With just two weeks to go before the November 14 release of new album Electric Cattle Gods – The Lost Tracks, alt rockers Sponge certainly turn up the temperature with their new single – an early, early demo for what is surely their best-loved song of all.
It was not necessarily a cheerful song. While some commentators insisted it was written about actress Molly Ringwald, Sponge themselves said it was based on the story of a teenaged girl who fell in love with one of her teachers, and attempted suicide when he made it clear hr feelings were not reciprocated.
It struck a major chord regardless. The third single from Sponge’s Rotting Piñata debut, “Molly (16 Candles Down The Drain)” reached #3 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart, and #11 on the Mainstream Rock listing, while spinning off a still popular MTV smash video.
In terms of arrangement, the demo does not deviate too much from the familiar record. But still it’s a thrill to hear such an early, and somehow innocent sounding take on one of the mid-1990s most resonant anthems, and the same can be said across the remainder of the album.
Titled for what came very close to being the band’s name… they became Sponge only after their local Ritz club wasn’t able to spell out “Electric Cattle Gods” on the marquee… Electric Cattle Gods delivers a front row seat for what singer Vinnie Dombroski describes as “ the embryonic stage of the developing Sponge. No boundaries, no worries, just the music written at that time.”
Capturing the very dawn of the band, Electric Cattle Gods – The Lost Tracks features eleven never-before-released wild and exuberant demos and try-outs (plus two storming brand new recordings). Some probably haven’t been heard in over 30 years; others would later be rerecorded for the band’s 1994 major label debut Rotting Piñata – including “Molly,” “Drownin’” and the b-side “Cowboy Eyes.”
Vinnie admits that even the band aren’t sure whether every song is an actual demo, or if some were final cuts, abandoned before the band ever signed a record deal. But “thirty-something years later,” he laughs, “Who cares!
Having weathered two decades, The Old Dead Tree are still at the roots of dark progressive metal. Last year, the French band returned to much fanfare with Second Thoughts, their first full-length since 2007. Now, they’re back with a new EP that was recorded live at legendary Abbey Road Studios.
Today, The Old Dead Tree are releasing the second advanced single from London Sessions. With the “Time Has Come”, the band rise to meet the moment where intensity and emotion meet in perfect tension.
Watch The Old Dead Tree perform “Time Has Come” live at Abbey Road:
“Time Has Come” stands as both a farewell and a renewal. While recorded live at the world famous studio, The Old Dead Tree remain painfully aware of life’s impermanence. Their latest single bends but never breaks, flashing moments of aggression and sensitivity.
Along with “Time Has Come” and the EP’s first single “Feel Alive Again”, London Sessions includes new versions of two songs from the band’s second album The Perpetual Motion.
The video for “Time Has Come” was directed, shot and edited by The Old Dead Tree’s long-time collaborator Julien Metternich. Metternich has been at the helm of many of the band’s videos and photo shoots.
What Else Could We’ve Said (London Sessions 2025) (05:39) Full runtime: 18:42
Spearheading the French dark prog metal scene for more than 20 years, THE OLD DEAD TREE have created a unique universe combining extreme music and dark rock-pop, sublimated by Manuel Munoz’s exceptional and versatile vocals.
Just as the band had released their first EP, The Blossom, in 1999, drummer Frédéric Guillemot took his own life. The shock profoundly scarred the other three members of the band, and formed the basis of the concept for their debut album, The Nameless Disease.
Following its release in 2003 on Season Of Mist, the immediate success of this seminal album led the band to hit the road with PARADISE LOST, OPETH and KATATONIA, introducing their music to metalheads across Europe.
Two critically acclaimed albums followed, The Perpetual Motion (2005) and The Water Fields (2007), making THE OLD DEAD TREE a pillar of the French metal scene and a reference point for progressive metal in Europe.
By the end of 2008, just as work had begun on a fourth album, the wear and tear of the necessary personal investment proved too much for some of the band to bear. THE OLD DEAD TREE officially split up in 2009.
Over the following years, the musicians moved apart geographically and became involved in other musical projects (PENUMBRA, ARKAN, OMMATIDIA, LUX INCERTA…), but their solid friendship never wavered.
In 2013, THE OLD DEAD TREE briefly reunited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their album The Nameless Disease with a mini European tour that included stops at HELLFEST and MOTOCULTOR.
A few years later, following the Covid 19 crisis and the general questioning that it provoked, the members of the band started considering to reunite for good. After several months of doubt and discussion, the decision is finally taken to write and record a new song.
In the spring of 2023, the popularity of the new single Terrified and the band’s high-profile appearance at HELLFEST paved the way for THE OLD DEAD TREE‘s long-lasting comeback.
By the beginning of 2024, while composing its first album in 17 years, THE OLD DEAD TREE is offered the opportunity to record an EP at the world’s most prestigious music studio: the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London (THE BEATLES, PINK FLOYD, U2, RADIOHEAD…). Right after this unique experience, the band quickly dived back into the writing and recording processes for the album Second Thoughts which was released by the end of 2024.
In the spring 2025, as THE OLD DEAD TREE toured France with KLONE and achieved the production of the 4 tracks recorded in Abbey Road Studios to give birth to the EP London Sessions.
Line-up: Manuel Munoz — Vocals Nicolas Chevrollier — Guitars & Backing Vocals Nicolas Cornolo — Guitars Gilles Moinet — Bass Guitar Raphaël Antheaume — Drums
Recording Studio: Abbey Road Studios, London, United Kingdom. Production Credits: Produced, engineered & mixed by François-Maxime Boutault (Behomth, Dagoba) at Les Liens du Son. Mastered by Tony Lindgren (Opeth, Paradise Lost) at Fascination Street Studios. Guest Musician: Raphaël Verguin (Psygnosis) — Cello Cover Art: Henri Lejeune (exclamations.fr)
Photography: Band & studio photos taken by Julien Metternich.
Italian rockers IT’sALIE are pleased to announce the release of their new studio album, “Wild Games”, set for release on February 27, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.
To celebrate, they unveil the first single and official video, “Waiting For The Rain”, available below.
The band commented: “Written in collaboration with Mat Sinner and Magnus Karlsson, this track encapsulates our entire hard rock essence: a hypnotic, high-energy groove, a gritty yet melodic voice, and an explosive guitar solo that leaves its mark. A perfect taste of what Wild Games has in store!”
Talking about the record, the band said: “With this chapter, we wanted to set the stylistic coordinates of a Hard & Heavy sound that starts from the blues and returns to the blues. Giorgia’s voice – carrying within it all the power of the great rock singers of the ’70s (Janis Joplin, Ann Wilson, Aretha Franklin, …) – brings a unique color to a sound that bridges Lynch Mob, Black Sabbath (Dio–Martin era), and Southern Rock”.
“We entrusted the production to Mat Sinner (who, from this album onward, also plays bass in the band), while Magnus Karlsson handled the mix and mastering. We are very satisfied with the result and consider it a major achievement to place it in the hands of the Frontiers team!”, they continued.
IT’sALIE are a dynamic hard rock band fronted by powerhouse vocalist Giorgia Colleluori (also known for her work with Eternal Idol and Rock Meets Classic). With her commanding voice and magnetic stage presence, Giorgia leads the band through a mix of melodic hooks, crushing riffs, and pure rock attitude.
Since their formation, IT’sALIE have built a reputation for delivering explosive live performances and crafting songs that fuse classic hard rock roots with a modern edge. Their debut album introduced the band’s fierce energy to the world, and now “Wild Games” pushes that sound further – bold, passionate, and unmistakably IT’sALIE.
Now they are back with their brand-new album “Wild Games”! The powerhouse hard rock band IT’sALIE return with a thunderous new album that captures the raw spirit, energy, and attitude of pure rock ‘n’ roll.
“Wild Games” is a high-octane ride through anthemic riffs, soaring vocals, and pounding rhythms – an unfiltered shot of adrenaline that cements IT’sALIE’s reputation as one of the most electrifying acts in modern hard rock. Produced with the help of Mat Sinner and mixed by Magnus Karlsson, Wild Games takes listeners on a journey through the real r’n’r emotions!
Each track showcases the band’s unmistakable chemistry and signature sound: bold, unapologetic, and made to be played loud. IT’sALIE are here to remind the world that hard rock is alive, dangerous, and louder than ever.
The band was founded by rock singer Giorgia Colleluori (Sinner, Rock Meets Classic, and former Eternal Idol), who teamed up with Mat Sinner, the band’s manager and co-producer, and drummer Camillo Colleluori (former Eternal Idol).
In 2020, their debut album “Lilith” was released via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records, earning excellent reviews from major European rock and metal magazines and webzines. Giorgia was quickly recognized as one of the most outstanding voices in the scene, further showcasing her commanding stage presence during the Rock Meets Classic tours and in the band’s first two videos, “Fire” and “Wind,” both included on Lilith.
On December 1, 2021, the band returned to the studio to record their second album, “Emosphere”, which was released on December 9, 2022, again through ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records. The band began performing on national stages in support of the release, receiving excellent feedback and reviews not only for the album itself but also for their fully live show.
In 2023, with the addition of talented guitarist Leonardo Duranti, the band solidified its lineup. Mat Sinner took on a dual role as producer and bassist, and during the same year, the band began writing their third album, collaborating with Magnus Karlsson on three songs.
“Wild Games” Tracklist:
1. Waiting For The Rain 2. One Way To Rock 3. Living In The City 4. History Remains 5. Believers Of Leaders 6. Rebels 7. Bring It On 8. Gates Of Faith 9. Wake Up Call 10. Death Road 11. Spirits
Line Up: Giorgia Colleluori Leonardo Duranti Mat Sinner Camillo Colleluori
Darktribe has released a video for “I Walk Alone”, third single taken from the new album “Forgotten Reveries” to be released on November 21 by Scarlet Records.
Lost in your regrets, you know this is the last fight of your life. The illness will give you no respite. Your pride gives you hope but you know that despite everything, you won’t succeed alone. An outstretched hand, a look, a strength… It’s time to face it.
“Forgotten Reveries”: –mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studios (Wind Rose, Vision Divine, Twilight Force); –cover & artwork by the young French talent Baptiste Araujo; –FFO: Symphony X, Stratovarius, Iron Maiden;
“Forgotten Reveries” tracklist: 1 Paradox 2 I Walk Alone 3 The Fallen World 4 Sicilian Danza 5 Ghost Memories 6 Eden And Eclipse 7 From Star To Dust 8 Reality 9 Kings In The Sand 10 Mornings Of Fear 11 Son Of Illusion
Total running time – 53:51
artwork by Baptiste Araujo
The fourth studio album for the cult progressive power metal act, “Forgotten Reveries” embodies the sonic and lyrical essence of the very own Darktribe universe.
Join the French band in this whirlwind of catchy riffs and captivating rhythms, an essential call to arms for all fans of swirling, dynamic and melodic prog power metal. “Forgotten Reveries” explores themes such as fear, solitude, childhood, the journey of life, family, and the cultural heritage unique to each human being.
Powerful, modern and forward-thinking, this record will immerse you in a world where time makes you lose your mind and humanity is left to its own devices.
Life or death, hope or despair, you’re now at the crossroads of your legacy – step into the dark tribe!
Darktribe: Anthony Agnello – vocals Loïc Manuello – guitars, keyboards Bruno Caprani – bass Guillaume Morero – drums
13-Track Album Dedicated to Late Son Jonasz, Now Available on All Major Streaming Platforms!
Andrzej Citowicz has released “Living Room Rockstar Part 2”, a 13-track album that stands as both a father’s memorial and a musician’s triumph. Available now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and all major streaming platforms, the album transforms profound grief into anthemic rock that honors classic influences whilst embracing contemporary production.
Celebrating the album release, a lyric video premiered for “Connecting The Dots” (album opener), check it out here:
A FATHER’S TRIBUTE
“This album is dedicated to my son, Jonasz,” Citowicz states simply. “Every song, every note carries his memory. As someone on the autism spectrum, music is my language when other words fail. This album is how I keep him alive, how I process the impossible, how I survive.” Recorded during the most challenging year of his life following the loss of his stillborn son at 17 weeks, Living Room Rockstar Part 2 represents more than artistic achievement—it is survival made audible.
THE LIVING ROOM ROCKSTAR PHILOSOPHY
The album’s title track opens with a statement of identity: the “living room rockstar” who never played stadiums but never stopped believing that music matters. “I never became the rockstar on those posters in my teenage bedroom in Wałbrzych,” Citowicz reflects. “But I became something perhaps more important—someone who still creates, still believes, still plays like it means something. Because it does. That’s what a living room rockstar is.”
13 SONGS, ONE JOURNEY
The album’s 13 tracks span from immediate energy (“Destroyed But Not Defeated”) to the signature sound of “Kairski,” through power ballads like “A Heart That Burns” and the acoustic drama of closing track “Hole in My Soul.” “I’m incredibly proud of this album,” Citowicz shares. “It mixes late 80s hard rock and pop with modern vocal production and contemporary technology. It’s another album of my dreams—the kind of record I wished existed when I was that kid with Bon Jovi posters covering every wall.” He continues: “Track four, ‘Soul is Gone,’ brings that Warrant meets Dokken aggression. By track eight, ‘A Heart That Burns’ becomes our power ballad moment—that ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’ position where emotion peaks. Then ‘Venom and Stardust’ showcases those Desmond Child-inspired key changes, and we close with ‘Hole in My Soul’—acoustic, dramatic, leaving listeners wanting more.”
THE PATRYK SZYMAŃSKI PARTNERSHIP
Eleven of the album’s thirteen tracks feature bass and production work by longtime collaborator Patryk Szymański, whose contributions proved essential to the album’s realization. “Patryk is my friend who adds bass to my songs and always makes them more than complete,” Citowicz explains. “He helped shape the final result, bringing his magic to eleven tracks and supporting the production throughout. This album exists because he believed in it when I struggled to believe in myself.”
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
“My wife has been my strength through this darkness,” Citowicz notes. ” Her support made everything possible. After 17 years together, creating music became our shared language during the hardest time imaginable.” Beyond family, Citowicz acknowledges the community that sustained him: “Beautiful friends in my niche have supported my music all this time. They’ve walked this journey with me, never looking away when things got hard. This album is also for them.”
MODERN MEETS CLASSIC
Musically, Living Room Rockstar Part 2 bridges eras—honoring the guitar-driven anthems and melodic craftsmanship of late 80s rock whilst utilizing contemporary vocal production and modern recording technology. “I wanted the songs to feel classic but sound current,” Citowicz explains. “The guitar work, the hooks, the song structures—they channel Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Aerosmith. But the vocal production uses modern techniques that make everything feel immediate and present. It’s respecting tradition whilst embracing what technology can do today.” The result is an album that satisfies both nostalgia and contemporary listening expectations—songs that could have existed in 1989 but were actually crafted in 2024-2025.
MUSIC AS SURVIVAL
For Citowicz, Living Room Rockstar Part 2 represents more than artistic output—it is essential therapy and survival mechanism. “Being on the autism spectrum means I process the world differently,” he explains. “Music is where everything makes sense. When I couldn’t process losing Jonasz through conversation or normal grief, I processed it through guitar, through songwriting, through production decisions. Each track became a step toward survival.” He adds: “This isn’t just an album. It’s proof that creating art can carry you through the unsurvivable. It’s evidence that love finds expression even when the person you love is gone. It’s my way of refusing to let pain have the final word.”
AVAILABLE NOW
Living Room Rockstar Part 2 is available now on all major streaming platforms. “I’m proud of every second of this album,” Citowicz concludes. “From the opening statement of ‘Connecting The Dots’ to the final notes of ‘Hole in My Soul,’ this is everything I wanted to say but couldn’t say any other way. For Jonasz. Always for Jonasz.”
ALBUM INFORMATION:
Title: Living Room Rockstar Part 2 Artist: Citowicz and the Fireflies of February Tracks: 13 Music, Guitars, Lyrics: Andrzej Citowicz Bass and Production (11 tracks): Patryk Szymański Available on: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and all major streaming platforms
CREDITS: Music, Lyrics, Guitars: Andrzej Citowicz Bass: Patryk Szymański
“This album is for my son, Jonasz. It’s for everyone who still plays in empty rooms but plays like it means everything. It’s for anyone who’s ever been broken but refused to stay broken. Living Room Rockstar Part 2 is proof that music can hold what nothing else can—grief, love, hope, and the refusal to let pain win.” — Andrzej Citowicz
About Andrzej Citowicz: Andrzej Citowicz is an acclaimed Polish guitarist and songwriter currently based in Cairo, Egypt. As a former recording artist for DownBoys Records, he has built a reputation for emotionally resonant songwriting and distinctive guitar work. His music combines classic rock influences with contemporary production, creating a sound that bridges generational and cultural gaps while maintaining artistic authenticity. His YouTube channel has garnered over 70,000 views from an international audience.
On Piper’s second album, we are taken to the edge of time, where big questions are presented across blurred boundaries. The album’s powerful tracks move through questions of finitude and infinity of time. With Piper’s signature musical style, we gaze to the horizon and float among the moon and stars. The themes deal with surrender and loss, the unspoken universal connection, and the slipping into the farthest edges of great sorrows and emotions.
Piper’s signature multifaceted style and recognizable melancholic depth are also present in this album. The collaboration, familiar from the debut album What is the heart for, continues here, with Päivi Sihvonen composing and writing the lyrics, while Saku Anttila arranges and plays all other instruments.
On A Bridge Across Time, Piper interprets the concept of time both lyrically and musically. In the artist’s characteristic interpretation, expressions are symbolized, their meanings intertwined and left open to the listener’s interpretation. Mysticism, typical of Piper’s style, is woven throughout. The album tackles grand themes, questions, and star-dusted magic, dazzled by the faint rays of moonlight. The whole experience carries a touch of sanctity, radiating the magic of surrendering to nature.
Tracklist / ISRC-codes:
A Bridge Across Time – FI3FC2585201
Tell Me – FI3FC2585204
A Merry Go Round – FI3FC2585203
Raindrops – FI3FC2585202
Dimming Landscape – FI3FC2585205
Frustrated – FI3FC2585206
Orion – FI3FC2585207
Lost – FI3FC2585208
Horizon – FI3FC2585209
Musical symphonism blends dew drops with dark rock beats
On this album, the journey is no longer confined to narrow paths; it takes a larger turn toward the horizon and the orbits of the stars. This shift is clearly audible in the music, where melancholic rock piano interpretations are complemented by a touch of symphonism. In moments of elevation, the listener is swept into a marionette dance, as if drifting into a black-and-white film.
The stylistic sensitivity familiar from the debut album continues here, though reaching for new dimensions, as the old carousel spins in endless waiting. On this album, the music lets the tears pour for those whose eyes witness the dark veil swaying before them as a curtain of sorrow. From behind this gauzy curtain emerge the album’s deepest themes: surrender, loss, and death.
Nature’s influence is even more pronounced on this second album, heard in deeper interpretations compared to the debut. The music paints a mist-covered rugged landscape, where delicate pine branches are draped with tangled lichen. As the cool northern wind blows, the album’s songs intertwine into a unified whole, and even the dew drops on frozen grasses sound their own little notes, tangled with the chilly rock rhythms. In the music, nature’s delicate dance resonates, as the forest with its mossy carpets whispers lyrics from the past.
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
Ads
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 ) 