The Stuttgart-based genre-benders are back and they’re smashing every label you thought could contain them. ‘Idle Season’ sees MAVIS fuse modern metalcore, alternative rock, and glimmering pop finesse into a track that’s as infectious as it is unsettling. Beneath its pulsing grooves and anthemic hooks lies a haunting reflection on time wasted, purpose lost, and a world lulled into submission by distraction.
Idle Season is a rallying cry dressed as a groove. It’s MAVIS stepping further into their own universe: fearless, reflective, and ready to move the masses.
Fresh off two monumental shows and a storm of creativity, the German post-hardcore heavyweights are back and they’re not holding anything back. ‘Violent Spin’ marks a bold new leap toward their fourth studio album, diving headfirst into heavier waters and exploring the raw, unfiltered edges of their sound. Darker. Louder. More honest than ever. The track peels back the curtain on the brutal cycle of a toxic relationship, where fear, dependency, and violence blur into a suffocating spiral. With haunting melodies, crushing breakdowns, and lyrics that cut straight to the bone, ‘Violent Spin’ doesn’t just tell a story, it screams it from the inside out.
“Our Mirage have never sounded this intense, or this real,” the band reveal. “This song is a milestone for us, both musically and emotionally.”
Brace yourself: the storm is just beginning. Stream ‘Violent Spin’ now and witness the evolution.
Catch the band live: 20.02.26 – Stuttgart, Im Wizemann Studio 28.01.26 – Nürnberg, Z-Bau 29.01.26 – A-Wien, Viper Room 30.01.26 – München, Backstage Club 31.01.26 – Frankfurt, Nachtleben 05.02.26 – Hannover, Lux 06.02.26 – Hamburg, Molotow 07.02.26 – Göttingen, Musa 11.02.26 – Leipzig, Conne Island 12.02.26 – Berlin, Badehaus 13.02.26 – Münster, Sputnikhalle 14.02.26 – Bremen, Tower 21.02.26 – Köln, Gebäude 9 14.03.26 – Essen, Zeche Carl
Canadian alt-rock heavyweights The Veer Union unleash their explosive new single ‘Sea of Fear’ Known for their signature blend of hard-hitting riffs and emotional depth, the Vancouver-based alt-metal act continues their legacy with a haunting anthem that dives deep into anxiety, survival, and inner strength.
With over 175 million streams worldwide, 12 Billboard Rock Radio hits, and recent viral success from their Covers Collection and Manifestations albums, the band is proving once again why they’re one of the most enduring forces in modern rock.
‘Sea of Fear’ marks the first taste of their upcoming full-length album Reinvention, slated for release on February 20th, 2026. Following years of chart-topping singles and high-energy tours across North America and Europe, The Veer Union are entering a bold new era, and this single is just the beginning.
Close Enemies, a powerhouse band featuring legendary musicians Tom Hamilton, multiple Grammy winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, and bassist of the biggest-selling American rock band of all time, Aerosmith, is joined by legendary drummer Tony Brock (The Babys and Rod Stewart), touring veterans Peter Stroud (Sheryl Crow and Don Henley) and Trace Foster on guitar, and singer Chasen Hampton, who has been singing professionally since the age of 11, as a member and co-host of the famed 90s Mickey Mouse Club and pop group The Party, have announced that their previously scheduled California tour dates will be moved to January 2026 due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict. The band will release their new single “More Than I Could Ever Need” through TLG|ROCK, distributed through Virgin Music Group August 8, 2025 on all major streaming platforms.
Close Enemies have announced upcoming tour dates under the banner “An Evening with Close Enemies – Live in Concert.” Fans can expect an intimate experience showcasing the band’s undeniable chemistry and a setlist packed with songs from Aerosmith & The Baby’s along with their originals.
Mark Strigl SiriusXM on air host of Ozzy’s Boneyard states:
“Close Enemies is the real deal—a group of insanely talented musicians including bassist/songwriter Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith. Their new tunes are packed with energy & emotion, and they absolutely blew me away live. This is a band that delivers on every level—don’t miss them!”
Dean Baldwin, Host on SiriusXM, FM2.0 & StrykTV states:
“A Power Pop revival is on the horizon—a return to an era when rock music was all about hooks, harmonies, and heart. Close Enemies’ latest single, Inside Out, is the perfect example of what I’m talking about – long live rock!”
Tour Dates:
8/28 @ Iroquois Ampitheater in Louisville, KY w/ Tom Keifer & L.A. Guns 8/29 @ The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL w/ Winger 8/30 @ The Sonnentag in Eau Claire, WI w/ Tom Keifer and L.A. Guns 10/2 @ Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda, NY w/ Tom Keifer 10/4 @ Daryl’s House Club in Pawling, NY 10/8 @ Iridium Club in New York, NY 10/10 @ Six String Grill & Stage in Foxborough, MA 1/2 @ The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA 1/3 @ The Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, CA 1/7 @ Tower Theatre in Fresno, CA 1/9 @ The Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, CA 1/10 @ Goldfield Trading Post in Roseville, CA 1/11 @ The Nile Theater in Bakersfield, CA 1/23 @ Central Park Performing Arts Center in Largo, FL 1/24 @ Culture Room in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Polish progressive metal act BlackLight shatter genre expectations once again with the release of their new live video “Future Belongs To” and “Ghost”—a breathtaking performance where classical ballet collides with modern prog-metal power.
Filmed at the prestigious Ludomir Różycki General Ballet School in Bytom, the performance captures a surreal and spellbinding moment: a ballerina dancing like a ghost in the machine, moving through the atmosphere of BlackLight’s signature soundscape. The band performed live as part of a special graduation show for the school’s 9th-grade students, with over 500 captivated attendees in the audience.
“Future Belongs To” continues BlackLight’s artistic journey—a sonic tapestry woven with the finesse of Opeth, the ambition of Rush, the edge of Tool, and the elegance of Riverside. From Maciej Majewski’s emotive vocals and cinematic keyboards to the intricate interplay between guitars and rhythm section, the band once again proves they’re carving their own path in the progressive metal sphere.
Hailing from Poland, BlackLight is fronted by the multi-talented Maciej Majewski (vocals, guitar, keyboards), with Robert Kurzyński (guitar), Tomasz Szydło (bass), and Stanisław Skowroński (drums) rounding out the lineup. With influences ranging from Dead Can Dance to modern progressive giants, BlackLight fuses emotion, atmosphere, and technical mastery into every release.
Italian instrumental trio TALAQAT continue to unravel the sonic threads of their upcoming debut with the release of their second single, “XIII”, out today.
The track offers another glimpse into the self-titled album “Talaqat”, which will be released on August 8th, 2025.
“XIII” channels tension through intricate rhythms, stark contrasts, and emotive dynamics. True to the band’s vision of storytelling without lyrics, the composition invites listeners into a journey of unease and momentum, further affirming TALAQAT’s genre-defying identity rooted in post-metal, progressive structures and free-form experimentation.
“Talaqat” was born out of a need for total creative freedom—free from genre boundaries, labels, and classifications. The project is a pure expression of each member’s creativity, personal influences, and musical experience. All songwriting is collaborative, and ideas take shape organically during rehearsal sessions, never premeditated or forced. Each track is envisioned as a journey, telling a story without the use of lyrics, inviting the listener to interpret it in their own unique and personal way.
This approach gives the band’s sound a fluid and undefinable character. On first listen, it may defy easy categorization, but repeated plays reveal ever-shifting nuances that draw from post-rock, post-metal, progressive, and new jazz—a fusion of the members’ diverse backgrounds, shaped into a free, personal, and uncompromising musical identity.
“Talaqat” was recorded in the winter of 2024 at KONO Studio (Biella, Italy) and mastered by Harris Newman at Greymarket Mastering in Montreal, Canada.
Tracklist:
01. Pantalassa 02. Iter Circa Solem 03. XIII 04. Carminio 05. Idra 06. Penitenziagite 07. Talaqat
TALAQAT was formed in 2023 by three musicians with diverse backgrounds and a shared desire to push boundaries. Matteo Borzini (drums) and Adriano Fontaneto (guitar) have collaborated for years in several prominent underground acts such as Corey, One Fine Day, Steam, Fog In The Shell, Mathians, Postvorta, Killer Is Me, and The End Of Six Thousand Years. In recent years, Adriano has also explored electronic music, while Matteo continues to play with The End Of Six Thousand Years. Massimo Splendore (bass), who has occasionally worked with the pair in the past, brings a different trajectory—one that began in metal, passed through rock, and eventually touched Italian pop music. The project sets no limits in terms of genre. Instead, it draws inspiration from extreme metal, jazz, progressive, and hardcore, combining these influences into a sound that’s both distinctive and deeply personal.
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
