Vision Divine will release the new EP “A Clockwork Reverie” on May 22 through Scarlet Records.
After the comeback of acclaimed frontman Michele Luppi and keyboard wizard Oleg Smirnoff, this new Vision Divine release marks a return to the iconic sound that made the band a reference point in the progressive and power metal scene, while embracing the modern edge and production of their most recent works.
A powerful blend of melody, technique, and emotion, “A Clockwork Reverie” captures the essence of Vision Divine’s classic identity re-imagined with renewed energy and contemporary attitude.
It’s not just a tribute to their legacy – it’s a bold reaffirmation of who they are today!
artowrk by Augusto Silva
First release following the reunion with Michele Luppi (former Whitesnake backing vocalist and keyboardist) and keyboardist Oleg Smirnoff;
produced by Olaf Thorsen & Michele Luppi; mixed by Simone Mularoni & Michele Luppi at Domination Studio (Wind Rose, Twilight Force, Michael Romeo); mastered by Michele Luppi at MiLu’s RockLab II;
cover & artwork by Augusto Silva;
Vision Divine is officially part of the Dragon Productions booking roster;
Vision Divine will headline the Warriors Of Steel Festival 2026 (Norway);
“A Clockwork Reverie” will be released in the following formats: mini-CD. vinyl LP: 350 transparent blue; 150 transparent (mailorder exclusive), digital
“A Clockwork Reverie” tracklist:
1 Sator Rotas 2 A Clockwork Reverie 3 18 (It Feels Like Heaven) 4 Andromeda 5 Identities (2026 version) 6 God Is Dead (2026 version) 7 The 25th Hour (2026 version)
Total running time – 34:02
Vision Divine are: Michele Luppi – vocals Olaf Thorsen – guitar Oleg Smirnoff – keyboards Andrea ʻTowerʼ Torricini – bass Matt Peruzzi – drums
Today, Nashville’s own CODY PARKS AND THE DIRTY SOUTH are proud to announce they have officially signed to Frontiers Label Group via BLKIIBLK. To celebrate the announcement, the band shares their new single “Snake Shaker,” putting their brand of Country Metal on full display.
About the signing, Cody Parks shares:
“I’m beyond excited and blessed to be a part of the BLKIIBLK/Frontiers family. The opportunity to work with industry veterans Jeff Stevenson, Tom Lipsky, and Bob Chiappardi was a no-brainer. Having a team that is aligned with my vision for Country Metal makes this the perfect home for my music, and I can’t wait for the world to hear what we have cookin.”
On the new single, he continues:
“‘Snake Shaker’ is a textbook example of our brand. When I started making Country Metal years ago, I wanted to make heavy metal music and tell stories about some of the more unheard-of, potentially unnerving things people might encounter in the South. ‘Snake Shaker’ is exactly that.”
CODY PARKS AND THE DIRTY SOUTH are redefining what a Nashville band can sound like. Led by singer and songwriter Cody Parks, the group fuses the culture of Southern country with the power and attitude of classic heavy metal—creating a sound they proudly call Country Metal.
What started as a vision for Parks became a full-force band in 2019 when he assembled a group of players who shared the same love for big riffs, high energy, and an unapologetic rock attitude. Drawing inspiration from both country storytelling and hard-hitting metal acts like Metallica, Ratt, and Pantera, CODY PARKS AND THE DIRTY SOUTH deliver music built on crushing guitars, driving rhythms, and hooks that hit just as hard as the breakdowns.
The band’s genre-bending mashup “Thunder Cash ’69,” from their 2023 covers EP ‘Smothered & Covered,’ exploded online and across streaming platforms. The track went on to top the iTunes Rock chart in three countries and reach #3 on Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales chart, introducing a wide audience to the band’s unique blend of country authenticity and metal intensity.
That momentum recently led to the band signing a new record deal with BLKIIBLK / Frontiers Music, setting the stage for the next chapter of Country Metal.
With releases like ‘Country Metal, Vol. 1’ and a reputation for turning every show into a full-throttle party, CODY PARKS AND THE DIRTY SOUTH are proving that country and metal belong on the same stage.
Starting March 18th in Cedar Rapids, IA, CODY PARKS AND THE DIRTY SOUTH will bring their high-voltage live show to audiences across the country as direct support for Steel Panther on the Twenty Twenty $ex Tour. For a full list of dates, please see below.
CODY PARKS AND THE DIRTY SOUTH Live:
Twenty Twenty $ex Tour w/ Steel Panther
March 18th – West Cedar Rapids, IA @ Club 5 March 20th – Fargo, ND @ Sanctuary Events Center March 21st – Ringle, WI @ The Q & Z Expo Center March 22nd – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater March 24th – Bloomington, IL @ The Castle Theatre March 26th – Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room at Old National Centre March 27th – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave / Eagles Club March 28th – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection March 30th – Hobart, IN @ The Hobart Art Theater April 2nd – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz April 3rd North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues Myrtle Beach April 4th – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring April 5th – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa April 7th – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville April 8th – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre April 10th – Austin, TX @ Emo’s Austin April 11th – San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre April 12 – Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s Backroom April 14th – Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge April 15th – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall April 17th – Columbus, OH @ The Bluestone Apr. 18, 2026 – East Moline, IL @ The Rust Belt April 19th – Des Plaines, IL @ The Des Plaines Theatre April 21st – Bowling Green, OH @ Clazel Entertainment April 22nd – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall April 24th – Richmond, VA @ The National April 25th – Albany, NY @ Empire Live April 26th – Mckees Rocks, PA @ Roxian Theatre Presented by Citizens April 28th – Foxborough, MA @ Six String Grill & Stage April 30th – Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre May 1st – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
CODY PARKS AND THE DIRTY SOUTH Lineup: Cody Parks – Vocals Johnny Palmieri – Guitar Alex Walls – Guitar Clay Eubank – Bass Jon Hopkins – Drums
Danish progressive power metal veterans MANTICORA have officially completed the songwriting process for their next studio album, which will be released via Mighty Music in March 2027. The band will enter the studio over the coming months to begin recording the highly-anticipated follow-up to their 2024 album “Mycelium”, marking the next chapter in the group’s long-running career.
Reflecting on the new material, vocalist Lars F. Larsen comments: “After a great response to the last album “Mycelium” and tours and festivals around the world, we’ve been writing up another dystopian concept and gone beyond, to stretch the boundaries and parameters for what is possible in the Manticora-camp. With a new drummer, able to do 360 bpm on the drums, the borders are expanding for the musical playground and, trust us, when we guarantee you that those borders have been pushed to the max! Prog, thrash, power, melodies, death, black, symphonies and whatever you can name… It’s all in there, in the wrapping of the Manticora trademark sound! We’re looking forward for YOU to hear this..”
Following the critical acclaim and worldwide touring cycle behind “Mycelium”, Manticora now set their sights on pushing their sound even further. The upcoming album will once again explore a dystopian conceptual storyline while expanding the band’s musical palette, blending their signature progressive power metal with elements of thrash, extreme metal and orchestral arrangements.
Formed in 1997 by vocalist Lars F. Larsen, guitarist Kristian Larsen and drummer Mads Volf, Manticora quickly established themselves as one of the most distinctive names in European progressive power metal. Their debut album “Roots Of Eternity” arrived in 1999 to strong international acclaim, laying the groundwork for a career that has since produced nine studio albums.
Over the years, the Danish outfit – completed by long-time members Kasper Gram (bass) and Stefan Johansson (guitars) – has performed extensively across the world and appeared at major festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Sweden Rock Festival and Copenhell.
Their most recent album “Mycelium”, released via Mighty Music, showcased a darker and more aggressive direction while maintaining the band’s trademark blend of epic melodies, technical precision and conceptual storytelling.
More details about the upcoming album, including recording updates and release information, will be revealed in the coming months.
UK-based singer, songwriter and performer Adam Boyd returns with his compelling second solo single, “Going Down,” released on 6 March alongside an evocative official music video now available on YouTube and all major streaming platforms.
Known for his emotive vocal delivery and cinematic alternative sound, Boyd first made his mark as the frontman of the South African rock band Wake to Wonder, where he achieved multiple number one chart positions and saw the band’s music videos featured on MTV. Now based in the UK, Boyd is carving out a powerful new identity as a solo artist, blending introspective songwriting with striking visual storytelling.
“Going Down” marks a darker and more immersive step in Boyd’s evolving solo sound. The track dives into themes of uncertainty, faith, ambition and internal struggle, delivering a haunting and atmospheric listening experience.
The inspiration behind the song comes from a deeply personal place. Boyd explains, “‘Going Down’ was written during a difficult period in my life after losing my mom and watching my dad struggle with that loss. It was a time where a lot of things in my life felt uncertain, and the song became a way of processing those emotions and questions.”
At its core, the song grapples with the fragile balance between resilience and collapse. “The song explores the feeling of not knowing whether you are holding things together or quietly slipping under the surface,” Boyd says. “It touches on themes of doubt, faith, ambition and self-reflection. At its heart is the question: am I going down, or have I already gone down without realizing it?”
The track’s sonic identity grew from a minimalist starting point. “The writing started with a single piano note that repeats through the song,” Boyd explains. “From that ‘ping,’ I began building the deeper chords around it and the atmosphere of the track slowly developed. I wrote the verses first, and the chorus came very naturally after that. The bridge was born out of deeper and darker questions, particularly wrestling with faith and the struggles that come during difficult periods of life.”
After completing the song, Boyd collaborated with producer and engineer Dave Law to bring the track to life. “I recorded the song independently and Dave handled the mixing and mastering,” Boyd says. “He immediately connected with the track and became a great soundboard during the process, adding a few key production touches that helped polish the track and bring it fully to life.”
The release follows Boyd’s debut solo single “What You Really Needed,” which introduced audiences to his emotionally driven songwriting and cinematic visual style. With “Going Down,” Boyd pushes that vision further, delivering a darker, more atmospheric piece that highlights his growing artistic depth.
With its haunting soundscape and introspective narrative, “Going Down” signals an exciting next chapter for Adam Boyd as he continues to build a distinctive solo voice that merges raw emotion with immersive sonic and visual storytelling.
Tech-death guitarist and composer Matt Miller is gearing up to ignite stages across the USA this April with the launch of his 3 Shredders Tour, a high-octane, guitar-driven showcase featuring fellow shred titan Rene Benton and progressive Latin metal force Manuel Urgiles. Inspired by the spirit of legendary guitar tours like G3, this run brings together three elite players for a night of precision, speed, and boundary-pushing musicianship.
Representing the project MANUEL, Urgiles delivers a ferocious fusion of intricate metal riffing, percussive Latin rhythms, and emotionally charged instrumental storytelling. Born and raised in Los Angeles to a Peruvian family and now based in Maine, he blends cultural roots with modern technical mastery, creating a sound that is as powerful as it is purposeful. His performances are equal parts virtuosity and vision—lightning-fast runs, soaring melodic phrasing, and groove-driven intensity that proves instrumental music can speak just as loudly as lyrics.
Together, Miller, Benton, and Urgiles form a triple-threat lineup of technical command, creative fire, and unrelenting stage energy—three distinct voices united by one mission: to push the limits of the guitar and leave audiences leveled. For fans of technical mastery, explosive live energy, and next-level musicianship, this is a must-see performance.
The 3 Shredders Tour: 2026 Dates
Fans of technical mastery and explosive live energy can catch the tour at the following stops:
4/10 — Dallas, TX Reno’s Chop Shop Live 4/11 — Memphis, TN Hi-Tone Café 4/12 — Kansas City, MO SK8 Bar 4/13 — Chicago, IL Reggie’s Music Joint 4/15 — Minneapolis, MN Driftwood Charbar 4/16 — Sheboygan, WI Boheme 4/17 — Iowa City, IA Alley Cat 4/18 — Lincoln, NE Gray’s Keg 4/19 — Amarillo, TX Rockwell Event Center
MANUEL is: Manuel Urgiles – Lead/Rhythm Guitar Jason Ingalls – Drums Thomas Hiscock – Bass Guitar Ryan Cummings – Rhythm Guitar DJKTF – Keys/Percussion
Finnish Post-punk trio Sonic Punter has released the double single “Vanishing Act / Bronze Lining.” The songs continue the band’s uncompromising line — dark-toned, defiant and raw-energy rebellious rock.
In Sonic Punter’s hands, traditional post-punk takes on an uncompromising and tighly controlled, almost violent form. For that reason, the word hardcore can easily be attached to the band’s musical genre.
Alongside the single release, a sweaty and intensely energetic live video for “Vanishing Act”, directed by Samuel Meren and Mikko Pihkoluoma, was also released. The video is a document of the band where it thrives the most: on stage.
The single’s cover artwork was created by the band’s trusted graphic designer Ville-Veikko Viikilä, who sensitively captures what the band’s music might look like in visual form.
Sonic Punter celebrates the release of the new single on March 21 at the Satujuhlat Festival in Turku and March 27 at Semifinal in Helsinki, after which the band will continue touring throughout the autumn.
The band is also preparing the release of its second album, scheduled for early 2027. Sonic Punter’s debut album Twin Stranger was released in 2024.
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 ) 