SOLOMON HICKS Reveals New Single ‘Driftin’ And Driftin” with Lyric Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 22, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo (c) Justin Burocki

The Harlem-born blues firebrand Solomon Hicks has revealed the lyric video for his latest single, Driftin’ And Driftin’, which you can watch HERE.
 
The song is the second to be taken from his upcoming album How Did I Ever Get This Blue?, which will be released on 23 January via Artone/Provogue.

Popularised by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band on their 1967 album The Resurrection Of Pigboy Crabshaw, Hicks gives his own spin on Driftin’ And Driftin’.  “There’s a live video of Paul Butterfield singing this with Mike Bloomfield and David Sanborn playing horns. With the [original] horns, it’s very classy, almost like Count Basie or Frank Sinatra’s big band. But it wasn’t until Kirk (Yano) and I started playing the song on the road that it evolved into something heavier, with almost Led Zeppelin-ish guitar. After hearing a lot of people play that song, nobody has this type of sound.”

Hicks is a thrilling paradox, a sonic contradiction. He’s an old-soul roots scholar who salutes ancient musical forms – blues, jazz, soul, funk, gospel – but also a renegade gunslinger here to bend, stretch and scratch them for the modern world. His songs range from earworm originals, past pop covers torn up with electronica and punky riffs, to reignited blues standards that prove how potent this genre still is in the right hands.
 
The single follows Further On Up The Road – made famous by Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland – which was released in September. The album includes untamed reworkings of Adele’s Rumour Has It and Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man (not to mention Hicks’ originals, How Did I Ever Get This Blue and I’m Burnin’ Up).  Far from a ‘covers album’, each song unfolds as you’ve never heard it before. “I’m not looking to copy or recreate sounds from the past,” he nods.

Tracking in Austin, Texas, with producer Kirk Yano, Hicks assembled a crack-squad studio band that spans from US roots icons like Chris ‘Whipper’ Layton of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble to seminal Bronx turntablist DJ Logic. The album’s all-star cast also includes Kevin McCormick (bass), French vocalist Bénabar, Joanna Connor (slide guitar), Tommy Mandel (keys), Keith Shocklee from Public Enemy (drum programming), John Nemeth (harmonica), Les Warner (of The Cult on drums) and Frank Amato (vocals).
 
Fusing age-old human truths with street-smart modern attitude – while tearing up the rulebook of how roots music can sound – How Did I Ever Get This Blue? is the instant-classic sequel that will lock down devotees and rally new fans to the cause. “I’ve gone through life since Harlem,” he says. “Relationships, breakups, breakdowns – to put all that into this new album was so inspiring. For me, this record is something that musically excites me. And that’s the most important thing – that my soul is recharged…”

Track Listing

1. Further On Up The Road
2. Dimples
3. Driftin’ And Driftin’
4. AllYour Love [I Miss Lovin’]
5. Flyin’ High [Yesterday]
6.How Did I Ever Get This Blue?
7. I’m Burnin; Up
8. When I Was Your Man
9. Rumour has It
10. Feels Like Rain

2026 Tour Dates
 
Feb 26, The Funky Biscuit, Boca Raton, FL
Feb 28,  2026, Vero Beach Blues Festival, Vero Beach, FL

Solomon Hicks Online 
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify

HC Titans LIONHEART Announce New Album “Valley of Death II” + Stream Single/Video ‘Bulletproof’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 22, 2025
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California’s metallic hardcore titans Lionheart are back and hitting harder than ever with their brand-new single ‘Bulletproof’ – a ferocious statement track that marks the beginning of the next chapter in the band’s unstoppable rise. Groove-heavy, razor-sharp, and fueled by the Oakland outfit’s trademark intensity, ‘Bulletproof’ captures everything that has made Lionheart one of the most dominant forces in modern hardcore: pure aggression, anthemic gang-shouts, and a swagger that could only come from the West Coast.

Lionheart have also announced the release of their highly anticipated new album Valley of Death II, set for release on January 9th, 2026 via Arising Empire. Serving as the sequel to their crushing 2019 record Valley of Death, the new album promises to be heavier, darker, and even more unrelenting.

Pre-order the album here: https://arisingempire.com/lionheart

Track list:
1. Bulletproof    
2. Chewing Through The Leash ft Kubl    
3. Ice Cold    
4. Valley of Death II    
5. No Peace    
6. Roll Call    
7. Salt The Earth    
8. Release The Dogs    
9. In Love With The Pain    
10. Death Grip ft A Day To Remember

Now, after officially re-signing with Arising Empire, Lionheart are charging into their next era with renewed force. With one of 2026’s most anticipated hardcore albums on the horizon, the band is poised to push their legacy even further. Their return to Europe in January 2026 for a massive headline tour – joined by Madball, Gideon, and Slope – will showcase exactly why this new chapter with Arising Empire marks a decisive and powerful step forward.

Catch the band live with support from Madball, Gideon and Slope:

09.01.26 – Germany, Münster – Skaters Palace
10.01.26 – Germany, Leipzig – Haus Auensee
11.01.26 – Germany, Berlin – Astra
12.01.26 – Czech Republic, Prague – Lucerna Music
13.01.26 – Austria, Vienna – SiMM City
14.01.26 – Germany, Nürnberg – Z-Bau
15.01.26 – Germany, Munich – Tonhalle
16.01.26 – Germany, Wiesbaden – Schlachthof
17.01.26 – Switzerland, Solothurn – Kofmehl
18.01.26 – France, Paris – Bataclan
20.01.26 – Netherlands, Tilburg – 013
21.01.26 – Germany, Stuttgart – Im Wizemann
22.01.26 – Germany, Bremen – Modernes
23.01.26 – Germany, Cologne – Carlswerk Victoria
24.01.26 – Belgium, Antwerp – Trix

True strength is earned only through struggle – and California-based metallic hardcore act Lionheart are no strangers to struggle. Since their formation in 2007, the Oakland quintet have turned aggression and immolating intensity into the foundation of their groove-heavy, hard-hitting sound. Each record, each year, has marked another step forward: louder, sharper, stronger.

Lionheart first erupted with The Will to Survive (2007), followed by Built on Struggle (2010) and Undisputed (2012), earning their place in hardcore with relentless touring and uncompromising delivery. 2014’s Welcome to the West Coast hit #1 on iTunes and Google Play metal charts, setting off a celebrated trilogy. With Love Don’t Live Here (2016) and Welcome to the West Coast II (2017), the band expanded their sound – balancing primal rage with introspection and groove – before returning in 2019 with Valley of Death, a darker, unrelenting statement.

In 2022, Lionheart signed with Arising Empire and released Welcome to the West Coast III, produced by Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed) and mixed by Will Putney (Fit for an Autopsy, END, Counterparts). The record became their most ambitious yet: personal, punishing, and unapologetically Californian. That same year, their “Welcome to the West Coast III” European Tour drew over 15,000 fans, with multiple sold-out shows underlining the band’s growing global presence.

Lionheart’s rise only accelerated. On their 2024 European headline tour, the band sold nearly 20,000 tickets, with 7 out of 11 shows selling out – a testament to their unstoppable momentum and loyal following.

Now, as they head into the next chapter, Lionheart have re-signed and extended their cooperation with Arising Empire for their upcoming full-length. The brand-new album Valley Of Death II, set for release in 2026, will mark a new high point in the band’s career- heavier, darker, and more relentless than ever before. The record also holds a bold feature with Texas heavyweights Kublai Khan, pushing the intensity to new extremes.

Lionheart are ready to raise the bar once again and leave nothing standing.

LIONHEART are:
Rob Watson | Vocals
Nick Warner | Guitar
Walle Etzel | Guitar
Richard Mathews | Bass
Jay Scott | Drums

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/lionheartca/
https://www.instagram.com/lionheartca/
https://twitter.com/lionheartca?lang=de

CROBOT Unleash Lyric Video for Latest Single ‘Gun To My Head’ + Add U.K. Tour Dates

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 22, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Today marks an exciting milestone with the release of the Official “Gun To My Head” lyric video, the song is now available on all platforms. It’s time to turn up the volume and immerse yourself in the electrifying sound of Crobot, as their music promises to propel you into an exhilarating journey beyond the stars. As the band wraps up their US tour, the anticipation builds for their upcoming adventure in the United Kingdom. Fans should prepare for an unforgettable experience, kicking off on December 2 in Southampton and culminating in a spectacular finale on December 14 in Brighton. Buckle up for a wild ride filled with energy and passion!

There’s a special kind of madness that happens when a band circles back to its roots — that wild-eyed realization that the thing you were chasing was behind you the whole damn time. CROBOT are standing right there now, staring down the beast they built, grinning through the smoke.

Brandon Yeagley still preaches his gospel from behind the mic like some back-alley shaman with a harmonica holstered for punctuation. Christopher Bishop remains the riff conjurer — tone soaked in engine grease and snake oil, as if the guitar itself were trying to escape the song. And with the arrival of brothers Willie (bass, vocals) and Nico Jansen (drums, percussion), the band’s pulse has started to sound downright dangerous again — thick, swinging, and impossible to fake.

Every band says they’re “getting back to their roots.” Most of them mean they’re out of ideas. CROBOT means it like a blood oath. They’ve stripped it all down to the muscle and marrow, rediscovering that holy intersection where Sabbath’s weight meets Funkadelic’s freak, where Clutch’s swagger shakes hands in the Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic Chili-Peppers era. This isn’t nostalgia — it’s resurrection. The past few years have sanded off a lot of pretense. What’s left is a band that’s learned how to breathe again, how to groove again, how to trust the dirt under their boots. They’ve been through the industry grinder, the touring trenches, the ego traps, and the inner wars — and somehow came out grinning wider, riffing harder, and sounding more alive than they have in a decade.

That rebirth roars to life on “Gun to My Head,” the first shot fired from their upcoming album. It’s CROBOT at their most unfiltered — hook-heavy, groove-drenched, and thick with the kind of swagger that makes amps sweat. The song’s chorus swings like a pendulum between surrender and salvation, the sound of four musicians testing their own limits and finding freedom on the other side. It’s not about violence — it’s about the pressure of transformation, the push and pull between love, truth, and the kind of pain that forces you to evolve.

“Sometimes you’re forced to take a step back and reflect on what really matters,” explains Yeagley. “Every note has a reason, every word a purpose. We’re etching something in-blood into the CROBOT discography – and Gun to My Head felt like the best taste of what’s to come.”

CROBOT in 2025 isn’t chasing relevance. They’re chasing feel. That unspoken alchemy that happens when four lunatics hit a downbeat and the room levitates for a second. They’ve traded the smoke and mirrors for sweat and instinct, and it shows.

Call it rebirth, call it regression, call it whatever you want — CROBOT is back where they belong: knee-deep in the groove, grinning like thieves, and daring you to prove them wrong.

REMAINING US DATES

11/22 Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
11/23 Philadelphia, PA – MilkBoy

MIKE SHOUSE Releases New Video ‘Smiley Faced Emoji’ from New Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 22, 2025
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Shouse has released a new video for “Smiley Faced Emoji” from his new album Jaded, released September 2025.

Shouse was born Michael Stephen Shouse on September 27th, 1970 in Jackson, KY. In 1992 he moved to LA and attended the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, CA. He has written articles and lessons for online sites such as chopsfromhell.com and guitar9.com, and has been featured in magazines like Progression, Fireworks and The Sound guitar magazines. He released “Enter the Soul” in 2001 and the song “Man” was on a compilation CD “International Anthems: Volume 1” in 2002. His second release Alone on the Sun was released in June 2010 and got rave reviews worldwide. The title track “Alone on the Sun” was featured on the new compilation cd “Gods of Indie Guitar 2011” and premiered on the Australian tv show “Guitar Gods and Masterpieces.”

Jaded is his first release in 15 years and he’s back with friends! Featuring guest solos from legends Michael Angelo Batio, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and Tony MacAlpine. Filling out the band on drums, the best of the best, from NY, Charlie Zeleny (Drumageddon, Jordan Rudess and Terry Bozzio). Playing bass, from Los Angeles, James Amelio Pulli (Metal Hall of Fame bassist for Impellitteri). Mixed and mastered by Nashville legend Billy Decker. As Shouse states, “This album is a rebirth for me in many ways,” and critics from around the world are taking notice.

Watch “Bucket of Bolts” here: https://youtu.be/MZq6WXb4w9g

Get your copy here: https://www.dekoentertainment.com/inthesquare/mike-shouse

Track list:
(Prelude) Romeo and Juliet
Romeo Is Gone
A Bitter Cold
Let’s Go
Smiley Faced Emoji
Bucket of Bolts
Jaded
Memoriam
Upon Looking Back

For more information: www.dekoentertainment.com

FIREBORN Release New Single Video ‘Point Of No Return’ from Upcoming Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 22, 2025
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Fireborn release the first single ‘Point Of No Return’ from their upcoming album ‘Dreamcatcher’, which will be released on 23 January 2026. This first song already reflects everything you can look forward to on the upcoming album: a distinctive raspy voice, unbridled enthusiasm and hard rock as it should sound today.

The accompanying video was created by Christopher Aschenbrenner (dein-videograf.de/) and produced by Schmier (Destruction).

Digital: save-it.cc/epr/point-of-no-return or SPOTIFY

The album will be released on CD, colored vinyl, and in a strictly limited collector’s box set, and is already available for pre-order at fireborn.epr.rocks.

Vinyl color: Curacao

Collector’s box set: individually numbered, bandana with FIREBORN logo, “Titans Of Fire” patch, and personally signed autograph card.

Tracklist:
01 – Dancing With The Villain
02 – Set The World On Fire
03 – Point Of No Return
04 – Likes For A Life
05 – Pull The Trigger
06 – Little Wanderer
07 – Crisis Of Youth
08 – Dreamcatcher
09 – Flashlight
10 – Out Of The Edges
11 – Human

Biography FIREBORN:
The focus is on Jenny, a singer who captivates audiences with her unique, raspy voice, her wide vocal range, and her ability to effortlessly switch between delicate tones and pure power. She is supported by Dennis (guitar), Raphael (drums), Chris (bass), and Rick (guitar)—a band that doesn’t just play music on stage, but unleashes energy. In 2019—then still under the name Dislike Silence—the band reached the finals of the 37th German Rock and Pop Awards, taking third place in the “Rock” category. The big step followed in winter 2021: recording sessions at Little Creek Studio in Gelterkinden, produced by Schmier (Destruction) and recorded by V.O. Pulver (Pro- Pain, Burning Witches, Nervosa). Their debut album, Reflections, was released in 2023 via the US label Deko Entertainment and not only landed Fireborn on the official rock and metal charts, but also on stages with Silbermond, Burning Witches, Destruction, and other major players in the scene. Musically, Fireborn combine the energy of modern American hard rock with the soul of classic rock – full of atmosphere, emotion, and memorable melodies.

We’ll be throwing a release party on January 24, 2026 at @VivaBar (ex Notlösung) in Lörrach, and we’d love to see as many of you there as possible! ALL INFOS HERE: www.facebook.com/share/17cSuUisCF/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Line-up:
Jenny Gruber – Vocals
Raphael Singh – Drums
Rick Götze – Guitars
Dennis Weber – Guitars
Christian Lehr – Bass

More Info: 
www.fireborn-official.com/
www.facebook.com/Firebornofficial
www.instagram.com/fireborn_band/
linktr.ee/fireborn_band

SEDNA Stream New “Sila Nuna” LP, Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 22, 2025
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The full album premiere of SEDNA‘s new record “Sila Nuna” is now live at No Clean Singing. Following a long and intense creative process, the album marks the band’s most transformative chapter, blending raw aggression with immersive storytelling drawn from Inuit mythology. The exclusive stream offers listeners an immediate descent into the record’s dramatic tension, atmospheric depth and refined sense of pacing.

With “Sila Nuna”, SEDNA affirm their evolution while remaining anchored to the introspective core that has defined their identity, delivering a work that feels both violent and evocatively cinematic: a powerful new milestone in their artistic journey.

Stream “Sila Nuna” at THIS LOCATION.

The album was released yesterday, on November 21st, 2025 via Dusktone.

The Cesena-based band, known for its introspective nature and a discography steeped in darkness and intensity, continues to follow a coherent path of growth, distant from trends, deadlines, and external expectations. Since their inception, the group has always taken the necessary time to create music that feels authentic, essential, and deeply lived.

“Sila Nuna” is a compound word of Inuktitut origin meaning “Sky and Earth.” With this new album, SEDNA move away from the mythological and astronomical themes explored in their previous four records to delve into Inuit mythology, narrating myths and legends from the peoples of the ice. From Tulugaq, the Raven god and bringer of light, to Amarok, the shadow wolf who guards the forest, to Torngarsuk, the protector of the spirit realm, passing through Arnajuinnaq, goddess of wind and ice, and finally reaching Sedna, the goddess of the sea.

With this record, the band embraces a more violent and aggressive sound, shortening song lengths to achieve a sharper, more immediate impact on the listener, while still preserving their experimental vein. This approach reaches its peak in the closing track “Sedna”, dedicated to the sea goddess and featuring S. D. Ramirez of PSYCHONAUT 4 and Agnese Alteri as guest vocalists.

The creation of “Sila Nuna” was marked by a long and turbulent process, spanning nearly two years and involving multiple lineup changes due to the accumulated stress of finding the right sound to embody such a complex thematic concept. The band regards this release as a turning point, both professionally and stylistically, aiming for a less instinctive yet more pragmatic, precise, and refined approach – a sign of human and artistic maturity for the project.

The album was recorded by Mirko Abà in Ravenna (guitarist of Stygian and now bassist of SEDNA) and mixed and mastered by Jack Shirley, “Sila Nuna”.

Tracklist:

1 Niruaq
2 Torngarsuk
3 (Qimmuktuq I)
4 Amarok (feat. Giò from P4)
5 (Qimmukruq II)
6 Tulugaq
7 (Qimmuktuq III)
8 Arnajuinnaq
9 (Qimmuktuq IV)
10 SednA (feat. Shoco from P4 and Agnese Alteri)

With this work, SEDNA reach a new synthesis of their sonic language. The album reveals a sound that is raw and instinctive yet more self-aware, one that merges the ferocity of black metal and the weight of sludge and post-metal with a refined melodic sensibility. It is an album that feels like both an open wound and a catharsis: visceral, direct, yet contemplative and profoundly human.

While atmospheric black metal remains the most accurate label, to confine SEDNA within a single genre would be limiting. Their music is made of nuances and deviations, a sonic flow that crosses darkness in search of balance between aggression and introspection. “Sila Nuna” stands as the testimony of a fully matured vision, from a band that has learned to turn chaos into form and tension into language.

With this new chapter, SEDNA reaffirm their nature as an ever-evolving entity, capable of introspection and of offering the world music that doesn’t seek answers, but digs deeper questions.

Album line-up:

Alex Crisafulli – Vocals/Guitar
Rolando Giulio Ferro – Drums
Edoardo Martinelli – Vocals/Bass
Fabion Dautaj – Guitar

Current line-up:

Alex Crisafulli – Vocals/Guitar
Rolando Giulio Ferro – Drums
Mirko Abà – Guitar
Lucio Minghetti – Guitar

https://sednablack.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/sedna_o/
https://www.facebook.com/Sedna.O/