CARNATION Return to Their Death Metal Roots with Catchy Yet Brutal New Single & Video ‘Boundless Pathways’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 14, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Jenny Puentes

Death metal band CARNATION return sharper, heavier, and more focused than ever. Today, they unveil their new single “Boundless Pathways”!

“Boundless Pathways” captures the essence of the band’s identity on this entire new record. In many ways, it serves as a gateway into the album, showcasing the sound, songwriting, and atmosphere that run throughout the entire album.

Lyrically, “Boundless Pathways” takes a more philosophical direction. The song revolves around themes of self-reflection, identity, and the nature of destiny. It raises questions about who we are and how much of that is shaped by choice versus fate, wondering whether we’ve become the person we were always meant to be, or if different paths could have led to entirely different versions of ourselves.

Album Release Show – 7 november, Zappa Antwerp

In honor of the new album, CARNATION is playing one exclusive release show in Flanders this year. This takes place on November 7, 2026, at Zappa Antwerp. Fans can expect an intense evening full of brutal riffs and unforgettable moments. This is the moment to experience the band in full glory once again. CARNATION IS BACK!

Concert tickets are available HERE

Blending raw aggression with sharper songwriting and a more defined visual identity, “Symphony In Flesh” captures CARNATION at a crucial point: back to their core, but evolved in every direction that matters.

The album will be out on October 16 and is available for pre-order HERE

Tracklist:
01. Blackmouth
02. Flesh-Eating Frenzy
03. Symphony in Flesh
04. Kingdom of Dreams
05. Labyrinth of Silence
06. Towards Death
07. Twisted Visions
08. Boundless Pathways
09. Legacy of the Forefathers

For more info visit:
https://www.instagram.com/carnationbandofficial 
https://www.facebook.com/CarnationBE/  

Celebrate Fifty Years of THE DAMNED with Love Songs & More

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 14, 2026
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It’s 50 years this month since The Damned released their debut single “New Rose” – which, in turn, means it’s half a century since the first ever UK punk record came out.  And, if you don’t think that’s an event to celebrate, you should stop reading now and get back to your 70s prog collection.  We’ll wait.

​The Damned themselves will be on tour in the US through October and into November.  Here, however, we have the collector’s item to end all collector’s items… a limited edition 12-inch that makes even the greatest rarities in the band’s long catalog seem common-as-much in comparison.

​Even the legendary “Stretcher Case Baby” freebie, back in 1977, had a pressing of 5,000, and copies of that now sell for several arms and a leg.  “Love Song (Dodgy Demo) is a lot more limited than that… just 255 copies.  And that breaks down even further, to just 85 apiece of three different color vinyls – red, purple and white, each with a custom etching on the b-side.\

​And “Love Song” is not alone on the disc, as it’s 1978 demo is joined by a January 1984 recording of “Nasty,” live romps through the mighty “Waiting For The Blackout” (1985) and the theme to Hawaii 5-0 (1995) and, wrapping everything up, Bob Dylan’s “Wheel’s On Fire,” a super-scarce 1980 single by The Rat (Mr Scabies, of course) And The Whale (his wife-to-be, Vivian Mason).

​VINYL: https://cleorecs.com/products/the-damned-love-song-colored-etched-12-vinyl

​“Love Song” is the latest release in Cleopatra’s newly launched series of STRICTLY LIMITED super-rarities, each disc individually hand numbered, and including releases from across the musical spectrum – from the art-inflected goth of Bauhaus to the pulsating metal of Angel and Thor; the synth pop of Heaven 17 and A Flock Of Seagulls; the hard rock of Cherie Currie and Lita Ford (The Runaways); and onto The Damned’s fellow punk icons the New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders and Peter & The Test Tube Babies!

​FIND ‘EM HERE: https://cleorecs.com/collections/limited-edition-white-labels

​But move fast!  Some of them are already sold out!

FORTRESS FESTIVAL Announces Ten New Bands for 2027 & Expands to Three Days

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 14, 2026
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Fortress Festival has unveiled the next wave of bands set to perform at its 2027 edition at the Scarborough Spa in North Yorkshire, UK. 

To celebrate its fifth anniversary, the organisers have introduced a special Friday evening pre-show titled “Fortress: First Light”. Taking place at the Grand Hall main stage, it will mark a new chapter in the festival’s history, with tickets sold separately from the main weekend passes.  

Fortress: First Light will be headlined by none other than Watain, who will grace the Scarborough stage with a UK exclusive performance. Joining Watain for the Friday will be Polish black metal act Terrestrial Hospice, delivering a highly anticipated UK debut and exclusive show. 

The main weekend line-up expands with Colorado melodic black metal force Stormkeep travelling for a UK exclusive. They are joined by the Nidrosian black metal of Norway’s Mare in a UK exclusive, alongside the Lovecraftian death metal of Sulphur Aeon, also making an exclusive UK appearance. British black metal act Ninkharsag will perform an exclusive set following a two-year period of quiet. 

The wave of announcements continues with a strong representation of international debuts. Belgian atmospheric black metal project Silver Knife will make their UK debut and exclusive appearance. They are joined by fellow Belgian atmospheric act Oerheks will also make a UK debut and exclusive appearance. Additionally, atmospheric black metal project Bloodbark will travel for their first-ever UK performance and exclusive set. 

Joining the dungeon synth line-up in the theatre room will be Swedish dungeon synth artist Örnatorpet, bringing their music for a UK exclusive performance. “Live appearances are few and far between, so I try to make them count, and Fortress feels like exactly the kind of place where this music belongs,” said Örnatorpet. “There is something quite extraordinary about being given the opportunity to bring your own musical world into a place like this. I’m looking forward to sharing those worlds with like-minded people, and to standing among so many musicians whose work has inspired and fascinated me.”

Watain vocalist Erik Danielsson states: “We look forward to setting out on a last round of shows before the end, and to remind people of the powers this music can actually possess when it’s not held back by the laws and sentiments of the modern world. Watain is a remnant of a dark past that now exists only as myth and memory, too primal and perhaps too real for this day and age. But for one last time we will let the ancient fires of real Black Metal and spiritual liberation light up the night. We invite you all to come and bask in their glory, and to celebrate the end with us as we return Watain to its sacred origins beyond the realms of Death.”

Stormkeep said: “Stormkeep returns to the shores of Europa for the first time in 4 years, bringing heralds of Othertime and Iswylm. Marking this bacchanal of black symphonies, Stormkeep has pulled from the old scrolls and the new to bring a performance from all parts of Elda’s history. In an exclusive appearance and a set of material never performed in the UK before, Stormkeep will take all who are in attendance on an epic journey through the history of the Dragon Kings. We are honoured to bring this special set to Fortress Festival, the perfect venue for us to present these nocturnes.”

Oerheks said: “After only a handful of live performances in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany; I am extremely proud to have Oerheks featured on this year’s Fortress Fest bill. With a live line-up of ascetics, we will bring the ancient force and wisdom of the fields and forests of Cagghenvinna to UK shores for the first time ever.”

Silver Knife added:“Ever since our inception, we knew Silver Knife would never be the band to perform very often. So far, we’ve been extremely selective of the gigs we play. When we received the chance to play Fortress Fest, we knew this was the perfect opportunity for our UK debut. We look forward to having our aggressive melancholy break upon Scarborough’s shores, carrying with it some brand-new material.”

Ninkharsag commented: “Hail! For two long years we have remained silent – slumbering beneath the ash like an old blood-starved beast. But every hibernation must end, and ours is over. We return with venom in our veins – colder, darker and more relentless than before. The fires have been rekindled, and once again we march to carve our mark upon the black metal abyss. Our return begins with a handful of exclusive live rituals and beyond that, the shadows whisper of a new full-length invocation already taking form. Stand ready!“

These bands join the already-packed line-up led by Norwegian black metal legends Emperor in an exclusive UK headlining performance. Among the first wave of bands previously announced are Gris with a worldwide live debut, Gràb with a worldwide exclusive, Yellow Eyes with a UK exclusive “Confusion Gate” set, Dungeontroll with a worldwide exclusive set; as well as exclusive UK performances from Forteresse, Slagmaur, Havukruunu, Sinmara; and exclusive UK debuts from Miserere Luminis, Tardigrada, Mourir and Trha.

The dungeon synth stage in the theatre room will also include the worldwide live debut of French dungeon synth revival pioneer Erang, as well as Wraith Knight, crossing the Atlantic to deliver a UK debut and exclusive performance of OldNick’s medieval-inspired music. The theatrical ambience of the theatre stage will also feature the live debut of Spectral Castle, the dungeon synth project hailing from France. Also set to appear is Hole Dweller, who travels from the US to bring its nostalgic and fantasy-filled sounds. 2027 will also witness the epic soundscapes of Atlantean Sword, who had to cancel 2026’s appearance. Lord Bakartia, hailing from Spain, will deliver his dark ambient textures, while French project DragonKeep will also bring its synth escapades to Fortress’ theatre stage.

Fortress Festival tickets: https://www.fortressfestival.co.uk/tickets

FORTRESS FESTIVAL 2027
28-30 May 2027
Scarborough Spa
North Yorkshire, UK

Emperor UK Exclusive
Watain UK Exclusive
Gràb Worldwide Exclusive
Miserere Luminis UK Debut/Exclusive
Gris Worldwide Live Debut
Tardigrada UK Debut/Exclusive
Mare UK Exclusive
Yellow Eyes ‘Confusion Gate’ Full Album Set UK Exclusive
Mourir UK Debut/Exclusive
Trha UK Debut/Exclusive
Slagmaur UK Exclusive
Havukruunu UK Exclusive
Stormkeep UK Exclusive
Terrestrial Hospice UK Debut/Exclusive
Sinmara UK Exclusive
Forteresse Special UK Exclusive Set
Dungeontroll Worldwide Exclusive Set
Erang Worldwide Live Debut
Wraith Knight UK Debut/Exclusive
Spectral Castle Live Debut
Hole Dweller 
Atlantean Sword
Lord Bakartia
DragonKeep
Oerheks UK Debut/Exclusive
Ninkharsag UK Exclusive
Silver Knife UK Debut/Exclusive
Bloodbark UK Debut/Exclusive
Sulpher Aeon UK Exclusive
Ornatorpet UK Exclusive

STEVE HACKETT Announces 2027 North American Tour Dates

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 14, 2026
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Genesis legend Steve Hackett will bring a new show celebrating the very best of Genesis and his solo career to North America in April and May 2027

After 13 years, STEVE HACKETT is bringing his classic Genesis material back to North American stages with a brand-new show celebrating the very best of Genesis alongside highlights from his extensive solo career.

In 2013, Hackett’s North American and UK tours culminated in an acclaimed performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall, which was subsequently released as a live DVD. Since then, his timeless guitar work has continued to be heard throughout the classic Genesis albums of the 1970s, while Hackett and his world-class band have revisited several of those landmark records in concert to widespread acclaim.

Now, in 2027 and beyond, Hackett is taking the next step with a show featuring the very best Genesis songs from throughout his career, including some of the band’s biggest fan favorites, alongside a selection of classic material from his many solo albums.

Joining Hackett on these dates will be his long-standing bandmates Lalle Larsson (keyboards), Nad Sylvan (vocals), Jonas Reingold (bass, guitar, backing vocals), Rob Townsend (saxophone, flutes, additional keyboards, backing vocals) and Felix Lehrmann (drums).

Concerning the upcoming dates, Hackett said, “I’ll be bringing this thrilling new show out in 2027 to celebrate the very best of Genesis including the biggest fan favourites, as well as solo classics… To kick off, we’ll hit the east coast to the Midwest in April. Get your tickets early… it will be a blast!”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: hackettsongs.com

COMPLETE 2027 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES 

Saturday, April 10, 2027
Atlanta, GA — Center Stage Theater

Tuesday, April 13, 2027
Washington, DC — Warner Theatre

Thursday, April 15, 2027
Collingswood, NJ — Scottish Rite Auditorium

Friday, April 16, 2027
Collingswood, NJ — Scottish Rite Auditorium

Saturday, April 17, 2027
Lansdowne, PA — Lansdowne Theater

Monday, April 19, 2027
Ridgefield, CT — Ridgefield Playhouse

Tuesday, April 20, 2027
Ridgefield, CT — Ridgefield Playhouse

Wednesday, April 21, 2027
New York, NY — The Town Hall

Friday, April 23, 2027
Albany, NY — The Egg – Hart Theatre

Saturday, April 24, 2027
Boston, MA — Berklee Performance Center

Tuesday, April 27, 2027
Akron, OH — Goodyear Theater

Wednesday, April 28, 2027
Buffalo, NY — UB Center for the Arts

Thursday, April 29, 2027
Ithaca, NY — State Theatre of Ithaca

Saturday, May 1, 2027
Toronto, ON — Massey Hall

Sunday, May 2, 2027
Ottawa, ON — Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa

Tuesday, May 4, 2027
Montréal, QC — Théâtre St-Denis

Thursday, May 6, 2027
Québec, QC — Palais Montcalm

JOE STUMP Releases New Single/Video ‘Hyperbolic’ from Upcoming Solo Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 14, 2026
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Following the release of the blistering album opener ‘Full Throttle’, guitar virtuoso Joe Stump unleashes ‘Hyperbolic’, the second single from his forthcoming solo album Lord of the Strings, due for release this Friday via Silver Lining Music. Pre-orders available at this location

‘Hyperbolic’ showcases Stump at his most ferocious and melodically inventive: a potent combination of crushing riffs, strong hooks and high-velocity shred. The track takes a thrilling detour through Eastern-inspired, Blackmore-esque guitar wizardry before unleashing a vicious arpeggio assault. The result is a dynamic fusion of metal styles: a masterclass in virtuosity with attitude.

“‘Hyperbolic’ is one of my favorite tracks from the new record,” affirms Stump. “The best way to describe it is complete metal badassery. This one contains some of my favorite riff action to date and it combines really nicely with all of the strong melodic content of the track. The solo section starts out with some old school high velocity shred then moves into some full-on bionic Blackmore snake charmer induced eastern playing. It concludes with a vicious arpeggio bit before returning to the riff section to end it. All in all a very cool combination of various schools of metal.”

Watch/Listen to the recently released ‘Full Throttle’ here

Stump doesn’t just lay down the speed as he does in ‘Full Throttle’ or revisit the classic grounds of traditional melodic heavy metal on tracks such as ‘Playing with Fire’, on this 12-track instrumental opus, Stump takes the guitar into lyrical territory with the likes of ‘In the Hall of the King’ and ‘Eternity of Darkness’ with his supremely detailed licks taking the lead narrative role. Stump also exercises moments of poetic acoustic reflection on ‘Den of Vipers’ and ‘Leipzig 1722’, but overall, Lord of the Strings is a belting, relentless beast, and (as the man himself says) ‘a heavy metal guitar orgy’.

If you crave screaming guitars of Valhallic proportions, this one is for you. Stump is a guitarist that likes his riffs to roar and his leads to flash like lightning. Stump delivers every track with extraordinary power, precision and purpose, pushing the guitar to its limits while never holding back. From searing riffs to jaw-dropping shred, Lord of the Strings is designed to hit hard, hit fast and leave its mark. This is guitar playing at full force and you won’t want to miss it.

Joe Stump will be touring as Alcatrazz’s lead guitarist this Autumn, joining forces with thrash metal veterans Raven and British heavy metal legends Girlschool for a run of UK dates. The tour kicks off on 25 November in Glasgow and continues across the country through to 6 December.

25 NOV – Classic Grand, Glasgow
26 NOV – Planet Rockstock, Porthcawl
27 NOV – The Brook, Southampton
28 NOV – The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
29 NOV – Digital, Newcastle Upon Tyne
01 DEC – The Underworld, London
02 DEC – Corporation, Sheffield
03 DEC – The Factory Live, Worthing
04 DEC – Blackbox, Hastings
05 DEC – Academy 3, Manchester
06 DEC – The Palace Nightclub, Bridgwater

Lord of the Strings will be released on standard CD digipak, special edition CD digipak, digital download, streaming and special D2C bundles. Available to pre-order at this location.

Lord of the Strings Track Listing:

  1. Full Throttle
  2. Hyperbolic
  3. Raise Your Glass
  4. Den of Vipers Intro
  5. Den of Vipers
  6. Playing with Fire
  7. In the Hall of the King
  8. Highly Combustible
  9. Edge of Your Seat
  10. Leipzig 1722
  11. Eternity of Darkness
  12. Storming the Castle

All Guitars and Bass Guitar by Joe Stump
Keyboards and all Drums by Francisco Palomo
Produced by Joe Stump and Francisco Palomo
Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Francisco Palomo at the Dungeon
All Guitars recorded at the Dragon’s Den

Joe Stump Links:
instagram.com/joestumpofficial / https://www.youtube.com/@joestump1443 / spotify.com/JoeStump

SHAKHTYOR Release Second Single ‘Alone’ (Feat. Members of UR) from Upcoming Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 14, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Hamburg, Germany-based instrumental sludge/doom trio SHAKHTYOR has unveiled “Alone”, the second single from their highly anticipated third studio album “Simulacron”, which will be out on November 6 via Moment of Collapse Records.

The new track offers the next glimpse into the dark, dynamic universe of “Simulacron”, expanding the band’s sonic framework with a notable vocal collaboration while delivering a poignant critique of modern digital existence. As the band explains:

“‘Alone’ is the melancholic soundtrack of our lives amidst the digital maelstrom. Before long, we will lose the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, reality and fantasy and pleasure and pain. This song features our friend Martin from UR on vocals.

Listen to “Alone” HERE

When SHAKHTYOR were formed in Hamburg in 2009, the direction initially seemed clear: instrumental doom. It soon became apparent, however, that the trio would not be content to stay within those confines. Doom and sludge collide with black and death metal eruptions, psychedelic jam passages, hypnotic grooves and spacey synthesizer textures. For SHAKHTYOR, genre boundaries are material to work with rather than limitations.

“Simulacron” is now the Hamburg trio’s third album, following their self-titled debut and its successor “Tunguska”. Once again recorded at Tonmeisterei, the album sounds anything but stagnant despite the band’s long history. Quite the opposite: the songwriting has become more concise and focused, while their musical boundaries have been pushed even further. Songs longer than 10 minutes are no exception.

The guitars remain the crushing foundation. Riff walls flatten everything in their path before the songs drift into psychedelic passages or are swept away by eruptive black/death metal assaults. Particularly effective are the long, stoic grooves that burrow almost hypnotically into your skull. SHAKHTYOR create pressure not through constant speed, but through dynamics, repetition and carefully constructed tension.

Samples and electronic soundscapes are far more than mere decoration. They give the songs a dark, at times almost cosmic atmosphere, making “Simulacron” feel like the soundtrack to some seriously twisted trip inside your head.

Tracklist:
01. Simulacron
02. Das Sechste Siegel
03. Alone
04. Wolfmannsgehau
05. Letzte Schleuse
06. Electric H

Seventeen years after their formation, SHAKHTYOR remain difficult to categorize. “Simulacron” combines crushing riff power with psychedelic depth and atmospheric finesse. A heavy, idiosyncratic beast – and precisely for that reason, one hell of an intriguing album.

“Simulacron” will be out November 6 on Moment of Collapse Records and is available for pre-order HERE.

SHAKHTYOR are:

Christian Müller
Nils Langbehn
Christian Herzog

For more info visit:
https://www.facebook.com/shakhtyorband/
https://www.instagram.com/shakhtyor.band/
https://shakhtyor.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/momentofcollapse/