Headbang to the treacherous heart of Cobra’s infamous stronghold with COLD SLITHER’s crushing new track “Cobra Island”. This thunderous heavy metal ripper captures the utter chaos, and all-out warfare of the legendary Cobra Civil War from the G.I. Joe comic book series — the brutal power struggle between Cobra Commander, Serpentor, and their rival factions that tore the organization apart and dragged G.I. Joe and the Iron Grenadiers into the fray. Interpreted by our beloved bunch of Dreadnoks!
Zartan comments on “Cobra Island”: “Well, once again The Commander has rounded up enough money to warrant my Dreadnoks and I to crawl out of our swamp and record some new music. At the same time paying us to secure his stronghold, the Terrordrome… So I wrote a song about just that. Enjoy ‘Cobra Island’ but be warned… You DO NOT want to find yourself washing up on these shores! Cobraaaaa!!!”
Packed with razor-sharp riffs, Zartan’s soaring vocals, and a relentless groove that hits like a Thunder Machine barreling through the swamps, “Cobra Island” high-octane energy and shows a glimpse of what things might sound like for a future album. Think classic ’80s metal fury meets the early thrash groove and power — perfect for headbanging, moshing, and plotting world domination.
COLD SLITHER is a declaration of war. Fronted by the enigmatic Zartan and his ruthless Dreadnok bandmates Torch, Ripper, and Buzzer, the band fuses old-school heavy metal with anarchic energy and unrelenting force. With tracks built on punishing riffs, venomous vocals, and apocalyptic atmosphere, COLD SLITHER resurrects the myth and turns it into a modern-day metal juggernaut.
ABYSSUS stand as one of the most significant forces within the Greek Death Metal scene, having forged their path since 2011. Drawing profound inspiration from genre-defining pioneers such as DEATH, OBITUARY and BOLT THROWER, the band preserves the unadulterated spirit of old school death metal while imprinting their own distinct identity.
Today, ABYSSUS are proud to announce their signing with Fireflash Records, who will release the bands upcoming new album „The Reign“. “We have known Fireflash as a label deeply rooted in the Underground scene, through its releases for bands such as Holy Moses, Mezzrow, Mystic Circle, among others, and we have always held the utmost respect for it. Therefore, when a label of this caliber shows genuine interest in your band, there is little left to be said. As Abyssus, we feel confident and ready that under the wing of Fireflash the band will rise to the next level, and we will also do our part to make the label proud of its choice”, says vocalist Konstantinos Analytis.
ABYSSUS will release the first single, entitled „The Meaning Of Pain“ on July 31st, along with the album pre-sale start. “It was the very first song we composed for the new album, and it naturally became the bridge between our past and our present. It captures the essence of our earlier sound while introducing the new elements that define who we are today“, says Konstantinos Analytis
From the very outset, ABYSSUS placed equal emphasis on studio output and live performance. A steady stream of EPs and split releases established their presence within the international Underground metal community. Their debut full-length, „Into the Abyss“ (2015), garnered widespread acclaim and marked a pivotal moment in the band’s evolution – leading to increasingly frequent appearances both in Greece and across Europe, often sharing the stage with renowned acts, like POSSESSED, SINISTER, SUICIDAL ANGELS and ROTTING CHRIST.
With renewed creative vigour and greater maturity, ABYSSUS unveiled their sophomore album „Death Revival“ in 2022 via Transcending Obscurity Records. Adorned with an arresting cover by the legendary Andreas Marschall (KREATOR, BLIND GUARDIAN, IN FLAMES a.o.), the album was met with universal praise, further cementing the band’s reputation for delivering unrelenting, yet masterfully crafted, death metal. More shows with a.o. ASPHYX, TANKARD, GRAVE DIGGER and THE CROWN followed.
Now in 2026, ABYSSUS return with their third full-length opus, “The Reign” – a ferocious testament to their artistic evolution. The album encapsulates all the core elements that have defined death metal through the decades: raw aggression, blistering riff-work, and a suffocating, commanding atmosphere. Once again, the visual narrative is entrusted to Andreas Marschall, whose artwork enhances the band’s sonic vision with striking intensity.
Relentlessly evolving, ABYSSUS remain true to their roots while continuing to push the boundaries of the genre. With a prolific discography and an ever-growing presence on the live circuit, they have rightfully earned their place as a formidable name within the global death metal landscape.
ABYSSUS live: 18.10.2026 – Athens (GR) – “Kyttaro Live Stage“ with Pestilence & Dead Congregation
ABYSSUS is: Konstantinos Analytis – Vocals Panagiotis Gkourmpaliotis – Rythm Guitar Konstantinos JaJas – Lead & Rythm Guitars Manolis Skoularakos – Bass George “Hellgrinder” Tsafos – Drums
Guests on “The Reign”: Konstantinos Foukarakis – Lead & Rythm Guitars (Rotting Christ) Fotis Benardo – Drums (Nightfall, Six For Nine, ex- Septic Flesh, ex – Nightrage) Chris Zoukas – Bass (Sacral Rage)
Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour release the groovin’ Stax-tastic ‘Tandoori Chicken,’ the latest single from Watching The Tide, which will be released on 28 August via Provogue / Artone Label Group. For an album whose title references the guitarist’s most famous co-write – Otis Redding’s 1967 standard (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay – Watching The Tide saw Cropper roll back the years. Writing alongside Jon Tiven, the acclaimed songwriter/producer and Midnight Hour vocalist Roger C. Reale – then tracking at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio C with a crack-squad band including Ana Grosh (vocals), Nioshi Jackson (drums), engineer Eddie Gore (keys/percussion), and a wishlist of guitar heroes (Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Brian May, Ronnie Wood) – the 83-year-old sounds ageless and energised. The album fades up on ‘Tandoori Chicken’; the instrumental song is not just an irresistibly funky tone-setter but a knowing nod to ‘Green Onions’ (the 1962 single that established Booker T. And The M.G.’s as stars in their own right). The single is the latest gem from the tantalising prospect of the wealth of material that sits in The Colonel’s shimmering vault.
Tiven recollects, “About a month before Steve passed, we went out for an Indian lunch. Steve really loaded up on this tandoori chicken. We had this one kicking around as a song, but we never really thought the lyrics were very good. So then I started thinking, ‘Well, if I put a sitar on it, maybe it’ll hold together as an instrumental’, because Steve is playing some amazing guitar on it. Then I said, ‘Steve, is it okay if we call it Tandoori Chicken?’ A big smile came to his face, and he goes, ‘That’s my favourite’. And y’know, he’s got a lot of history with food-oriented song titles. So it was a nice way to tie it all together.”
This follows ‘Until Now ’, which makes stellar use of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood’s stinging slide, as Tiven recalls the session: “Ronnie Wood got back to me about 10 minutes after I sent off my email: ‘Oh, this looks like a lot of fun. I’ll jump in.’
The first song to be released from the album, the tough Southern-smoked blues of ‘Ticket First’, which started with a joke and ended up with Cropper and fellow rock royalty Clapton riffing nose-to-nose. “I told Eric, ‘Man, you just turned that song inside-out – I think we’re gonna have to give you a writer’s credit,” recalls Tiven of the legendary British guitarist’s transcendent solo. “And Eric said, ‘Well, anything to get my name next to Steve Cropper’s…’”
To anyone who knows the roots and branches of American music, the passing of Steve Cropper in December 2025 was seismic. As a guitarist, songwriter, producer and engineer – not just for the iconic Stax record label but on a forest of sessions and solo releases – the Tennessee soul man was the DNA that coursed through the post-war era, his fabled right hand setting the pace of rock ‘n’ roll for 60-plus years. It’s a huge statement for a musical colossus who towered over the rock ‘n’ roll age. Yet to play this posthumous release is to hear an all-time great still at the top of his game, blending the burning passion of youth with the wisdom of an old master. Steve Cropper might have left us, but Watching The Tide indicates that there is much more still to hear from him.
Tracklisting:
1. Tandoori Chicken 2. Ticket First ft. Eric Clapton 3. My Angels Are Calling ft. Brian May & Billy F. Gibbons 4. Until Now ft. Ronnie Wood 5. Blood From A Stone 6. Here & Gone ft. Ana Grosh 7. It’s Gonna Get Worse 8. Down & Out 9. Stand Right Here ft. Billy F. Gibbons & Ana Grosh 10. Tipoff To The Ripoff 11. House of Cards 12. Tandoori Chicken Part 2
Celebrated Canadian Roots Rock band The Commoners are pleased to announce the release of their brand-new single “Runnin’ Blind.”
The single is available Friday July 24th on all streaming platforms HERE.
“Runnin’ Blind” is the first single taken from the band’s forthcoming third studio album released in 2027. Watch the official music video for the new single on YouTube HERE.
“Runnin’ Blind” is also the name of The Commoners’12-date November UK Tour which features special guest and Gypsy Soul Records labelmate, Spencer Mackenzie. Tickets for the UK concerts are available from Commoners.ca.
“The song symbolizes running full speed down a dark road and trusting you’ll make the turn before it’s too late,” says The Commoners lead guitarist, Ross Hayes Citrullo. “We wanted to capture that high-octane energy where everything feels urgent, loud, and off the rails. The song features blazing guitars and a driving organ to get that authentic retro vibe. It’s a track built to strip gears and rattle some speakers. We’re looking forward to performing the new single and other new songs from the forthcoming album when we tour the UK in November.”
5:40 in the AM back on feet again Thirteen hours to Trecco Bay Kill time with a dull blade Sell out on the freeway It’ll pay off someday, that’s what they say
“Musically, we wanted something that carried a lot of swagger and rock and roll grit,” says the Commoners frontman Chris Medhurst about the new single. “Lyrically it confronts that uneasy feeling of moving forward when you can’t see what’s right in front of you. It sets a bold tone for the upcoming album.”
“We wrote ‘Runnin’ Blind’ as a reflection on the last few years we’ve spent living on the road,” adds bassist Ben Spiller. “Touring has a way of throwing you into situations you could never plan for. Sometimes you just must trust your instincts and keep moving. That’s really where the song came from. It’s a lighthearted look at the chaos, misadventures, and unpredictability that come with chasing this dream, but it’s also a love letter to that lifestyle, and a reminder that some of the best stories come from the moments you never saw coming.”
THE COMMONERS “RUNNIN’ BLIND” NOVEMBER 2026 UK TOUR
NEWCASTLE, ANARCHY BREW WEDNESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2026 Tickets: Commoners.ca Benfield Business Park, Unit A1, Benfield Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 4NQ www.anarchybrewco.com/events
TROON, WINTERSTORM FESTIVAL THURSDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2026 Tickets: Winterstorm Troon Concert Hall, Municipal Buildings Troon, Ayrshire, KA10 6EF https://www.winterstorm.co.uk
SoCal metal band Fraxures unleashes the third single from its highly anticipated new album, Hexes. Since forming during the pandemic, the powerhouse five-piece has forged an unmistakable sound, blending crushing heaviness with emotional depth. Hexes is a raw and unapologetic exploration of the darkest aspects of the human condition, told through a deeply personal perspective that follows a journey through the shadows in search of the light.
“’Trauma Bond’ is based upon being trauma bonded to someone. No matter how toxic the relationship is, the two cannot seem to break away from each other, yet they find no peace in each other’s presence. So the song outlines the push-pull of that relationship, being helplessly bonded through the chaos the two have built, and finally being able to break that bond and be free of the constant space of trauma that festers in the unity of the two people,” says frontman Travis Neal.
HEXES CD/Vinyl is AvailableHERE – HEXESDigital is AvailableHERE
Formed in 2020 in southern California, Fraxures line up as: Travis Neal (vocals), Fred Aching (drums), Vinny Marvaso (bass), Nolan Davis (guitar, vocals) and Esty Sanchez (guitar) – seasoned musicians from renowned acts such as William Shatner Band, Deadgroove, Kings Of Thrash, Divine Heresy, Powerflo, BillyBio, The Bloodline, and A Hero Within. The members’ shared passion for creating earth-shattering music saw FRΛXURES emerge as a force to be reckoned with, blending the raw energy of metal with a modern edge.
Their sound reflects their rich history, while carving a distinct path in the heavy music scene, reflected by the success of live performances alongside some of the biggest names in metal and alternative rock – Fear Factory, Snot, Taproot, Orbit Culture, Of Mice & Men and Unearth among them.
Fraxure’s first release, the critically acclaimed EP Firewater Sessions, was produced by legend Billy Graziadei of Biohazard. Showcasing the band’s ability to channel crushing riffs, soaring melodies, and thought-provoking lyrics into a cohesive sonic experience, it led to them joining the Cleopatra Records family last year, since then they have released two singles, “Blackheart Serenade” and “It’s No Good,” a hit on into Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.
Now Hexes is on the horizon, and for the band’s fans, its September 4th release date cannot arrive quickly enough, all the more so after the band announced “Grab the vinyl or deluxe CD to explore the deeper meaning of each track.”
In the meantime, we have “Trauma Bond” to occupy our time. The band are also playing a handful of dates around its release.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
7/23/26 @ Viper Room in West Hollywood 7/24/26 @ McGuffies in La Mesa, CA 7/25/26 @ The 44 in Glendale, AZ
French progressive visionaries Hypno5e have announced their new album Trame Noire, set for release on 6th November via Pelagic Records. They have also unveiled the first single ‘Lost Fires’, along with a cinematic music video.
On the new single and video, the band comment: “This film seeks to explore territory as a living, mutable space – one that resists geography and instead unfolds as an extension of the unseen. As its contours shift and dissolve, buried layers of the self begin to emerge, not as memories to be reclaimed, but as quiet, elusive presences that have always existed beneath perception. The landscape becomes a threshold where the visible and the invisible continuously reshape one another, revealing an interior world in perpetual transformation. Rather than offering answers, the film embraces disorientation as a way of encountering what lies dormant, allowing the unknown to surface with the unsettling familiarity of something that was never truly lost.”
Since 2003, Hypno5e have made a distinct, indelible mark on the progressive heavy music scene. Their self-styled ‘cinematic metal’ mixes heavy music, the avant-garde, post-rock, immersive samples and Latin American influences across widescreen songs. On their much-anticipated seventh album, Trame Noire, they continue their unique journey.
Trame Noire is named after the French term for “dark infrastructure”: urban architecture designed to preserve the blackness of the night for nocturnal species. It tells the story of a protagonist who confronts his trauma over the course of one night, as every insect, every flap of a wing and every change in temperature brings back long-buried memories.
Parallel to the new album release and celebrating their over 20 years of existence, Hypno5e are releasing a complete discography 13LP boxset, which features the new album alongside the studio albums Sheol (2023), A Distant Dark Source (2019), Alba (2018), Shores of the Abstract Line (2016), Acid Mist Tomorrow (2012) as well as debut album Des Deux L’une Est L’autre (2007), the latter for the first time on vinyl.
Side B 3. Molecular Angel 5. Bare Bones 6. Trame Noire
Album opener ‘Lost Fires’ rises from lonely keys to a section driven by Jessua’s lush vocals, followed by hulking guitars. ‘Falmer’ offers some of the sweetest and hardest moments of Hypno5e’s career: a hypnotic detour evokes the prime of Pink Floyd, then crashes into a metallic thunder that sounds like Gojira gone black metal. ‘Molecular Angel’ channels old-school prog, drums clamouring beneath gorgeous singing and ambient instruments, and ‘Bare Bones’ is a guitar-powered attack, incorporating wild leads and hammering thuds. The 10-minute title track is a suitably dynamic finale, but it remains consistent in its utter, bittersweet beauty.
Trame Noire was approached quite differently to their previous work, opting for a more organic sound. The band limited their use of samples to reflect the lyrics’ focus on one voice and one character. Plus, they used a warmer, looser style of production: less traditionally tech-metal, more inspired by the masterpieces of 70s psychedelic rock.
Even the artwork – painted by Emmanuel’s father, co-lyricist and frequent collaborator Thierry Jessua – is a raw, unrefined sketch, more human than what was seen on past covers. “This time I wanted to discover another language,”Emmanuel commented. “Every album should tell its story differently. I never want Hypno5e to become predictable.”
All this evolution also reflects the fact that Trame Noire was the first album to be made from start to finish with Hypno5e’s current lineup, rounded out by co-guitarist Jonathan Maurois, bassist Charles Villanueva and drummer Pierre Rettien.
“The new lineup brings different atmospheres,”Emmanuel continues. “It doesn’t mean that Hypno5e is going to be this way forever now, but I think there was a more direct and free way of composing. Everybody had more of a say on the decisions and the structures we put on the album.”
Trame Noire is another bold statement in a career defined by non-conformity. Shorter, warmer and presented in a totally different way to previous works, it ensures that Hypno5e remain one of one, even after more than two decades.
Hypno5e are: Emmanuel Jessua (guitar, vocals) Jonathan Maurois (guitars) Pierre Rettien (drums) Charles Villanueva (bass)
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 ) 