Italian melodic metal veterans FELINE MELINDA are proud to announce the release of their brand-new EP Duets II, arriving on October 2, 2026 via Diotima Records.
Serving as the follow-up to the highly acclaimed Duets EP released in 2019, Duets II once again teams the band up with singer Doris Albenberger, whose distinctive pop-rock voice brings a fresh emotional dimension to some of the band’s most beloved songs.
Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, FELINE MELINDA embrace both tradition and renewal. Alongside a refreshed visual identity and an updated band logo, Duets II showcases the group’s enduring passion for melodic songwriting while reaffirming their commitment to evolving without losing the sound that has defined their career for four decades.
The EP features five carefully selected songs spanning different eras of the band’s catalogue. Two tracks have been re-recorded as brand-new duet versions revisited with new vocal arrangements, two fan favourites from the Seven era have been added, as well as one song released in 2025 a single, creating a balanced journey through heartfelt ballads, melodic anthems and powerful hard rock.
Strong melodies, memorable choruses and expressive guitar work remain at the heart of FELINE MELINDA‘s music. Guitarists HeadMatt and Francesco Pinter enrich the songs with tasteful solos and melodic textures, while the vocal chemistry between Rob Irbiz and Doris Albenberger adds warmth, depth and new perspectives to every performance. The EP draws inspiration from themes of love, hope, personal growth and emotional resilience, offering listeners a collection that is both intimate and uplifting.
Duets II will be released digitally worldwide through Diotima Records, while a limited CD digipak edition will be available directly from the band for collectors and longtime supporters.
The EP was recorded, edited, mixed and mastered by Marco Ober and Sascha Paeth, while the atmospheric cover artwork was created by Rhett Podersoo.
Tracklist
More Than Ever
Seventh Heaven
Morning Dew
Seven Sins Seven Lies
Before The Dawn
For nearly four decades, FELINE MELINDA have represented one of Italy’s longest-running melodic metal acts. Formed in South Tyrol in 1986, the band has consistently blended melodic hard rock, power metal, AOR and emotional ballads into a distinctive sound that has earned them a loyal following. With Duets II, FELINE MELINDA celebrate their legacy while proving that inspiration, passion and musical chemistry continue to drive the band forward.
Swiss spheric rock trio BIRDLORD unveil “Where Do You Lead”, the third and final single taken from their forthcoming debut album, Dreams Lie In The Eagle’s Eye, due for release on September 25th, 2026 via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records on deluxe limited colored vinyl and digital.
Stream “Where Do You Lead” on all platforms.
Following the release of “Plumas Y Espadas Para Luchar” and “En Dónde Me Perdí”, the new single further showcases BIRDLORD’s evolving artistic identity, blending progressive songwriting, psychedelic atmospheres and emotionally driven performances into a sound that is both immersive and unpredictable. “Where Do You Lead” explores the fragile space between uncertainty and determination, offering another compelling preview of a debut album shaped by dynamic contrasts, layered arrangements and cinematic intensity.
Recorded at KVV Tonstudio Niedergösgenin Switzerland with producers Jelmer Schippers and Jona Mareque, the album captures the chemistry of the trio through a hybrid recording approach, combining live performances with carefully crafted overdubs to preserve both spontaneity and sonic depth. The final mastering was handled by Jaime Gomez-Arellano at Orgone Studios, giving the record its expansive and powerful sound.
The band says:
“Dreams Lie In The Eagle’s Eye revolves around a simple yet demanding question: How do we remain connected to nature, to each other and to ourselves in a world that feels fractured and overwhelming? Across its eight tracks, the record moves through disconnection, inner conflict and despair, yet refuses to surrender to them. Instead, it searches for clarity beneath the noise of the present and insists on hope not as naïve optimism, but as an act of resistance. The eagle, a creature born to fly yet choosing the harder road, becomes a quiet metaphor for this decision. Freedom is not defined by what we are expected to be, but by what we consciously choose to become. The closing piece, ‘We Hope We Heal’, suggests that healing is not an arrival but a process, one that begins with embracing our own incompleteness.It also carries a quiet hope that we, as humanity, will learn to live more gently with the world around us. The suffering caused by the exploitation of other living beings is impossible to ignore (it really hurts). Perhaps healing begins when we remember that we are not separate from nature, but part of it. At its core, the album carries a conviction: the most transformative force we possess is (self-)love. Not as softness, but as courage.”Dreams Lie In The Eagle’s Eye:
Side A
The Birds Don’t Sing (They Screech In Pain)
Plumas Y Espadas Para Luchar
En Donde Me Perdí
Where Do You Lead
Side B 5. Rebuild What Was Lost 6. Drunken Dream 7. Carry On What’s Left Of Me 8. We Hope We Heal
Dreams Lie In The Eagle’s Eye will be released on September 25th, 2026 via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records on deluxe limited colored vinyl and digital formats.
Finnish chart-topping modern metal outfit BLIND CHANNEL are back.
After 1.5 years of deliberate silence, the 5-piece outfit returns with a grown attitude and hunger for a new musical chapter. Inspired, motivated, and eager to take fans and new listeners on a both intensely personal and universally relevant journey, BLIND CHANNEL proudly present their most mature, honest, and ambitious album to date: ‘Painstream.’
‘Painstream’ is BLIND CHANNEL’s 6th studio album, which will be out via Century Media on October 30th. The 12 new powerful tracks lead through the pain of growth, sharp self-reflection, and explosive energy.
As a taste of what’s to expect from ‘Painstream,’ BLIND CHANNEL reveals an official music video containing the first new musical pieces, “Diana” / “No Encores In A Swan Song,” since their last album ‘Exit Emotions,’ which was released on March 1st, 2024. In addition to the first two singles, the band has also revealed single releases for September 3rd and October 1st. Stay tuned!
On ‘Painstream,’ the band comments:
“In a world filled with uncertainty, conflict and division, pain is one thing all humans share. Rather than separating us, ‘Painstream’ explores the idea that pain can unite us, reminding us of our common humanity. We examine pain from personal, societal and existential perspectives, while also uncovering something unexpected: hope.”
‘Painstream’ will be available in the following formats: => Ltd. CD Digipak => Ltd. CD Digipak – The 500 Frames Edition (limited edition with 1 of 500 unique Polaroids, shot by the band) => Standard CD Jewelcase (US & Japanese versions) => Black LP => Ltd. Transp. Coke Bottle Green LP => Ltd. Black-White Marbled LP (Exclusively available at blindchannelofficial.com) => Digital Album
Fans in both Europe and Japan will get the chance to soon experience the Finnish full force live: The band has teased a debut show in Helsinki Ice Hall on November 14th (tickets will be available on August 11th) and will play two live shows in Japan (tickets will be available shortly).
In addition, BLIND CHANNEL will embark on an extensive ‘Painstream’ European headlining tour in early 2027. Tickets will be available on September 3rd, for a full list of dates, please see below.
BLIND CHANNEL Live:
11/14 – Helsinki, Finland 11/18 – Tokyo, Japan 11/19 – Osaka, Japan
THE EXILES have released the music video for the track ‘Soul Woman’ from their album ‘Turning Time”, available now on Bad Reputation Records. You can watch the video below.
“This is a song I had completely forgotten about and ‘rediscovered’ on the master tapes when they were kindly sent to me by Tom Whalley. Hearing it again after 20 years, I immediately felt it was a great track and was determined to take it from the demo it was—just scratch guitar, vocal, drums, and bass—and turn it into a fully produced song.
The opening always reminded me of ‘Black Dog’ by Led Zeppelin, so I really wanted to build on that feel by adding more guitar layers and Hammond to do it justice. I ended up adding around three additional guitar tracks, including slide and a more ‘jangly’ 335 part for the Jimmy Page-style breakdown before the slide solo kicks in.
I actually like the looseness—very Zeppelin—of the breakdown and middle section, as it plays nicely against the bigger, more traditional chorus. I also added backing vocals, and Jeff’s Hammond playing really brings the whole track together and finishes it off perfectly.“
The digital album will be available on August 7th on all digital platforms. It can be pre-ordered now on Bandcamp a https://theexilesuk.bandcamp.com/
‘Turning Time’ track list:
Turning Time
Rainmaker
Soul Woman
Tearing Up A Storm
Ain’t No Fool
Travelling Blues
Friend
Feminine Side
Richmond Castle Walk
Woman Let It Shine
Mission Bell
Soul Has No Home
I’m The One
High Old Times
Carry You Home
Tracks 1, 4 Vocal – Paul Rafferty All Guitars – Sean Manning Harmonica – Sean Manning Bass – Frank Linx Drums – Myron Grombacher Keys – Jeff Jacobs
Tracks 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Vocal – Paul Rafferty All Guitars – Sean Manning Bass – Paul Andrew Stanley Drums – Terry Mascall Keys – Jeff Jacobs Drums – Alex Gerst (“Ain’t No Fool”) Harmonica – John Peyton (“T. Blues”)
Tracks 14, 15 Vocal – Paul Rafferty All Guitars & Bass – Sean Manning Drums – Dave Salinas Keys – Richard Baker & Jeff Jacobs
Track 2 Vocal – Paul Rafferty All Guitars – Sean Manning Bass – Paul Andrew Stanley Drums – Greg D’Angelo Keys – Jeff Jacobs
Tracks 1 and 4 originally recorded by Neil Giraldo at Soul Kitchen in Malibu, CA. Additional guitar and keyboard tracks recorded by Alex Gerst ant Empire Sound in Dallas, TX.
Tracks 3, 5–13 originally recorded by Ricky & Eddie Delana at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, and Cornerstone Recording, Chatsworth, CA. Additional guitar and keyboard tracks recorded by Alex Gerst at Empire Sound in Dallas, TX.
Tracks 14 and 15 originally recorded by Roger Sommers at Royaltone Studios, North Hollywood, CA. Additional guitar and keyboard tracks recorded by Alex Gerst at Empire Sound in Dallas, TX.
Track 2 originally recorded by Greg D’Angelo at D’Angelo Studios, Studio City, CA. Additional guitar and keyboard tracks recorded by Alex Gerst at Empire Sound in Dallas, TX
About The Exiles:
Formed by English guitarist Sean Manning, whose credits include stints with HURRICANE and QUIET RIOT offshoot, LITTLE WOMEN, and fellow Brit Paul Rafferty, the original vocalist for BONHAM, The Exiles were mainstays on the Southern California music scene in the early 1990s writing and recording a wealth of material and performing at venues such as the Troubadour, Whisky a Go Go, FM Station, and Club Lingerie.
After originally moving to Los Angeles, CA to accompany his close friend and newly minted DIO axeman, Rowan Robertson, and intending to study jazz, things changed when Manning was introduced to Rafferty by legendary local music journalist, Jon Sutherland. Discovering their mutual love for British blues rock and bands such as Free, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, and Faces, the duo quickly formed a strong writing partnership and recruited Hollywood-based English bassist, Paul Andrew Stanley. After briefly utilizing the services of former WHITE LION/CITIES drummer, Greg D’Angelo, the line-up was completed with the addition of Terry Mascall, a young John Bonham-style pounder from Cambridge.
“The Exiles were quintessentially an English band, four English blokes living in Hollywood playing classic rock…. just as Nirvana and grunge hit the scene!”, laughs Manning. “Paul and I were writing constantly over the course of the year, often up at Franklin Canyon reservoir, which resulted in all these tunes on the ‘Turning Time’ album. It’s a pretty broad pallete from traditional rock to some soul and blues numbers. Heavy electric to acoustic and mandolin with orchestration. I was and still am a huge admirer of Jimmy Page’s use of light and shade in the Zeppelin compositions. That sort of approach was really inspirational to us.”
While the bulk of the material on ‘Turning Time’ was recorded by the classic Exiles line-up, engineered and mixed by brothers Ricky Delana (NAZARETH, KIX) and Eddie Delana (QUIET RIOT, RHINO BUCKET), Manning and Rafferty would also team up with PAT BENATAR alumni, drummer Myron Grombacher and bassist Frank Linx, on ‘Tearing Up A Storm’ and the album’s ferocious title track opener, helmed by Benatar guitarist, Neil Giraldo, at his Malibu studio. Album closers ‘High Old Times’ and ‘Carry You Home’, the latter with Richard Baker (SANTANA, GINO VANNELLI) on flute and keyboards, were cut with Roger Sommers (TESLA, RIVERDOGS) at Royaltone Studios in North Hollywood and feature Dave Salinas (KENNY LOGGINS, DON FELDER) on drums.
First released in a limited capacity in 1996 as SEAN MANNING & PAUL RAFFERTY – ‘The Exiles’, ‘Turning Time’ constitutes an extensive re-working of the original 10 songs and adds five previously unheard bonus tracks unearthed by Manning during the process of transferring old reels to digital, including the stirring ‘Soul Woman’, ‘Ain’t No Fool’, a hypnotic ROLLING STONES-esque number, and ‘Soul Has No Home’, conjuring shades of early ROD STEWART.
Working at Empire Sound studios in Dallas TX over the course of several months, Manning added guitars and backing vocals to most of the tracks and brought in veteran keyboardist, Jeff Jacobs, whose credits include FOREIGNER and BILLY JOEL, to add Hammond B3 organ, piano. as well as strings to the album’s majestic magnum opus, ‘Richmond Castle Walk’, a not so subtle nod to LED ZEPPELIN.
“I am extremely pleased with how everything turned out”, states Manning who produced the project and re-mixed the album, assisted by Empire Sound operator, Alex Gerst. “When we recorded these songs originally, they were just quality demos, but we really didn’t get the chance to fully flesh things out the way we would have under different circumstances. I am grateful ‘Turning Time’ has afforded me the opportunity to return to the studio one more time and create a whole new album in the process.”
John Stenersen makes his artistic debut with a rare musical treasure from the North Østerdalen region – “Tronsgårdhallingen” is out today. The haunting new single breathes fresh life into a traditional Norwegian halling, transporting an ancient tune into a completely new, atmospheric sonic landscape.
Norwegian musician John Stenersen has spent the last 15 years secretly developing this project, carefully crafting a sound that is now finally ready for the world. Stenersen is known from his performances with Wardruna, Gåte and Bergtatt.
The track possesses deep roots in the traditional fiddle music of Hedmark and North Østerdalen. Its source material originates from Thorvald Tronsgård, a highly respected fiddle player from Folldal, nestled close to the misty mountains of Rondane, one of Norway’s most iconic mountain ranges. Tronsgård’s music shaped his local community for nearly a century and “Tronsgårdhallingen” or “Halling etter Thorvald Tronsgård” is probably the most famous tune he left us. In Norwegian folk tradition, when a tune is named “etter” (after) a specific player, it signifies that the melody was orally passed down, shaped, and immortalized through that master’s unique interpretation, creative touch and signature energy. It is this profound cultural lineage that Stenersen unearths and reimagines for the modern era. John Stenersen about the first release «Tronsgårdhallingen»:
“This is one of my absolute favorites! It’s an old halling born from the misty mountains of Rondane in the heart of Norway. I haven’t been able to find any evidence of anyone ever recording this specific tune on the nyckelharpa before, so I believe this release marks a world first.”
While this debut single respects the inherent core of the original tune, it wraps it in a dark, cinematic production. The resulting soundscape is defined by a unique and deeply organic instrumentation. Here, the crystalline resonance of the nyckelharpa meets the drone of the hurdy-gurdy, the raw grit of the tagelharpa, and the breathing textures of a harmonium. Layered with ambient synths, hypnotic frame drums, and primal percussion crafted from sticks, stones, and bones, “Tronsgårdhallingen” serves as a sonic portal, connecting the rural dance floors of the past with the heavy, atmospheric world of contemporary dark nordic folk.
The official launch and official release show will take place at the Midgardsblot festival on August 13th, marking the arrival of a powerful new voice in the modern traditional music scene. At the festival, Stenersen will officially launch this new project and have the release show of his debut single. This will mark the beginning of a year-long rollout of new music ahead.
Italian post-black metal collective DIE SÜNDE have signed with Time To Kill Records for the release of their debut full-length album, “Effemeridi”, scheduled to arrive before the end of 2026.
Emerging as one of the best-kept secrets of Italy’s increasingly vibrant underground, DIE SÜNDE have quietly built a strong reputation through two highly acclaimed EPs: their self-titled debut in 2020 and “Strega” in 2022. Across those releases, the band established a distinctive artistic identity by weaving together black metal and post-hardcore/metal into a constantly evolving musical language, where fractured rhythms, dynamic songwriting and an instinctive sense of tension are held together by a deeply melancholic emotional core.
Rather than relying solely on aggression, DIE SÜNDE explore a broad expressive spectrum. Harrowing screams coexist with evocative clean vocals and choral arrangements, giving their songs an organic emotional depth that never feels forced or ornamental. The result is a sound capable of shifting naturally between violence and introspection, always driven by sincerity rather than convention.
With “Effemeridi”, the band takes a decisive step forward. Expanding both the scope and ambition of its songwriting, the album refines everything that has made DIE SÜNDE such a compelling presence within the Italian extreme metal landscape, presenting their most cohesive, mature and emotionally resonant work to date.
More details about “Effemeridi”, including artwork, tracklist and the first single, will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Line-up:
Michael Anthony Foti – vocals Simone Carraro – guitar Nicola Rizzo – bass Filippo Baccega – drums Additional composer for the the album: Carlo Giacomel – guitar
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 