metal bands from the ’70s and ’80s, WOLF laid the groundwork for the genre’s triumphant return in subsequent years. Over the course of their nine albums, the band has been seen by many as the originators of the new wave of traditional heavy metal.
Their upcoming tenth album, „Hour of the Wolf“, will be released on November 20th, and is an uncompromising release that stays true to the band’s roots while expanding the sound of classic heavy metal. WOLF has never tried to sound modern, or even retro, and has proven time and again that they follow no trends. They simply stick to their vision of what heavy metal should be. “We wanted to make an album that could fit on one side of a 90-minute cassette tape, just like the albums used to back in the day. Our goal was to create an album that you would want to listen to from start to finish and then play again. I think we accomplished that,” comments vocalist and guitarist Niklas Stålvind on the nine new tracks. „It’s diverse enough without losing the classic Wolf sound.“
Today, WOLF release the first single for the opening track “Death Satellite“
“This one is a straight up banger, with all the elements that make up the classic WOLF sound. If you heard us before, you will instantly recognize the sound within seconds. While our AI overlords have their algorithms planting thoughts in our brains, we offer some old school, man made metal so we won’t go insane. As usual, the lyrics has some deeper meaning and food for thought, but most of all the song is meant for fist raising headbanging and good times”, says Niklas Stålvind.
The video was directed by Cannes Film award winner Snovonne ”Sno” Drake, who also directed another, coming, video for this album, so watch out… There’s more where this came from. Enjoy!
Today, WOLF also kick-off the album pre-order for “Hour Of The Wolf“, which will be released on November 20th. The album will be available on CD and three different vinyl editions: Red/Yellow Marbled, Red/Black Splatter (incl. signed autograph card and Indie exclusive) and Blue Marbled (Scandinavia exclusive), and digital.
Everything about WOLF is authentic. Thomas Holm, who created most of the previous WOLF front covers as well as iconic artworks like „Don’t Break the Oath“ and „Melissa“ (MERCYFUL FATE) and „Abigail“ and „Them“ (KING DIAMOND), once again created the eye-catching artwork. “I told him the album title, the song titles, and the mood of the album. The oil paintings are his visual interpretations of our music. His work is the antidote to the increasingly common AI “art.” We are the real deal, and we want the real deal,” states the frontman.
WOLF keeps it in the family. They recorded the entire album in their own studios and bassist Pontus Egberg took on the role as producer. “We’re fortunate to have so much talent in the band. We don’t need to outsource anything,” says the vocalist. He adds, “Pontus is a very good musician, and he’s much more structured than I am. That gave me the freedom to focus more on the artistic side of it all.”
Egberg’s part, who joined WOLF in 2019, becomes more important than ever. The bassist, who is also a member of KING DIAMOND a.o. is more than happy with the organic result: ”Throughout the whole production process Niklas and I had a very close collaboration, blurting ideas back and forth that I then tried to realize in the mix and the stellar performances from Johan, Simon and Niklas made the production flow very smoothly.”
The lyrical inspiration is totally varied and could come from books, movies, or imagined stories. “I want to write entertaining songs. Often, I see images in my mind from the music and lyrics. I try not to get in the way of the music and let the songs take me for a ride,” explains Stålvind, who founded the band in 1995. The title track „Hour of the Wolf“ is the perfect example: “Pontus sent me a demo with most of the music for ‘Hour of the Wolf,’ and I instantly got images in my head. I live far out in the Swedish countryside and have a Scandinavian forest right outside my door. I take walks in the forest almost every day. There’s a certain feeling on a starlit winter night or an early autumn morning, with the fog rolling in over the fields. I think that inspired me the most for that song.”
“Hour of the Wolf” is the tenth studio album by the quartet and 110% WOLF. “We’ve maintained our musical vision for over 30 years, and we’re thrilled that people enjoy our work. We have developed a lot but stayed true to the Wolf sound. In fact, I don’t even think about it. When I’m part of the songwriting process and sing, it just sounds like Wolf no matter what we do.”
There is still a lot to discover. The album opens with the first single, “Death Satellite,” which contains all the classic elements of a WOLF song: the WOLF style riffs, the twin guitars, Nik’s characteristic vocals and a that certain uptempo groove they are known for. However, there are also songs that explore the outskirts of the WOLF universe, which makes the album truly stand on its own. “My favorite track, ‘The Music of Erich Zann,’ doesn’t have a chorus. Instead, it has a drum solo and unusual harmonies for classic metal, as well as a story that takes you on a journey. Not only do the lyrics tell the story, but the music does too. The song is like a movie, but with sounds instead of images,” reveals the vocalist, who continues: “Another great example is ‘Waltz Post-Mortem,’ with a chorus in 3/4 time, like a waltz. Each section of the song is very different from the others, blending heavy metal riffs with harmonies inspired by classical composers and the song’s arrangement is unusual as well. If you want to take a skeleton out of your closet and dance with it, this is the song to do it to!”
Another exciting track is “Doppelgänger,” a German word that puts a big smile on Niklas Stålvind’s face. “I have always loved that word! I had the beginning of the song for years, and when I started working on it again, the word Doppelgänger came to mind. The concept of doppelgängers has always fascinated me. I was told that I had one in the small town where I grew up, but I never met him. What if you have a doppelgänger who takes over your life and does evil deeds, leaving you with the blame? What if it was really you? Your shadow self… Wouldn’t it be convenient to blame your doppelgänger for your own darkness instead of facing it?”
WOLF is: Niklas Stålvind – vocals and guitars Simon Johansson – guitars Pontus Egberg – bass guitar Johan Koleberg – drums
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 