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DODGY to Release New Single ‘Summer Forever’ on 29th May

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 24, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: DODGY. Leave a comment

DODGY release new single “Summer Forever”, out 29th May, as Chris Evans names it Virgin Radio Record Of The Week. New album “Hello Beautiful” out now on Flip Flop Records. 

●  Brand new single already a fan favourite and made track of the week on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Virgin Radio UK
●  Martin Carr (The Boo Radleys) include a ‘darker’ remix of Dodgy’s new single
●  Top music entrepreneur – Alan McGee – is now the band’s new manager
●  Free Peace Sweet 30th autumn anniversary shows now available

Britpop icons Dodgy are set to release their next single from the critically acclaimed album “Hello Beautiful”, alongside recently announced dates for their Free Peace Sweet 30th anniversary tour this autumn.

Described by Chris Evans as “a great, great song”, new single “Summer Forever” was played live twice when the band appeared on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio UK.

Chris Evans said: “Okay you just listened to Dodgy. That is a world exclusive – how good is that song? Oh my gosh! Yeah, days gone by were wonderful, they were wondrous, we will never forget them but these are the future good old days – right here, right now. Dodgy, let’s hear it one more time. What a tune!”
Chris then announced: “I can already declare… that is already next week’s record of the week. There you go, that is brand new. We’re going to play that every day at 8.15am.”

“Summer Forever” will be released on Friday 29 May and is already a fan favourite whenever it has been played during the band’s recent “Hello Beautiful” UK tour. For anyone who grew up during the Britpop era, the new song captures the warm, instantly recognisable harmonies that made Dodgy a defining part of the country’s festival scene, wrapped in a haze of melodic nostalgia.

Singer Nigel Clark said: “We have been overjoyed by the reaction from people following the release of the album, and the new songs have fitted in so perfectly within our family of songs. “Summer Forever” has already gone and taken on a magic of its own.”
“I wrote “Summer Forever” reminiscing about those endless summers when I was a kid, a time filled with optimism and a sense of invincibility. Everyone looks back on happier, safer, warmer times, and that’s completely understandable but we can’t live in the past or wish those days back. We have to keep looking forward. As we say towards the end of the song – ‘Let the Future Shine.’”

In addition to the release of “Summer Forever”, the band will also be including the release of a special remix from Martin Carr (ex- Boo Radleys) that is entitled “What Future?”.

Drummer Mathew Priest said: “We’ve always loved Martin’s work with the Boo Radleys, especially the sonic explorations in Lazarus and the Giant Steps album. We share a publisher and they suggested the remix so we jumped at the chance to see what Martin would do.
“I love how he has offered an alternative idea of perhaps a darker, more pessimistic view. His remix is a half empty glass to the original song which is half full, and we love how he’s come at it from that angle, as it’s totally valid”

Dodgy have enjoyed a spectacular beginning to 2026 following the success of recent singles “It’s Not The End” and comeback track “Hello Beautiful”, which earned the band their first Top 40 chart appearance in more than a decade. The band have also recently welcomed legendary music entrepreneur Alan McGee, the founder of Creation Records and the man who famously signed Oasis, as their new manager.

When asked about the new album, Alan said: “I’ve always loved Nigel Clark’s song writing. It’s exciting to be working alongside the band as they enter a new chapter with “Hello Beautiful”, with these new songs we’re looking forward to seeing Dodgy make a comeback.”

Free Peace Sweet turns 30
Later in 2026, Dodgy will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of their classic album Free Peace Sweet with a series of very special shows featuring special guests The Icicle Works.

Originally released in 1996, Free Peace Sweet delivered some of the band’s biggest songs and remains one of the defining British guitar albums of the era, featuring hits including “Good Enough”, “In A Room”, “If You’re Thinking Of Me” and “Found You”. The anniversary shows promise a full celebration of the album alongside fan favourites from across the catalogue.

FREE PEACE SWEET // 30TH ANNIVERSARY SHOWS
London: Saturday 26 September, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Bristol: Thursday 1 October, O2 Academy
Birmingham: Friday 2 October, O2 Institute
Manchester: Saturday 3 October, O2 Ritz
Liverpool: Friday 9 October, O2 Academy

Tickets for all live shows and for more album info head to: www.dodgyology.com

Still writing their story
Formed in the late 1980s, Dodgy went on to become one of the defining bands of the 90s British guitar boom, releasing five albums, selling more than two million records and landing 12 UK Top 40 singles. Their enduring hit “Good Enough” remains one of the most played songs on British radio of the last three decades.

Still fronted by original members Nigel Clark, Mathew Priest and Andy Miller, the band continue to evolve while retaining the optimism and melodic instinct that first connected them with audiences more than thirty years ago.

With new music arriving, a major UK tour confirmed and anniversary celebrations on the horizon, Dodgy head into 2026 busier – and sounding stronger – than they have in years.

https://artists.landr.com/DodgyINTE
https://www.facebook.com/dodgyuk
https://linktr.ee/dodgyology
https://dodgyology.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dodgyband
https://x.com/dodgyuk

AVATAR Announce “Don’t Go In The Forest” Tour Throughout Europe in Autumn 2026

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 24, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Avatar. Leave a comment
(photo credit: Johan Càrlen)

Following a monumental summer that sees AVATAR supporting Metallica on their global juggernaut and lighting up some of Europe’s most iconic festival stages before heading Down Under to Australia, the Swedish theatrical metal titans are ready to end the year on their own terms. AVATAR are thrilled to announce a headline tour across Europe this late Autumn 2026.
 
Lead singer Johannes Eckerström says, “A Europe in November. A Europe in December. Cold, wet and dark. We all know what it’s like, and we know exactly what you’ll need. The first European leg made us feel very lucky to be doing this. This time around, we will do everything within our power to make you feel lucky to participate. We live by but one ethos: Better than ever. I really want to see you, and you really don’t want to miss this.”
 
The tour kicks off on 20th November in Wolverhampton, UK and runs through until 19 December in Wrocław, Poland. The Danish death metal band Neckbreakker will be support on all dates. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, May 26 at 10am local time from here: https://avatarmetal.com

AVATAR – ‘DON’T FO IN THE FOREST’ 2026

20.11.26 – (UK) Wolverhampton, KK’s Steelmill
21.11.26 – (UK) Southampton, O2 Guildhall
22.11.26 – (UK) Cardiff, Depot
24.11.26 – (IE) Dublin, National Stadium
25.11.26 – (UK) Belfast, Limelight
27.11.26 – (UK) Norwich, UEA
28.11.26 – (UK) Newcastle, Northumbria Uni
29.11.26 – (UK) Edinburgh, Corn Exchange
01.12.26 – (NL) Amsterdam, Gashouder
03.12.26 – (DE) Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle – Tickets
05.12.26 – (HU) Budapest, Barba Negra Red
06.12.26 – (CZ) Prague, Sasazu
08.12.26 – (AT) Innsbruck, Musichall – Tickets
09.12.26 – (AT) Linz, Posthof – Tickets
10.12.26 – (DE) Ulm, Roxy – Tickets
11.12.26 – (LU) Esch-Sur-Alzette, Rockhal – Tickets
12.12.26 – (CH) Zürich, Komplex – Tickets
13.12.26 – (DE) Frankfurt, Zoom – Tickets
15.12.26 – (IT) Padova, Hall
16.12.26 – (SI) Ljubljana, Cvetlicarna
17.12.26 – (HR) Zagreb, Boogaloo
18.12.26 – (SK) Bratislava, Majestic Music Club
19.12.26 – (PL) Wrocław, A2

Supporting Metallica – Summer 2026

24.05.26 – (DE) Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank Park
11.06.26 – (HU) Budapest, Puskas Arena
19.06.26 – (IE) Dublin, Aviva Stadium
05.07.26 – (UK) London, London Stadium

Additional festival dates – 2026
07.06.26 – (NO) Trondheim, Trondheim Rocks
20.06.26 – (BE) Dessel, Graspop Metal Meeting
26.06.26 – (NO) Oslo, Tons of Rock
02.07.26 – (DE) Ballenstedt, Rockharz Festival
03.07.26 – (AT) Donauinsel, Donauinselfest
08.08.26 – (PL) Gdańsk, Rockowizna Festival
15.08.26 – (DE) Sullingen, Reload Festival
22.08.26 – (SE) Göteborg, Göteborg Brinner

AVATAR are:
Johannes Eckerström — Vocalist
Jonas Jarlsby — Guitarist
Tim Öhrström — Guitarist
 Henrik Sandelin — Bassist 
John Alfredsson — Drummer

AVATAR online:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

EMBRACE OF SOULS Release New Concept Album “Battle of the Dead” with Visualizer for ‘Eversun’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 24, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: EMBRACE OF SOULS. Leave a comment

Embrace Of Souls proudly unveil “The Battle Of The Dead“, the band’s new full-length album and most ambitious work to date, together with the release of the new focus track “Eversun,” further supported by a brand new Official Visualizer. Following the momentum generated by the previously released singles “Desolate Lands” and the album’s title track “The Battle Of The Dead”, the Italian power metal force pushes its artistic vision even further, delivering a record where epic storytelling, symphonic grandeur, and classic European power metal converge into a cohesive and emotionally charged listening experience.

Conceived as an 11-track fantasy concept, “The Battle Of The Dead” unfolds across a medieval world fractured into rival kingdoms where a mysterious plague begins corrupting human souls and slowly drags the continent toward an inevitable war between the living and the dead. Rather than unveiling every detail of the storyline, the band deliberately preserves the narrative’s mystery, inviting listeners to discover its deeper meaning through the interplay between music and lyrics. Themes of power, betrayal, sacrifice, and hope permeate the album, shaping a journey designed to be experienced in its entirety.

Musically, “The Battle Of The Dead” marks a decisive step forward for Embrace Of Souls. Firmly rooted in the legacy of ‘80s and ‘90s heavy and power metal while embracing the epic and symphonic scope of early-2000s European metal, the album delivers a sound that is both commanding and emotionally resonant. Driving guitar work, relentless double-kick rhythms, layered keyboards, and expansive choral arrangements form the backbone of the record, while the dynamic interplay between Giacomo Rossi’s powerful lead vocals and Martina Mazzeo’s operatic performances elevates the material with additional depth, contrast, and theatrical intensity.

Among the album’s standout moments is “Eversun”, the new focus track released alongside the album. Perfectly encapsulating the duality that permeates the entire record, the song balances darkness and melody through a powerful blend of energetic power metal, symphonic textures, and emotionally driven vocal arrangements. Defined by its dynamic pacing, triumphant melodic direction, and dramatic atmosphere, “Eversun” highlights the band’s increasingly mature songwriting approach while preserving the epic spirit that has characterized Embrace Of Souls since its inception.

Founded by drummer and composer Michele Olmi, Embrace Of Souls originally emerged as a studio project created to unite talented Italian musicians under a shared passion for classic heavy and power metal. Over time, the project evolved into a fully established live band, steadily refining its artistic identity while sharing the stage with renowned acts such as Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, and Rhapsody of Fire.

The album also features a special guest appearance by Morby (Domine), further strengthening the connection with the most authentic tradition of Italian power metal.

The record showcases a particularly refined production, enhanced by the mix and mastering handled by Alessio Garavello at Rogue Studios in London, bringing out both the album’s powerful rhythmic impact and its rich melodic and symphonic atmosphere.

With “The Battle Of The Dead“, Embrace Of Souls deliver their strongest and most complete statement to date: a record conceived not merely as a collection of songs but as a fully interconnected musical and narrative experience where epic power metal, symphonic atmospheres, and emotionally charged storytelling merge into a world waiting to be discovered.

Also watch previous videos:

Desolate Lands – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TS0sF6CQ2s​
The Battle Of The Dead – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UivMmjBSIY​

“The Battle Of The Dead” was released on May 22nd, 2026, in digital format and digipak CD edition, and will be available to be ordered at the following links:
​
CD DIGIPAK: https://rockshots.eu/products/embrace-of-souls-the-battle-of-the-dead-cd​
​DIGITAL: https://lnk.to/kwCVof​
​
​OFFICIAL MERCH: https://embraceofsoulsband.bigcartel.com/

RELEASE PARTY: MAY 30th, 2026​
Embrace Of Souls will present The Battle Of The Dead live at La Cripta Club (Cusano Milanino, Italy), alongside Derdian, Drakkar and Axe Blade.

Track Listing:​
1. The Battle Of The Dead
2. Eversun
3. The Plague
4. The Gathering
5. Spine
6. Who Can Save Us
7. Betrayal
8. The Dark Lord
9. The War (feat. Morby)
10. Sacrifice
11. Desolate Lands

Line-up:​
Giacomo Rossi – Vocals
Martina Mazzeo – Vocals
Edward De Rosa – Guitars
Xavier Rota – Bass
Davide Baldelli – Keyboards
Michele Olmi – Drums

More info: ​
​​https://www.rockshots.eu​
​https://www.instagram.com/embraceofsouls/​
​https://www.facebook.com/embraceofsoulsofficial/

WALLS OF BABYLON Unleash New Music Video for ‘Once Again’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 24, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: WALLS OF BABYLON. Leave a comment

Walls Of Babylon strike again with a brand-new, intense official music video ‘Once Again’, available from May 22, taken from their latest album Aeons Apart, released by Wanikiya Record/Promotion. A dark, cinematic, and deeply emotional visual work that perfectly accompanies the powerful and tormented soul of the album.

The new video tells the story of a wandering immortal forced to face a devastating choice:
save a life and finally discover his own death, or kill in order to continue his eternal journey.

An intense and symbolic narrative that places the conflict between survival and conscience, selfishness and moral principle, at its core. An impossible decision where every choice inevitably leads to irreversible loss.

“When personal interest clashes with a moral principle, we will never be the same again. Either way, we lose a part of ourselves.”

Through evocative imagery, dark atmospheres, and a strong cinematic imprint, the videoclip amplifies the deepest and most conceptual side of the creative universe of the Walls Of Babylon.

“Aeons Apart”: the new chapter of the Walls Of Babylon

With Aeons Apart, the Walls Of Babylon mark a crucial turning point in their career, opening a powerful, mature, and deeply ambitious new chapter in their musical journey.

A full-volume explosion of sound, successfully crafted to leave a lasting mark through a raw and visceral blend that bursts forward with direct and uncompromising sonic impact.

Aeons Apart flows like a continuous electric discharge: a compact work built on solid riffs, heavy grooves, and an energy that pulses through every track. It is an album that hits both those who live for saturated guitars and distortion, and those ready to be overwhelmed by something authentic and fierce.

Every detail has been carefully shaped to amplify the impact of each song: nothing is left to chance, and the band showcases a clearly defined artistic identity capable of standing out without relying on artificial tricks.

The nine tracks unleash a warm yet granite-solid sound, dense and immersive, where every instrument scratches and makes itself heard with determination. The style is essential, raw, almost ruthless in its simplicity: few frills, plenty of substance.

The title itself evokes temporal distances, inner fractures, eras separating and colliding. It tells the story of a fragmented humanity suspended between memory, awareness, and loss — between what once was and what can never be again.

In a musical landscape often saturated with releases that all sound the same, Aeons Apart arrives like a high-voltage electric shock: a flash tearing through monotony and proving that there is still room for something authentic, dirty, and damn alive.

CRIPPLE BASTARDS Unleash New Single ‘L’era della dispersione’ from Upcoming EP

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 24, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: CRIPPLE BASTARDS. Leave a comment

As previously announced, CRIPPLE BASTARDS will return on June 12th, 2026 with their new EP “La tua foto sul marmo”, set for release via F.O.A.D. Records.

Ahead of the release, the band has unveiled the new single “L’era della dispersione”, a new excerpt that once again underlines the unmistakable identity of the group, long regarded as a benchmark for relentless, uncompromising grindcore.

The EP further demonstrates the ability of CRIPPLE BASTARDS to remain true to their sonic core while expanding their approach with new dynamic solutions and a more layered songwriting style, adding depth without sacrificing the violence and immediacy that have always defined the band.

Stream “L’era della dispersione” HERE.

The music was recorded by Stefano Santi at SPVN Studio, while vocals were tracked by Carlo Altobelli at Toxic Basement Studio, with mixing and mastering also handled by Stefano Santi.

“La tua foto sul marmo” ultimately stands as a powerful manifesto of the unrelenting hunger that still drives this legendary band forward.

Tracklist:

01. Il respiro si chiude
02. Scarto del rimorso
03. Vendicativo
04. La tua foto sul marmo
05. L’era della dispersione
06. Ai confini di quel che puoi dire

Formed in March 1988 in Asti, northern Italy, CRIPPLE BASTARDS are one of the longest-running and most respected names in extreme underground music. What began as a raw collaboration between teenage misfits Giulio the Bastard and Alberto the Crippler quickly evolved into something far greater: a project rooted in the legacy of Italian hardcore acts like Negazione, Raw Power and Wretched, but pushed to new extremes through the emerging language of grindcore and noisecore.

After building a fierce reputation through demos, splits, and relentless DIY activity in the late ’80s and early ’90s, the band achieved global cult status, so much so that not knowing them almost feels like having lived under a rock. Their legacy is ultimately defined by a series of uncompromising full-length albums that shaped their identity and influence across decades.

Their debut album “Your Lies in Check” (1996) marked their official arrival on the international stage, followed by the highly acclaimed “Misantropo a senso unico” (2000), which further refined their bleak, nihilistic vision. The final breakthrough came with “Desperately Insensitive” (2003): widely distributed and repeatedly repressed, it became their best-selling record, surpassing 10,000 copies – an exceptional achievement in the grindcore world.

The band continued to evolve with “Variante alla morte” (2008), recorded in Sweden’s famed Studio Fredman, and “Frammenti di vita” (2010), a release that pays tribute to the Italian hardcore roots that inspired them. A major milestone followed with their signing to Relapse Records, which released “Nero in metastasi” (2014), a mature and devastating work that expanded their global reach even further. Their seventh full-length, “La fine cresce da dentro” (2018), confirmed a band still pushing forward creatively after three decades.

Beyond the studio, CRIPPLE BASTARDS have built an unmatched live reputation, playing hundreds of shows worldwide across Europe, the United States, Japan, Brazil, and Australia. They have shared stages with genre-defining acts and have appeared at major underground festivals such as Neurotic Deathfest, Brutal Assault, Obscene Extreme and Maryland Deathfest, among many others, earning the utmost respect from veterans of the extreme music scene.

Today, CRIPPLE BASTARDS are not just an Italian institution but a global cult phenomenon. Their enduring influence, uncompromising visio, and relentless activity have secured them a legendary status that transcends borders. An essential name in grindcore history that continues to inspire new generations worldwide.

“In being a surviving unit like Cripple Bastards for some 35+ odd years, it takes much persistance, perseverance and an undying spirit to wreck yourself, all out with Brutal-Fucking-Grind. Yeah, I said it. I said Brutal, so what. Brutal. That’s the supposed overused adjective that most ‘heavy’ band bios and descriptions overlook nowadays for fear of oversaturation or an unoriginal ‘old school’ repetitiveness. Thats the one word in the dictionary that C.B. should have fucking copywritten a long time ago. It fits them. It defines them. It IS them. Cripple Bastards are indelibly BRUTAL. In all ways; music, violence, artwork, attitude, politics. All born of this represenatitive and passionately destructive word. The mere fact that C.B. even exist confirms they OWN the goddamn word. C.B. are B-R-U-T-A-L. Understand it NOW. “

(Mike IX Williams, EyeHateGod / Arson Anthem / Outlaw Order 00%)

Line-up:

Giulio The Bastard – Vocals
Schintu The Wretched – Bass
Der Kommissar – Guitar
Raphael Saini – Drums

https://www.cripple-bastards.com/
https://www.facebook.com/cripplebastards
https://www.instagram.com/cripple_bastards/

VIOLET BREED Release Fifth Single ‘Sing’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 24, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: VIOLET BREED. Leave a comment

Violet Breed return with their fifth single “SING,” an electrifying rock anthem with music and lyrics written by Alex Gonzato & Brian Wheat, that blends alternative and classic rock influences with a bold modern edge. From the very first note, the track commands the attention of the listener. Driven by an anthemic chorus- layered in melodic vocal harmonies, soaring gritty guitars and thunderous drums that create an undeniable sense of urgency. It’s clear that with this latest release the band have explored a heavier and rebellious rock sound.

With its chant-like hook and high-energy delivery, “SING” is an uplifting rock song about using your voice as a rallying cry. Standing up for yourself and others around you urging listeners to break free from the routine and restrictions of everyday life and spreading a message of hope.

With bassist and founding member Brian Wheat at the helm of the track’s production and engineering, Violet Breed’s sound is pushed to its maximum potential- establishing a polished authentic sound that highlights the raw emotion and vocal performance of lead singer AleX.

Violet Breed continue to carve out their place within the alternative rock scene. “SING” showcases a sound that is both refreshingly urgent and unapologetically bold, marking an exciting new chapter for the band as they push their creative boundaries.

The release follows the band’s strong momentum, building on the success of their first four singles:

  • “Awake” reached #14 on the SMR Charts and #28 on Mediabase Activator  
  • “10 Years Sober” charted at #24 on SMR and #36 on Mediabase Activator 
  • “Endless Days” reached #18 on the SMR Charts and #37 on Mediabase Activator
  • “Stay Away” reached #14 on the SMR Charts and #38 on Mediabase Activator- Total Audience:180,000
  • “Awake” & “Endless Days” featured on Joe Elliot’s (Def Leppard) Sirius XFM & Planet Rock Radio Show
  • The first 4 music videos have surpassed 960k views

“SING” is available now on all major streaming platforms!

Violet Breed represents a powerful collaboration between Wheat, a seasoned rock icon, and AleX, a fresh and dynamic voice in the music industry. The pair have spent the last five years meticulously crafting an album that draws from their own life experiences, creating music that resonates with listeners of all ages. With honest and emotive lyrics, Violet Breed’s sound blends rich rock and pop influences, promising a unique and compelling listening experience.

The debut album showcases the musical prowess of the duo. Fans of both Tesla and AleX will be eager to hear the new material, as Violet Breed looks to make a significant impact on the global music scene.

Brian and AleX are able to tap into experiences from these diverse generations, which add to the depth of the music they produce. Their passion and inspiration for music is born from a shared love for records by The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Queen, and My Chemical Romance. Influences from these bands is subtly interwoven into their music.

For More Information Please Visit: Official Website – Facebook – Instagram – X – Linktree

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