Having earned the rare endorsement of K.K. Downing as the next big thing in metal, and touring the UK supporting KK’s Priest, British newcomers TAILGUNNER have just signed with Napalm Records. Further endorsing his praise for the band, the Judas Priest guitar legend has now taken on a new role of producer for their dynamic sophomore album. TAILGUNNER have quickly made a name for themselves amongst heavy metal fans—this young band from the home country of metal is one to watch!
TAILGUNNER about the signing: “There are iconic partnerships—like denim and leather, Jack & Coke, and swords and tequila. Now we hope to add TAILGUNNER & NAPALM RECORDS to that list. We’re proud of being pure Heavy Metal, with zero apologies or compromise—that’s why joining the world’s biggest independent metal label feels right at home. The blitzkrieg of our first three years as a band continues full throttle—with our upcoming sophomore album, and together with the incredible team at Napalm behind us and the great and legendary K.K. Downing producing the record, we’re taking on the world n’ planting the flag for British Metal right at the top of it. Heavy Metal for Eternity!”
K.K. Downing about TAILGUNNER: “TAILGUNNER is a band we should have seen emerge years ago from the UK. They personify everything that is heavy metal. They are loud and proud, and totally descended from everyone in metal that has gone before—their energy and rawness, together with their brand of metal, incorporates all of the godfathers and much more. Maiden, Priest, Motörhead, Def Leppard—the list is endless. The band has a youthful freshness and a uniqueness that will no doubt elevate them to being a true Metal favourite of the fans.”
Napalm Records Senior A&R Sebastian Münch adds: “Over the past few months, I’ve been fortunate enough to witness the development of the new album, and it’s simply incredible. K.K. Downing has already said everything perfectly here. TAILGUNNER are not a copy or nostalgically drawing on Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, or Def Leppard, but are creating their own fresh, authentic heavy metal universe.”
TAILGUNNER Live 2026:
30.01.26 WL – Trecco Bay, Wales / Planet Rock Winters End Festival
Tour Support for Fozzy’s “Eyes On You” Tour 06.02.26 EN – Brighton, England / Chalk 07.02.26 EN – Margate, England / Dreamland 08.02.26 EN – Manchester, England / The Ritz 10.02.26 EN – Norwich, England / Epic Studios 11.02.26 EN – Bradford, England / Nightrain 13.02.26 EN – Nottingham, England / Rock City 14.02.26 SC – Glasgow, Scotland / TV Studios 15.02.26 EN – Newcastle, England / Boiler Shop 17.02.26 WL – Cardiff, Wales / Tramshed 18.02.26 EN– Torquay, England / The Foundry 19.02.26 EN – Southampton, England / The 1865 20.02.26 EN – London, England / Electric Ballroom 21.02.26 EN – Wolverhampton, England / KK’s Steel Mill
05.06.26 IS – Stykkishólmur, Iceland / Sátan Festival
TAILGUNNER are: Craig Carns – Vocals Rhea Thompson – Lead Guitar Zach Salvini – Lead Guitar Bones – Bass Guitar Eddie Mariotti – Drums
The feel good, groovy, soul anthem, is a cheeky, but desperate plea to a faltering love.
Reminiscent of classic soul, infused with modern influences such as Alabama Shakes and Amy Winehouse, the infectious song showcases the sultry, gritty power of lead singer Meghan Parnell’s vocals.
The song features the drums with a stylish and percussive steady high hat pulse influenced by James Gadson, punchy horn shots, and a gospel choir.
“When I first came up with the idea for ‘Hold Me Down’, I really wanted to mesh Bywater Call’s aesthetic with more of a 60’s soul sound,” comments guitarist Dave Barnes. “Then Meg came up with that first note, and the song took on a life of it’s own. It’s one of those rare tunes for us that came together surprisingly easily.”
The song was recorded at Palace Studios in Toronto, captured and mixed by Patric McGroarty, and mastered by Kristian Montano of Montano Mastering.
The music video was shot at High Park Brewery in Toronto by Zack Murray of Lightning House Media.
The single arrives hot on the heels of their live album Sunshine, which met to rave reviews last August.
What’s being said about 2025’s Sunshine (Live) album
“This album is full of truth, beauty, radiance, and virtuosity. Outstanding! Meghan’s vocals attain almost sacred levels of commitment and devotion. An abundance of magical rhythms and some truly amazing instrumental artistry!” – Raw Ramp, 5-stars
“Sunshine is one of those live albums you just have to turn up loud to get the full concert experience… packed with magical moments and extended instrumental jams that showcase the band’s exceptional talent.” – Blues Rock Review
“Some of the most heart-lifting and utterly exciting music in ages. Sunshine is a terrific live album. Full of musical heights and the sound of a band playing together and for each other – the very essence of a live album.” – Music News, 5-stars
Often transcending genres, Bywater Call is known for their dynamic, emotional live shows, featuring powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members.
In their August 2024 issue, Classic Rock made Bywater Call’s 2024 album Shepherd their “Blues Album of the Month” and said it was “an inventive and uncommonly catchy record,” and added, “the sense of a band on the brink is unmistakable.” The album was also selected as the “Top Blues Album of the Year” in the magazine’s year-end round-up.
Early 2025 the band was nominated for the UK Blues Awards for “International Act of the Year” for the second year in a row.
In November 2025, they will headline their third UK tour and play Planet Rock’s Planet Rockstock Festival in Wales on 27th November. Tickets are available from The Gig Cartel and Bywater Call.
Planet Rock & The Gig Cartel Present
BYWATER CALL NOVEMBER 2025 UK TOUR SPECIAL GUEST: DAN PATLANSKY LSS ⚡️ TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM THEGIGCARTEL.COM
NEWCASTLE, ANARCHY BREW SATURDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2025-Tickets: The Gig Cartel Benfield Business Park, Unit A1, Benfield Rd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE6 4NQ www.anarchybrewco.com/events
SEPT 24 | ELKTON, MD | Elkton Music Hall SEPT 25 | ROANOKE, VA | The Spot on Kirk SEPT 26 | DURHAM, NC | Blue Note Grill SEPT 29 | POMEROY, OH | The Court Grill SEPT 30 | CLEVELAND, OH | Beachland Tavern OCT 3 | TORONTO, ON | TD Music Hall OCT 17 | WESTPORT, ON | The Cove Inn
EU/UK: OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2025
25.10 | Erfurt, DE | Winter Blues Festival 26.10 | Weert, NL | De Bosuil 27.10 | Utrecht, NL | Tivoli 28.10 | Verviers, BE | Spirit of 66 29.10 | Zwickau, DE | St. Barbara 30.10 Isernhagen, DE | Blues Garage 31.10 Joldelund, DE | Gerd’s Juke Joint 1.11 | Joldelund, DE | Gerd’s Juke Joint 2.11 | Bonn, DE | Harmonie 3.11 | Solothurn, CH | Kofmehl 5.11 | Barcelona, ES | Sala Wolf 6.11 | Zaragoza, ES | Rock and Blues Cafe 7.11 | Valencia, ES | Loco Club 8.11 | Granada, ES | Sala Tren 9.11 | Jerez, ES | La Guarida del Angel 11.11 | A Coruña, ES | Sala Mardi Gras 12.11 | Madrid, ES | Sala Copernico 14.11 | Landerneau, FR | Centre Culturel Le Family 15.11 | Penmarch, FR | Cap Caval 19.11 | London, UK | The Garage 20.11 | Southend, UK | Chinnerys 21.11 | Gloucester, UK | Guild Hall 22.11 | Newcastle, UK | Anarchy Brew Co 23.11 | Glasgow, UK | Oran Mor 25.11 | Leeds, UK | Nath Brudenell 26.11 | Manchester, UK | Band on the Wall 27.11 | Porthcawl, UK | Planet Rockstock 28.11 | Southampton, UK | The Brook 29.11 | Faversham, UK | The Old Brewery Store
USA: WINTER 2025
*more to be announced DEC 18 | PLYMOUTH, MA | The Narrows DEC 20 | JIM THORPE, PA | Mauch Chunk Opera House DEC 21 | SHIRLEY, MA | The Bull Run
ABOUT BYWATER CALL
Often transcending genres, Bywater Call is known for their dynamic, emotional live shows, featuring powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members. A powerhouse seven-piece Southern soul, roots rock outfit from Toronto, Canada; the band is comprised of Meghan Parnell (vocals), Dave Barnes (guitar), Bruce McCarthy (drums), Mike Meusel (bass), newest member, Andrew Moljgun (keys), Stephen Dyte (trumpet), and Julian Nalli (tenor sax). Bywater Call was nominated for the “2025 UK Blues Award” for “International Blues Artist of the Year” for the second consecutive year, alongside artists including Beth Hart and Walter Trout.
The band has also received multiple Independent “Blues and Canadian Maple Blues Award” nominations including “Entertainer,” “Electric Act,” and “Best Female Vocalist” at the 2024 Awards Season.
In March, Bywater Call played their second Joe Bonamassa “Keeping the Blues Alive” cruise, featuring headliners Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Larkin Poe. In 2025, they play the Netherland’s BOSPOP Festival alongside the likes of the Black Keys, Warren Haynes Band, Marcus King, and Blackberry Smoke.
The band has opened for Canadian award-winning musicians Whitehorse and Tom Cochrane, and singer Meghan has joined renowned pedal-steel guitarist Robert Randolph on stage at his request.
Their newest studio album Shepherd was selected as the Blues Album of the Year by UK’s Classic Rock Magazine. Band leaders Meghan Parnell and Dave Barnes were featured on the cover of Blues in Britain in January of 2025. Their 2025 live album Sunshine was released in August 2025 to rave reviews.
In 2024 alone, the band played 140 shows across 10 countries. Bywater Call’s music is an exploration of life’s highs and lows. From intimate ballads that lay bare the complexities of human emotion to electrifying anthems that demand to be played at full volume, their catalogue is a journey through human experience, featuring influences from the likes of The Band, The Wood Brothers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Otis Redding, Little Feat, Sly and the Family Stone, and many more.
THE ANSWER LIES IN THE BLACK VOID, the alchemical collaboration between vocalist Martina Horváth (Thy Catafalque) and composer/multi-instrumentalist Jason Köhnen (Celestial Season, Bong-Ra, The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble), have released the third and final single from their forthcoming full-length album “Transcendental”, due out on September 26 via Lay Bare Recordings.
Alongside the new track, titled “Deconstructed”, the band has also unveiled a striking music video, accompanied by the statement: “What we give our time and attention to reflects what we value most. Each moment we offer is a quiet declaration of meaning.“
Rooted in their shared passion for doom in all its forms, Horváth and Köhnen formed THE ANSWER LIES IN THE BLACK VOID to explore the genre’s emotional and existential depths. Their self-styled Transcendental Metal blends doom’s crushing gravity with elements of folk, ambient and electronica – casting a wide, atmospheric net that captures both sonic weight and spiritual introspection.
Lyrically, the band dives deep into the complexities of the human psyche. Themes of inner struggle, psychological transformation, and the hidden architecture of the soul permeate their songs, giving their music a haunting emotional resonance that moves beyond the typical boundaries of metal. The result is a sound that is both soul-crushing and soul-searching.
Following their critically praised debut, “Forlorn” (2021), and the equally compelling “Thou Shalt” (2023), with their new album THE ANSWER LIES IN THE BLACK VOID continue to explore the depths of the human psyche, captivating listeners far beyond the typical boundaries of metal.
Tracklist:
Deniers
Sine Morbo
Love Is A Dog From Hell
Senkim
The Summoning
Shattered By Wisdom
Deconstructed
Mists Of Krakatoa
“Transcendental” is set for release on September 26 via Lay Bare Recordings and is available for pre-order at THIS LOCATION
KAKSONEN‘s third and final single from the upcoming Valo-olento album, PERISYNTINEN, dives deep into the darkest depths of the soul. From this abyss emerge the forces that corrode self-esteem and extinguish the will to live — self-blame, an endless well of guilt, festering grudges, crippling insecurities, and mercilessness toward oneself. This progressive metal anthem, heavier than lead yet laced with elegance, builds from crushing riffs into soaring choruses illuminated by graceful harmonies. Everything aims for the catharsis that follows the release of repressing emotions.
–ISRC: FI3FC2551903 –Composer: Ville Koskivaara –Lyricist: Miika Vainio
Valo-olento (Being of Light) is the second album by the metal band Kaksonen (Antti Lähdesmäki – guitar & vocals, Ville Koskivaara – bass & vocals, Tuomo Rinkinen – drums, Miika Vainio – vocals & guitar) hailing from Äänekoski, Central Finland. The eight-track album is musically and thematically a natural follow-up to the 2023 album Universumin kuningas (The Emperor of the Universe). As with the previous album, Inverse Records will also release Valo-olento.
Wanikiya Record is proud to announce the release of the new album by PERPETUAL FIRE, entitled “Roll The Dice”, available from Friday, November 7th, 2025.
The work is enhanced by a stunning cover created by Luca Gentile, perfectly anticipating the visual and emotional impact of the album.
“Roll The Dice” marks the band’s fifth studio effort and a brand-new chapter in their career: it is the first release featuring the new frontman Riccardo Re, who officially joined Perpetual Fire in September 2024, taking over from Roby Beccalli.
The album was recorded at the studio of guitarist Steve Volta (Pino Scotto, Pandaemonium) and will be preceded by the single “Mr. Enchantment”, set for release on Wednesday, October 15th, 2025, ready to win over the international audience.
As per the band’s tradition, this record also includes an instrumental track – the title track “Roll The Dice” – and an acoustic ballad titled “My Private Hell”, showcasing all the versatility and sonic power of Perpetual Fire.
Tracklist – “Roll The Dice”: A New Fire Mr. Enchantment Seven Days Salt In Water Time Roll The Dice Take My Soul Another Day The Door To Nowhere Savage Revenge My Private Hell
Official Line-up: Riccardo Re – Vocals Steve Volta – Guitars & backing vocals Mark Zampetti – Bass Mauro Maffioli – Keyboards Sergio “Serz” Gasparini – Drums
Finnish melodic death metal band Bloody Moon is set to release their second studio album ‘Lost & Damned’ on October 31st 2025 via Inverse Records. The third single ‘I’ll Torn ‘Em Apart’ is unleashed today and music video is available below.
“I’ll Torn ‘Em Apart” is one of the first songs we composed for the upcoming album. It’s arguably the most intense track on the record, both musically and lyrically—the title alone speaks of tearing things to pieces. The lyrics capture that extreme rush of adrenaline you can only experience while performing live on stage.
Bassist Nisse Nurminen shares: “This one’s never boring to play—there’s definitely no shortage of energy. Also, the track features a 5-string bass on the album, which we used to bring more depth to the song. We spent a while searching for the right bass tone, and once we found it, I was finally able to lay down the take.”
–Composed by Veeti Sukari, Nisse Nurminen, Toivo Aitakari –Lyrics by Veeti Sukari, Toivo Aitakari –ISRC-code: FI3FC2551805 –Single cover picture by Kristian Sukari, layout by Toivo Aitakari
Bloody Moon is a metal band from Laitila, Finland, that has been active since 2021. The band’s music is characterized by tearing riffs and catchy choruses, accompanied by a thunderous rhythm section.
On their latest album “Lost & Damned”, these ingredients come together to create a tight and energetic whole that everyone should experience at least once in their lives.
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
