Subsolar creates spacious guitar-led music with soft vocals and an expansive feel, heavily inspired by moments in films that really speak to you, whether you can or can’t explain why. Coming from an indie background, the music has evolved toward a more cinematic sound, with layered textures and subtle dynamics that swell into big guitar moments and richer soundscapes.
Here and Now’, Subsolar’s second single, continues the emotional journey started in ‘Komorebi‘, but explores an earlier stage – before acceptance has fully settled in. The song is about being present while still creating distance, in essence acknowledging something difficult without fully confronting it. Lyrically, it captures the tension between wanting to stay grounded and not getting swept away emotionally. It inhabits that in-between space, reflecting the uncertainty of how to respond to change or loss, the need for distance, and the quiet comfort found in solitude.
Vocally, the spacious verses and swelling, layered choruses carry a soft, shimmering delivery, giving the track an intimate, reflective feel. The repeated refrain ‘Here and Now’ acts as a subtle anchor, grounding the listener amid conflicted emotions. Musically, a lightly hopeful backdrop contrasts the uncertainty in the lyrics, hinting at the possibility of moving forward despite the unease.
Joe Grange states: “I was caught between wanting to be present in my relationship and needing to pull away entirely. I wasn’t ready to accept that my Dad wasn’t going to be around anymore, and that grief made it hard to fully be there for someone I cared about. Some days I wanted to hold on, to stay close and engaged, but other days I felt this almost instinctive need to retreat, to create distance so I could make sense of everything. I didn’t really know how to be there, or how to step back, and I was just trying to find some balance in the middle of all that uncertainty.“
In narrative terms, ‘Here and Now’ is a step before Komorebi. Capturing the tentative, questioning stage that precedes the clarity and acceptance explored in the debut single. It’s a moment of pause, introspection, and emotional balancing, reflecting the early process of coming to terms with life’s ups and downs.
‘Here And Now’ was recorded at Magic Garden Studios and produced by Gavin Monaghan & Liam Radburn.
Between 1970 and 1973, Steve Marriott and HUMBLE PIE were responsible for some of the most enthralling live shows of the era, alongside some of most remarkable hard rock albums of the age – a sequence topped, of course, by 1971’s Rockin’ The Fillmore, still ranked among the greatest live albums ever made, and one of the first double live rock albums ever, as well.
Yet, two years earlier, the tapes rolled for a release that out-did even that… a 1969 show that Andrew Loog Oldham, whose Immediate label released Pie’s first two studio albums, swears was the best thing Humble Pie ever did under his aegis.
It’s an accolade with which it’s hard to disagree.
Humble Pie were undertaking their first ever US tour at the time, a two month outing that climaxed in mid-December on Sunset Strip, at the Whisky A-Go Go, and Marriott remembered the shows there as a fantastic experience for band and audience alike.
Plans to release the Whisky tapes as Humble Pie’s third album went unfulfilled, however, as Immediate Records disintegrated in early 1970. In fact, it would be 30 years before the tapes finally surfaced, but immediately they were acclaimed a true classic – and yes, superior even to the legendary Fillmore set.
And on November 21, Sunset Boulevard 1969 not only reappears in best-ever sonic quality, but also for the first time on vinyl; and truly, neither band nor performance have ever sounded better.
Marriott recalled the tour very much as “make or break” for the band. Although they had built a strong reputation in the UK and Europe, he was still recovering from the collapse of his last group, The Small Faces; still trying to regain his personal equilibrium.
America offered him the incentive he needed. “As soon as I began to rouse audiences a bit, [my old drive] began to slowly come back and I realized what we had to do and how we could do it. It was lovely, a good feeling. When we first formed, I was much more in the background and quiet. It was suddenly like I’d taken over the whole stage, which was something I couldn’t help but do, because when my confidence came back, it came back with an almighty bang.”
That bang reverberates across the album, through epic versions of The Yardbirds’ “For Your Love” and Johnny Kidd’s “Shakin’ All Over”; a short sharp take on Marriott’s own “The Sad Bag of Shakey Jake”; a positively Behemothic “I Walk On Gilded Splinters” and, released today as the band’s latest single, Ray Charles’s “Hallelujah, I Love Her So” – one of the most beloved, and certainly most dynamic performances in the band’s entire catalog.
There are a lot of Humble Pie live albums available today, dating back as far as the early 1970s and forward to the last gigs the band ever played, in the US in the early 1980s. And all of them capture the sheer brilliance of frontman Marriott, as a singer, a songwriter, an interpreter, a guitar player.
But Sunset Boulevard 1969 is something else entirely… not just a great show by a great band, but a 50 minute immersion in everything that truly great rock’n’roll music should encapsulate – light and shade, wildness and restraint, mood, magic and mayhem. And one of the most phenomenal vocalists we’ve ever heard.
Following the release of their brand-new album “Stronghold”, German epic melodic metal veterans HUMAN FORTRESS unveil the official video for their haunting new single “The Darkest Hour”.
The song delves into the shadowy realm between dream and waking life — a liminal space where fear and confusion merge. As the band explains: “The nightmares come every night and you can no longer distinguish between dream and reality.”
Musically, “The Darkest Hour” embodies the emotional intensity and melodic strength that define “Stronghold”: powerful guitar-driven arrangements, dramatic vocal lines, and an atmosphere charged with both grandeur and despair. It is a track that perfectly encapsulates the album’s darker edge and its reflection on human vulnerability.
Produced by the band and mixed/mastered by Alex Krull (Mastersound Studio), “Stronghold” is available now via Massacre Records as a 2-CD Digipak and limited vinyl LP. With “Stronghold”HUMAN FORTRESS reaffirm their place as one of Germany’s most respected epic metal institutions, delivering an album that is both timely and timeless.
Track listing:
CD 1 Stronghold The End Of The World Pain Mesh Of Lies The Abyss Of Our Souls Under The Gun Silent Scream Death Calls My Name Road To Nowhere The Darkest Hour
CD 2 Obey Another Lord Pathfinder Lost With The Wind We Are Legion (Japan Bonus Track)
HUMAN FORTRESS are Gus Monsanto – Vocals Todd Wolf – Guitars Volker Trost – Guitars Axel Herbst – Keys André Hort – Bass Apostolos Zaios – Drums
“October 31st, marked the end of the harvest! The boys in WICKED are bringing an offering when the veil is at its thinnest! Now you can’t put it down. It ignites your nerves, setting fire to your veins, and all you know is you want more. Are you in love or is this something else? Fixation, fascination and lust. Rock N Roll like you’ve never heard it before! There’s a new full length album from WICKED on the horizon and you just may become obsessed after the first single drops this Halloween. Be aware; Obsession by WICKED will be unleashed today on all digital streaming services, accompanied by a live visualizer! You’ve been warned! Your latest Obsession will be WICKED!”
“We’ve been really busy in the studio over the last year digging deep into a song writing chapter that has continued to evolve from our previous albums. With each album we feel a growth and evolution that seems to follow us through our lives. As we leave the “Sunburn” album in the rear view and all its reflection of our extreme lifestyle and ups and downs as we started this band, we now look forward to a song writing chapter of where we are going! We can’t wait for you to hear our upcoming album release, but for now we hope you find yourself obsessed over our first single and all of its fresh, exciting nuances!” – Danny
“When we first sat down to write Obsession, we were fueled by so many exciting experiences in our lives touring and meeting some of the most interesting characters in Rock N Roll. It was clear our lives had been consumed and fixated on being rockstars and we wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s something romantic, dark and sexual about that kind of devotion in an ethereal way. Which isn’t surprising that this track is dripping with that kind of lyricism and influence.” – Scotty V
“It was so liberating to dive head first into this track and allow it to call on so many different influences. Melodic rock with a metal edge, just take a listen to that break down in the bridge! It’s already a fan favorite part for those who’ve caught sneak peaks at our recent shows!” – Gunnar
“Becoming obsessed with something can be such an experience, sometimes for the best and sometimes for the worst. Once it starts, it’s almost impossible to take hold of and reel in. We wanted to put all of that into this song and really take the listener to where we’ve found ourselves. Like a runaway train ablaze, this song will bring the heavy, melodic power you’ve been looking for when you just need to Rock The F*#K Out!” – Chad Michael
“Obsession” opens the floodgates of upcoming releases and music videos for WICKED’s latest upcoming album due early 2026! Let the song rip as you Rock this Halloween and let yourself become obsessed with the magic of straight ahead High Energy Rock N Roll in 2025! The band will be celebrating the release of the new single “Obsession” with a special release show on November 7th at Record Archive in Rochester NY. First 50 people will get a limited signed Obsession poster!
Norwegian quartet KALANDRA welcomes the colder season today with the release of their new EP Mørketid! The EP is a collection of reimagined songs, evocative of the slow-paced, quiet and cozy upcoming winter months.
Mørketid features four tracks, two of which are carefully reimagined covers, alongside two of their original compositions. The EP is out digitally via By Norse Music and can be found HERE
Tracklist 01. Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker WATCH HERE 02. Till The End 03. Ghosts 04. Hymna Til Blåfjell
Kalandra comments: “This song has been part of our lives since childhood, and reimagining it felt both daunting and beautiful. We wanted to honor its deep roots while giving it a voice that speaks to who we are today—less about tradition, more about the universal feeling of winter longing.”
To celebrate the release, the band also crafted a beautiful visualiser for the song ‘Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker’, which can be viewed HERE.
On the 18th of February 2026, Kalandra will be celebrating their 15th anniversary. This special occassion will be marked with a concert at Rockefeller —their first performance in Oslo in almost two years, and their biggest headlineshow in Norway to date, together with special guest Sylvaine and IBEN. Tickets for the show are available down below.
Kalandra is a Norwegian/Swedish quartet that blends melancholic Nordic influences with gritty guitars and ethereal melodies, crafting haunting musical landscapes rooted in raw emotion and cinematic depth. Formed in 2011, the band has spent over a decade shaping a sound that is uniquely their own—building a dedicated studio space, refining their musical identity, and supporting acts such as Leprous, Gåte, Wardruna, Heilung and Eivør.
Following the success of their 2020 debut album The Line and their atmospheric soundtrack for the video game Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands, Kalandra returned in 2024 with their second album A Frame of Mind. Drawing from their years of growth and collaboration, the new record is their most expansive to date—showcasing versatility while staying true to the immersive soundscape that defines them.
A Frame of Mind invites listeners on an introspective journey, reflecting on how life’s experiences shape our perception of the world. The album explores what we choose to include—and exclude—within the frame of our everyday lives, revisiting memories of hardship, childhood, and the growing uncertainty of the future.
With performances at major festivals like Hellfest, Kalandra continues to expand their audience across Europe. In 2025, the band is set to play their first Australia tour this November!
Cosmic stoner metal outfit HOWLING GIANT from Nashville, Tennessee release and stream their acclaimed third full-length “Crucible & Ruin” today, on October 31, 2025. Among many great reviews, the album has also scored top ten positions in the soundchecks of leading German magazines ROCK HARD (4/49) and VISIONS (7/25)!
HOWLING GIANT comment: “Having been a fan and friend of this band for years, getting the invite from Tom to come try out was flattering to say the least“, guitarist and synth player Adrian Zambrano writes. “The answer was certainly easy to make… but the not so easy part? Learning an entire record in 5 weeks on two instruments! The studio experience was an absolute blast. The guys were all too pumped to experiment with all sorts of sounds, synths and textures. We’re so incredibly proud of these tunes and also excited about getting on the road and unleash them on stage. Let ‘er rip!“
Furthermore, HOWLING GIANT will be joining ANCIIENTS as special guestslive in Canada & the US in November 2025. Please find thecurrently confirmed live datesbelow.
Tracklist
Canyons
Hunter’s Mark
Archon
Lesser Gods
Beholder I: Downfall
Archivist
Scepter and Scythe
Melchor’s Bones
The Observatory
Beholder II: Labyrinth
Line-up Tom Polzine – guitar, vocals Zach Wheeler – drums, vocals Sebastian Baltes – bass, vocals Adrian Lee Zambrano – guitars, synthesizers
Guest musicians Kim Wheeler – additional synths and EWI on ‘The Observatory’ Adam Nohe – additional percussion on ‘Beholder I: Downfall’
Produced by Neil Tuuri, Kim Wheeler, and James Sanderson Engineered by Neil Tuuri at Amish Electric Chair Studios, Athens, OH (US) Additional vocal tracking by Kim Wheeler in Nashville, TN (US) Mixed by Neil Tuuri at Amish Electric Chair Studios, Athens, OH (US) Mastering by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege Mastering, Portland, OR (US)
Artwork by Susan M. Davies — Layout by Łukasz Jaszak
Live with ANCIIENTS 04 NOV 2025 Columbus, OH (US) Ace of Cups 05 NOV 2025 Indianapolis, IN (US) Black Circle 06 NOV 2025 Chicago, IL (US) Live Wire Lounge 07 NOV 2025 Toronto, ON (CA) Lee’s Palace 08 NOV 2025 Montreal, QC (CA) Piranha Bar 09 NOV 2025 Ottawa, ON (CA) Dominion Tavern 11 NOV 2025 Boston, MA (US) O’Briens 12 NOV 2025 Portland, ME (US) Geno’s 13 NOV 2025 Providence, RI (US) The Parlour 14 NOV 2025 New York City, NY (US) Woodshop 15 NOV 2025 Philadelphia, PA (US) Kung Fu Necktie 16 NOV 2025 Baltimore, MD (US) Mobtown Ballroom 18 NOV 2025 Nashville, TN (US) Arcane Workshop 19 NOV 2025 Chattanooga, TN (US) JJ’s Bohemia 20 NOV 2025 Huntsville, AL (US) Mad Malts 21 NOV 2025 Jacksonville, FL (US) The Albatross 22 NOV 2025 Bradenton, FL (US) Obscura
HOWLING GIANT take another huge step on their third full-length “Crucible & Ruin”, a collection of sparking ideas, captivating melodies, and heavy riffing close to perfection – quite a feat of on-point songwriting for such a still young band!
This is the band’s first album to feature new fourth member Adrian Lee Zambrano. Although the guitarist and synth player arrived somewhat toward the end of the writing process, he was still able to add his mark with cool textures on the record. The extra guitar certainly adds even more punch to HOWLING GIANT‘s sound, which delivers a slightly more aggressive approach compared with predecessor “Glass Future” (2023).
It also helped the overall feel of “Crucible & Ruin” that this is the band’s first album to be entirely recorded in a proper studio setting as opposed to their home studio, “the bunker”. HOWLING GIANT even leaned into some raw band live takes to capture the emotion in the room.
Lyrically, “Crucible & Ruin” explores the story of the clash of a novice deity against the forces of primordial chaos as an overarching theme that loosely connects the songs. This is also reflected in the album artwork, which was painted by the mother of guitarist and vocalist Tom Polzine, featuring a unique style of alcohol ink on yupo paper.
HOWLING GIANT hail from Nashville, Tennessee, USA, sidestepping the self-proclaimed Music City’s assembly line of modern pop country while taking inspiration from the brilliant songwriters and virtuoso session players that keep the town’s musical legacy burning bright. Fertile ground for a preeminent fuzz-psych power trio, now turned quartet, who consciously live in the pocket of that lineage!
Following a trilogy of EPs, “Howling Giant” (2015), “Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 1” (2016), and “Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2” (2017), HOWLING GIANT struck a chord with critics and fans on their debut full-length “The Space between Worlds” in 2019. “Glass Future” proved a gargantuan leap for the band that now featured Sebastian Baltes, son of legendary ACCEPT bass master Peter Baltes. Released in 2023, “Glass Future” brought their outstanding musicianship and triple vocal attack fully into stride.
HOWLING GIANT storm forward once more in defiant refusal to remain still. Having grown into a four-piece as well as in their prowess as musicians and songwriters, “Crucible & Ruin” is an album at least as big as their name. Don’t take our word for it, just give it a spin – or two or three…
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
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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
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