The Dogs are finally back with new music. March 20, 2026, “Back to Fucking” was released. The long-awaited follow-up, and not least, a public redemption after the band’s previous musical misstep.
The Dogs apologize: “On our previous album, we were unfortunately so thick-headed that we released the single ‘I’m Done with Fucking, I Just Wanna Dance’. We sincerely apologize for this. It was a lie, and we take full responsibility. We hope you agree that we have already served our punishment. The fear of actually having to dance, something we neither want nor are capable of, resulted in The Dogs not daring to tour or release music for well over a year. This difficult period has been thoroughly covered by KK, Nettavisen, TikTok, and Dagbladet, and we feel no need to comment further. With the song ‘Back to Fucking’, we therefore aim to finally put this matter to rest, once and for all, by once again apologizing for this blunder.”
ABOUT The Dogs are the Oslo-based band where only one member is actually from Oslo.
A punk rock band that believes they play soul and garage rock. In short, a band that has no idea who they are or what they’re doing. This confusion has however resulted in a total of 12 albums, countless Norwegian tours, unusual one-off events such as opening for Bruce Springsteen, and musical contributions to the new Harry Hole series on Netflix. In other words, they are well prepared for the Alzheimer’s they all have coming.
Confusingly enough, all signs are still pointing upward for the “Oslo band” in the autumn of their lives.
THE DOGS: Vocals – Kristopher Schau Guitar – Mads Martinsen Bass – Tommy Reite Drums – Henrik Odde Gustavsen Percussion – Kenneth Simonsen Keys – Stefan Höglin
Finnish rising force of metalcore BEYOND AWARENESS will release their highly anticipated 10-track debut album ’Reflections’ on May 8. The band, known for their sharp songwriting, high-impact choruses and a polished sonic identity has been working on the album relentlessly the past couple of years and is very excited to finally release their debut.
”This album has been in the works and eagerly awaited for some years now, so we are incredibly excited to finally release this emotional outpouring. Creating the record has been a valuable journey, during which we have grown both as a band and as musicians. Musically, the album blends modern metalcore, occasionally experimental electronic production, and raw metal into one tight and cohesive whole. In particular, the way the music supports the message and emotional weight of each song feels truly unique. We’re really looking forward to the response it will receive!”
While waiting for the album, the band offers their fans one more taste: The new single ’TAKEMEBACKTOHELL’ is a collaborative single featuring Cyan Kicks merging together Beyond Awareness’ metallic edge and Cyan Kicks’ sleek alternative pop-rock sensibility.
”The song was called hyperpop at an early stage, as it’s a modern, fast-paced, and high-octane piece as a whole. The sound blends Beyond Awareness’ recognizable songwriting style with a more pop-driven approach, further amplified by the Cyan Kicks feature. The lyrics focus directly on emotions: restlessness, insecurity, and inner pressure, but also on perseverance and the will to fight. A fun coincidence is that the title and one particular word directly reveal a Bring Me The Horizon influence, even though the track ultimately found its final form entirely on its own terms, shaped by many other influences as well. ‘TAKEMEBACKTOHELL’ is our most pop-oriented release to date, while still keeping us firmly rooted in our own identity.”
Beyond Awareness will also hit the live stage with force this spring, starting from the band’s home country Finland. They are kicking things off at the legendary Tavastia Club in Helsinki, Finland, on May 7, when the band will perform as the opening act for Hokka, the new band of Joel Hokka, known from Blind Channel.
Already announced shows in Finland are: May 7 – Helsinki, Tavastia (w/ Hokka) May 8 – Kotka, The Van May 9 – Tampere, Olympia (album release show w/ LASTOUT) May 13 – Kouvola, House of Rock May 14 – Kuopio, Sawohouse Underground May 22 – Turku, Apollo
The band’s bassist Simo Pesonen also made a dungeon synth version ‘Lyhyt matka luolaan’ from the track ‘Lyhyt matka hautaan’ and it’s available here:
The band talks about each of the tracks on the album.
01. Surun Paino (Weight of Sorrow). This was the last song we wrote for this album. The album had a different name before this, and the artwork was ready. However, the song was so good that we decided to use it as the title and opening track.
02. Maan Nielemä (Swallowed by Dirt). This song practically wrote itself. Sami and Teemu wrote it before practice and it was ready to go. It’s a really brutal live song. It’s Hautajaisyö at its best, which is why it’s the first single.
03. Kuusi Kantajaa (Six Pallbearers). The song starts with the guitar, and then the others follow. There are great riffs and it’s really catchy. At gigs, the audience has sung the choir parts. This song is very similar to our older song, “Revin Ihoni Rikki”.
04. Kasvoton Kuljettaja (Faceless Driver). This was one of the last songs we wrote for this album, and we were still making changes to the arrangements a few days before recording. The song delves into death metal, and the lyrics were inspired by a nightmare that Janne’s co-worker had.
05. Hetki Viimeinen (Last Moment). This was the first song we wrote for this album. We have played it live many times. When we recorded it, we decided to slow it down a bit, which made it nice and groovy.
06. Lyhyt Matka Hautaan (A Short Journey to the Grave). Sami wanted to create a song with more black metal elements. The result was a slightly different song with more arrangements. In the end, we got a good, brutal song that will be a crowd-pleaser at gigs. This song was initially called ‘That Weird Song’.
07. Eloton (Lifeless). Originally, this was the first track on the album, but it ended up being placed later on. It’s a really traditional Hautajaisyö song that could have been on our third album. A strong start with a good groove. We started our 10-year anniversary gigs with this song.
08. Haaskalinnut minut muistaa (Vultures will remember me). It’s the second oldest song on the album, where we tried a slightly different arrangement. Once we were ready, this was the first song to find its place on the album. The grand, sorrow-filled ending is emphasised by the outro made by Sami.
–Composed by Janne Partanen, Sami Lustig, Simo Pesonen & Teemu Roth –Lyrics by Janne Partanen –Production, recording & mixing: Sami Lustig –Mastering: Janne Tuikkala –Cover art by Minttu Koskinen
Line-up: Janne Partanen: vocals Sami Lustig: guitars Simo Pesonen: bass Teemu Roth: drums
Finnish death/doom metallers HANGING GARDEN offer full stream of their new studio album “Isle of Bliss”, released yesterday, March 20th via Agonia Records.
Listen to the album at this location:
On their ninth album “Isle of Bliss”, HANGING GARDEN takes a different approach to their signature somber melancholy: the new full-length presents perhaps a darker, more sinister rendition of the oftentimes dreamlike tones of the past releases. Synths and sweet and airy vocal layers – albeit still present – give more room for a heavier aesthetic in the drum and guitar work.
The album was recorded in various studios in southern Finland by the band, along with the drums recorded at Klaukkala’s renowned D-Studio by master Jarno Hänninen. Mixing and mastering was performed by none other than the legendary Jaime Gomez Arellano, known for his work with names such as Opeth, Moonspell, Ghost and many others. The album artwork was created by Kalle Pyyhtinen (Children of Bodom).
The album’s themes revolve around the spiritual aspects of life, death and the liminality in between. The landscapes shift from the introspection of one’s core self, travelling past dense forests and deathless isles – all the way to the vast and distant infinities of the dying stars and the vast and eternal voids spun between.
The band comments on the album: “This time we decided to take a more conscious step towards a more bare-bones composition on the new songs, supporting the perhaps darker and maybe even more ferocious side of our music. We happened to meet with Gomez during a live show of ours a few summers back, and he was an obvious choice for the sound we had in mind. And as we see it, he really delivered.”
“To complement the rawer sound, we also decided to make more use of Riikka’s capability to scream – a stark contrast to her aetheric cleans – and this can be witnessed in the death metal duets between her and Toni that can be found a-plenty along the tracks.”
ROTTING CHRIST, a pillar of Greek metal, are reissuing Der Perfekte Traum for the first time on Season of Mist. Long out-of-print, this EP captures the band at a pivotal crossroads in their career between the melodic darkness of 1997’s A Dead Poem and the atmospheric depth of 1999’s Sleep of the Angels.
Now reissued by the band’s longtime label home Season of Mist, the new vinyl edition of Der Perfekte Traum preserves an overlooked chapter of Rotting Christ’s legacy.
A Dynasty from the Ice (Live in Europe 1996) (4:34)
The First Field of the Battle (Live in Europe 1996) (6:17)
King of a Stellar War (Live in Europe 1996) (6:54) Full runtime: 36:30
Der Perfekte Traum pairs two studio recordings with five live tracks drawn from the Triarchy of the Lost Lovers era. The haunting title track, performed entirely in German, weaves gothic textures with industrial undertones into one of Rotting Christ’s most unusual and hypnotic compositions—a song that has endured as a live staple for over two decades. “Moonlight” leans further into melancholic dark rock sensibilities, foreshadowing the band’s future explorations.
The live recordings, captured in Poland during the legendary 1996 “Out of the Dark” European tour alongside Samael and Moonspell, preserve the band’s visceral stage presence in its rawest form and represent the first officially released live material in the Rotting Christ catalogue.
Der Perfekte Traum features the core duo of Sakis Tolis (vocals, guitars) and Themis Tolis (drums), with an uncredited session bassist on the studio tracks. The live recordings notably feature founding bassist Jim Mutilator, who had departed the band in 1996, making these among the final captured documents of the original rhythm section.
The studio tracks on Der Perfekte Traum were recorded at Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany, in September 1998, with pre-production by Sakis Tolis in Athens. Woodhouse Studios, owned by renowned producer and engineer Siggi Bemm, was one of Europe’s premier facilities for metal and gothic production during this period. The five live tracks were recorded in Poland during the “Out of the Dark” tour, 1996.
Catch Rotting Christ next month on their North American Tour with Behemoth, Deicide, Rotting Christ and Immolation.Get tickets at https://www.rotting-christ.com
The Godless IV 2026 North American Tour
April 14 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory Northpark April 15 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom April 17 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory April 18 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater April 19 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO April 21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Union April 22 – Denver, CO @ The Fillmore April 24 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave April 25 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic April 26 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant April 28 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa April 30 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore* May 1 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium** May 2 – New York City, NY @ Palladium Times Square May 4 – Buffalo, NY @ Riverworks May 5 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Roxian May 7 – Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome to Rockville* May 9 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore May 11 – Toronto, ON @ History May 12 – Montreal, QC @ Olympia May 14 – Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple* May 15 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl May 16 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade May 18 – Dallas, TX @ The Factory May 20 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren May 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Palladium *No Rotting Christ **No Deicide
Production Credits: Pre-produced by Sakis Tolis (Athens, Greece). Tracks 1 & 2 recorded at Woodhouse Studios, Hagen, Germany, September 1998. Produced and engineered by Xy (Samael). Mixed and mastered by Siggi Bemm. Tracks 3–7 recorded live in Poland, “Out of the Dark” Tour, 1996. Vinyl remastered by George Nerantzis (2021).
US rockers Generation Radio have released today their new single and official video, “The Melody”, another taste of the upcoming new studio album, “Take Two”, scheduled for April 24, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.
Generation Radio return with “Take Two”, the eagerly awaited follow-up to their acclaimed debut, delivering another masterclass in AOR/West Coast rock infused with just the right touch of the Nashville sound.
Produced by founding members Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flatts) and Jason Scheff (former Chicago), the band features an all-star lineup: Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Average White Band) joins on drums, replacing the formidable Deen Castronovo (who returned to Journey as full-time member), while Tom Yankton (guitar, vocals) and Chris Rodriguez (guitar, vocals) round out the powerhouse ensemble.
DeMarcus said: “It was so much fun getting to make another record! We’ve been working on this one for a while and we can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve been up to. Once again, we have contributions from all band members. These guys are amazing and it’s a honor to make music with them, I believe this record is our best work yet.”
Jason Scheff added: “Here we go! Take Two, round two. We had such a great reception on our first record we’ve been chomping at the bit to get this one finished and released. I’m extremely proud to show that we have a band that is still at the top of our game”.
“In what other industry can you deliver as kids and be able to go back in and create the quality of what you’ve been recognized for? I truly believe this work stands up to any of the records we’ve ever made creating some of pop and country’s biggest hits. I can’t wait to see how the public reacts to this one!”, he continued.
“Take Two” is rich with pristine harmonies, unforgettable hooks, and timeless songwriting -hallmarks of the genre delivered with class and authenticity. Tracks like the cinematic, harmony-laden “Montana Sky”, the hook-filled “The Melody”, and the emotionally charged ballad “Hate This Heart” showcase the band’s signature blend of melodic precision and heartfelt performance.
Adding depth to the album’s appeal, Generation Radio also offers reimagined versions of timeless classics that shine in their live sets: Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again”, Chicago’s “You’re The Inspiration”, Kenny Loggins’ “I’m Alright”, and a rock version of Rascal Flatts’ classic “These Days”.
With “Take Two”, Generation Radio not only honours the legacy of AOR and West Coast rock -they elevate it, combining elite musicianship and genre-crossing influences into a record that’s as fresh as it is nostalgic.
“Take Two” Tracklist:
1. Montana Sky 2. The Melody 3. These Days 4. Maybe Monday 5. Grass Is Greener 6. Love History 7. Last Night’s Whiskey 8. Here I Go Again 9. You’re The Inspiration 10. I’m Alright 11. For A Soldier 12. Hate This Heart
Line Up: Jay DeMarcus Jason Scheff Chris Rodriguez Tom Yankton Steve Ferrone
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 