Elastic Fono Band is a new group formed by veteran alternative rock musicians from Oulu, Finland. It is built around the original lineup of the band Brüssel Kaupallinen, which was active in the 1990s. A significant difference from Brussel Kaupallinen is the band’s New Zealand–born vocalist, Lance Fono. His English-language interpretation brings new shades to the band’s expression while still maintaining a connection to its past.
The band’s self-titled debut album features heavy, rocking, melodic, and even experimental elements. Bearing the band’s own name, the record stands as one of the most intriguing releases of 2026 for fans of heavy music and alternative rock.
How would YOU face your demons? Eye to eye, by embracing them and unleashing the power within?
Kirke, a genre-bending rock/punk/metal band from Finland, draws strength from aggression and grassroots rebellion. Their sound fuses punk-driven attitude with the intensity of 90’s metal, wrapped in pop-leaning hooks and undeniable catchiness. Armed with lyrics loaded with unpleasant truths, and songs powered by heavy rocking riffs and symphonic and cinematic melodies Kirke is ready to turn up the volume.
And about unleashing those demons? Kirke’s brand new track “Demoni”, does exactly that. It is a wholehearted declaration of “I’ve had enough”, a bold embrace of inner power that challenges the age-old myth that a girl must be quiet and obedient. A message this powerful deserves a soundtrack to match. From its eerie, blues-tinged intro to its explosive riffage and haunting synth layers, “Demoni” delivers. Catchy and brutal, playful and wicked. Your new favorite anthem to headbang to.
–Composed by Sami Boman & Mika Lampinen –Lyrics by Miia Itkonen –Arranged by Sami Boman, Miia Itkonen, Mika Lampinen, Toni Lahtinen, Kari Hietanen, Janne Ojala –Mixed by Sami Niittykoski –Mastered by Miro Kiiski –Single cover by Miia Itkonen –ISRC: FI3FC2698801
The band was founded in 2024 in Central Finland, by acquaintances old and new. Several members of Kirke have performed with the gothic metal band Silentium as well as many other cult extreme metal bands and underground acts.
Line-up: Miia Itkonen – Vocals Janne Ojala – Drums Kari Hietanen – Bass Toni Lahtinen – Guitar Juho Vuorenpää – Guitar Sami Boman – Keyboards
Swedish melodic metal pioneers NARNIA release their new single “Oceanwide” offering the first glimpse of their upcoming tenth studio album, ‘X,’ set for release on May 29, 2026 via Sound Pollution.
“Oceanwide” is a classic NARNIA song in every sense — melodic, uplifting, and instantly memorable. With its strong chorus and unmistakable melodic metal identity, the track has already made its mark live, having been performed since last summer’s Brazil tour with Stryper.
Produced and mixed by CJ Grimmark and mastered by Thomas “Plec” Johansson at Studio Bohus, “Oceanwide” is available now on all major digital platforms.
Vocalist Christian Liljegren comments:
“’Oceanwide’ is one of those songs that really represents the heart of this album. It has the melodies, the energy, and the sense of scale that felt right as the first single to introduce ‘X.’”
NARNIA‘s upcoming album, ‘X,’ marks the bands 30th anniversary and nearly three decades of unwavernig presence on the international metal scene.
While their previous release ‘Ghost Town’ (2023) reaffirmed the band’s melodic metal foundation, ‘X’ expands NARNIA’s sonic landscape. The album moves confidently between soaring, arena-ready choruses and more adventurous, progressive passages, without ever losing the band’s unmistakable identity.
Songs like “Oceanwide,”“Every Breath,” and “Heaven’s Calling” showcase NARNIA’s gift for strong hooks and uplifting melodies. At the other end of the spectrum, the high-energy “Remedy (SOS)” pushes the tempo to new heights, while tracks such as “God Under Fire” and “Jerusalem” explore more intricate arrangements and progressive textures.
Multiple lead vocalists share the spotlight throughout the album. Guitarist CJ Grimmark and bassist Jonatan “Jono” Samuelsson step forward on selected tracks, adding new tonal colors, while Christian Liljegren’s unmistakable voice continues to anchor the sound.
The album also reconnects with the band’s legacy. “The Man from Nazareth Pt. II” serves as a continuation of a fan-favorite from the 2006 album ‘Enter the Gate,’ while “The War that Tore the Land (Reprise)” offers a reflective callback to 2019’s ‘From Darkness to Light.’
Guitarist CJ Grimmark comments:
“This album represents both where we come from and where we’re heading. It’s heavier, broader, and more dynamic, but still unmistakably NARNIA.”
Sweden’s sleaze/metal stalwarts Confess have unveiled today the new single and official video, “The Warriors”, taken from their upcoming fourth studio album “Metalmorphosis”, set for release on May 15, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.
The track features Will Wilde, a force to be reckoned with – a phenomenal harmonica player with a voice to match. His intense harmonica style steals the spotlight from the traditional blues rock guitar, with a sound that owes as much to Gary Moore as it does to Sonny Boy Williamson.
Will won the HRH “Lords Of Blues” award in 2025 and is nominated for “Instrumentalist Of The Year”, “Contemporary Artist Of The Year” and “Album Of The Year” at the UK Blues Awards 2026.
The band commented: “Our new track “The Warriors” is leaning more towards the sound of our first record. It has that dirty street sound, gritty attitude, aggressive guitar work, and fiercely driven vocals. Also, UK blues-rock powerhouse Will Wilde joined us on this one, pulling off a great solo on the harmonica.”
Swedish rockers Confess are finally back with their long awaited fourth record, their most ambitious album to date marking a bold evolution in their sound.
The band described “Metalmorphosis” in the following way: “It’s definitely the ten most well-crafted songs we’ve ever written, both music and lyric wise. It’s fully packed with heavy riffing, big choruses and a whole new level of dynamics. We’ve pushed ourselves harder than ever and it really shows”.
“The album is mixed and mastered by Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse) and he has really taken the band’s sound to a whole new level”, they added.
While staying true to the gritty, hard-hitting energy that has defined the band since their early days in Stockholm, “Metalmorphosis” expands their musical palette with more commercially resonant material, crafting a sound that is both polished and explosively energetic.
Fronted by John Elliot, whose commanding vocals have also been showcased with the legendary Crashdiet, Confess demonstrate a rare balance of raw sleaze-metal grit and melodic sophistication.
On drums, Samuel Samael drives the rhythm with precision and power, while Ludwig Nordlander and Asser Hakala weave dynamic guitar textures that range from shredding riffs to soaring solos. Bassist Lucky anchors the band with a solid low-end punch, rounding out a lineup that is firing on all cylinders.
Since their formation, Confess have earned a reputation for their relentless commitment to the sleaze/metal aesthetic, infusing their work with memorable hooks, arena-ready choruses, and a devil-may-care attitude.
With “Metalmorphosis”, the band take this ethos to a new level, delivering songs that are as catchy as they are ferocious, and as bold as they are accessible. It’s a record that will appeal to longtime fans of the band while opening doors to a wider audience, showcasing Confess at their most confident and inspired yet.
“Metalmorphosis” is not just another entry in the band’s discography – it’s a statement of artistic growth, a powerful celebration of sleaze-metal craftsmanship, and a must-hear for anyone who loves hard-hitting, melodic rock with attitude.
“Metalmorphosis” Tracklist:
1. Colorvision 2. The Warriors 3. Wicked Temptations 4. Metalmorphosis 5. Beat Of My Heart 6. Pursuit Of The Jenny Haniver 7. The Other Side 8. Running To My Death 9. Plague Of Steel 10. Silvermalen
Line Up: John Elliot – Vocals Samuel Samael – Drums Ludwig Nordlander – Guitars Asser Hakala – Guitars Lucky – Bass
The irreverent, shape-shifting space rock project Jesus Cringe returns with “No Man’s Gland,” the third single from the project’s forthcoming album, out today. The release lands just three days after “Unhinged Byproduct,” which dropped on Good Friday: a deliberate, liturgical rhythm that mirrors the album’s central arc, descent, suspension, and the decision to return now willing to face life even through odd times.
Like each of the project’s singles, “No Man’s Gland” is released on a key date in the Christian calendar: Easter Monday. This new chapter embodies the near-death experience and the return to life.
The music video translates this liminal passage — shifting between aerial drone and onboard perspectives, creating a sustained sensation of floating and dissociation. The movement itself becomes the narrative: ascent, out-of-body experience, observation, return. At its center, the character breathes fire before passing through a structure reminiscent of an airport security gate. A body scanner — but an existential one. It doesn’t detect objects. It probes the soul.
No Man’s Gland is a triumphant resurrection, yet depicted as a fragile moment, an initiatory journey into the unknown, where the choice to return is posed. Easter Monday becomes the symbol of an inner renewal: inner glory in a newfound awareness that love is the only possible way forward.
JESUS CRINGE is a Belgian cinematic space-art rock project — reborn from the ashes of 22 for Silicon Alone — built around intense visual worlds and philosophical storytelling. Rooted in pre-rock tradition, the project replaces the conventional guitar/bass duo with violin and baritone saxophone, creating a sonic identity that defies easy categorization. Themes of altered states, identity, and human consciousness in a digitalized world run throughout the work.
After years of meticulous underground development, JESUS CRINGE caught the attention of Epictronic Records, leading to an official signing in early 2023. The debut album unfolds as a vast narrative soundscape — part dystopian fable, part personal confession — drawing from sci-fi cinema and avant-garde rock traditions. Singles including “Only Dark Matters” and “In Every Terms” have showcased the project’s haunting lyricism and sophisticated arrangements, wrapped in visually striking music videos exploring disconnection, memory, and existential tension.
The project has earned international recognition, with features in Metal Shock Finland, Tinnitist, MHF Magazine, Headbangers News, and Prog Rock Journal, alongside airplay on Unsigned Radio UK, WTSQ FM, Nu Rock Radio, Diverse World Music Radio, and Rockers and Other Animals.
More than a band, JESUS CRINGE is a hyperrock experience — standing at the frontier of modern art-rock through immersive visuals, conceptual narratives, and an uncompromising artistic vision.
Kansas City hotshot singer – songwriter SEBASTIAN JAMES releases “Sick of You,” the second single from his upcoming 1992 Ep, which is due this summer. The track can be streamed and downloaded right here. A lyric video for “Sick of You” is here on YouTube.
James teamed up with Puddle of Mudd guitarist and co-founder Jimmy Allen once again (as on the previous single, “Dead Man Walkin'”). Of the track, Sebastian says, “”Sick of You” was a track that Jimmy had music for and the title. Sometimes the titles would just be a placeholder, but in this case I could hear it right away at the end of the chorus where everything comes down and the track breathes for a moment. Great writing by Jimmy as that is exactly what you want. Super obvious placement for a catchy hook.
He continues, “By the second listen through, I had about 90% of the lyrics to support that hook and the theme of the song in general. It’s one of those songs that everyone can relate to. It can be about a girlfriend, your boss at work, but in this particular instance, I was thinking about Jimmy and some of the stories he told me about the early Puddle years, his path as an artist, and the drama that came along with it.”
“Sick of You” was either the last or next to last song Allen had sent in for the project, coming in at the 11th hour. Sebastian recalls his first impression of the song, “I loved the dynamic of the track, with the subtle intro and then the slamming riff that kicks in. I heard the big Layne Staley chorus scream and Jerry harmony right away, and then immediately started to hear the Kurt (Cobain) influence in my vocal delivery as I sang through the verse the first couple times, so just tried to stay true to that initial vibe and roll with it.”
“Sick of You” comes from SEBASTIAN JAMES’ upcoming Ep, 1992, which was tracked at B24 Studios in Kansas City and produced by Barry Pointer and mastered by Dave Donnelly, 1992 features six songs written by Jimmy Allen, Sebastian James, and Kyle Cimino, the project channels the raw spirit of Seattle’s grunge pioneers while showcasing James’s vocal range and songwriting versatility. With its post-grunge edge and reverence for rock’s formative era, 1992 marks another bold chapter in a career defined by authenticity, ambition, and a relentless commitment to the craft.
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
