“Saban Theatre 2016” Spotlights TODD RUNDGREN Live in the 2000s Collection

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 23, 2026
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The 2000s have been a fabulous time to be a Todd Rundgren fan – and an even better time to catch him in concert!

His catalog, after all, was as deep as anyone else of his generation, an unimpeachable barrage of songs and albums that reached back to the late 1960s, and forward into a future that had yet to be recorded.  

And Cleopatra Records has been alongside him every step of the way, with the February 27 release of Saban Theatre 2016 just the latest in an eye-opening sequence spotlighting the sheer variety and unpredictability that epitomized Rundgren through the first two decades of this century.

Recorded in Los Angeles and available in physical formats for the very first time, this intimate, yet thoroughly exhilarating live concert performance includes material from throughout Todd’s career, from early solo material like “I Saw The Light,” “Hello It’s Me” and “Can We Still Be Friends?” through to his later, mature works, and all performed with his characteristic precision and delight!

But it is just the tip of the iceberg where Todd’s 2000s live performances are concerned.

–CD/VINYL: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=todd+rundgren+saban+theatre
–DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/toddrundgren_sabantheatre

From the previous year, An Evening With Todd Rundgren – Live at the Ridgefield includes such hits as “Hello It’s Me” and “Bang On The Drum” PLUS fan favorites that haven’t been performed live in decades!

From 2018, Todd Rundgren’s Utopia – Live At Chicago Theatre captures the reunion show that was 32 years in the waiting.

We can travel back to 2003, and Todd’s eye-popping one man show – Solo In Clearwater remains one of his most surprise-filled albums ever!

And forward from there to 2009, when Todd performed his epochal A Wizard, A True Star album in its entirety. (He reprised both Todd and Healing onstage the following year.)

With every album recorded and released with Todd’s full co-operation and approval, it’s a truly compulsive collection of CDs and vinyl… meaning, hear one and you’ll quickly want the rest. So, if you’ve not already got them, begin catching up now.

And we’ll see you for the Saban Theatre in just a few more weeks.

WARSENAL Announce New Album “Endless Beginnings…” + Unleash First Single & Music Video ‘Feeding the Wildfire’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 23, 2026
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Canadian speed/thrash madmen WARSENAL return in 2026 with their most ambitious and destructive offering to date: the new album “Endless Beginnings…”, set for release on March 20th, 2026 via Massacre Records. The record will be available as Digipak CD and Limited Vinyl LP.

Alongside the album announcement, the trio has released the first single “Feeding the Wildfire”, accompanied by an intense new music video now streaming on YouTube.

“‘Feeding the Wildfire’ is about addiction in all of its forms – how you keep feeding what’s consuming you, even when you know it’s killing you,” comments guitarist/vocalist Mathieu Rondeau, who also draws a parallel with the band’s own unstoppable drive to create and perform. “It’s the perfect track to introduce someone to Warsenal, which is why we chose it as the first single.”

Stream the song here: https://save-it.cc/massacre/feeding-the-wildfire

“Endless Beginnings…” pushes WARSENAL’s signature riff mania, speed and controlled chaos to new heights, while introducing a layered conceptual universe. The album depicts a dystopian world ruled by an elite society called the Dawn Mowers, who live above the masses in a floating city – the Flying Fortress – casting the planet below into perpetual darkness.

Through the ministries of religion, addiction, labor and false hope, a cycle of numb servitude repeats endlessly.

Musically, the album is fiercely diverse and meticulously crafted – a quantum leap for the band in composition, precision and storytelling. It also marks the first studio appearance of drummer Zack Osiris, whose performance injects new levels of aggression and tightness into the Warsenal sound.

The album was produced by Mathieu Rondeau together with Ryan Battistuzzi, and later mixed and mastered by Olof Wikstrand at Hvergelmer Studios, while the striking cover artwork was created by Justin Cournoyer (4CII).

Track listing

  1. Mass Grave Mass
  2. Flying Fortress
  3. Phantom Hope
  4. Feeding the Wildfire
  5. The Numbening
  6. Dawn Mowers
  7. Dusk Dwellers
  8. Onward to Our Death
  9. Endless Beginnings

UPCOMING GIGS & FESTIVAL SHOWS

06.02.2026 CA Québec – La Source de la Martinière
27.03.2026 CA Rimouski – Le Bien, Le Malt
28.03.2026 CA Moncton – Igloo Beverage Room
31.03.2026 CA Montreal – Piranha Bar
01.04.2026 CA Toronto – Garrison
15.04.2026 FR Paris – Le Klub
16.04.2026 FR Épinal – Souris Verte
17.04.2026 CH Aarburg – Musigburg
18.04.2026 DE Remchingen – No Playback Festival
19.04.2026 CH Martingny – Sunset Bar
20.04.2026 FR Barberaz – Le Brin de Zinc
21.04.2026 FR Lyon – Rock n’ Eat
22.04.2026 LU Belval – Mix n’ Kawa
23.04.2026 BE Fontaine-l’Évêque – MCP-Apache
24.04.2026 NL Oss – Groene Engel
25.04.2026 DE Kiel – Mosh Im Mai Festival
26.04.2026 BE Ghent – Asgaard
02.05.2026 CA Joliette – L’Albion

WARSENAL are
Mathieu Rondeau – Guitars and Vocals
Francis Labine – Bass
Zack Osiris – Drums

WARSENAL online: https://linktr.ee/warsenal

JEGONG Reveal New Single ‘Parallel Tracks’ with Official Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 23, 2026
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JeGong, the collaborative force of Dahm Majuri Cipolla (MONO) and Reto Mäder (SUM OF R.), reveal their second single from their upcoming bold and genre-sculpting new album Gomi Kuzu Can (due 27th February via Pelagic Records).

Pre-order the album here: https://orcd.co/jegong-gomikuzucan

The band comment: “With ‘Parallel Tracks’ we wanted to take sounds that might feel discarded or rough and give them new life. The title reflects how there are always multiple ways for sounds and grooves to come together, finding unexpected harmony. The video manifests this spirit, inspired by early motion graphics experiments, where the focus was on exploring possibilities and seeing what kinds of images would emerge from the sounds.

With its playful metallic clatter and sharp percussive hooks, ‘Parallel Tracks’ is a celebration of sonic detritus: discarded textures reassembled into something unexpectedly danceable, with darker grooves and sinewy rhythms. Here JeGong lean into a shadowy, post-punk-tinged energy, conjuring a sense of nocturnal movement. It’s a track that exemplifies JeGong’s ability to turn experimental instincts into something irresistibly physical.

Known for their immersive, rhythm-driven explorations of krautrock and experimental sound design, JeGong now take an exhilarating leap into brighter, nostalgically stranger territory.

Gomi Kuzu Can is an electrifying journey through kraut, post- and experimental rock, delivered with the analogue warmth of the ’70s. 

Across eleven meticulously crafted tracks, JeGong embrace their roots while fearlessly expanding into neon-lit, beat-driven worlds where kinetic rhythms meet playful sonic futurism. It is music built for movement, contemplation, and the ecstatic strangeness of possibility. Their approach borrows the endurance and patience of minimalism, but they subvert minimalism’s austerity with grit, distortion, and physicality. The result is music that feels alive in motion: constantly shifting, tightening, unfurling, and mutating even when its core pulse remains unbroken.

At the centre is the duo’s uncanny rhythmic intuition: drums that pulse with krautrock steadiness, bass lines that swing between monolithic foundation and crude melodic insistence. Together, these elements create a sonic environment that feels both mechanical and deeply human, ritualistic yet instinctual.

One of the album’s most striking achievements is its analogue warmth. In an era dominated by pristine digital surfaces, JeGong embrace imperfection: human element in every beat and modulation. Gomi Kuzu Can, is hand-built, lovingly assembled from circuitry, intuition, and raw creative impulse. This tactile quality is precisely what makes the album’s danceability so impactful. In blending organic rhythm with retro-electronic brightness, they’ve created a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly new.

Tracklisting: 

  1. Golden Hairs Goes Back To Japan
  2. Outright Wolf Medicines
  3. Contortion
  4. Downed
  5. Chalk
  6. What Ever Happened To Gene
  7. Sister
  8. Parallel Tracks
  9. Patterns
  10.  Müll Schrott Dose
  11. Obaachan Bingo

JeGong are: 

Reto Mäder – bass, guitar, analogue synthesizer, electronics, mellotron, effects, amps, sounds
Dahm Majuri Cipolla – drums, percussion, effects, sounds

For more: PELAGIC PROFILE * INSTAGRAM * FACEBOOK * BANDCAMP

STRÅLE Unleash New Video ‘The Flame’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 23, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Sami Auru

Melodic metal band Stråle unleash today the new single and official lyric video, “The Flame”, taken from their new EP “Reformation”, digitally available now via Frontiers Music Srl. 

Daniel Jakobsson commented: “This song was a bit trickier than a lot of the other songs. I knew it was there somewhere, but it wasn’t until the last session in the studio with Teemu [Aalto] that the pieces fell into place. It turned out to be a beautiful ballad about the dream of everlasting love. It’s about rediscovering the spark that keeps love – and life – alive”.

“The solo by our new guitar player Jax was perfect for the song”, added founder and songwriter Andi, “and gave it the final touch as a Stråle masterpiece”.

Stream “Reformation” HERE

Stråle is a melodic metal band from Helsinki, Finland, combining Scandinavian melancholy, modern metal power, and cinematic emotion. Formed in 2009, the band has steadily evolved from underground beginnings to become one of Finland’s most exciting metal acts, known for their explosive live energy and massive choruses.

After their debut album “Bourbon Souls” (FDA Records, 2020), mixed by the renowned Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia), Stråle entered a new chapter with a refreshed lineup and creative energy. The arrival of vocalist Daniel Jakobsson and guitarist Jaakko Suomalainen brought new color and emotion to an already solid foundation, and together the band refined their signature sound – melodic, heavy, and deeply emotional.

The new EP “Reformation” captures this evolution. Produced by Teemu Aalto (Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum, Ginger Evil) and Jani Autero, and mixed/mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Amaranthe), it blends intensity with introspection. Songs like “Resist & Reform (feat. Björn “Speed” Strid, Soilwork)” and “Close Is Not Enough” showcase the band’s emotional range, while their acclaimed cover of “Blinding Lights” and the cinematic ballad “The Flame” display both versatility and soul.

The band commented: “Reformation” marks a new era for Stråle – musically, emotionally, and as a band. These songs have already proven themselves live, especially “Close Is Not Enough” and “Resist & Reform”, which have become real fan favorites on stage. It truly feels like a reformation for us; the sound, the energy, and the connection within the band are stronger than ever. We’re thrilled that Frontiers is now taking these songs under their wings and giving them the chance to fly as high as they can”.

In 2024, Stråle completed a 16-date European tour with Orphaned Land, performing in iconic venues such as The Underworld (London), Razzmatazz (Barcelona), and Petit Bain (Paris). With over 250,000 total streams and a growing fanbase across Europe, Stråle’s sound stands as a powerful statement of emotion, melody, and contemporary Nordic metal.

“Reformation” Tracklist:

1.    Resist and Reform (featuring Bjorn Strid)
2.    Close Is Not Enough
3.    The Heart You Tore Apart
4.    Destined For Desire
5.    Blinding Lights (The Weeknd Cover)
6.    The Flame

Line Up:
András Lehtinen
Daniel Jakobsson
Rasmus Bruun
Sakari Komulainen
Janne Jääskeläinen
Jaakko Suomalainen

Follow STRÅLE:
Website
Facebook
Instagram

AKEM MANAH Announce New Album “Threnodies” + Premiere Haunting First Single ‘The End of Earnest Hollow’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 23, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Belgian doom metal monoliths AKEM MANAH have announced their forthcoming full-length album, “Threnodies”, due for release on April 3 via Black Lion Records. Alongside the announcement, the band has unveiled the first single, “The End of Earnest Hollow”, offering an intense and unsettling first glimpse into the sonic abyss that awaits. 

The track is accompanied by a lyric video, which you can watch here: 

AKEM MANAH’s new album “Threnodies” is a cycle of human unraveling in ten dirges for those who sought the truth behind the world and found only the abyssal chaos staring back. Each song recounts a different descent into forbidden knowledge, madness and death of men and women who, out of grief, faith, or hunger for meaning, reached too far into the Mythos. Their stories are not about monsters but about the human need to see beyond the illusion of order, and the silence that answers.

Musically, “Threnodies” draws from doom and black metal’s bleak cadence, but with an overt horror tone. A lament sung from within the void rather than against it. Every track is a threnody in the ancient sense, namely a song for the dead, and for what in us dies when we understand too much.

Tracklist:

1.The Inevitable Fate of Francis Cobb (Intro)
2.The End of Earnest Hollow
3.The Mystery of Mosef Mehul
4.The Burning of John Briggs
5.The Journey of Nathaniel Johnson
6.The Undoing of an Unknown (Interlude)
7.The Fall of Maximillian Montagne
8.The Sleep of Eve Saldana
9.The Demise of John Dunn
10.The Hanging of Edward Hope (Outro)

“Threnodies” balances suffocating doom riffs, blackened atmospheres and ritualistic pacing, forging a sound that feels less like a confrontation and more like a slow submission. “The End of Earnest Hollow” exemplifies this approach: vast and oppressive, it lingers long after the final note fades.

The album was edited, mixed and mastered by Brett Caldas-Lima at Tower Studio and is available for pre-order at THIS LOCATION.

Line-up:
RD – Bass guitar
GVC – Rhythm guitar
JT – Lead guitar
XDS – Guitars, keyboards, vocals

For more info visit:
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAkemManah
https://www.instagram.com/akem_manah_official
https://www.facebook.com/blacklionrecordsswe
https://www.instagram.com/blacklionrecordsswe
https://blacklion.nu/

WITCH RIPPER Unveil Video Single ‘The Portal’ & Details of Forthcoming New Album “Through the Hourglass”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 23, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

WITCH RIPPER are back and so is the dark story these US metal innovators present to all those ready to listen. Their new music video ‘The Portal‘ offers a glimpse of a sinister cult and serves as the first advance single from their forthcoming third album “Through the Hourglass“, which will be revealed on April 10, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records. 

Pre-order the album here: https://spkr.store/collections/witch-ripper 

Watch the video for ‘The Portal’ here:

WITCH RIPPER comment on ‘The Portal’: “We really wanted to set the tone of Through the Hourglass with a bang“, vocalist and guitarist Curtis Parker writes. “A pummeling drum intro, knuckle-dragger riffs and highlighting more evil melodies on the guitar. ‘The Portal’ kicks off an album with darker themes of loss, confusion, and dread while maintaining our love of big hooks and catchy riffs. Our story’s main character asks: ‘What have I woken up to?’ – and we’re all about to find out!“

Tracklist:
1. Odyssey in Retrograde
2. The Portal
3. Symmetry of the Hourglass
4. Echoes and Dust
5. The Clock Queen
6. Proxima Centuari
7. The Spiral Eye

On their third full-length, “Through the Hourglass”, WITCH RIPPER unleash the full potential of their stunning ability to deliver captivating melodies, catchy riffs, and merciless hooks in sheer droves.

The US metal band perfectly combines melodic heaviness with pinches of progressive, sludge, and other styles with seeming ease. WITCH RIPPER can be generally located within the wider sonic realm that is inhabited by MASTODON, BARONESS, and HIGH ON FIRE, yet they also continue to channel the rock bombast of QUEEN and DAVID BOWIE as well as the modern prog of COHEED AND CAMBRIA and MUSE.

While WITCH RIPPER‘s songwriting has climbed to a new peak, they continue with their loving pastiche of the legendary pulp science fiction stories of old. “Through the Hourglass” extends the story that began on their sophomore full-length, “The Flight after the Fall” (2023), in which the central character’s search for peace in death by flying into a black hole proved futile. As “Through the Hourglass” begins, he awakens to a world without time and a familiar dark presence from his past… 

Conceived in 2012 in the city of grey skies, lush vegetation and loud rock, Seattle, Washington’s WITCH RIPPER garnered critical acclaim and a strong buzz in the underground scene with their sludgy self-titled EP (2012) and debut full-length “Homestead” (2018). The second album, “The Flight after the Fall”, made the band’s name on a global scale, as the band dramatically expanded the range of their sound in ways both catchy and progressive.

On stage, WITCH RIPPER have performed alongside heavy rock outfits such as MONOLORD, CONAN, and CASTLE RAT as well as modern metal acts including SLIPKNOT, GOJIRA, and KHEMMIS among many others.

WITCH RIPPER are already at work planning for tour across the United States once more and hope for a first voyage to Europe in support of releasing “Through the Hourglass”. Metal is anything but dead, and this album is living proof of its vibrant present.

P.S.: Music aficionados will find a revelation hiding in the key of each song.

Line-up
Chad Fox – guitar, vocals
Brian Kim – bass, vocals
Curtis Parker – guitar, vocals
Joe Eck – drums

Guest musician
Irene Barber – vocals on ‘The Spiral Eye’

Recording by Matt Bayles at Studio Litho & EXES Audio, Seattle, WA (US)
Mix by Matt Bayles at Studio Litho, Seattle, WA (US)
Mastering by Brad Boatright at Audio Siege Studios, Portland, OR (US)

Cover art by Chris Panatier
Layout by Łukasz Jaszak

https://www.facebook.com/witchripper
https://www.instagram.com/witch_ripper
https://www.facebook.com/MagneticEyeRecords/
https://www.instagram.com/magneticeyerecords/