Get ready for a party, energy, and pure mayhem! METAL ON THE HILL has confirmed ALESTORM as the first act and headliner for the festival taking place on August 29, 2026, in Graz. Anyone who has already seen the Scottish party metal crew live knows all about their high-energy shows, exuberant party anthems, and absolute readiness for mayhem both on and off stage. That’s exactly why the band, led by frontman Chris Bowes, is the perfect fit for the tenth-anniversary celebration and will enrich this year’s METAL ON THE HILL with a true live spectacle.
Ten years of METAL ON THE HILL, a breathtaking location, and a headliner who takes no prisoners: August 29, 2026, already promises to be an event that does full justice to the festival and its unique spirit. Stay tuned for further acts to be announced soon!
Ten years ago, METAL ON THE HILL was born on Graz’s Schlossberg, one of Austria’s most beautiful venues, by Napalm Records and the Grazer Spielstätten. Since then, the festival has stood for heavy sounds, intense emotions, and an unmistakable atmosphere in a truly special location—the historic Kasematten. Back in the first third of the 20th century, a stage was built within the old walls of the former fortifications, complete with a spacious auditorium that is particularly characteristic of Graz.
Britpop legends Dodgy are set to release their brand-new album “Hello Beautiful” this May together with a spring tour that will see the band play at much loved independent venues from across the UK.
The band, renowned for their warm melodic and uplifting music, made the announcement following the success of new singles “It’s Not The End”, and comeback single “Hello Beautiful” – which delivered the band’s first Top 40 chart appearance in over a decade.
The album “Hello Beautiful” will be released on Friday 1 May. The album’s 9 tracks encapsulate those unique harmonies and addictive feet-tapping riffs that made Dodgy the quintessential summer festival band from the Britpop era and yet with the new album comes an older reflective deeper quality that you would expect from such leading veterans of the British indie scene.
Singer Nigel Clark said: “We approached each track as its own individual, with honesty at the core while still shaping an overall message, all united together by our trademark backing vocals and harmonies. Our time in the studio reflects a renewed energy and a deeper sense of pathos – this is a wiser, more evolved Dodgy in 2026. Making the album has been a passionate and rewarding process, embracing a new level of technicality that keeps the music feeling fresh and dynamic.”
Drummer Mathew Priest added:“Now feels like the perfect time to release “Hello Beautiful”, following what’s been an incredible couple of months for the band with recent shows and new singles. “There’s a real sense of excitement and momentum around us right now, and we can’t wait to take these new songs out across the country, especially to the venues and circuits that played such a vital role in our early days.”
UK Album Tour 2026 To mark the album’s release, Dodgy will embark on a UK tour this spring, reaffirming their long-standing dedication to independent venues and their continued support for the grassroots circuit that first launched their career.
Free Peace Sweet turns 30 Later in 2026, Dodgy will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of their classic album Free Peace Sweet with a series of very special shows featuring guests The Icicle Works. Originally released in 1996, Free Peace Sweet delivered some of the band’s biggest songs and remains one of the defining British guitar albums of the era, featuring hits including “Good Enough”, “In A Room”, “If You’re Thinking Of Me” and “Found You”. The anniversary shows promise a full celebration of the album alongside fan favourites from across the catalogue.
HELLO BEAUTIFUL // UK TOUR DATES 2026 Norwich: Thursday 30 April, The Adrian Flux Waterfront Grimsby: Friday 1 May, Docks Academy Buckley: Saturday 2 May, The Tivoli Leek: Friday 8 May, Foxlowe Arts Centre Nottingham: Sunday 10 May, Rescue Rooms Aberdeen: Friday 15 May, The Tunnels Inverness: Saturday 16 May, An Seomar Glasgow: Sunday 17 May, King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut Tunbridge Wells: Thursday 21 May, The Forum Southampton: Friday 22 May, Papillon Brighton: Saturday 23 May, Quarters
FREE PEACE SWEET // 30TH ANNIVERSARY SHOWS London: Saturday 26 September, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire Bristol: Thursday 1 October, O2 Academy Birmingham: Friday 2 October, O2 Institute Manchester: Saturday 3 October, O2 Ritz Liverpool: Friday 9 October, O2 Academy
Tickets for all live shows and for more album info head to: www.dodgyology.com
Still writing their story Formed in the late 1980s, Dodgy went on to become one of the defining bands of the 90s British guitar boom, releasing five albums, selling more than two million records and landing 12 UK Top 40 singles. Their enduring hit “Good Enough” remains one of the most played songs on British radio of the last three decades.
Still fronted by original members Nigel Clark, Mathew Priest and Andy Miller, the band continue to evolve while retaining the optimism and melodic instinct that first connected them with audiences more than thirty years ago.
With new music arriving, a major UK tour confirmed and anniversary celebrations on the horizon, Dodgy head into 2026 busier – and sounding stronger – than they have in years.
HOKKA today release their highly anticipated debut album,Via Miseria IV via Nuclear Blast Records. To celebrate the release, the band have also unveiled the official video for the album’s haunting title track, ‘Via Miseria.’
Forged from the meeting of two towering creative forces in Finnish rock, HOKKA unites Joel Hokka, former frontman of the internationally acclaimed nu metal phenomenon Blind Channel, with Pauli Rantasalmi, the iconic guitarist and songwriter behind The Rasmus, whose influence has helped shape Nordic rock for almost three decades.
Completing the line-up is the formidable young drummer Jimi Aslak, bringing a fresh intensity and dynamic edge to the band’s cinematic, emotionally charged sound.
With Via Miseria IV, HOKKA step boldly into dark and deeply human territory — an album that explores vengeance, love, grief, and the fragile beauty born from pain. Rich in atmosphere and driven by soaring melodies, crushing riffs, and raw emotion, the record journeys into the heart’s most shadowed corners.
Each track unfolds like a bloody rose in bloom: beautiful, aching, and edged with the thorns of loss.
At the emotional core of the album lies the defining line: “I found a beauty in the pain.”
That lyric serves as the spiritual centrepiece ofVia Miseria IV— a powerful statement of resilience and emotional truth. Here, suffering is transformed into something transcendent, and vengeance becomes less about destruction and more about revelation.
Alongside today’s album release, HOKKA have shared the breathtaking official video for “Via Miseria,” a visually striking and cinematic piece that perfectly captures the album’s themes of darkness, longing, and redemption.
Frontman Joel Hokka comments: “From the depths of hell to a new beginning: Via Miseria IV, our debut album, is finally here. It may sound like a cliché, but it’s true when I say we poured our hearts into this piece of art. From trauma to heartbreak, from the highest highs to the lowest lows. Welcome to Via Miseria, where you never walk alone.”
Via Miseria IV comes in following formats: CD jewel case with 20-page poster booklet 1 LP red vinyl 1 LP red/black splatter
In addition, HOKKA has just announced their first live shows for 2026 giving fans the opportunity to experience the power and storytelling of the warrior and sensai saga on stage for the first time.
The first club show: 07.05.26 FI Helsinki – Tavastia
Confirmed festival shows: 12.-13.06.26 FI Lahti – Kesämössö 27.06.26 FI Helsinki – Tuska 03.-05.07.26 FI Turku – Ruisrock 04.07.26 FI Tampere – Tuhdimmat Tahdit 17.-19.07.26 FI Joensuu – Ilosaarirock 23.-25.07.26 FI Kuopio – Kuopiorock 25.07.26 FI Oulu – QStock 14.-16.08.26 CH Cudrefin – Rock The Lakes
line up: Joel Hokka – voc Pauli Rantasalmi – guitar Sampo Sundström – guitar Jimi Aslak – drums
Nashville-based rock band Cinema Stereo are pleased to announce their headline November and December 2026 UK Tour. Tickets are on sale via The Gig Carteland Cinema Stereo.
To coincide with the news, on Wednesday April 22, the band have released their new single “Lean On You.” The single is available on all streaming platforms HERE. Watch the official music video on YouTube HERE.
“Lean On You” captures a spirit of influence by artists that continue to inspire Cinema Stereo, with a flare that’s distinctly their own. Verses move with a signature rock and roll swagger, that pays off to lush anthemic choruses showcasing the band’s creative dexterity.
“The song came later in the project, on a day that I was feeling pretty down,” says Cinema Stereo’s lead singer and guitarist, Ian Rayha. “I wasn’t making any forward progress after being stuck on a few ideas for days.”
“Right around that time, I happened to come across a video of John Mayer saying whenever he tried to write about something conceptually big, he can’t write at all; but if he were to just write about, let’s say a glass of water, he’d have a song in an hour. In that moment, I started writing how I was feeling and had all the lyrics in 10 minutes. Thanks John.”
Alongside the new single, Cinema Stereo recently announced their debut European tour which starts October 15, 2026. Tickets are available from Cinema Stereo. The tour marks a major milestone for the band as they bring their high-energy live show overseas for the first time.
Originally from Orlando, Florida, and now based in Nashville, Cinema Stereo draw from inspiration from a wide range of influences including Queen, The Police, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, and The Killers. Known for their fearless creative approach, raw emotion, and captivating lyrics, the band continues to carve out a space as one of the most exciting new voices in contemporary rock.
Cinema Stereo’s previous single “So Sorry, My Dear” is available on all streaming platforms HERE and as a limited edition 7-inch vinyl available HERE. Watch the music video HERE.
For new music and tour date updates follow Cinema Stereo on social media and streaming platforms.
15-Oct-2026 Verviers Belgium – Spirit of 66 16-Oct-2026 Krefeld Germany – Kulturrampe 17-Oct-2026 Bully-les-Mines France – Bully On Rocks festival 20-Oct-2026 Santander Spain – Niagara 21-Oct-2026 León Spain – Babylon 22-Oct-2026 A Coruña Spain – Mardi Gras 23-Oct-2026 Ourense Spain – Café Cultural 24-Oct-2026 Sevilla Spain – Sala Even 25-Oct-2026 Jerez Spain – La Guarida del Angel 27-Oct-2026 Orihuela Spain – La Gramola 28-Oct-2026 Valencia Spain – Loco Club 29-Oct-2026 Castellón Spain – Sala Because 30-Oct-2026 Zaragoza Spain – Rock ‘n Blues Café 31-Oct-2026 Valles Spain – AMC Bocanegra 1-Nov-2026 Vitoria Spain – Urban Rock Concept 3-Nov-2026 Barcelona Spain – Razz 3 4-Nov-2026 Chambèry France – Brin de Zinc 5-Nov-2026 Eppstein Germany – Wunderbar Weite Welt 6-Nov-2026 Regensburg Germany – VAZ 7-Nov-2026 Lauchhammer Germany – Real Music Club 10-Nov-2026 Frankfurt Germany – Nachtleben 11-Nov-2026 Bremen Germany – Meisenfrei 12-Nov-2026 Dortmund Germany Musiktheater Piano 14-Nov-2026 Heilbronn Germany – Umma23 15-Nov-2026 Norderstedt Germany – Music Star 18-Nov-2026 Hamburg Germany – Cowboy un Indianer 21-Nov-2026 Coevorden Netherlands – MFC
25-Nov-2026 Faversham UK – The Old Brewery Store 26-Nov 2026 Manchester UK – Deaf Institute 27-Nov-2026 Sheffield UK – Yellow Arch 28-Nov-2026 Leek UK – Foxlowe Arts 1-Dec-2026 Glasgow UK – Slay 2-Dec-2026 York UK – Fulford Arms 3-Dec-2026 Norwich UK – Waterfront 4-Dec-2026 Frome UK – Treehouse 5-Dec-2026 London UK – O2 Academy 2
Finnish metal band MALUMMEH, founded in 2004, have released their second single, ‘Gone Too Far’, accompanied by a music video. The track is taken from their eponymous EP, due for release on 28 May 2026 via Inverse Records.
The band comments: “If you follow the news, Gone Too Far might help you put your feelings into words. The song deals with betrayal, oppression, and naivety. The original idea for the track is over 15 years old and was once left unreleased by the band. Now it has gone through a complete overhaul and emerged stronger than ever. Musically, it also breaks new ground for the band, featuring symphonic instruments for the first time. The result is a raw and dramatic outpouring that balances between danger and escalation, forcing deep feelings of melancholy and finality to the surface.”
–Composed by Mikael Kiikka, Jaakko Eskelinen, Valtteri Kallio, Jukka Vehkamaa, Marko Niemistö –Lyrics by Mikael Kiikka –Recorded & mixed by Valtteri Kallio –Mastered by Janne Hakanen –Single cover by Mikael Kiikka –ISRC: FI3FC2699002
Malummeh is a metal band founded in 2004 and originating from the Helsinki metropolitan area. The band blends various metal subgenres into an aggressive, melodic, and explosive whole that stands firmly on its own with no apologies. The group was founded by guitarists Mikael Kiikka and Jaakko Eskelinen, with drummer Valtteri Kallio joining at a very early stage. Alongside the original trio, lineup changes eventually led to Jukka Vehkamaa becoming the band’s bassist and Marko Niemistö taking the role of vocalist. During the early 2000s, the band showed promising momentum, culminating in the release of their debut album Revival through Spinefarm (Spikefarm) in November 2007. However, internal dynamics within the band gradually began to fracture, and in 2011 the band disbanded.
The silence lasted until 2022, when old conflicts were laid to rest and the band rediscovered its drive. The idea for restarting initially came from the possibility of releasing older, unfinished songs, but working on those tracks quickly led to writing new material as well. In practice, the band continues from where it left off, but with a more focused approach and without the rigid absolutism that often comes with youth.
In its new era, Malummeh focuses on bringing the strongest elements of early 2000s metal into the present day while leaving behind the most worn-out clichés of that period. This is made possible through complete artistic independence: the band composes, records, and produces its music entirely on its own terms, maintaining a strong emphasis on musicianship and a direct yet emotionally varied style of expression.
The comeback is not built solely on nostalgia. The goal is also to push the band’s sound forward into a more versatile direction while preserving its recognizable core. With new material, Malummeh continues its story after a long hiatus, now with a clearer understanding among its members of what kind of music they want to create and why.
Track list:
Dethroned
Gone Too Far
Misery
October
–Recorded & mixed by Valtteri Kallio –Mastered by Janne Hakanen –EP cover by Mikael Kiikka
Finnish dark metal band Horizon of Aeons are set to release their debut album, Timeless Forms of Desolation, on 29 May 2026 via Inverse Records. The third and last single ‘Aedis Tenebrae’, is unleashed today and it’s available on all essential streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/horizon-of-aeons-aedis
The band comments:
“This song embraces the brightness of darkness. Evil spirits of our subconscious mind are meant to be cherished. Persistent dark patterns open the gates to a higher level of divinity. Demonic guidance through ambivalent existence. Confrontation with the rigid morality of the masses. The music supports the lyrics perfectly by flowing between different sections and moods. In the main riff, the guitar lines circle around each other, yet never collide. The bass guitar and drums stand firmly in the background, allowing the guitars to summon melodies.“
–Composed by Miska Lehtivuori, Ville Pekkala, Pekka Venho & Pekka Jokela –Lyrics by Miska Lehtivuori & Ville Pekkala –Mixed & mastered by Miska Lehtivuori –ISRC: FIP6B2600002 –Single artwork by Vivia Lehtivuori / Silent Arcane Filigati & Miska Lehtivuori
Horizon of Aeons is a gothic dark metal band founded in 2024, bringing together
seasoned musicians from the Finnish metal scene. The band consists of Miska Lehtivuori (vocals, guitar), Ville Pekkala (guitar), Pekka Venho (bass), and Pekka Jokela (drums). These members have a rich history of playing together in various bands (Fall of the Leafe, Ablaze in Hatred, Searing Meadow, Mormânt De Snagov, Leaflet, Jackie’s Land), which laid the foundation for their cohesive and powerful sound.
Horizon of Aeons’ musical influences are as diverse as the members’ extensive backgrounds in the metal scene. Each member brings a wealth of experience from their previous bands, contributing to the band’s unique sound.
Together, these musicians create a sound that is both intense and melodic, drawing from a wide array of metal subgenres. Their influences span across various styles, allowing them to craft a distinctive musical identity that is uniquely their own. This blend of experience and inspiration results in a sound that is both familiar and innovative, pushing the boundaries of gothic dark metal.
Themes and Lyrics
Horizon of Aeons’ lyrics delve deeply into the dark and complex concept of time and its relentless progression. Their songs often explore the infinite future contrasted with the finite past, creating a haunting and introspective atmosphere. The band masterfully weaves themes of existence and memory into their music, painting vivid pictures of a world where time is both a creator and a destroyer.
In addition, Horizon of Aeons touches on themes of cosmic forces, often using esoteric and mystical imagery. They explore the inherent inclinations of humanity, the seductive nature of sin, and the purifying power of darkness. This adds a layer of depth to their music, as they challenge conventional beliefs and embrace the darker aspects of existence.
Overall, the band’s lyrics are a profound exploration of time, existence, and the human condition, offering listeners a journey through the infinite and the ephemeral.
Debut Release
Horizon of Aeons’ debut album titled Timeless Forms of Desolation is set to be released through Inverse Records in 2026. Their first single, Haunting Presence, is already available on all digital platforms, showcasing a tantalizing preview of their dark, atmospheric sound through a condensed single edit.
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Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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