It must be something in the chilly water. Or our world famous beer. But going back to the ’60s, Canada has had a string of legendary musicians that have found fame with more than their first band that lit the spark of creativity! Such rock royalty that struck gold more than once include Randy Bachman (Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive), Kim Mitchell (Max Webster), Greg Godovitz (Fludd, Goddo), Mike Reno (Moxy, Loverboy), Tom Cochrane (Red Rider) and Andy Curran (Coney Hatch, Envy Of None) who all lead the charge with some of the greatest rock moments in Canadian history!
Easily added to the list is guitar phenomenon and multi-instrumentalist, Greg Fraser, who has relaunched his great new band Storm Force and released album number two, Truth, on our very own BraveWords Records.
As BraveWords scribe Carl Begai wrote spot-on, Canadian hair band hopefuls, Brighton Rock, lasted ten years and three albums, riding out the mid-to-late ‘80s with a decent amount of success in their homeland, calling it quits in 1991. Outside of sporadic live reunion shows over the next two decades, guitarist Greg Fraser went on to join Helix, then launched the rock trio Fraze Gang in 2006 featuring Brighton Rock bassist Stevie Skreebs.
Fraser wears that Canuck Canadian rock royalty crown, and we are proud to have him and his talented cohorts, Patrick Gagliardi (vocals), Mike Berardelli (bass) and Roger Banks (drums). Truth is a melodic rock fan’s feast for the ears with a varied ten-song collection including “Anti Social Media” and “Fire Starter”, which leans on classic AC/DC feel and a Myles Goodwyn guitar feedback vibe! And the title track hits deep with meaning, given society these days.
Truth is filled with attitude and punch, songs that will rock you, roll you and warm your metal heart as we approach the real meaning of the Great White North!
King Buffalo have released “Vagabond”, the second single from their upcoming album, Doomsayer, out December 4th, 2026, as a self-release in North America and through Stickman Records in Europe. Preorders are available via http://kingbuffalo.bigcartel.com and https://www.stickman-records.com.
“’Vagabond’ was recorded in our new studio space, so it felt fitting to have the video take place there too,” drummer Scott Donaldson shares about the band’s newly constructed Rochester studio space. “It’s been a long road getting the space to where it is today, and there’s still plenty to do. From the beginning we have a vision of creating somewhere that functions as a proper recording studio while also being presentable and versatile enough for video. It feels great to finally share a glimpse of the new home we’ve built for ourselves, and to debut the second single from Doomsayer.”
The trio previously released “The Slick and The Dead,” a track Consequence said “merges classic desert rock a la Kyuss with Deep Purple-style organ accents and melodic flourishes.” The Obelisk also weighed in, saying the new songs “capture the dynamic chemistry between the three of them at its most vibrant, breathtaking and viscerally heavy.”
“Doomsayeroriginated in early 2026 out of many hours of jam sessions in our new studio space, playing around and seeing where it took us,” explains guitarist/vocalist Sean Roa, who also produced and mixed the album. “We didn’t really have an end goal in mind of what we were going for. We were simply exploring ideas and seeing what ended up speaking to us the most. So much has happened, both as a band and in our personal lives since our last record, that ended up becoming the inspiration to many of the lyrics on Doomsayer. I think as a result, this is some of our most upfront, direct and riff-driven work to date. We are incredibly proud of it and can’t wait for it to get out into the world.”
Four years on from Regenerator, King Buffalo returns with a record shaped by years of international touring and a deepening confidence in their own sound. Recorded in the new studio the band built themselves, Doomsayer finds the trio continuing to reach into the unknown, while bringing a greater sense of focus and intention to their sound. The experience they have gained on the road is evident throughout the album, both in the poise of the material and the confidence of their delivery. Like the pandemic trilogy that preceded it, Doomsayer was made at home, but the band’s new surroundings have given them the freedom to continue exploring and finding new ground, with a maturity they have earned one stage at a time.
[Cover artwork by See Machine]
Doomsayer Tracklist: 1. Battling The Mystagogues 2. The Slick and the Dead 3. Vagabond 4. Hell or High Water 5. Into the Foundry 6. Ether on the Dark Side 7. Doomsayer
The band launch their North American tour on Oct. 29 in Boulder with support from L.A. Witch (Oct. 29 to Nov. 21, except Los Angeles), Doom Gong (Dec. 3 to 5 and Dec. 18), and Handsome Jack (Dec. 8 to 12). A European trek was announced with Spirit Mother opening on all dates. Ticket links are available at Kingbuffalo.com/tour.
North American Tour 2026 29.10.26 Boulder (US), Fox Theatre 30.10.26 Denver (US), Bluebird Theatre 31.10.26 Salt Lake City (US), Urban Lounge 02.11.26 Portland (US), Aladdin Theatre 03.11.26 Vancouver (CA), The Pearl 04.11.26 Seattle (US), Neumos 06.11.26 San Francisco (US), The Independent 07.11.26 Los Angeles (US), Lodge Room 09.11.26 Solana Beach (US), Belly Up 10.11.26 Phoenix (US), Crescent Ballroom 11.11.26 Albuquerque (US), Sister 13.11.26 Dallas (US), AM/FM 14.11.26 Austin (US), Mohawk 17.11.26 Houston (US), Bad Astronaut 19.11.26 Nashville (US), Basement East 20.11.26 Asheville (US), The Grey Eagle 21.11.26 Cincinnati (US), Woodward Theatre 03.12.26 Detroit (US), El Club 04.12.26 Chicago (US), Thalia Hall 05.12.26 Cleveland (US), The Roxy 08.12.26 Toronto (CA), The Mod Club 09.12.26 Montreal (CA), Theatre Fairmount 10.12.26 Boston (US), Brighton Music Hall 11.12.26 New York (US), Le Poisson Rouge 12.12.26 Philadelphia (US), Underground Arts 15.12.26 Richmond (US), The Broadberry 16.12.26 Durham (US), Motorco 17.12.26 Washington (US), Black Cat 18.12.26 Columbus (US), Skully’s
European Tour 2027 with special guests SPIRIT MOTHER 02.03.27 Hamburg (DE), Grunspan 03.03.27 Antwerp (BE), Trix 04.03.27 Haarlem (NL), Patronaat 06.03.27 London (UK), Scala 07.03.27 Manchester (UK), Gorilla 09.03.27 Bristol (UK), Electric Bristol 11.03.27 Paris (FR), Petit Bain 12.03.27 Essen (DE), Zeche Carl 13.03.27 Cologne (DE), Kantine 14.03.27 Stuttgart (DE), Wizeman 15.03.27 Munich (DE), Backstage Halle 17.03.27 Berlin (DE), Festsaal 19.03.27 Copenhagen (DK), Pumpehuset 20.03.27 Gothenburg (SE), Monument 21.03.27 Oslo (NO), John Dee 21.03.27 Stockholm (SE), Debaser Nova 22.03 – Stockholm, SE Debaser Nova
King Buffalo is: Sean Roa – Guitar, Synth & Vocals Dan Reynolds – Bass & Synth Scott Donaldson – Drums & Percussion
Dystopian black‑metal stewards Abhoria return with “Ambition and Delusion,” a blistering new single and music video to kick off October USA Southwest tour with Colorado folk‑doom conjurers Velnias. The track offers the first glimpse into Abhoria’s forthcoming third album, slated for 2027 via Black Lion Records. “Ambition and Delusion” expands Abhoria’s signature fusion of bleak black‑metal aggression and death‑metal intensity, while introducing a more progressive edge. The song surges from mid‑paced dissonance into tremolo‑picked chaos and full‑blast fury, punctuated by an unexpected steel‑guitar interlude performed by vocalist Ben Pitts, a rare flourish in black metal that sets the stage for the track’s soaring melodic solo. Lyrically, the single explores the psyche of James Gordon Bennett, Jr., the eccentric publishing magnate infamous for scandalous behavior, reckless ambition, and the disastrous North Pole expedition he sponsored. Presented from Bennett’s own perspective, the song examines his desperate desire to transform public embarrassment into heroism, driven not by altruism, but by ego, entitlement, and delusion.
For the music video, Abhoria again collaborated with director Hunter Lamar of Digital Myle, who previously helmed the band’s 2024 visual for “The Well.” The new video blends intense performance footage with stylized vignettes of Bennett portrayed in the aesthetic of classic silent cinema, complete with title cards and era‑appropriate framing. Guitarist/songwriter Trevor Portz cites inspiration from seeing He Who Gets Slapped (Lon Chaney) at Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo, CA, noting that the silent‑film approach “captured the perfect atmosphere for Bennett’s fractured worldview.” “Ambition and Delusion” was mixed by Herbrand Larsen at Conclave and Earshot Studios and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios.
Abhoria will bring “Ambition and Delusion” to the stage as they join Velnias for a run of immersive, atmospheric, and emotionally heavy performances across the Southwest this October (dates listed below). “We’re so excited to hit the road with our friends in Velnias! These will be the first shows in the Southwest, and we’re looking forward to debuting songs from our forthcoming album alongside older material. It promises to be an evening of extreme metal overindulgence!” adds Abhoria‘s Trevor Portz.
Tour Dates: Oct 18 – Austin, TX – The Lost Well Oct 19 – Midland, TX – Cotton Flat Records Oct 20 – El Paso, TX – Mona Bar Oct 21 – Santa Fe, NM – Stom Box Oct 22 – Cottonwood, AZ – Queen B’s Vinyl Café Oct 23 – Tucson, AZ – Chicago Bar Oct 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Knucklehead Hollywood
About Velnias:
Emerging from the Rocky Mountains of Nederland, Colorado, Velnias took shape in 2006 under the vision of Andrew Scherer and Petras Vaznelis. Their craft unfolds as a ritual expression of the paradox of existence, where the intimate spark of the microcosm meets the vast crucible of the macrocosm. Each performance carries a deep atmospheric pull, marked by meditative weight and a primordial, immersive presence that sets them apart from other extreme‑music acts.
Following the release of their singles, ‘Shadows’ and ‘Revolution’ which featured guest vocals from Benji Webbe of Skindred, South Wales rockers James Kennedy and The Underdogs are keeping it moving with their latest single, ‘Kill the Machines’ which is out now on Konic Records.
The song is a high speed visceral attack on the growth of AI with its chanting “Kill the Machines” chorus and Nirvana-esque fuzz riffery, echoes of Serj Tankian vocals and manic whammy guitar solo. Singer, James Kennedy says: “Kill the Machines is about AI, social media, troll farms and propaganda. We’ve gotta get rid of that stuff. Turn it off, pull the plug and put a boot heel through the screen. They want to kill human art, truth and connection? We say Kill the Machines”
The band have been closing their live shows with the song for the past few months with its irresistible final-groove breakdown leading to increased destruction on stage. A music video featuring clips of the bands anarchic, high energy live shows from the past year will accompany the single.
Kennedy devotes an entire chapter to his loathing of AI and the way it is infiltrating the arts in his 2025 book ‘Loud Medicine’ in a chapter also called ‘Kill the Machines’. In it, he says: “A robot knows no struggle; it knows no pain; it knows only its master – and its master ain’t us”
James Kennedy and The Underdogs are an alternative rock / punk band from Newport, South Wales, formed in 2023 by singer, author, podcaster and former Kyshera frontman, James Kennedy. The band includes Jack Davies on guitar, Elliot Blake on bass, and Aggy Nowicka on drums, all former and current members of the bands Kane’d, Catalysts, and Ravenbreed.
In their mere three years as a band they have already earned a reputation for their anarchic and high-energy live shows, described by the Moshville Times as “pure rock ‘n’ roll energy” and as “Wales’ most vital live act” by Uber Rock. Their first album ‘Make Anger Great Again’ was released via Konic Records, and new album Rebel is due for release on the same label later in 2026
With their new single “Tale of four broken men”, tAKiDA reveal a more confrontational side of their sound. The track is the next preview of their upcoming studio album Numbers, out January 8, 2027, via Napalm Records. The release is accompanied by a video visualizer that brings the song to life.
The lyrics set the tone with themes of frustration, disappointment, and ignorance colliding with unrestrained rage. Broken souls, cold ashes, and the feeling of being trapped in a repeating cycle all feed into the song’s sense of mounting tension. The line “Rage, I will use it on stage” turns the stage into an outlet – a place where inner turmoil becomes explosive energy. Following the emotional intimacy of previous single “In your bed”, “Tale of four broken men” offers another glimpse into the emotional range of Numbers.
tAKiDA on “Tale of four broken men”: “When disappointment/anger takes over for a minute and words are not enough. You lose all perception of reality for a short time because the disappointment between old friends is too much to bear. You wish bad things to happen and hate becomes your biggest enemy.”
tAKIDA on the new album: “Numbers is an album filled with rage and darkness but there’s also love and a bit of hopefulness in it. Sometimes that’s all we need. Because when those two worlds collide something scary but fascinating happen. How will your day and night be like? However, we had the best of times making it.”
With Numbers, tAKiDA enter the next chapter of their impressive career. Since forming in 1999, they have established themselves as one of the most successful rock bands in their home country, with seven platinum singles, five platinum albums and five #1 albums to their name. Having long since reached arena level in Sweden, the band’s international success continues to grow. Their popularity is also steadily expanding in Germany, where their 2024 album The Agony Flame reached #8 on the German album charts – their highest chart position in the country to date.
Tracklist: 1. Tale of four broken men 2. In your bed 3. Emma 4. When hope ends 5. The memory of us 6. Stay 7. Dirty Diana 8. Turn every stone 9. So far away 10. Everything’s wasted
tAKiDA LIVE In January 2027, tAKiDA will bring their “Section 7 Tour” to Germany, Austria and Switzerland for a total of 16 shows. Continuing their steady rise into bigger and bigger venues, the band is already playing arenas in their native Sweden. Ad Infinitum will join as special guests.
Section 7 Tour 2027 w/ Ad Infinitum 09.01.27 DE – Munich / Zenith 10.01.27 DE – Frankfurt / Jahrhunderthalle (Kuppelsaal) 12.01.27 DE – Saarbrücken / Garage 13.01.27 DE – Kassel / Probonio Arena 15.01.27 DE – Leipzig / Quarterback Immobilien Arena 16.01.27 DE – Oberhausen / Turbinenhalle 17.01.27 DE – Aurich / Stadthalle 19.01.27 DE – Flensburg / Deutsches Haus 20.01.27 DE – Münster / Jovel Music Hall 22.01.27 DE – Hanover / Swiss Life Hall 23.01.27 DE – Hamburg / Sporthalle 24.01.27 DE – Berlin / Columbiahalle 26.01.27 AT – Vienna / Flex 27.01.27 DE – Erlangen / Heinrich-Lades-Halle 29.01.27 DE – Ludwigsburg / MHP Arena 30.01.27 CH – Pratteln / Z7
tAKiDA are: Robert Pettersson – vocals Kristoffer Söderström – drums Chris Rehn – bass, guitars, keyboards, arrangements & programming Tomas Wallin – guitars Mattias Larsson – guitars Anders Lundström – bass guitar
Los Angeles hard rock band Blacklist Union have released their new single, “Heavy Is the Crown,” available now on all streaming platforms. Centered on perseverance, the song explores the importance of pushing through life’s darkest moments, recognizing that dawn is always on the horizon, and understanding that success comes with responsibility.
“Heavy Is the Crown” delivers a message about resilience and the strength it takes to keep moving forward when the road gets difficult. Its central theme reflects the idea that the challenges we face can ultimately shape who we become and that achieving success brings its own weight, expectations, and responsibilities.
Tony West comments, “‘Heavy is the Crown’ means that ‘shit ain’t easy, but you have to suit up and show up anyway.”
The release comes on the heels of Blacklist Union’s recent six-week European tour alongside rock legends Faster Pussycat and Lorraine Lewis of Femme Fatale. The tour brought the bands across Europe for a run of shows celebrating the enduring spirit of hard rock.
While spending a few days in Paris following the tour, Blacklist Union frontman Tony West made the trip even more unforgettable when he proposed to his girlfriend, Lorraine Lewis, vocalist of Femme Fatale, atop the Eiffel Tower. With the iconic Paris skyline as their backdrop, Lewis said yes, giving the European adventure a memorable romantic finale.
Tony West says, “Everything that is happening right now is like walking through the keyhole to my biggest dreams. I’m here to bring the wow factor and the fire to the firefight… so let’s rock this shit.”
“Heavy is the Crown” is available now on all digital streaming platforms. Watch the official music video now and stay tuned for additional tour announcements and more new music from Blacklist Union.
Tony West formed Blacklist Union because he wanted to play music that he wanted to hear. They put out the first Blacklist Union record, After the Mourning, in 2006. The band’s name comes from getting the best musicians in town with the worst reputations. With a shamanistic blend of Stone Temple Pilots, Guns N’ Roses, Warrior Soul, The Cult, and Mother Love Bone… Blacklist Union was born.
Blacklist Union have built a reputation on their explosive live shows and unapologetically bold sound. Their previous record, Letters from the Psych Ward, racked up over two million streams, setting the stage for the band’s new album. The band’s latest release was Slay the Dragon that came out in September 2025.
Frontman Tony West, known for his larger-than-life presence, took time out to dive deep into several transformative ayahuasca journeys in the heart of the Amazon, preparing for this next era of music.
As West put it, “Ayahuasca isn’t a drug—it’s powerful spiritual medicine from another realm. It helped me heal in ways I never thought possible, releasing layers of trauma, heartache, and sorrow. I’m not perfect—not Gandhi or anything—but it changed everything. My entire view of myself, love, the world, people, and my children changed because of those experiences.”
West was raised in the Bronx on The Ramones, Bad Brains, and NYHC. Hearing the call of the wild west, he made his way to Los Angeles at 19 years old. West took a break from L.A. to try out Memphis in 1998. While he was there, he attended the first Saliva gig with Paul Crosby on drums. This marked the beginning of a lifelong friendship between Crosby and West, leading to management, song collaborations, and guest video appearances. West collaborated with guitarist Todd Youth (Murphy’s Law /Danzig) and Malfunkshun, which was kept active by Andy Wood’s brother Kevin Wood. Andy Wood is West’s muse, and he was honored to sing in his hero’s band.
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
