Metalcore bands Fight From Within and Saving Vice have joined forces for not one, but two singles. Fight From Within’s music is released via TLG|ZOID and distributed by Virgin Music Group. The collaboration sees the bands swap vocal duties, stepping into each other’s worlds with an approach that captures their bond forged on tour.
Mikey, vocalist of Fight From Within, reflects on the project’s natural evolution:
“After touring with Saving Vice, this song was something we gravitated towards. It’s lyrical content and story aligns with ours as well.”
The idea came from Robbie Litchfield (guitarist/producer, Saving Vice), who wanted to bring the live chemistry between the two bands into the studio:
“After touring with Fight From Within in the fall of 2024 and seeing both of our vocalists feature on each other’s sets nearly every night, I had the idea to do a proper vocal swap. It would be a super fun, DIY way to capture the dichotomy of our two bands sounds as well as our friendship and I’m very excited with how it came out.”
Tyler Small, vocalist of Saving Vice, explains how the collaboration became a celebration of friendship and community:
“We did our first return tour with FFW, we really connected over shared experiences and our give-no-fucks approach as much as we enjoyed hanging and getting together. We thought it would be fun to trade spaces and do completely different styles of songs to bring our fans and communities closer together.”
The two singles showcase a unique experiment—each band re-imagining their sound with the other’s vocalist, creating a pair of tracks that blur boundaries, amplify creativity, and deliver the kind of intensity only possible when kindred spirits collide.
About Fight From Within:
Founded in early 2021, Fight From Within has built a name through their crushing blend of metalcore, hardcore, and beatdown, drawing on influences from genre giants like Bury Your Dead, Polaris, Evergreen Terrace, Emmure, Invent/Animate, Every Time I Die, and Attila. They use these different influences to create their own unique aggressive sound.
In 2022, the band entered the studio with Pablo Viveros of Chelsea Grin, working on what would become their debut full-length album, set to drop later this year through TLG|ZOID, distributed through Virgin Music Group. Their momentum continues to grow—having kicked off 2025 with a standout performance at Sonic Temple, marking their fourth major festival appearance in just three years.
About Saving Vice:
Saving Vice are an independent metalcore act from Vermont. Since their inception in 2017, they quickly gained notoriety in the New England metal scene with their unparalleled high-energy live performance and have since branched out on a national level with two full US headliners, multiple festival appearances and support outings with other renowned artists from the scene. Their music and live energy are paradoxically nostalgic as well as refreshing; reminiscent of classic, ‘09 metalcore blended with the contemporary genre trend. Their lyrics highlight real-world topics such as addiction, loss and heartbreak and their compositions are beautiful and melodic, yet unapologetically brutal and dark.
Rock singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sierra Levesque is set to release her highly anticipated debut album NEW GENERATION on September 13, delivering 13 fully original, self-recorded tracks that span from thunderous rock anthems to raw acoustic and piano moments. The album showcases Sierra as a bold new force to be reckoned with, defining her sound and vision for the future of rock.
Sierra says “My debut album NEW GENERATION is made up of 13 fully original, self-recorded tracks that range from heavy rock to acoustic and even piano, showcasing my sound in many different ways and offering something for everyone”.
To celebrate the release, Sierra headlined We Found New Music at Hotel Ziggy (Hollywood) on Wednesday, September 10, giving fans an exclusive first look at the album live.
Renowned for her one-woman shows—singing, shredding guitar, and performing with her own fully self-recorded backing tracks—Sierra delivers an electrifying stage presence that sets her apart. More live dates are on the horizon, along with exclusive limited-edition merch drops tied to the album, to be announced soon.
NEW GENERATION was co-produced, mixed, and mastered with the help of legendary guitarist and producer Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal. From chant-ready anthems like the title track “DON’T MAKE ME REPEAT MYSELF” to vulnerable acoustic cuts like “LIVE A LIE”, the record blends Sierra’s love of classic rock with her modern, Gen Z edge.
“I wanted my debut album to capture every side of me as an artist and songwriter,” says Sierra. “These songs are all self-recorded, showcase many different genre-blending sounds, and I hope they inspire others to believe that rock music isn’t just alive—it’s the future.”
With over 2 million Spotify streams, over 250,000+ social media followers, and performances at iconic venues including Whisky A Go Go and the TD Place Arena, Sierra Levesque is quickly becoming one of the most exciting young names in rock.
Currently studying Songwriting at Berklee College of Music, Sierra is not only mastering her craft, but also inspiring a new generation of music fans through both her sound and story.
Track Listing:
5 DAYS WITH THE DEVIL
NEW GENERATION
LIVE A LIE
WORLDS IN MY HEAD
U ARE MY DRUG
EXODUS
WRONG ABOUT YOU
DON’T MAKE ME REPEAT MYSELF
NOT MY SOCIAL HOUR
THINKING ‘BOUT YOU
LEFT LOOKING GREY
AUTHORITY
PUPPET
Born in Pembroke, Ontario and currently based in Los Angeles, Sierra Levesque is redefining rock for a new generation. Featured in Guitar World Magazine, recognized by Guitar.com as “Gen Z’s Most Ambitious New Guitarist” and featured among “10 Young Shredders Shaping Rock and Metal Today,” she fuses pop, metal, and hard rock into anthems that are as bold as they are relatable. With a large social media following, national media recognition, and her upcoming debut album in the works, Sierra is solidifying her place as one of rock’s most exciting new voices.
Embrace The Abandon is the new project by THE MON, the solo vision of Urlo, vocalist/bassist of the long-running Italian heavy-psychedelic trio Ufomammut, as well as the co-founder of the internationally renowned poster art collective Malleus Rock Art Lab and of the independent label Supernatural Cat.
Where Ufomammut projects massive, otherworldly soundscapes, THE MON offers a more vulnerable and introspective experience. The music moves through shadowy electronic landscapes, ambient textures, and hypnotic dark folk, always guided by an emotional core that searches for meaning, balance, and transformation.
The name THE MON evokes several layers of meaning: a contraction of “demon,” “monk,” and the Japanese word 門 (mon, meaning “gate”), a symbolic passage toward altered states of consciousness and inner truth. This duality of light and dark, sacred and profane, runs through the entire project.
THE MON’s Embrace The Abandon is structured in two complementary chapters – Songs Of Abandon and Songs Of Embrace – the project depicting a journey of duality: loss and surrender on one side, acceptance and rebirth on the other.
The first chapter of this journey, Songs Of Abandon is perhaps the most intimate and vulnerable work Urlo has ever created. Born in a moment of solitude and personal darkness, the album originated from a radical exercise: writing one song a day, for nine consecutive days, using only acoustic guitar and voice. Later, these sketches were shaped into fully realized tracks, with lyrics and subtle layers of sound – not to overwhelm, but to underline the fragile, raw atmosphere that pervades them. The result is a stripped-down, emotionally charged collection that embodies an inner search: the power of music as a tool to face abandonment, to dig into oneself, and ultimately to glimpse the possibility of an embrace.
Songs Of Abandon was written, performed, produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Urlo at The Howl, Italy, between 2023 and 2025, and as with all Supernatural Cat releases, completed with artwork by the Malleus Rock Art Collective.
The first preview of this project arrives through a video for “Your Eyes.” Urlo states with its unveiling, “‘Your Eyes’ closes Songs Of Abandon and was among the very first pieces I wrote for the project. It was 2021 and I set myself the task of writing one song a day for nine days, armed only with my acoustic guitar. Those sketches became the nine acoustic tracks that form Songs Of Abandon. Shaping them into their final form was far from easy. When the mix was finally complete, ‘Your Eyes’ revealed itself as the perfect ending, the closing of a circle. It marked a time when abandonment became a confrontation with myself, a way to re-embrace those eyes through my own gaze. From that darkness, the second part of the album would eventually rise.”
With Embrace The Abandon, THE MON reaffirms itself as one of the most personal and uncompromising projects. It is a body of work that fuses vulnerability and strength, speaking directly to the listener with sincerity, leading them through shadow towards light. An intimate yet powerful sound experience, intertwining the minimalism of acoustic folk with the dark, visionary tension that has always defined Urlo’s artistic path.
The second chapter, Songs Of Embrace, is an instrumental counterpart – darker, ambient, and ritualistic – and it will be unveiled in the Spring of 2026.
Songs Of Abandon will be released digitally, on CD, and on vinyl – with both a standard LP pressing and a limited pressing of 100 copies – on November 7th. Those who preorder the limited edition of Songs Of Abandon will have early access to an advance preorder of Songs Of Embrace as well. Find preorders at the Supernatural Cat webshop HERE and in the USA at “A Thousand Arms” HERE.
With blazing precision and fearless ambition, Danish Power Thrash outfit EXELERATE release today their sophomore full-length, “Hell for the Helpless”. Following the success of their 2023 self-titled debut and a relentless tour schedule across Denmark and Europe, the Copenhagen-based quartet now present their most mature and musically ambitious work to date – a concept album delving deep into the shadows of the human psyche.
Forging a powerful hybrid of fast-paced thrash and melodic, anthemic power metal, “Hell for the Helpless” delivers ten explosive tracks packed with soaring high-pitched vocals, whirlwind guitar solos, pounding drums, and sharp, propulsive bass lines. Whether it’s furious pit-inducing energy or triumphant sing-along moments, Exelerate continue to show they are masters of both the stage and the studio.
“The biggest challenge was writing a worthy successor to an album we had played live so many times”, frontman Stefan Jensen says. “But all that experience gave us clarity. We learned what to lean into, and what our audience really responds to”.
“Hell for the Helpless” is a concept album exploring various damaging and unhealthy mental states, from anxiety and depression to nihilism and obsessive fear. “We live in a time where mental health is a growing issue”, declares guitarist Mads Sørensen. “This album is our way of shining a light on the struggle, the chaos, and also the potential for healing and understanding”. The songs are more ambitious and atmospheric than ever before, with sweeping arrangements and bold lyrical storytelling to match the emotional weight of the themes.
Recorded and produced by the band themselves, with producer Io Klarstrup leading the sessions, “Hell for the Helpless” captures the raw passion and precision of a band firing on all cylinders. Final mixing and mastering were once again handled by Marco Angioni (Tygers Of Pan Tang, Steel Inferno, Meridian), who brings massive sonic weight and clarity to the record’s rich, dynamic sound.
Visually, the album continues Exelerate’s collaboration with airbrush artist Steen Jensen, who delivers a trippy, vivid cover artwork inspired by the inner workings of the troubled mind. It’s a perfect visual complement to the album’s introspective concept – where darkness can easily take root if left unchecked.
“Hell for the Helpless” is out now on LP (purple vinyl limited to 150 copies), CD and digital, via From The Vaults.
Alternative rock collective KING ULTRAMEGA, featuring members of ALICE IN CHAINS, ANTHRAX, MASTODON, and SOUNDGARDEN, have returned with a haunting instrumental rendition of the AUDIOSLAVE classic, “Be Yourself”. This new single release once again aims to celebrate Chris Cornell’s musical genius while raising funds and awareness for MusiCares. MusiCares is the Recording Academy’s nonprofit that provides mental health, addiction recovery, and emergency services to those in the music community.
“Be Yourself” features legendary guitarist Joe Satriani on lead guitar, echoing vocalist Chris Cornell’s melodic motifs and building on the song’s phrasings. Though following in Cornell’s footsteps on a different instrument sounds like a tall order, Satriani rose to the challenge, proud to show his love for a fallen hero. Expertly replicating the essence of the song with crystal-clear lead tones, tasteful vibrato, and subtle pedal effects, Satriani lets his guitar sing with all the passion and tenderness that the song’s lyrics originally conveyed. This loving instrumental homage proves that the message and power behind AUDIOSLAVE’s composition transcends words.
Satriani comments, “[Chris Cornell] was a brilliant vocalist and communicator. He often used his voice like an instrument, shaping the tone of his voice like a guitarist would finesse riffs and phrases. I took a deep dive into his magical sensibilities and came up with a multi-tracked guitar production approach that I felt would pay proper homage to his brilliance.”
The concept for an instrumental rendition of “Be Yourself” originated with the bassist, producer, and mastermind of KING ULTRAMEGA, Mark Menghi. As a producer, he envisioned a version of the song that deftly balanced the art of paying respect to the original, while also reimagining the song with a unique musical voice from Satriani. As a bassist, Menghi strove to keep the bass parts nearly identical to the original song, allowing Satriani the freedom to lend his own voice to the music. Renowned drummer Kenny Aronoff, who has been named one of the greatest drummers of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, and has toured and recorded with a who’s who of legendary artists such as THE ROLLING STONES, THE SMASHING PUMPKINS, PAUL MCCARTNEY, JOHN FOGERTY and many more, provides the laid-back, but emotionally-resonant groove of “Be Yourself”, laying the foundation with Menghi for Satriani’s melodies to shine.
Menghi comments, “I remember like it was yesterday, I was on a run through some crazy trail, just zoning out and the original song came on through my headphones… as I was running, I remember hearing Chris sing ‘to be yourself is all that you can do’ it was like he was talking to me… then thought to myself ‘I can totally hear this as an instrumental a-la Satch style’… My hope is that whomever is listening to this song hears Chris over Joe’s guitar and understands that we are paying homage to Chris with our take on this tune.”
Aronoff comments, “I listened to ‘Be Yourself’ over and over again, absorbing the lyrics and the feel and vibe of this song, then I recorded my drums. Their recording had an emotional impact on me and that had a big effect on my performance.”
Lineup for “Be Yourself”: Joe Satriani – Guitar Mark Menghi – Bass Kenny Aronoff – Drums
KING ULTRAMEGA is a passion-driven musical project honoring the life, voice, and genius of Chris Cornell, one of the most gifted artists of our time. It launches in conjunction with SOUNDGARDEN’s long-overdue induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
This project did not begin with a single, dramatic moment. Instead, it grew quietly and gradually, an organic result of years of conversations, inspiration, and deep reverence for a musician whose impact remains immeasurable.
“There is not a singular moment in time that led to this project,” says bassist and producer Mark Menghi, the driving force behind KING ULTRAMEGA. “It was a trail of events that led to the formation of KING ULTRAMEGA and the evolving creation to pay tribute to the voice of a generation.”
It started in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, when Menghi recorded a version of “Rusty Cage” with friends. What began as a creative release soon became something larger. With every step forward, the project deepened in meaning and purpose. “I kept crossing the mental roadblock of ‘you are entering uncharted waters, are you sure you wanna do this?'” Menghi reflects. “Chris is one of those dudes if you cover, you better do it justice.”
The decision to continue became clear when SOUNDGARDEN guitarist Kim Thayil joined the project and re-recorded one of his own iconic tracks. “Once Kim got involved and re-recorded one of his own songs, I knew something was brewing,” Menghi says.
Thayil embraced the project wholeheartedly. “I’m super honored to record alongside all the amazing musicians appearing on the KING ULTRAMEGA project,” he says. “I’m equally proud that it celebrates SOUNDGARDEN in this tribute to the songwriting of Chris. Ultra-admirably, everyone’s participation is supporting the work of the MusiCares Foundation. Thank you Mark Menghi, Charlie Benante and Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM).”
For Menghi, this project is as personal as it is musical. “I went through some very difficult times in my life. I should not be here right now, but I am,” he shares. “I like to think my past trials and tribulations helped me understand Chris just a little, hence the formation of KING ULTRAMEGA.”
Song selection was guided by instinct. “My mood. It’s really that simple,” Menghi explains. “‘Rusty Cage’ was recorded simply because it’s one of my favorite songs featured on one of my favorite records.” Other songs came to Menghi during moments of reflection and inspiration. “There is a bunch more in the can right now, all with drums fully recorded, which are currently being worked out for future releases.”
The goal was never to reinvent Cornell’s work. It was about honoring it with the respect it deserves. “It really is only about honoring the legacy of Chris Cornell. Nothing more,” Menghi says. Each musician brought their own voice, but always in service to the song and to Cornell’s memory.
“Each musician has their own individual musical stamp,” Menghi explains. “You hear the absolute best of each one of them. You are talking about musicians who helped invent and shape musical genres and helped define their generations in popular culture, not just music, but society as a whole.”
The cast of collaborators is remarkable. Kim Thayil, Charlie Benante, Joe Satriani, William DuVall, Bill Kelliher, Alissa White-Gluz, Kenny Aronoff, Menghi himself, among many others. The mix of past friendships and new connections created a unique bond among them. “I think back and go ‘did I really ask Joe Satriani to do an instrumental reinterpretation of one of the greatest modern vocal songs ever recorded?’ or ‘what the fuck was I thinking asking the great Kim Thayil to re-record one of his own classic Soundgarden songs?'”Menghi laughs. Yet, no egos entered the room. “Each participating musician saw the vision and understood that this is about honoring the legacy of not only an inspiring musician, but an amazing husband, father and man.”
For Menghi, Cornell’s music has always been a constant presence. “Chris Cornell has been one of only a very small handful of musical constants in my life,” he says. “I never waivered, not once.”
Certain moments in the process were surreal. Recording with Thayil was one of them. “I remember thinking back saying to myself ‘holy fuck, I’m on a SOUNDGARDEN song with Kim Thayil. What planet are we on?'”
Throughout it all, Menghi served as the project’s creative director, always guided by one central question. “How would Chris like this?” Every choice, from guest musicians to mixes to artwork, was measured against that standard. “If there is even a shred of uncertainty at any point in the process, back to the drawing board we go.”
The recordings were completed remotely over several years. The final tracks were mixed with care to ensure a cohesive sound that still captured the raw emotion of the performances.
Hope is the underlying theme that runs through KING ULTRAMEGA. It is an offering to longtime fans and an invitation for younger listeners to discover the timeless brilliance of Cornell’s work. “KU is just a blip in the Chris Cornell universe,” Menghi says. “We are a subtle reminder that Chris was a true musical genius.”
For Menghi and his collaborators, KING ULTRAMEGA is both a deeply personal labor of love and one of the greatest honors of their musical lives. “To be here thirty-plus years later paying tribute to whom I believe was the king of those times is one of the greatest musical honors of my life.”
The word is already out about former Autograph frontman Steve Plunkett’s new album Turn Up The Radio 2025, a dramatic reinvention of his band’s epochal 1985 debut Sign In Please.
“Turn Up The Radio 2025,” the album’s first video, has already topped five figures in YouTube views; and “Friday” is certain to make just as splendid a splash.
Steve himself describes “Friday” as “One of my favorite songs on Sign in Please. It was always a great live song . I love the upbeat chorus and guitar riff, too.” In fact, he reveals, “The opening guitar riff came first and everything else just fell into place. We demoed this one twice before recording it on Sign in Please and it was one of our main songs.”
The song itself was composed almost two years before it made it onto record.
“I wrote this in 1983, the year we formed the band – back when everybody went out to clubs every night. I used to go to the Starwood and the Whisky (in Hollywood) all the time. On Fridays and Saturdays, Sunset Blvd would be packed with rock & rollers dressed up ‘in their Sunday best.’ All the Valley kids came to Hollywood and everyone was trying to look cool and impress. That was the scene that inspired me to write the song – I lived it!
Formed in Los Angeles in 1983, where they were discovered by famed producer Andy Johns, Autograph initially came to notice as they toured with Van Halen – in fact, the band only settled on a name on their way to Florida for the first show of the tour!
Their debut album, the epic Sign In Please, followed later in the year – a slow starter to begin with but, once it entered the Billboard chart in June 1985, it sometimes felt as though it would never leave.
“1985 was a great year for me,” reflects Plunkett today. “Autograph released their first album and it was a hit! We toured constantly and lived the Rock’n’ Roll dream. That album made an impact at rock radio and with the fans.
“Now, for the 40th anniversary, I wanted to Sign in Again with all new recordings and a 2025 sonic take. Not Autograph – because I could never improve on that record, but a Steve Plunkett ‘solo’ version focused on the songs. I hope these new versions will make you rock again like we did back in the day. Turn it up!”
All ten of the original album’s tracks are here, beginning – of course! – with that unforgettable opening triptych of “Send Her To Me” (the band’s second single, in early 1985), “Turn Up The Radio” and “Nineteen and Non Stop.”
Plunkett has tinkered a little with the running order – “Cloud 10” shifts from the first half of the album to the middle of the second, and “In The Night” replaces “All I’m Gonna Take” as the closing number.
But fresh arrangements and electrifying performances more than compensate for any unfamiliarity, Plunkett’s post-Autograph success scoring movies and TV invoking startling new dimensions and directions to the music.
Turn Up The Radio 2025 will be released on September 26. It’s time to Turn Up The Music again!
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
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