British blues-rock phenom Joanne Shaw Taylor digs deep on her latest single, “Look What I’ve Become”—a haunting reflection on addiction, isolation, and the moment of choosing whether to fight or let go. The gripping new track, released today via Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records, blends minor-key blues intensity with the cinematic sweep of a Bond theme, anchoring some of Joanne’s most confessional songwriting and driving it home with her incredible signature guitar tone.
“My bones have grown so old, the world is only cold,” she sings over gritty, shadow-drenched guitar tones, capturing a soul in reckoning. With a voice both weary and defiant, she delivers the devastating refrain: “Don’t miss me when I’m gone / I’m nothing now but numb.”
“This one’s about hitting that crossroads,” Joanne shares. “It’s about the moment where you either change everything or disappear. The lyrics came from a very honest place—and I wanted the music to match that intensity.”
“Look What I’ve Become” follows Joanne’s recent run of acclaimed singles, including the fearless “What Are You Gonna Do Now,” the high-octane “Hell Of A Good Time,” the emotionally charged “Grayer Shade of Blue,” and her defiant anthem “I Gotta Stop Letting You Let Me Down.” Together, they paint a vivid portrait of a woman reclaiming her story—set against the diverse sonic palette of her forthcoming album, Black & Gold, out June 6th.
Produced by Kevin Shirley (Black Crowes, Journey, Aerosmith), Black & Gold finds Joanne pushing the boundaries of blues rock with raw vulnerability, sweeping cinematic textures, and moments of explosive swagger. From the retro shimmer of her cover of Sam Sparro’s “Black & Gold” to the soulful ache of “Who’s Gonna Love Me Now,” each track reveals a new facet of Joanne’s artistry.
With more than a decade of critically acclaimed releases under her belt—and endorsements from legends like Stevie Wonder and Annie Lennox—Joanne Shaw Taylor continues to redefine modern blues. Her partnership with Journeyman Records allows her to release music on her terms, reaching fans without compromise.
Joanne is currently gearing up for an extensive U.S. Spring Tour following her appearance on Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea X alongside Bonamassa. Fans can expect to hear material from Black & Gold along with fan favourites and blistering blues classics—all delivered with the fiery musicianship that has made her a standout in today’s blues-rock scene.
Black & Gold by Joanne Shaw Taylor 1. Hold Of My Heart 2. All The Things I Said 3. Black & Gold 4. Who’s Gonna Love Me Now? 5. I Gotta Stop Letting You Let Me Down 6. Summer Love 7. Grayer Shade Of Blue 8. Hell Of A Good Time 9. Look What I’ve Become 10. What Are You Gonna Do Now? 11. Love Lives Here
2025 U.S. SPRING TOUR, remaining shows: April 13 – Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Blues Festival April 14 – Pensacola, FL – Saenger Theatre April 15 – Jackson, MS – Duling Hall April 17 – Cincinnati, OH – Memorial Hall April 18 – Columbus, OH – TempleLive Columbus April 27 – New Orleans, LA – Take Me To The River
2025 SUMMER TOUR DATES & FESTIVALS May 30 – Quebec, CA – Festival Des Guitares du Monde June 28 – Winter Park, CO – Blues From The Top July 12 – Salamanca, Spain – Festival Blues Bejar Festival July 17 – Kirjurinluoto, Pori, FI – Pori Jazz Festival July 18 – Kent, UK – Maid Of Stone Festival August 5 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse (rescheduled) August 6 – Riverhead, NY – The Suffolk August 8 – Salisbury, MA – Blue Ocean Music Hall August 10 – North Truro, MA – Payomet Performing Arts Center August 16 – Norwich, NY – Chenango Blues Festival
One of Australia’s pioneering Indigenous rock bands, Blackfire, make a powerful and timely return with their new single ‘Let’s Not Forget‘, available now via Golden Robot Records. The song serves as a moving tribute in the lead-up to ANZAC Day, honouring the often-overlooked sacrifices of Indigenous soldiers who served their country with courage and pride – but little recognition.
Crafted by Blackfire’s keyboardist Rod Crundwell and long-time songwriting partner Stafford Sanders, ‘Let’s Not Forget‘ is a heartfelt call to remembrance, driven by a catchy, upbeat tempo and stirring lyrics that speak directly to our shared history. The track is the first single from Blackfire’s highly anticipated fourth studio album, Solar Eclipse, set for release later this year.
“Step out for our fallen heroes — we will march along. Come on all you brothers and sisters, join the mighty song — Let’s not forget.”
Formed in Melbourne in 1992, Blackfire toured nationally and internationally for over a decade, becoming a powerful voice in both music and Indigenous cultural expression. After a break starting in 1999, the band began reuniting for select shows from 2018 onward. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, original members Selwyn Burns, Grant Hansen, and Brad Brown rekindled the fire – and with it came a revitalized lineup.
Joining the original trio are Radical Son (David Leha) on lead vocals, Peter Moore on drums, Rod Crundwell on keys, and additional members Monica McDonald and Leonie Whyman on backing vocals and percussion. Daniel Jauregui adds power on second lead guitar, giving the group an even fuller, more dynamic sound.
‘Let’s Not Forget’ delivers everything that defines Blackfire – powerful harmonies, compelling storytelling, and a deep cultural resonance. The track sets the tone for Solar Eclipse, a 12-track album that reflects the band’s evolution while remaining rooted in the truth-telling spirit that has always been their hallmark. With this release Blackfire are proving once again why they remain one of Australia’s most important and enduring rock voices.
‘Let’s Not Forget’ is available now on all major streaming platforms via Golden Robot Records
Ghosts of Sunset are back with their latest single, ‘She’s Been Coming Around‘, out now via Golden Robot Records. Available on all platforms now, this electrifying track dives deep into the dangerous moment in a relationship when one partner is left without attention – vulnerable to the allure of an outsider. The internal struggle begins: “I don’t know how long I can hold out.”
With raw emotion and compelling storytelling, ‘She’s Been Coming Around‘ captures the essence of temptation and loneliness, tapping into the universal experience of being left in the shadows. The band’s signature blend of melody-driven rock and heartfelt lyricism makes this an anthem for anyone who’s ever faced the pull of something – or someone – new.
A special treat for keen-eared listeners: the guitar solo in ‘She’s Been Coming Around‘ features a melody reminiscent of one of Ghosts of Sunset’s favorite songs by Butch Walker’s band Marvelous 3. A happy accident or a subtle nod to inspiration? Fans can decide for themselves.
Ghosts of Sunset continue to cement their place in the rock scene, combining classic influences with a fresh and modern edge. Don’t miss ‘She’s Been Coming Around‘, out now!
Ghosts Of Sunset features former (Dutch Henry) singer-songwriter John Merchant from Western Michigan, and former Michigan resident and multi-instrumentalist and former (The Verve Pipe) drummer Todd Long.
Finnish doom metal legends SWALLOW THE SUN are back with a twist on their fan-favorite anthem, unveiling a growl-free version of “MelancHoly (Holy Edit)” from their highly anticipated digital deluxe edition album, SHINING DARK DELUXE. This special edition invites fans into a deeper, more atmospheric experience, showcasing unique interpretations of select studio tracks that capture the band’s signature melancholy and live energy.
STREAM THE SINGLE “MELANCHOLY (HOLY EDIT)”NOW HERE
SWALLOW THE SUNTakes Over Europe – Don’t Miss Out! Fresh off their North American conquest, SWALLOW THE SUN is gearing up for a monumental European tour alongside Before The Dawn and Stam1na. This massive trek kicks off on April 14th in Antwerp, Belgium, and will thunder through major cities before closing in Hamburg, Germany on May 6th.
GRAB YOUR TICKETS NOW! → HERE VIP UPGRADES AVAILABLE! → HERE
Swallow The Sun – Shining Over Europe 2025
14.4.2025 Belgium, Antwerp – Zappa 15.4.2025 Germany, Koln – Gebaude 9 16.4.2025 Germany, Berlin – Cassiopeia 17.4.2025 Poland, Poznan – 2PROGI 18.4.2025 Czechia, Prague – Futurum 19.4.2025 Slovakia, Bratislava – Randal 20.4.2025 Hungary, Budapest – Barba Negra 22.4.2025 Austria, Vienna – B72 23.4.2025 Germany, Munich – Backstage Halle 24.4.2025 Switzerland, Aarau – Kiff 25.4.2025 Italy, Milan – Legend 26.4.2025 France, Marseille – Le Molotov 27.4.2025 Spain, Barcelona – Razzmatazz 2 29.4.2025 Spain, Madrid – Copernico 30.4.2025 France, Toulouse – Le Rex 01.5.2025 France, Nantes – Le Ferrailleur 02.5.2025 France, Paris – Backstage Btm 04.5.2025 Netherlands, Tilburg – 013 Next 05.5.2025 Netherlands, Amsterdam – Melkweg 06.5.2025 Germany, Hamburg – Logo
SWALLOW THE SUN Claims Finnish Grammy Glory! In a groundbreaking achievement, SWALLOW THE SUN has taken home their first-ever Finnish Grammy (Emma Gala Award) for Best Metal Album (2024) with their latest release, SHINING. After two previous nominations, this well-deserved win marks a monumental milestone for the band, solidifying SHINING as the Metal Album of the Year.
The band expresses their gratitude: “A huge thank you to Backbone Management, Century Media Records, Dan Lancaster, Pasi, Aleksi, Markus, Jaani, and Juha Ruusunen for helping us reach this milestone. We’re also incredibly grateful to all of you who have supported us and listened to our music along the way, this means the world to us!”
ORTHODOX have revealed a new single /video ‘Sacred Place’, taken from the forthcoming album “A Door Left Open”, set to be released on June 6th via Century Media.
Orthodox’s fusion of frenetic rhythms, pushed-to-the-breaking-point riffing and explosively emotive vocals have progressed on their intricate, expansive fourth studio album, A Door Left Openwhich sees its release June 6 via Century Media. Today the hardcore / metal forerunners share their monolithic crowd pleaser “Sacred Place” which is about when “home isn’t home anymore.” Vocalist Adam Easterling tells, “Every now and then, if you’re lucky, you end up writing a song that you’ll be stuck playing for the rest of your career. I have a strong feeling that ‘Sacred Place’ could be ours. We knew once we put a bow on what was then called ‘Chameleon’ (the working title), that we had something special on our hands. We immediately started playing it live, and have been for nearly a year, which cemented that feeling.”
On A Door Left Open, the Nashville five capture the sense of unease and full-on dread one would feel having their comfort and routine violated. What got in—or what got out?
A Door Left Open’s barrage of riffs (a New Wave of American Heavy Metal string skipper picks up the pace in “Godless Grace”), a shredding solo (in “Searching for a Pulse,” courtesy of newest member Ben Touchberry), and countless breakdowns construct a sonic sense of unrest across the album’s 12 tracks. At the center of it all is guitarist Austin Evans, whose upside-down, lefty way of playing is as unorthodox as his writing, which is littered with harmonics, squeals and borderline laser noises.
The contrast between those and crushing chugs—accentuated by diverse rhythms from drummer Mike White and bassist Shiloh Krebs—ensures the whiplash-laden listen never gets comfortable. Atop that, Easterling’s brash bellow is even more powerful here—resulting in new dynamics that had producer Randy LeBoeuf (Jesus Piece, Kublai Khan TX, Dying Wish) exclaiming he could hardly believe it’s coming from the same man.
Easterling matches life’s throes on the mic, which helps him stand strong amongst the album’s stable of guest vocals. Comeback Kid’s Andrew Neufeld emotes in one of hardcore’s most diverse and recognizable voices on pre-launch single “Commit to Consequence,” while Matt McDougal of best friend band Boundaries brings brutality to straight edge anthem “Blend in with the Weak.” A gang vocal shout of “WHAT THE FU*K?!” at the start of “One Less Body” sums up the guest who brings ethereal musings to the song’s epic closing: Mastodon’s Brann Dailor.
Orthodox have confirmed a headlining U.S. Summer which kicks off with a special hometown release show with fellow straight edge bands Year of the Knife and Inclination in Nashville. Mugshot, Omerta and fromjoy will join them as support for the entirety of the tour. Easterling says, “‘A Door Left Open was created to deliver the feeling of chaos, and we know the people who love us will help us bring that feeling to life this summer.” See below for a full list of dates and tickets.
01 – Can You Save Me? 02 – Body Chalk 03 – Dread Weight 04 – Blend In With The Weak (feat. Matt McDougal) 05 – Godless Grace 06 – Keep Your Blessings 07 – Sacred Place 08 – Step Inside 09 – One Less Body (feat. Brann Dailor) 10 – Searching For A Pulse 11 – Commit To Consequence (feat. Andrew Neufeld) 12 – Will You Hate Me?
May 13: Asheville, NC – Eulogy ! May 14: Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern ! Jun 21: Nashville, TN – Basement East ^* Jun 22: Pensacola, FL – Handlebar ^ Jun 24: Orlando, FL – Conduit ^ Jun 25: Miami, FL – Grimz ^ Jun 26: Tampa, FL – Crowbar ^ Jun 27: Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Purgatory) ^ Jun 28: Raleigh, NC – Kings ^ Jun 29: Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery ^ Jul 01: Buffalo, NY – Rec Room ^ Jul 02: Albany, NY – Empire Underground ^ Jul 03: Boston, MA – Middle East (Upstairs) ^ Jul 04: Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Monarch ^ Jul 05: Pittsburgh, PA – Preserving Underground ^ Jul 06: Columbus, OH – Aces of Cups ^ Jul 08: Detroit, MI – The Sanctuary ^ Jul 09: Indianapolis, IN – Black Circle ^ Jul 10: Chicago, IL – Subterranean ^ Jul 11: Milwaukee, WI – X-Ray Arcade ^ Jul 12: St. Paul, MN – Legion Hall (Basement) ^ Jul 13: Kansas City, MO – The Rino ^ Jul 15: Denver, CO – Marquis ^ Jul 16: Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court ^ Jul 18: Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Midtown ^ Jul 19: Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction ^ Jul 20: Las Vegas, NV – American Legion Post 8 ^ Jul 22: Mesa, AZ – The Nile Underground ^ Jul 24: Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street Collective ^ Jul 25: Houston, TX – The End ^ Jul 26: San Antonio, TX – The Rock Box ^ Jul 27: Dallas, TX – Texas Tea Room ^ Oct 04: Birmingham, AL – Furnace Fest
!w/Harms Way ^*Album Release Show w/ Year of the Knife, Inclination ^w/ Mugshot, Omerta, and fromjoy
Danish death metal commando BAEST will be unleashing its fourth studio album, ‘Colossal,’ on August 15, 2025 via Century Media Records! To celebrate the upcoming offering, the band is now sharing the crushing new single, “Misfortunate Son (feat. ORM),” which can be found along with an official music video created by Moshmallows at THIS LOCATION.
Produced by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio (Heaven Shall Burn, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Haunted, etc.), the album contains nine tracks across 42 minutes, including the already released singles “Colossus” and “Imp Of The Perverse,” as well as an upcoming single with guest vocal features by Jesper Binzer of D-A-D on “King Of The Sun.”
BAEST explains about the “Colossal” album and the band’s current activities as follows: “Paying homage to the heavy metal roots of our music, we wanted to incorporate fast, classic and rocking riffs. This album showcases our passion for melody and a new direction for our death metal. Keeping the energy of former releases and adding new flavours to the inferno, ‘Colossal’ stands out as an honest, original and exciting release. Recording it over the course of 2 years at Antfarm Studio with Tue Madsen has been a different but exciting process, leaving a lot of space in between material released off the album, with the two first singles ‘Colossus’ and ‘Imp Of The Perverse’ being almost a year old by now. We found that giving songs more time to grow felt right, and we also had to reinvent our own style and sound in that process, which leads to our satisfaction with ‘Colossal’ – it’s a broad album sound wise, and we feel this is the essence of BAEST. Playing some of the new tracks live on our recent tour with Danish rock legends D-A-D was helpful in cementing the appeal of the new tracks and helped us finish the album recordings between those shows. Next up, we embark on our first ever U.S./North America run supporting Arch Enemy, and we are following this tour up with a ton of European festivals. This will be the perfect platform to show the new material and get feedback from the fans – see you on the road!”
Adds BAEST about the new song: “‘Misfortunate Son’ is the newest single release from our upcoming 4th album ‘Colossal.’ Recorded at Antfarm Studio with Tue Madsen (The Haunted, Heaven Shall Burn, Meshuggah), it brings forth a blend of melody and brutality. The song showcases our passion for classic heavy metal riffing while incorporating the signature catchiness we always strive for with BAEST! We brought our Danish heroes ORM to add some eerie vocals, contributing a darker mood to the track…”
In addition, BAEST will be laying waste to North America next week for the first time ever as they embark on the “Blood Dynasty” tour in support of Arch Enemy w/ Fit For An Autopsy and Thrown Into Exile! The band will launch their destruction in San Diego, CA next week, on April 15, and will batter audiences across the continent through May 10 in Stroudsburg, PA. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets can be found HERE.
BAEST North American Tour Dates (supporting Arch Enemy w/ Fit For An Autopsy + Thrown Into Exile):
04/14: San Diego, CA @ Observatory Northpark 04/15: Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern 04/16: San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom 04/18: Portland, OR @ Roseland Ballroom 04/19: Seattle, WA @ Showbox 04/20: Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl 04/22: Edmonton, AB @ Union Hall 04/23: Calgary, AB @ The MacEwan Hall 04/25: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex 04/26: Denver, CO @ Summit 04/28: Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore 04/29: Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theater 04/30: Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Hall 05/02: New York, NY @ Palladium Times Square 05/03: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium 05/05: Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of The Living Art 05/06: Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore 05/08: Montreal, QC @ L’Olympia 05/09: Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theater 05/10: Stroudsburg, PA @ The Sherman Theater
Are you ready to rock? Something colossal is coming…
Baest are back, with a new sound and a badass attitude. Over the last decade, the Danish quintet have become one of the most celebrated and respected death metal bands in Europe. Their reign of terror began with debut album Danse Macabre, which emerged to great acclaim in 2019. Since then, the Danes have been relentless. Subsequent albums Venenum (2019) and Necro Sapiens (2021) cemented their reputation as extreme metal mavericks with an ear for lethal hooks, while their passionate dedication to playing live enabled them to spread the word at shows and festivals around the world.
But things are slightly changing with album number 4: Colossal. Pieced together in the aftermath of Covid lockdowns, and fine-tuned over the last couple of years, the new Baest album is an absolute monster. The new songs are still rooted in the belligerent death metal that informed previous records, but Colossal represents a wholesale transformation. Inspired by and infused with old school, classic metal riffs and a giant helping of rock ‘n’ roll bombast, Baest have written an album that delights in the glory of heavy metal and the fine art of rocking out. Bursting at the seams with catchy riffs and classy melodies, with stylistic salutes to everyone from Ozzy Osbourne and Dokken, through to Iron Maiden and Whitesnake, this is the magnificent rock ‘n’ roll rebirth of Baest.
“We went on tour with the Krisiun guys a couple of years back, and every soundcheck they were playing ZZ Top songs,” says Baest guitarist Svend Karlsson. “Everyone in the venue was rocking out, you know? So let’s rock! As a band, you have to mature a little and figure out that you have to write songs for yourself, and that way of thinking has brought the best out of us. When we talked to Tue about it, we called it ‘Ozzy death metal’. It’s really exciting to see what people think. We’re looking forward to people hearing this album. We released two singles last year that were in a different direction, but the fans haven’t heard the Dokken stuff yet! [Laughs]”
From the explosive assault of the opening Stormbringer, the new Baest album is an electrifying dose of the good stuff. Produced by the legendary Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio in Denmark, Colossal never bends to current trends. Instead, this is a thrilling celebration of heavy metal, played with extreme metal intensity. Vocalist Simon Olsen has evolved into a truly formidable frontman, with a vastly expanded array of shouts and growls, and his band mates – Karlsson, guitarist Lasse Revsbech, bassist Mattias Melchiorsen and drummer Sebastian Abildsten – have grown in power and stature. As Karlsson explains, this change of direction was simply about Baest being true to themselves.
“We began the process during Covid, and we found out that we needed to do something that everyone thought was fun,” he states. “Then we tried to zoom in on what makes different songs fun. On the first EP, before we signed to Century Media, there is a lot of melodic rock ‘n’ roll stuff. I think it’s there because we hadn’t learned yet to do more death metal riffs, so those were the riffs that Lasse and I had from our upbringing. This time, we turned back to all of those kinds of riffs, being influenced by Zakk Wylde and Jake E. Lee, Accept, Metallica and all that kind of stuff. We figured that if it’s fun and we enjoy playing it, then it’s going to fit! We finally had the guts to try it, and not to worry about what the death metal fans are going to think.”
Although they may anticipate a backlash from death metal purists, Baest are confident that their evolution will be well received. With songs ranging from the anthemic ‘80s metal fury of the title track, and the brutal rock squall of King Of The Sun (featuring a cameo from D-A-D’s Jesper Binzer), to the progressive, true metal avalanche of epic closer Depraved World, Colossal takes Baest back to the essence of their craft.
“When we wrote Depraved World, that’s a riff from when Lasse was 14 years old,” says Karlsson. “He said, ‘I’ve got this riff!’ and we were like, ‘Let’s do an Iron Maiden death metal song!’ [Laughs] It’s so much fun, because it’s long and so different. The headline for the whole album is that it’s different, it’s catchy, and it’s rock ‘n’ roll. Rock ‘n’ roll vibes, but in the aggressive form of extreme metal. This is our first time working with Tue Madsen, and he’s a no-bullshit kind of guy. He’s been in the industry for so many records and with so many different bands, so he’s like, ‘Fuck what people think! Let’s do what seems fun and what sounds catchy!’”
2024 saw the release of two singles from Colossal: the viciously catchy Imp Of The Perverse, and the aforementioned Colossus. Both were rapturously received, and generated a lot of excitement about Baest’s next move. Now that they have the new music in the can, Svend Karlsson and his comrades are brimming with confidence and commitment to the heavy metal cause. Armed with songs that are guaranteed to send metal crowds into a joyous frenzy, Denmark’s smartest death metal band are perfectly placed to conquer the entire world.
“I think we needed to figure out that we were okay with being a heavy metal band,” Karlsson shrugs. “There are also a lot of progressive elements to the record, that we started developing on the Justitia EP. That’s when we realised that it works live, and people really like the Ozzy riffs! So let’s do some more! We played a new, unreleased song on the last tour. Nobody had heard it before, but instantly everyone started clapping along and jumping and having fun. Everybody wants to party, right?”
BAEST line-up: Svend Karlsson – Rhythm/Lead Guitar Simon Olsen – Vocals Lasse Revsbech – Rhythm/Lead Guitar Sebastian Abildsten – Drums & Percussion Mattias ‘Muddi’ Melchiorsen – Bass
Production: Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio
Special Guests: Jesper Binzer of D-A-D on “King Of The Sun” ORM on “Misfortunate Son”
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 ) 