The WINTER METAL MELTDOWN Tour with GIRLSCHOOL, RAVEN, ALCATRAZZ and AIRFORCE Starts November 25th in Glasgow, Scotland. Jackie from Girlschool, John from Raven, Giles from Alcatrazz and Tony from Airforce all checked in with messages for the fans.
Jackie of Girlschool: “Four decades in, celebrating what will be our 50th anniversary very soon and the fire still burns just as bright. Hitting the road for another fun two weeks alongside 3 incredible other bands reminds us why we love to play live. Thank you to everyone keeping rock and metal alive and loud!”
John of Raven: “With our partners in crime Girlschool, Alcatrazz & Airforce, we are bringing the maximum metal back to Blighty starting November 25th!!!! Get yer tickets NOW for this full on rifferama extravaganza!!”
Giles of Alcatrazz: “We are ready for a great tour — we have a great setlist spanning 45 years of Alcatrazz, and with a killer package like this with: Girlschool, Raven, Alcatrazz and Airforce, there is no other metal tour like this right now! Lets rock like it’s 1986!”
Tony of Airforce: “Airforce are looking forward to the UK Winter Meltdown tour. Once again we will be playing alongside some great bands and good friends of ours from the rock and metal community Girlschool, Raven and Alcatrazz. Airforce look forward to seeing & meeting you all somewhere on the UK tour. Keep it Metal 🤘”
One of the most significant, and memorable, stars of the 1960s is set to blaze again!
In 1968, the all-but unknown Crazy World Of Arthur Brown topped charts worldwide with “Fire,” a truly coruscating (not to mention incendiary) slice of art rock that both merged with the psychedelia barreling through the music scene of the day, and stood in direct opposition to all the peace, love and flowers that had hitherto characterized the era.
Now comes “Hush,” a limited edition vinyl single, to prove that frontman Arthur Brown still boasts one of the most dynamic voices around.
Taken from the forthcoming Purple Storm tribute to Deep Purple, this stunning orange vinyl platter is released in a limited white label edition of 85 hand-numbered copies only, and features two additional tracks.
First, Brown’s barnstorming version of “21st Century Schizoid Man” (King Crimson), recorded with Brian Auger (Trinity featuring Julie Driscoll, Oblivion Express), Chris Poland (Megadeth) and, on thunderous drums, Ian Paice (Deep Purple); and then The Beatles‘ Abbey Road epic “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” with Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) providing that mercurial, haunting guitar riff.
But “Hush” is the main attraction, and here’s why. Written by Joe South and a 1967 hit for Billy Joe Royal, “Hush” is best remembered in many quarters as the first ever single by Deep Purple in 1968, at a time when the band was still finding its way across three early albums featuring future Captain Beyond vocalist Rod Evans and Johnny Kidd and Warhorse bassist Nick Simper alongside the expected Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.
A number 4 American hit (48 places higher than Billy Joe’s original), “Hush” might not be regarded as highly as some of the later Purple’s own compositions. It remains a stone-cold classic, however, and as Cleopatra Records’s upcoming Purple Storm tribute to Deep Purple came together, nobody doubted that it should be included. Nor that Brown was the person to voice it.
He didn’t make the record alone, of course. Behind Brown storms a dream team backing band featuring Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Alan Davey (Hawkwind), Jürgen Engler and Chris Lietz (Die Krupps), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Rod Stewart), each of them determined to transform what was originally a fairly innocuous little song into a head banging hurricane.
Brown’s vocal sounds as though it could have been recorded way back when; Hoekstra’s guitar slashes as though the future’s on fire, and Appice’s drums have seldom received such punishment in the past. And then there’s that organ solo which comes straight out of the Jon Lord school of key-crunching virtuosity.
Following their recent North American tour supporting Samantha Fish and winning the “Young Artist of the Year” award for the second year in a row at the UK Blues Awards 2026, Kent blues rock power trio The Zac Schulze Gang are thrilled to announce they have sold out concerts at York Crescent (Nov 12), Norwich Waterfront Studio (Nov 13) and Nottingham Rescue Rooms (Nov 15). The only date left on their November UK tour to buy tickets for is Leeds Key Club (November 10).
The main support on all November dates is Whisky Flowers. The opening supports in each city as follows: The Dassins at Leeds Key Club (Nov 10), Flok at Manchester Night & Day (Nov 11), Tom Sheldon at York Crescent (Nov 12), Slydar at Norwich Waterfrtont (Nov 13), Honey Buzzard at Brighton Hope & Ruin (Nov 14) and Jesse Garwood at Nottingham Rescue Rooms (Nov 15).
The Zac Schulze Gang are best known for their explosive live shows and their signature blend of 70’s classic blues rock and modern alternative influences Guitarist Zac Schulze commands the punk intensity of Wilko Johnson, the blues rock finesse of Rory Gallagher, and the adrenaline-pumped rock presence of AC/DC’s Angus Young.
Over the past few years, the Kent-based trio have built a loyal following who are fans of their blistering, raw-to-the-bone live shows. They’ve toured the UK and Europe extensively and have supported the likes of Samantha Fish on several tours. Their explosive sound combines classic British R&B with punk urgency, first-class musicianship, and non-stop onstage excitement.
Released in September 2025, the band’s debut album Straight To It says it all. The trio doesn’t mess around with niceties, preferring to play the kind of blues-infused rock’n’roll that grabs you by the throat.
Guitarist Zac Schulze, is a world-class shredder, playing with precision, speed, and passion, but the focus of the trio isn’t just his solos.The Zac Schulze Gang is an undeniable gang, a group unified by a like-minded sensibility that adds an electrifying charge to their rock’n’roll. Zac rides the thunder generated by the rhythm section of his drummer brother Ben Schulze and bassist Ant Greenwell. The trio create a massive roar, all without losing sight of what matters most, the songs.
The Zac Schulze Gang’s sound and work ethic harks back to the much-loved live dynamic and relentless touring schedules of 70s icons including Rory Gallagher and Dr Feelgood. Their unique sound also embodies elements of heritage classic rock acts like AC/DC and Thin Lizzy, while giving a nod to contemporary influences like Turnstile, Royal Blood and Queens of the Stone Age.
ZSG have made lasting impressions at festivals including Eric Clapton’s Crossroads, Planet Rock’s Winter End in 2023, Fairport’s Cropredy Festival, and Rory Gallagher Tribute Festival in Ballyshannon where the band first exploded onto the scene.
Zac Schulze won Emerging Artist of the Year at the UK Blues Awards 2024 and followed this by winning Young Artist of the Year at the UK Blues Awards in 2025 and 2026. With sold-out concerts in the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK, the Zac Schulze Gang are the band to watch.
DHP Family in association with The Main Thing Presents
Nov 10 The Key Club – Leeds (UK) Nov 11 Night & Day – Manchester (UK) Sold Out Nov 12 The Crescent – York (UK) Sold Out Nov 13 The Adrian Flux Waterfront – Norwich (UK) Sold Out Nov 14 The Hope & Ruin – Brighton (UK) Sold Out Nov 15 Rescue Rooms – Nottingham (UK) Sold Out Nov 19 Het Podium – Hoogeveen (NL) Nov 20 Paard – Den Haag (NL) Nov 22 Poppodium Hedon – Zwolle (NL) Nov 23 La Boite a Musique – Wattrelos (FR) Nov 24 New Morning – Paris (FR) Nov 28 Maiwaldhalle – Achern (DE) Nov 29 Podium Fluor – Amersfoort (NL) Nov 30 Spirit Of 66 – Verviers (BE) Dec 11 Music Club N9 – Eeklo (BE) Dec 12 MOMfest – Veghel (NL)
2027
Feb 23 The Cluny 1 – Newcastle (UK) Feb 24 Voodoo Rooms – Edinburgh (UK) Sold Out Feb 25 Stereo – Glasgow (UK) Feb 27 Islington Assembly Hall – London (UK) Feb 28 Thekla – Bristol (UK) Mar 2 The Globe – Cardiff (UK) Mar 3 The Joiners – Southampton (UK) Mar 4 Hare & Hounds – Birmingham (UK)
UK prog metal titans TesseracT begin their new era with the announcement of their new EP ARC_ONE: Obscura, and signing with new label home of Nuclear Blast Records.
Since making their earliest waves at the crest of the ‘djent’ movement, the leading lights of UK progressive metal have refined a singular approach while constantly toying with expectation. As ambitious now as they’ve ever been, TesseracT‘s new undertaking could go down as their crowning achievement.
ARC_ONE: Obscura marks TesseracT‘s first outing for heavy metal haven Nuclear Blast. The EP also follows what has been their greatest run of touring to date, playing to rapt audiences across Europe, the Americas, Australia and Asia.
The three-song kick-off, Obscura, introduces what will become a multimedia spectacle for their global following.
Vocalist Dan Tompkins explains, “We’re trying to approach this a little bit differently, in terms of not just dropping a full album. We’re trying to work with how music is consumed in general, but also trying to deliver what we think our fans really want from us: a captivating story and a good concept.”
Thematically, ARC_ONE: Obscura picks up where War of Being left off, continuing the album’s exploration of identity. “War of Being was very much about ego and the masks that we wear,” Dan recalls. “The ending to that album was quite important, because it was about tearing the mask away, which is a key lyric from the album. As I, personally, made more music on the back of War of Being, I started to discover more about myself and my own being. I’ve started to really think about what direction we could take the next batch of music in, and I think, for me, it’s very much about understanding what’s left when you’ve exposed who you really are.”
This introspective journey commences with the lead single and ARC_ONE:Obscura’s opener, ‘Crucible’: a song about suppressing one’s self in order to belong. Its key lyric – ‘if I fit, I disappear’ – summarises what Dan calls “the pressure that shapes and distorts the individual: the fact that we’re being constantly measured and judged and refined until our real, authentic self is just pushed further and further inside us and buried”. It’s a refreshingly episodic piece of music, too, pulling back from the widescreen War of Being to focus on emphatic vocals as well as punchy riffing from Acle Kahney and James Monteith.
Co-produced, mixed and mastered by the band together with Lewis Johns, Arc One: Obscura is another testament to Tesseract as trailblazers. Not only is it being released innovatively; it’s home to three immense songs which reiterate why the band upended (and continue to upend) what people thought metal can do. Most exciting of all, this is just the beginning…
TesseracT will be touring ARC_ONE: Obscura across North America, the UK, and Germany, including a marquee show at London’s famed Brixton Academy.
Dates:
North America tour (w/ Entheos and Sunborn)
01/07 New York City, NY — Irving Plaza 01/08 Boston, MA — Paradise Rock Club 01/09 Montreal, QC — Beanfield Theatre 01/10 Toronto, ON — Concert Hall 01/12 Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Soundstage 01/13 Charlotte, NC — The Underground 01/15 Atlanta, GA — Buckhead Theatre 01/16 Orlando, FL — Beacham 01/18 Houston, TX — House Of Blues 01/19 Dallas, TX — Echo 01/20 San Antonio, TX — Aztec Theatre 01/22 Phoenix, AZ — Nile Theater 01/23 Los Angeles, CA — The Belasco 01/24 San Francisco, CA — The Fillmore 01/26 Portland, OR — Roseland Theater 01/27 Seattle, WA — Neptune 01/29 Salt Lake City, UT — The Depot 01/31 Denver, CO — Summit Music Hall
11 March O2 Ritz Manchester UK 13 March O2 Academy Brixton London UK 15 March Die Kantine Köln Germany 16 March Batschkapp Frankfurt Germany 18 March Markthalle Hamburg Germany 19 March Täubchenthal Leipzig Germany
Swedish rock icon Matti Alfonzetti is pleased to unveil the new single “Set Me Free”, taken from his upcoming new studio album, “Going for the Kill”, set for release on December 11, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.
Matti Alfonzetti commented: “Set me free is a uptempo rocker, showing off the groove and poise of the fierce musicianship of Alfonzetti. Guitar driven, heavy but melodic as always!”
“Going for the Kill” is a dynamic melodic rock album that seamlessly blends classic influences with a modern edge. Best known for his soulful voice, powerful delivery, and songwriting prowess, Alfonzetti once again proves why he’s considered one of Scandinavia’s most enduring and respected rock vocalists.
He stated: “Going For The Kill” is my way of paying tribute to 70’s and 80’s AOR rock which I grew up with. I think any fan of that era will understand what this release is about.”
“Going for the Kill” is a tour de force of contemporary AOR and hard-edged melodic rock, taking cues from genre masters such as Foreigner, FM, Def Leppard, Bryan Adams and Alias, while injecting fresh energy and production polish. From the soaring hooks to the crisp arrangements, the album is a showcase of melodic craft and passionate performance.
On the recordings, Matti Alfonzetti not only takes care of lead and backing vocals but also handles bass, rhythm guitars, and keyboards, underlining his multi-instrumental talent and personal investment in the project. The line-up of musicians on the album also includes Dante Alfonzetti (bass on “Going for the Kill” and “When The Gods Play Rock n’ Roll”), Staffan Brodén on drums, and Martin Jepsen Andersen on lead guitar.
With a career spanning over four decades, Matti first made waves in the ’80s with Bam Bam Boys and went on to front acclaimed acts such as Jagged Edge (UK) and Skintrade, before embarking on a successful solo journey with albums like “Ready” and “Machine”. He’s also been a key part of projects like Impera, Red White & Blues, and Road to Ruin, earning a reputation as both a consummate performer and a highly skilled producer and songwriter.
“Going for the Kill” is not just a return – it’s a reaffirmation. A statement album by an artist at the height of his creative powers, it’s essential listening for fans of melodic rock, both classic and contemporary.
“Going For The Kill” Tracklist:
1. Set Me Free 2. Runaway 3. It’s Over 4. Going For The Kill 5. Little Joanie 6. Same Old Story 7. She’s In Love 8. The One You Left Behind 9. When The Gods Play Rock n’ Roll 10. Love Is The Only Thing
Line Up: Matti Alfonzetti – Vocals, guitars, bass and keyboards Dante Alfonzetti – Bass on “Going for the Kill” and “When The Gods Play Rock n’ Roll” Staffan Brodén – Drums Martin Jepsen Andersen – Lead Guitar
Moldovan modern metal force INFECTED RAIN strikes back with their brand-new single, “Bloom”, accompanied by a live one-take playthrough.
Exploring the bittersweet feeling of watching someone you care about grow and follow their dreams, the song is about finding genuine happiness in their journey, even when that growth creates distance. Once again pushing the boundaries of their unmistakable sound, the band delivers an electrifying blend of modern progressive metal, crushing guitar riffs, atmospheric soundscapes and cutting-edge synths. Fronted by the charismatic Lena Scissorhands, whose extraordinary vocal range effortlessly shifts between ferocious screams and soaring clean melodies, “Bloom” takes listeners on an intense sonic journey packed with infectious grooves, experimental elements and irresistible melodies.
Balancing raw intensity with remarkable vulnerability, INFECTED RAIN once again demonstrate their ability to transform deeply personal emotions into an unforgettable metal anthem.
Lena Scissorhands on “Bloom”: “‘Bloom’ is a reflection on caring deeply for someone and watching them grow, even when that growth creates distance. It’s about choosing joy for the people we love as they follow their dreams, rather than taking that distance personally. Sometimes focusing on a goal means having less space for those who once stood right beside us. But that doesn’t erase the bond. Bloom embraces that shift, finding happiness in someone else’s growth, even if it’s from a little farther away.”
Over the years, INFECTED RAIN have established themselves as one of the most distinctive and exciting forces in modern metal. Since forming in Moldova in 2008, the band has steadily built an international following through their uncompromising musical vision, explosive live performances and fearless approach to songwriting. Blending elements of progressive metal, metalcore, nu metal and alternative influences, they have carved out a sound that is as unpredictable as it is instantly recognizable.
With acclaimed releases such as Endorphin (2019), Ecdysis (2022) and TIME (2024), INFECTED RAIN have continued to expand their creative horizons while strengthening their position on the international metal scene. Their ability to combine technical precision, emotional depth and devastating heaviness has earned them a dedicated worldwide fanbase and cemented their reputation as a formidable live act.
Now, with “Bloom”, INFECTED RAIN open another exciting chapter in their musical evolution. Both intensely personal and sonically ambitious, the new single showcases a band that refuses to stand still, continuously refining its signature sound while exploring new creative territory. Fans will also have the chance to experience the band’s explosive energy live when INFECTED RAIN join Dutch symphonic metal powerhouse DELAIN on their upcoming European tour in February 2027. One thing is certain: INFECTED RAIN remain a force to be reckoned with!
INFECTED RAIN Live with DELAIN: 02.02.2027 – Cologne, DE – Live Music Hall 03.02.2027 – Bremen, DE – Modernes 04.02.2027 – Berlin, DE – Columbia Theater 05.02.2027 – Leipzig, DE – Hellraiser 06.02.2027 – Karlsruhe, DE – Substage 07.02.2027 – Pratteln, CH – Z7 08.02.2027 – Munich, DE – Backstage 09.02.2027 – Frankfurt, DE – Batschkapp 10.02.2027 – Esch-sur-Alzette, LU – Rockhal 11.02.2027 – Tilburg, NL – O13
2027 Festival Appearances: 07.05.2027 – Daytona Beach, FL, US – Welcome to Rockville 14.05.2027 – Columbus, OH, US – Sonic Temple 14.08.2027 – Sulingen, DE – Reload Festival
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
