WAILIN STORMS Announce New Album “The Arsonist” with Official Video for Title Track

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 30, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Kent Corley

With their bluesy riffs, swampy rhythms and haunting vocals, Wailin Storms are one of the hottest bands in Southern gothic rock. The Durham, North Carolinians have received high praise from NPR, The Needle Drop, Brooklyn Vegan, Decibel and Metal Hammer. Thunderous applause has greeted them on both sides of The Atlantic during shows and tour dates with everyone from City of Caterpillar and This Will Destroy You to Acid Bath and Eyehategod. Now, with their upcoming fifth album,The Arsonist, the band are fanning their flames with reckless abandon.   

Today, Wailin Storms are announcing The Arsonist with a music video for the album’s simmering title track. While slowly engulfed in flames, amidst their new single’s fiery throes of passion, the band howl like the hounds of hell.

“The Arsonist was forged in the fires of our hearts”, Wailin Storms vocalist and guitarist Justin Storms says. “The title track was the initial spark for the album. It’s about the fear of losing the person you love most in life, a love that is so consuming that it takes on many forms: a car crash, a tumultuous sea, vines wrapping around a tree, a house fire”.    

The video for “The Arsonist” was directed and edited by Reid Haithcock (@reidhaithcock)

The Arsonist comes out July 10, 2026 on Season of Mist. Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/wailinstormsthearsonist

Wailin Storms are igniting the stage this summer with a headline U.S. tour. The band will perform songs off The Arsonist for the first time, along with crowd favorites from across their critically-acclaimed discography.

Wailin Storms 2026 The Arsonist U.S. Tour

July 17 – Durham, NC @ Stanczyk’s [Album Release Show]
July 29 – Johnson City, TN @ The Hideaway
July 30 – Atlanta, GA @ Star Bar
July 31 – Knoxville, TN @ The Pilot Light
August 1 – Cincinnati, OH @ Motr
August 2 – Youngstown, OH @ Westside Bowl
August 3 – Columbus, OH @ Dirty Dungarees
August 4 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Government Center
August 5 – Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
August 6 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Gutter
August 7 – New Hope, PA @ John and Peter’s

“I’ve always been fascinated with fire”, says Storms, who was raised by a church pianist and a Baptist preacher. As a child, growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas, he came dangerously close to accidentally burning his family’s house down. “I was young and made a stupid mistake, but I was also being destructive as a way to escape. Fire speaks to our inherent attraction to danger and annihilation, but also, our hope for transformation”.

The Arsonist can also be traced back into Wailin Storms’ past. Recorded by Matt Talbott of Hum in full analog, the album rekindles the band’s roots in raw-to-the-bone blues punk. The title track simmers over a shivering riff and oily slide guitar before bursting into a noisy seance that rages deep into the night.

“Some of these songs are more primitive and stripped down, hearkening back to the four-track recordings that the band started with”, Storms says. “The title track was the first one written for album. I started playing the opening riff and the rest just flowed right out of me”.

Wailin Storms throw heavier splashes of surrealism into the fires of The Arsonist. David Lynch and René Magritte were both wellsprings of inspiration, but the album is inflamed by real life anxieties. Its cover art, which is heavily shadowed except for a tiny house gone up in flames, was painted by Storms himself. “Our homes burn every night”, he croons as the title track’s gentle sway shifts into a torrential gust of flames. “We burn so bright”. The thunderous climax surges with such feverish intensity that it threatens to send the night of passion up in smoke.

“‘The Arsonist’ is a very intimate song, about love and heartbreak and loss”, Storms concludes. “It’s romantic, but also scary. I was so obsessed with fire back in the day that I worry me and my partner are going to die in a flaming car crash or in a house fire together”.

Tracklist
1. Dead End (4:48)
2. Heart of Mine (5:13)
3. You Never Answered (4:53)
4. The Arsonist (4:52)
5. Never Rest (4:59)
6. Saved (4:24)
7. Patient Night (3:22)
8. The Wind (6:01)
9. It’s All Dark Now Where Your Eyes Used to Be (6:30)

Since migrating to North Carolina’s inland coast circa 2014, Wailin Storms have caught fire with noisy, bluesy explosions of Southern gothic rock. Hot on the heels of critical high praise and thunderous applause from crowds on both sides of the Atlantic, the band’s fifth album and first for Season of Mist fans their flames with reckless abandon. While surrounded by darkness from the outside world, The Arsonist burns with all of our heart’s desires.  

“I’ve always been fascinated by fire”, Wailin Storms vocalist and guitarist Justin Storms says before alluding to a time when he came dangerously close to accidentally burning his family’s house down. “It speaks to our inherent attraction to danger and annihilation, but also, our hope for transformation”.

Born the son of a church pianist and Baptist preacher, Justin Storms converted to the church of rock ‘n’ roll after listening to the teachings of his older brother. “He was responsible for getting me into outsider music”. After forming Wailin Storms in his home state of Texas and a pass through New York City, Storms hunkered down in Durham, North Carolina, where he was joined in 2014 by the band’s current drummer Mark Oates (Bats & Mice) and bassist Steve Stanczyk.  

Debut full-length One Foot in the Flesh Grave laid a solid foundation for Wailin Storms in 2015 with an East Coast and Midwest tour that led to their first appearance at The Fest. 2017 follow-up Sick City infected more ears with coverage spreading from CVLT Nation to NPR. It was their third album, though, that really opened the floodgates. Rattle was featured by The Needle Drop and named one of the best albums of 2020 by Treble, Riff Magazine, Angry Metal Guy and Machine Music. More attention from Decibel and Metal Hammer came two years later around The Silver Snake Unfolds, which was followed by the arrival of guitarist Ben Melton, as well as shows and tour dates with everyone from City of Caterpillar, pageninetynine and This Will Destroy You to Acid Bath, Eyehategod and Young Widows.  

“If Bauhaus, Killing Joke, and Black Sabbath had a child, this would be it”, Metal Injection proclaimed about Wailin Storms.  

Brooklyn Vegan concurred. “It’s just loud, heavy, dark rock music, and it’s awesome”.  

The Arsonist can be traced back through Wailin Storms’ past.  Recorded by Matt Talbott of Hum in full analog, the album rekindles the band’s roots in raw-to-the-bone blues punk as a heated response to today’s vat of overproduced music and AI slop. By experimenting with swoons of Rhodes organ, “Heart of Mine” recalls the Roadhouse from Twin Peaks. “Some of these songs are more primitive and stripped down, harkening back to the four-track recordings that the band started with”, Storms says. “The recordings contain flaws but remain human in all the right ways. They could be a murder ballad or an old folk song that’s sung around the campfire”. Other early influences soak into the songwriting’s weathered fabric: Flannery O’Conner’s grotesque sensibility, Cormac McCarthy’s unflinching fatalism, Old Regular Baptist hymns. With its sideways gust of riffs and moaning chorus, “The Wind” blows loud enough to wake the entire cemetery.  

“Because the heart wants what the body wants and the mind wants what the eyes want”, Storms gravely intones. “Won’t you take me through hell”.    

Wailin Storms throw heavy splashes of surrealism into the fires of The Arsonist. “Many of the lyrics draw from the same imagery and emotions conjured by David Lynch, especially his film Wild at Heart”, Storms says. “Dead End” opens the album by taking a harrowing turn of its own when the drum’s rattle leads straight into a waking nightmare. “Calm night / Birds keep plucking out our eyes”.  

While shrouded by a doomy and dreamy atmosphere, The Arsonist is inflamed by real life anxieties. Taking inspiration from René Magritte, the album’s cover art, which is heavily shadowed except for a tiny house gone up in flames, was painted by Storms himself. “These songs are steeped in the trials and tribulations of everyday life”, he says. The title track is slowly engulfed by love’s eternal flame. “Like the wind controls the sea”, he croons over the gentle sway of his guitar. “You always had a hold on me”. The thunderous climax surges with such feverish intensity that it threatens to send the night of passion up in smoke.  

Amidst the wreckage of The Arsonist, Wailin Storms do find a semblance of peace. “It’s All Dark Now Where Your Eyes Used to Be” ends the album with a ghostly flicker of gothic romance. “I know a place where we can sit and grow old”, Storms offers with grim assurance. A piano tolls like death’s bell as he glimpses up at a church that resembles a skull. “There’s a sliver of hope in coming to terms with death”, he concludes. “Life is temporary and that’s where its beauty lies”.  

On The Arsonist, Wailin Storms deliver a fiery baptism of Southern gothic rock.

Lineup
Justin Storms – Lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Ben Melton – Lead guitar, backup vocals, Rhodes organ, piano
Steve Stanczyk – Bass
Mark Oates – Drums

Recording credits
Recorded at Earth Analog in May 2025

Production Credits
Produced and engineered by Matt Talbott
Mixed by Mike Lust at Phantom Manor (“Dead End”, “Heart of Mine”, “You Never Answered”, “The Arsonist”, “Never Rest”, “The Wind”, It’s All Dark Now Where Your Eyes Used to Be”
Mixed by Dave Downham at Gradwell House (“Saved”, “Patient Night”)
Mastered by Dave Downham at Gradwell House

All lyrics written by Justin Storms

Cover art
Justin Storms

Layout and design
Steve Stanczyk

Follow Wailin Storms
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2e1J5JQpROgSuT7RcsUbZ2
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/wailin-storms/451185826
Bandcamp: https://wailinstorms.bandcamp.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wailinstorms7
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wailinstorms/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wailinstorms/?hl=en

CAGE FIGHT Release New Single And Video ‘Oxygen’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 30, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
📸: Andy Ford

UK metal band, CAGE FIGHT – fronted by vocal powerhouse Rachel Aspe – have released a new single/video, “Oxygen.”

Rachel Aspe explains,

“When your worries occupy all the space in your head, you’re navigating

through fog; every task, every move, feels like a challenge. ‘Oxygen‘ is about a fight against time, when everything becomes overwhelming and suffocating.”

About the video, Aspe adds:

“The mask on the album cover is the radiotherapy mask my grandmother wore every day for her cancer treatment. It was moulded to her, and I’m now wearing it as she lives through me. The process was painful and exhausting. This is a symbol of strength, perseverance, and healing. It represents a cage you fight in, until you shed your skin and are reborn. The mask also has specific meanings for each song on the album.

“In ‘Oxygen‘, we wanted to portray the feelings of fear, oppression, and anxiety. To be locked in this cage, pushed down by its weight. The mask here is our own mind, and overwhelming thoughts, while seeing time passing by and being powerless.”

Stream the single here: https://cagefight.lnk.to/Oxygen

CAGE FIGHT will release their second studio album, ‘Exuvia,’ on May 1st via Spinefarm.  

Recorded by Sam Bloor at Lower Lane Studios and mixed by Jim Pinder (Sleep Token, Malevolence), ‘Exuvia’ retains the raw, old school hardcore heart of CAGE FIGHT – vibrating with meaty grooves, pummelling rhythms, plus a wave of furious anger that feels like a punch to the gut. At the same time, it also explores more multi-layered terrains, atmospheres, and melodies, making CAGE FIGHT sound bigger, tighter, and more epic than ever before.

Throughout the 11 pieces of music, the band proves they aren’t afraid to experiment… and have a bit of fun. A case in point is “Pick Your Fighter,” which features Julien Truchan from Benighted on guest vocals, and was inspired by a French pop song – “Et c’est parti…” by Nâdiya – though you’d never guess it from the song’s crushing heaviness.

The rest of the lyrics on ‘Exuvia’ are written by Rachel – the first time she has expressed herself in this way, and the results are deeply personal, taking in anxiety, assault, and having to deal with grief. The expansive final track, “Élégie,” is about losing her grandfather, and the regret that can come from things left unsaid.

On “Pig,” meanwhile, she calls out the creepy men who send women unsolicited messages online, while the title track was inspired by her grandmother, who is currently battling cancer, and helped Rachel write the song’s lyrics. 

Pre-order the album here: https://cagefight.lnk.to/Exuvia

Exuvia’ Track List:

  1. Confined
  2. Oxygen
  3. Pig
  4. Pick Your Fighter
  5. Un Bon Souvenir*
  6. Deathstalker
  7. Le Déni
  8. Exuvia
  9. The Hammer Crush
  10. IHYG (I Hate Your Guts)
  11. Élégie

*Un Bon Souvenir (Single Version – Digital only)

In celebration of the forthcoming release of ‘Exuvia,’ CF will host a sold-out album release party on May 1st at legendary London dive bar, Blondie’s.

Radio City Beer Works is also brewing a new batch of “Pick Your Fighter” beer, which will be available on tap at the event.

Since their inception, the band has become known for their visceral, high-energy live performances; already, they’ve toured with acts such as Sepultura and Cromags, supported the likes of Napalm Death and Employed To Serve, and played numerous festivals, including Summer Breeze and Bloodstock.  

CAGE FIGHT 2026 Live Appearances

1 May – London @ Blondie’s (‘Exuvia’ album launch party)

Announced festivals:

2 May – Dark Reign, UK
27 Jun – Basinfire Festival, CZ
26 Jul – Mozhell Open Air, FR
31 Jul – Radar Festival, UK
1 Aug – Xtreme Fest, FR
2 Aug – Sylak Festival, FR
14 Aug – Motocultor Festival, FR
22 Aug – Barbeuk Festival, France
23 Aug – Furiosfest, FR
29 Aug – Beastfest, Gravesend, UK (headline)
23 Oct – Firemaster Convention Festival, FR
24 Oct – Margate Rock Festival, UK

CAGE FIGHT are:
Rachel Aspe – vocals
James Monteith – guitar
Will Horsman – bass
Nick Plews – drums

More info: https://linktr.ee/cagefightldn

BLACK SPIKES Release New Single ‘Revana’ with Official Music Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 30, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[Photo Credit: Lunaria (Augustina Miknevičiūtė)]

Just back from their tour with INFECTED RAIN, avant-garde quintet BLACK SPIKES release a second single from their upcoming album, Ydos, which will be released on August 28, 2026 via Napalm Records. “REVANA” continues the album concept in which every song depicts one of humankind’s vices: a personification of revenge, haunting the Lithuanian breakout band’s dark realms with beautiful melodies, “REVANA” adds highly recognizable riffs to the album. Alongside the song, BLACK SPIKES release a cinematic video.
 
BLACK SPIKES about “REVANA”:
“REVANA is the name that we’ve chosen for revenge. Revenge promises closure but often delivers continuation. It keeps the story going instead of ending it. You don’t ‘get even’—you stay entangled. In the music video, we depict a story inspired by the witch hunts that also reached Lithuania in the 17th century. Women who stood out for their curiosity or who did not easily fit into society were often falsely accused of witchcraft and revenged by death sentence for causing misfortunes in their communities.”

Emerging from the shadows are BLACK SPIKES, bringing the darkness right along with them on their new album, Ydos, out August 28, 2026. The Lithuanian breakout band’s first release with Napalm Records, coming shortly after their nomination at their home country’s Grammy-comparable M.A.M.A. Music Awards, deals with the eponymous flaws of humanity, conceptually interwoven with modern progressive metal, serving as a complex mirror for us all.
 
The depth of its concept is reflected in every note of Ydos, from every heavy riff to every proggy twist. Leaning into electronic music while holding on firmly to their metal roots, the Lithuanian band creates a distinctive sound, alluringly dark and captivatingly heavy. BLACK SPIKES venture into gloominess, filling the void with spine-tingling philosophical thoughts and posing as Janus-faced companions on a fateful journey into the self in which every step should be taken with caution because a trap just might snap …
 
BLACK SPIKES about Ydos:
“Ydos is a conceptual album—a dark fairytale about human vices. The idea was there from the very beginning and guided the entire songwriting process. Each vice has its own name and story, and many songs will be brought to life through music videos where these vices take shape. It was our first time creating a conceptual album, and we really enjoyed starting with an idea and expressing it through music.”

Get Your Copy Of Ydos NOW

Initiating the story of Ydos is the eerie “PASAKA” (engl. fairy tale), an intro setting the mood with menacing ticking sounds growing into orchestrals and singer Agni’s high vocals layered with screams. A calming lullaby exploding into growls, thunderous blast beats, and elaborate guitar riffs, “MOTINA” (engl. mother) describes the birth of humankind’s vices and therefore serves as an exposition for the storytelling aspect. Throughout the ten songs of their second album, BLACK SPIKES explore the relationships with flaws we all carry within, devoting a song to each of them. “MELAS” (engl. lie) introduces trap beats and rap to the mix, all with an approach clearly rooted in modern metal with sophisticated progressive elements. “MARA”, investigating excessive curiosity, beautifully contrasts calmness and calamity, with the quintet allowing their different elements to breathe while still entwisting them persuasively. Following, “ZELVAR”, which features the album’s only English lyrics, and “REVANA” add endearing, highly recognizable riffs to Ydos, further opening the gates to the hauntingly beautiful realms BLACK SPIKES are unfolding as they delve into greed and revenge, respectively, the concepts personified in the form of demons. The raw rage evolves into carefully structured “APATIJA” (engl. apathy), whose futuristic intermezzi make for especially interesting headbanging rhythms throughout which Agni’s voice acts as a gentle guide. “AUREA” continues BLACK SPIKES’ cinematic approach in its depiction of pride, unleashing a storm of rapacious riffs and galloping drums, frequently broken up by halcyon parts, their cleverly placed tranquility conveying comfort in seemingly hopeless hazes. With pressing “SENAS DEMONAS” (engl. old demon), BLACK SPIKES free yet another hellish entity, before “DULKĖS” (engl. dust) picks up on the melodized cinematography, wrapping up this bleak exploration of what it means to be human.

Ydos tracklisting:

  1. PASAKA
  2. MOTINA
  3. MELAS
  4. MARA
  5. ZELVAR
  6. REVANA
  7. APATIJA
  8. AUREA
  9. SENAS DEMONAS
  10. DULKĖS

BLACK SPIKES next show:  
22.05.26 LT – Vilnius / Vasaros Terasa

BLACK SPIKES are:
Agni – Vocals
Yaga – Guitar, Electronic elements
Mazvis – Guitar
Sime – Bass guitar
Titas – Drums
 
BLACK SPIKES online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS

NESTOR Announce First Live Album “Live at Gothenburg Film Studios”, Out August 14th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 30, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[Artwork Credit: Andreas “Diaz” Pettersson]

NESTOR are set to present their thrilling live energy on record for the first time with new album Live at Gothenburg Film Studios, out August 14, 2026, via Napalm Records! Originally formed back in 1989, the band took the international rock scene by storm with its comeback and first music releases in 2021, unleashing the debut album Kids in a ghost town (earning a Swedish Hard Rock/Metal Grammis nomination!). The following studio album Teenage Rebel (2024) entered several charts internationally (incl. #12 on Official German Album Charts and #19 in Sweden), and the band has gathered millions of streams on several hits.
 
On Live at Gothenburg Film Studios, NESTOR showcase their nostalgic, 80s-inspired melodic anthems in a new light — infused with their signature, radiant live presence. The band has won over live audiences around the world, from huge European festivals to the Monsters Of Rock Cruise in the U.S. and headline shows in Japan, and shared stages with legends like KISS and Europe. Now, the band is gearing up to release its first-ever live album. Make sure to pre-order your physical copy, and stay tuned for the first single!
 
Vocalist Tobias Gustavsson comments:
“When I listen to Live at Gothenburg Film Studios it becomes clear to me that it shows everything that NESTOR was about, from the beginning. A live performance with all the little quirks and mistakes that makes it human, a thing that I have learned to love even more in an era of AI generated music. Live at Gothenburg Film Studios is less clinical and more of a human experience in comparison to our studio albums and shows a different side of NESTOR. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we did recording it up on stage.”

Pre-Order Your Copy of Live at Gothenburg Film Studios NOW

Live at Gothenburg Film Studios treats fans old and new to a hefty selection of live versions of future classics from NESTOR‘s celebrated catalogue. The band brings the heat with a new rendition of the track “Firesign” (originally from Kids in a ghost town, 2021) – catchy riffs and rhythms carry the heavily 80s-inspired, authentic sound that is topped with impressive rock vocals. The nostalgia-drenched following track “Teenage Rebel” (title track of the latest studio album, 2024) gets audiences singing along without a failure with its irresistible chorus that is accompanied with emotion-loaded melodies and massive riffs. Further highlights of this extensive, 16-track offering include a live rendition of one of the biggest NESTOR hits to date, “On The Run” (also from the praised debut Kids in a ghost town, 2021), featuring epic, AOR-inspired keys and guitars, and another one of the band’s possibly catchiest singalong-choruses so far.
 
This comprehensive live album, available even as a DVD, draws from NESTOR‘s impressive repertoire of arena-worthy anthems and rock ballads, polished with the very best AOR and classic 80s rock influences. Without a doubt, NESTOR continue their steady mission to restore the glory of rock!

Live at Gothenburg Film Studios track listing:
01. Intro
02. We Come Alive
03. Kids In A Ghost Town
04. Stone Cold Eyes
05. Perfect 10
06. The One That Got Away
07. Last To Know
08. Unchain My Heart
09. Signed in blood
10. Victorious
11. Caroline
12. Firesign
13. On The Run
14. Teenage Rebel
15. 1989
16. It Ain’t Me

NESTOR Live 2026
Festivals
17.07.26 FI – Laukaa / John Smith Rock Festival
25.07.26 DE – Mönchengladbach / BOBfest
31.07. – 01.08.26 FI – Turku / Baltic Metal Storm
15.08.26 SE – Falköping / NestorFest 2026
19. – 22.08.26 DE – Haddeby / Baltic Open Air

NESTOR are:
Tobias Gustavsson – vocals
Jonny Wemmenstedt – guitar
Mattias Carlsson – drums
Marcus Åblad – bass
Martin Frejinger – keyboards

NESTOR online: 
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS

SHADOWBORNE Release New Video for ‘Heaven’s Falling (Dragons’ Hymn)’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 30, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
photo by Patric Ullaeus-rEvolver Film Company

Shadowborne has released a video for “Heaven’s Falling (Dragons’ Hymn)”, second single taken from the debut album “Heaven’s Falling” to be released on June 19 by Scarlet Records.

“Heaven’s Falling…” captures the perspective of ancient forces that see themselves as rightful rulers of the skies and beyond. It is powerful, proud and slightly unhinged – a hymn of dominance and fire. With cinematic build-ups and relentless energy, the song feels like watching the world tremble beneath wings of flame.

video by Patric Ullaeus-rEvolver Film Company

“Heaven’s Falling”:

  • Debut album for the brand new Swedish female fronted power metal sensation;
  • produced by Kristoffer Göbel (Six Foot Six) and mixed and mastered by Christoffer Borg at Far Beyond Productions;
  • cover artwork by Alle Conti (Twilight Force, Trick Or Treat);
  • official videos directed by Patric Ullaeus-rEvolver Film Company;
  • aesthetically inspired by viking mithology and the massive hit ‘Game Of Thrones’ & ‘Vikings’ TV series;
  • FFO: Iron Maiden, Beast In Black, Battle Beast, Brothers Of Metal, All For Metal;

“Heaven’s Falling” tracklist:
1 Winter Is Coming (Heims Advenit)
2 High And Low
3 Wolf And The Queen
4 Custodians
5 Hold The Door
6 Heaven’s Falling (Dragons’ Hymn)
7 Stranger To Myself
8 The Wall
9 Raven
10 End Of The World

Total running time – 34.58

artwork by Alle Conti

Inspired by epic dark fantasy storytelling, Shadowborne creates a brand new power metal lore shaped by struggles, loyalty, betrayal and destiny.

The sound of the Swedish band is heavy and cinematic, built on massive riffs, driving rhythms and strong melodic hooks. Some tracks feel like battle hymns, others are darker, more atmospheric, almost like the calm before a storm.

Lyrically, “Heaven’s Falling” explores honor, exile, inner conflict and the cost of ambition; it reflects a world where families rise and fall, where fire can both destroy and purify, and where strength is tested in the coldest of nights. The stories may feel mythical, but the emotions are human. 

Shadowborne uses fantasy as a mirror: behind the swords and flames lie themes that belong to our own world — power, identity, survival and choice. This is not about escapism, it is about intensity, standing firm when everything burns around you, and finding purpose in the dark!

Shadowborne:
Eira Shadowborne – lead and backup vocals
The Warden – guitar, keyboards, backup vocals
The Oathbearer – lead guitar
The Keeper – bass
The Warbringer – drums

DAVE SIMPSON Releases “Red Giant: Volume 1” EP, with New Video Single ‘Overcome’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 30, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment
Photo of Red Giant’s Dave Simpson courtesy of Blackham Images

Red Giant is pleased to announce the release of their new E.P. Red Giant – Vol. 1 on Wednesday April 29th via CD, Spotify, and iTunes. The CD is available HERE. The EP is available on the streaming platforms HERE.

To celebrate the occasion, the band are excited to release “Overcome” the third single from the E.P. accompanied with an official music video on YouTube HERE.

Red Giant is the brainchild guitarist and vocalist, Dave Simpson who has become a popular guitar novice with his popular YouTube Channel that has generated over 147,000 subscribers.

“Overcome” is the first song that Simpson wrote in 2004; never finding a home until now. This song entails feelings and thoughts that are still fresh in his mind from his traumatic school days.

“Opening with words of rejection and hopelessness, the song resolves with lines of resistance, assertiveness and self-belief,” reflects Simpson. “The end of the song brings confidence and belief in the ability to overcome any struggle that comes your way. It’s a testament to never giving up.”

This E.P. reflects a condensed history of Simpson’s musical career from his early days fronting grunge and punk bands to his latest incarnation, Red Giant.

The first song on the E.P. “Are you Alright?” is concerned with the effects of the Covid pandemic and the impact that countering it produced, isolation, worrying about the health of family members, friends and struggling with mental health.

“Can’t Find Me” is a song from Dave’s early years, now heavily reworked in the inimitable style of Red Giant. The song is about broken relationships, isolation, and anonymity in the modern world.

“It’s All Gone Wrong” is a heartfelt plea on behalf of struggling musicians everywhere trying to find ever-elusive success in a world already saturated with cheaply available music. It’s a situation that is inevitably getting worse.

Red Giant are the ones to watch on the UK live circuit. With an extremely successful 2025 the band is looking to capitalize on their forward momentum with their highly anticipated E.P. that features four brand-new songs.

The band is playing and sounding better than ever with strong live performances and confidence. 2026 looks like it will be another exciting year for Red Giant.

“Red Giant – Vol. 1” – Tracklisting

1. Are You Alright? (3:04)
2. Can’t Find Me (4:08)
3. It’s All Gone Wrong (4:32)
4. Overcome (4:03)

Dave Simpson – Guitars & Vocals
John Joe Gaskin – Drums
Johnny Simpson – Bass Guitar

Mixed, produced, and mastered by Matt Crawford
Recorded at Superfly Studios

Music Video by Dave Simpson
All songs written by David Simpson

All songs copyright 2026 Radio Silent Records

RED GIANT – BIOGRAPHYLead songwriter, guitarist and vocalist, David Simpson first picked up the guitar at 16 years old. Since that time David has been a prominent performer in several bands over the years and co-founded Red Giant at the beginning of 2024.

David decided after years of playing in other bands it was time to follow his own musical style. The music he was writing did not fit the bands he was playing with, and he soon set up his own group, The Dave Simpson Trio.

The trio performed all over the UK for years and was a very established blues rock band, but in 2024 the band wanted a change. Not just in name but in style, opting for a heavier rockier approach to go along with the new songs David was writing.

Red Giant was born. Not long after the name change the band went into the studio to record their self-titled debut album.

David hosts a popular YouTube Channel that has amassed over 147,000 subscribers due to his unique guitar playing style and expertise.

David has been incredibly open about his struggles with mental health, and his blunt openness has helped countless others deal with their personal traumas. David’s work ethic is outstanding, tirelessly working on songs and videos while also performing and collaborating with other musicians.

John Joe Gaskin, the drummer for Red Giant, also started playing drums at the age of sixteen. As soon as he found the drums he wanted to do nothing else. He’s dedicated his life to the instrument.

John Joe is an absolute powerhouse of a drummer with a supernatural sense of time and is the bedrock of the band. Widely known as a dynamic and versatile performer, playing nationwide in the UK and Europe John Joe is comfortable with any style of music.

John Joe not only performs his duties as the drummer of Red Giant but is also the joker of the band with his wicked sense of humour who keeps everyone laughing.

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