Philadelphia-based extreme metal outfit IATT has released a brand new single and video for the track “Somnophobia”, taken from their forthcoming full-length album “Etheric Realms of the Night”, set for release on May 8 via Black Lion Records.
Following the recent release “Drift Away”, the band now unveils another glimpse into the haunting world of their upcoming record and accompanying film project. With “Somnophobia”, IATT continue the descent into the shadowy narrative that unfolds throughout “Etheric Realms of the Night”, where each track serves as a chapter within a larger cinematic journey.
As the story progresses, “Somnophobia” delves deeper into the fragile boundary between consciousness and dreams. The song intensifies the atmosphere established earlier, drawing the listener further into a realm where sleep becomes both inevitable and terrifying. Musically and visually, the track expands the album’s dark, immersive universe, blending oppressive soundscapes with striking imagery that further develops the film’s unfolding narrative.
Speaking about the new single, the band comments:
“‘Somniphobia’ embodies the fear of sleep itself; the moment where rest becomes a threat and the dream world is no longer an escape, but a source of dread. As tension and unease mount, this chapter captures the anxiety of resisting sleep while being inexorably pulled toward it. Sonically and visually, the piece is oppressive and disorienting, reflecting the psychological terror of losing control as our heroine begins to slip back and forth between the waking world and the realm of dreams.
Deepening the film’s descent, “Somniphobia” uses atmosphere, pacing, and stark imagery to fracture reality further, pushing the viewer into the unstable bleed between worlds within Etheric Realms of the Night.“
Tracklist:
01. Drift Away 02. To Lie Beneath 03. Somniphobia 04. Pavor Nocturnus 05. Quietus 06. Walk Amongst 07. Hypnos
With “Etheric Realms of the Night”, IATT continues to redefine the landscape of progressive metal, proving once again that their musical vision knows no bounds.
“Etheric Realms of the Night” drops May 8 via Black Lion Records and is available for pre-order at THIS LOCATION
IATT are: Jay Briscoe – Vocals, Bass Joe Cantamessa – Guitars Alec Pezzano – Guitars, Orchestrations Paul Cole – Drums
After establishing themselves as the final boss of Baltimore’s underground metal scene, Wormhole reached a new level with their gravity-defying debut for Season of Mist. Almost Human was named one of the best albums of 2023 by New Noise, Angry Metal Guyand Technical Music Review. Now, as they plan their next brutal finishing move, the band are hitting the road with two legendary players of death metal.
This summer, Wormhole are touring North America with Six Feet Under and Kataklysm. During this 33 date run across Canada and the U.S., the band will debut slamming new merch and headbanging new tunes.
Wormhole 2026 North American Tour
with Six Feet Under + Kataklysm
July 8 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI [TICKETS] July 9 Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON ^ [TICKETS] July 10 Fairmount – Montreal, QC ^ [TICKETS] July 11 Overflow – Ottawa, ON ^ [TICKETS] July 12 Palladium Upstairs – Worcester, MA [TICKETS] July 13 Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT [TICKETS] July 14 Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY [TICKETS] July 15 Broken Goblet – Bensalem, PA [TICKETS] July 16 Chapel of Bones – Raleigh, NC [TICKETS] July 17 Albatross – Jacksonville, FL [TICKETS] July 18 Culture Room – Fort Lauderdale, FL [TICKETS] July 19 Conduit – Orlando, FL [TICKETS] July 21 Scout Bar – Houston, TX [TICKETS] July 22 Come and Take It Live – Austin, TX [TICKETS] July 23 Jake’s – Lubbock, TX [TICKETS] July 24 Lauter Haus – Farmington, NM [TICKETS] July 25 Nile – Phoenix, AZ [TICKETS] July 26 1720 – Los Angeles, CA [TICKETS] July 27 Strummer’s – Fresno, CA [TICKETS] July 28 Cornerstone – Berkeley, CA [TICKETS] July 29 Goldfield – Roseville, CA [TICKETS] July 30 Shredder – Boise, ID * [TICKETS] July 31 Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR [TICKETS] August 1 El Corazon – Seattle, WA [TICKETS] August 2 Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC ^ [TICKETS] August 3 Arrowhead – Calgary, AB ^ [TICKETS] August 5 Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB ^ [TICKETS] August 6 Black Cat – Saskatoon, SK ^ [TICKETS] August 7 Park Theatre – Winnipeg, MB ^ [TICKETS] August 8 Skyway Theatre – Minneapolis, MN [TICKETS] August 9 The Annex – Madison, WI [TICKETS] August 10 Madison Theater – Covington, KY [TICKETS] August 11 Reggies – Chicago, IL [TICKETS] * No Kataklysm ^ Kataklysm headlines
Track list: 1. System Erase (3:31) [WATCH] 2. Elysiism (3:06) [WATCH] 3. Spine Shatter High-Velocity Impact (3:47) [WATCH] 4. Data Fortress Orbital Stationary (3:08) 5. Delta Labs (3:12) 6. Almost Human (3:15) 7. Bleeding Teeth Fungus (2:44) 8. The Grand Oscillation (3:14) Total: 25:57
When you invent your own genre, you can make the rules, and in space, no one can correct your math. If Wormhole’s excellent The Weakest Among Us was 50% tech death and 50% slamming brutal death metal, their Season of Mist debut is a veritable leveling up of the Baltimore-based act’s trademark “tech slam.” It’s the kind of record that can scramble your brain and give your neck a nice chiropractic workout; Almost Human feels like the future of extreme metal, dropped down from either outer space or delivered by Nintendo cartridge (more on that later).
So, what the hell exactly is “tech slam?” Well, the gleefully amorphous and unholy term comes from an ethos that guitarists Sanil “Noni” Kumar and Sanjay Kumar discovered and perfected over (probably) thousands of hours of Metroid and Doom games, as well as, you know, actual musical mastery. Almost Human, out September 22, 2023, is more powerful, more agile, and more confounding for pie-chart-enthusiasts than anything else that came before it. The sequel is always bigger, darker, and in this case, covered in much more pixelated space horror viscera. My Wormholio calculator puts their sound at 91% tech and 89% slam, with an increase in awesome stats somewhere in the 420% range. There’s also a clear emphasis on amplifying their dissonant death influence, the kind of eerie melodies that feel like being stomped on by Samus.
There’s a clear balance to everything on Almost Human: the songs are more adventurous while also being instantly memorable. No two songs sound alike, and that diversity in songcraft (level design?) sees Wormhole pushing and pulling along their tech and slam dials to figure out what’s best for the song; spoiler, it’s always riffs. What also becomes evident after repeated listens is how carefully the Kumar brothers understand a sense of place, humor, and a consistent vibe. This is still the same band that’s known for throwing on Saturday morning cartoons, and Almost Human continues to hammer home that Wormhole the musical entity is deadly serious, but the guys that make tech slam are not stoic creatures. There’s a warmth and sense of joy when chatting with them that only gets brighter when you ask their favorite Metroid game (that’s a question for a live show). So, what is this vibe they are chasing? Sanjay shares:
“The tech slam imagery is based on Metroid lore, Doom lore, and we haven’t written a song about it yet, but Alien as well. Those three things are brutal sci-fi universes, so we’re trying to embody that sound. The slam riffs, you can connect the brutal killing of stuff with the brutal chunky riffs; that’s been a match that’s existed since the nineties. So that’s the slam part, and then the tech part was harder to fit that vibe, so we kind of do it differently. I lean into very dissonance-vibe stuff, like Artificial Brain and Dysrhythmia. I think disso-death and heavy, they aren’t usually paired together, even though they should be.”
“And then as far as chasing the vibe,” Noni adds, “I kind of go about it two ways. With the Metroid soundtrack or universe, that vibe, there’s some dark and gloomy atmosphere, but there’s a lot of pretty imagery as well. We wanted to find a way to match that very pretty, kind of out-there sound cohesively in songs with a very aggressive and guttural approach.”
Like another famous sci-fi horror masterpiece of a different media, Wormhole’s shifting, amorphous style is perfectly suited to blend in and amaze just about any fan of heavy music. That’s The Thing: they can pull off whatever they want, but it’s always boiled down to that tech slam vibe. Do you like tech, melody, breakdowns, atmosphere, or dissonance? Tech slam can fill whatever void you seek.
If previous albums were early generation, lower-resolution visions of tech slam,
Recording studio: Guitars and vocals were recorded at Wormhole HQ. Drums were recorded at AJ Viana Productions.
Producer & engineering: ‘Almost Human’ was produced and engineered by Wormhole and AJ Viana. Bass parts were produced and engineered by Alex Weber.
“The Little Red Rooster” is one of the all-time consummate Chicago blues numbers. Written by the great Willie Dixon in 1961, it was first recorded by Howlin’ Wolf that same year, before becoming a major US hit for Sam Cooke in 1963. The following year, it was transformed into a worldwide mega-smash by The Rolling Stones. In fact,“Little Red Rooster” remains the only true blues number ever to top the UK chart.
Now, the rooster is back, in the hands of drum legend Carmine Appice and his revitalized Cactus,.although it was not hatched by Cactus alone. Hot on the news of his retirement from live work, Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) turns in a characteristically charismatic lead vocal; Tracii Guns (LA Guns) lays down his most blues-wailin’ guitar – and there’s a video, too, created and edited by Dominic Esposito/Deville Films and co-directed by Carmine himself.
“It was great working on ‘The Little Red Rooster’ with Dee and Tracii,” says Carmine. “I arranged it with the drums first, then sent it to [bandmates] Artie Dillion and Ed Terry for their feedback. We created the demo for Tracii, Dee and James Haslip who finished the song. Ed was gracious sitting on the sidelines for this one so Dee could sing the lead vocals. It was such an honor to have Dee on the song and to have him make an appearance in the video, especially since he’s retired now. The song Rocks!”
“Cactus! The name conjures such amazing memories for me,” exclaims Dee Snider. “An inspiration for the rock I would play in the years to come. Can you imagine what it was like to ‘get the call’ that your heroes want you to rock with them? Mind blowing! And now to be asked for a second time!? What a treat to dig into a blues classic like ‘The Little Red Rooster’ with Cactus!!! Hell yeah!!”
And, of course, there’s a brand new Cactus album to leap into as well.
It’s been two years since Cactus first unbarred the doors to the Temple Of Blues–a 15-track slab of head-banging, hip-swinging heavy blues rock whose subtitle, Influences And Friends, roped in a host of special guests, all of whom held the band very close to their hearts.
Now the Temple reopens again with a fearless sequel, Temple Of Blues II, due out April 3 via Cleopatra Records. And again, there’s an all-star aggregation that recalls Snider, Ted Nugent, Billy Sheehan, Bumblefoot and Pat Travers from volume one, alongside an all-new wave of heavy hitters including Gunns, Steve Morse (Deep Purple) Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, Deep Purple), Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot), Alex Skolnick (Testament), and of course Cactus regulars – Ed Terry (“amazing” vocals, as Carmine puts it), Artie Dillion (guitar) and bassist James Caputo
Oft-described as America’s Led Zeppelin, the original Cactus grew out of Appice’s past experiences with Vanilla Fudge and Beck Bogert and Appice. Debuting in 1970 with a self-titled album and an immediate impact on the live circuit, Cactus released four albums between 1969 and 1972, each one of them a milestone in American hard rock. The band reformed in 2006 and remains as punchy a powerhouse as it ever was in its prime.
But Temple Of Blues II not only journeys back to the band’s roots in the blues,it also takes us back to their birth. In the summer of 1970, Cactus were among the main attractions at the Isle of Wight Festival in England, and the new album’s “Purple Haze” reunites them with both another of that bill’s audience favorites, Melanie (who recorded lead vocals for the song before her passing in 2024), and its overall headliner, Jimi Hendrix. And if anyone thinks that’s an unlikely collaboration, here’s Carmine to explain.
““Melanie’s voice was so distinctive in that it could shift seamlessly from sweet to raspy. Her talent was versatile too – she was at home in front of the mic whether it be an anthem or a pop tune. That voice could sound childlike in one moment and full of wisdom and maturity the next. No wonder she and her work are still so beloved.” Needless to say, “Purple Haze” is not a childlike performance.
Elsewhere on this thunderous adventure, Joe Lynn Turner joins Steve Morse, Carmine’s Guitar Zeusbandmate Tony Franklin and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) for “Bad Stuff,” and Ted Nugent and Bob Daisley (Rainbow) join forces for an astonishing “Spoonful” – another Dixon/Wolf number on an album that Carmine proudly acknowledges is packed with them.
“We are doing seven of the great Howlin Wolf and Willie Dixon songs,” he continues, a tally that also includes the band’s last single, “Back Door Man,” alongside “300 Pounds of Joy,” “Moanin’ At Midnight” (featuring Canadian legend Pat Travers) “Down In The Bottom” and “Tail Dragger.”
And every one of them (and more besides!) expands the raw blues-rock vision of volume one with even more fire, swagger, and authority. And Carmine, of course, anchors the proceedings with his unmistakable power, groove, and feel, driving every track and reaffirming his status as one of the most influential drummers in rock history.
Hard rockers VON GROOVE are proud to share their new single, “Fearless,”taken from their upcoming new album ‘Born To Rock,’ set for release on May 15, 2026via Frontiers Music Srl. “Fearless” marks the second track released from the new album and arrives alongside an official visualizer, available below.
Guitarist Mladen comments on the new single:
“‘Fearless’ is a battle cry. It’s about refusing to back down, trusting your instincts, and stepping into your power. This song is classic VON GROOVE, big riffs, big hooks, and a message that hits you straight in the chest.”
He continues, “We wrote ‘Fearless’ as a reminder to ourselves and to our fans that the only way forward is with courage. When life knocks you down, you get back up and you keep on fighting.”
VON GROOVE triumphantly returns with a jaw-dropping new album that reunites the classic original lineup: Mladen on guitars, Michael Shotton on drums and vocals, and Matthew Gerrard on bass. This isn’t just a comeback, it’s a resurrection!
Marking their first studio release since 2001, the album feels like it was born in the same fire as their legendary 1992 debut. The opening title-track, “Born To Rock,” explodes with the same urgency and swagger as their iconic “Once Is Not Enough” — even quoting it with a subtle nod that will send chills down the spine of longtime fans.
True to their roots, VON GROOVE delivers a masterclass in melodic hard rock, with blazing guitars, soaring vocals, and airtight arrangements. The production is punchy and alive, but the soul of the record is pure 90s AOR glory.
Even more exciting? VON GROOVE will be returning to the stage in 2026, bringing their renewed fire and timeless sound back to live audiences for the first time in years.
1. Born To Rock 2. Fearless 3. Champion 4. Adrenaline 5. Angela 6. Undefeated 7. Do It All Over Again 8. Heart Of Forgiveness 9. Dreams 10. Waiting For The Sky To Fall 11. Always Endlessly
Founded in 1990, VON GROOVE quickly made their mark on the Melodic Hard Rock scene. Their 1992 self-titled debut, produced by Richie Zito and featuring Deen Castronovo (later of Journey) on session drums, remains a cornerstone of the genre. Over the years, they’ve delivered fan-favorite albums like ‘Mission Man’ (‘Chameleon’ in Europe), ‘Test of Faith,’ and ‘The Seventh Day.’ Despite going on hiatus in 2001, the members stayed active, collaborating with rock legends and contributing to major projects across genres.
After 20+ years, VON GROOVE is making their epic comeback!
VON GROOVE are: Mladen — Guitars Michael Shotton — Drums, Vocals Matthew Gerrard — Bass
After more than 25 years of writing, producing, and shaping music for his various band projects and other artists, Jimmy Westerlund has risen to the ranks of the world’s guitar stars. The world’s leading guitar magazine, Guitar Player, has just published an extensive feature praising Westerlund’s skills and style, and has also invited the Finnish guitarist to join its masterclass video series, where Westerlund reveals the secrets behind his playing.
“When Jason Sidwell called me, I first thought it was a prank call – there’s no way Guitar Player would call me! But he was convinced that the story had to be told: how some random guy from Finland ended up in Giant,” Westerlund says.
Westerlund’s name has been gaining recognition for years through his work with major artists trough Warner Music and Sony. His latest major role is as guitarist, producer, and songwriter in the current lineup of legendary American band Giant, stepping into the shoes of Dann Huff on the album Stand and Deliver.
Westerlund has also previously appeared on Escape Music owner Khalil Turk’s solo album TURKISH DELIGHT III, alongside internationally renowned rock musicians such as Marty Friedman, Glenn Hughes, James LaBrie, Billy Sheehan, Vinny Appice, and Ian Paice.
Guitar Player’s Jason Sidwell was particularly impressed by how Westerlund’s playing captures the essence of classic ’80s guitar heroes – even more so, stylistically, than many of them today.
“This is the music I’ve lived and breathed since I was a kid, and I don’t think I would’ve been ready for this ten years ago. I also want to sincerely thank Jason for the support he’s given me through all of this.”
The Guitar Player feature explores the legacy of melodic ’80s guitar tradition, placing Westerlund alongside names like Steve Lukather and Neal Schon.
“It feels like a huge recognition to be acknowledged by such an institution in the guitar world.”
Known as a go-to producer for multiple bands, Westerlund has also ventured beyond classic melodic rock during his career. One notable example is Game On, co-written with Pitbull, which served as the mascot song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Listen Up! album featuring the track reached No. 1 on Billboard’s World Music chart in the U.S. and remained on the chart for 14 weeks. The same album included Shakira’s Waka Waka. Altogether, music written and produced by Westerlund has amassed over 200 million streams worldwide.
Looking ahead, Westerlund will continue working as a solo artist while also focusing on producing and songwriting primarily for international artists. In addition, Westerlund plans to share his expertise in melodic rock guitar through clinics, live performances, and his newly launched YouTube channel, where upcoming Guitar Player masterclass episodes will also be published.
At the same time, stepping out from behind the scenes into the spotlight as a solo artist feels both exciting and slightly surreal for Westerlund.
“I feel this is a clear turning point in my career. After decades of being ‘the other guy in the background’ – a role I’ve also truly enjoyed – creating my own music with my own voice is both a risk and exactly what I need to stay inspired,” he says.
Los Angeles rock band Stitched Up Heart have unleashed their new single “Cannibal,” featuring Heidi Shepherd of Butcher Babies, out now via Judge & Jury Records. The track is a powerful collaboration between two incredible women in modern heavy music. Alecia ‘Mixi’ Demner and Heidi Shepherd deliver a fierce vocal performance that celebrates strength, attitude, and the unapologetic presence of women in the rock and metal scene. The single arrives alongside a brand new music video, capturing the electrifying chemistry between Mixi and Heidi as the two powerhouse vocalists.
“‘CANNIBAL’ is a song for the man-eaters; to all of the baddies stealing hearts and eating them for breakfast,” says Mixi.
She continues, “I was at Butcher Babies very first show. Crammed on the stairs at a dive bar on the sunset strip. Heidi hurled this wrecked Barbie into the crowd. Hair hacked off, totally mangled. I caught it. Looking back at that moment it felt like she’d passed me a torch. ‘Hey girl, let’s conquer this industry together.’ Years later, we’re still at it cheering each other on from the sidelines. Collaborating on this song together is such a fulfilling moment.”
Shepherd adds, “I’ve been a big fan of Mixi and Stitched Up Heart for nearly 2 decades. We’ve clawed our way through this industry together, and had each other’s back when no one else did. After all of these years, it’s so fitting that ‘Cannibal’ is the song that we finally get to SCREAM together! This song is so fun, and has quickly become one of my favorite collabs that I’ve been a part of. You can tell by the video that we had an absolute blast making it. I can’t wait to see what else SUH has in store of us fans in the future!”
In 2025, the band inked a deal with Judge and Jury Records and their fourth full-length album Medusa will be available on June 12. The band is currently on tour with Sebastian Bach and will be out supporting Infected Rain this summer.
Beyond the stage, Mixi continues to use her platform to advocate for more women in rock and metal while actively volunteering with multiple animal rescue organizations throughout Southern California.
Mar 18 @ Marion Cultural and Civic Center in Marion, IL Mar 20 @ Mr. Smalls Theater, Funhouse & Cafe in Millvale, PA Mar 22 @ Wally’s in Hampton, NH Mar 24 @ Empire Live in Albany, NY Mar 25 @ Capital City Music Hall in Harrisburg, PA Mar 26 @ Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ Mar 27 @ Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, VA Mar 28 @ Radio Room in Greenville, SC Mar 29 @ Music Farm in Charleston, SC Mar 31 @ FIVE in Jacksonville, FL Apr 2 @ Capt Hiram’s Resort in Sebastian, FL Apr 3 @ Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill in St. Petersburg, FL Apr 4 @ Club LA in Destin, FL Apr 6 @ Cannery Club in Nashville, TN Apr 8 @ The Vanguard in Tulsa, OK
Stitched Up Heart on Tour with Infected Rain
May 4 @ Jake’s Sport’s Cafe and Backroom in Lubbock, TX May 5 @ Come and Take It Live in Austin, TX May 6 @ Club Dada in Dallas, TX May 12 @ Purgatory at the Masquerade in Atlanta, GA May 13 @ Hangar 1819 in Greensboro, NC May 14 @ Scandals in Virginia Beach, VA May 16 @ Underground Arts in Philadelphia, PA May 17 @ Mercury Lounge in New York, NY May 20 @ Montage Music Hall in Rochester, NY May 21 @ The Winchester in Lakewood, OH May 22 @ The King of Clubs in Columbus, OH May 23 @ The Token Lounge in Westland, MI May 24 @ The Forge in Joliet, IL May 26 @ The Roxy in Denver, CO May 27 @ Metro Music Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah May 29 @ El Corazon in Seattle, WA May 30 @ Dantes in Portland, OR Jun 2 @ The Ritz in San Jose, CA Jun 3 @ Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA Jun 4 @ Brick By Brick in San Diego, CA Jun 5 @ The Rosetta Room in Mesa, AZ Jun 6 @ Swan Dive in Las Vegas, NV
Stitched Up Heart is a Los Angeles-based rock band formed in 2010 by powerhouse vocalist Alecia “Mixi” Demner, blending heavy riffs, anthemic choruses, and introspective lyrics. Signed to Another Century Records since 2015, they’ve released three full-length albums—“Never Alone” (2016), “Darkness” (2019), and “To the Wolves” (2023)—with the latter featuring collaborations like “Lost” with Godsmack’s Sully Erna.
Judge & Jury (Howard Benson, multi platinum producer and Neil Sanderson, drummer & songwriter of Three Days Grace) have a large following after years of success in the music industry and offer huge promotional, production, and songwriting assets.
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 ) 