RITCHIE BLACKMORE Gives His Blessings to WILLIAM SHATNER’s In-Progress Metal Album, Virtuoso MARCUS NAND Confirmed as Featured Guitarist

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 15, 2026
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When you’re looking for a great guitar solo, you need a great guitarist to play it.  Thats what William Shatner thought as he was playing through the early material he has already gathered for his upcoming Metal album, and that’s exactly what he did.  

Shatner was listening back to “The Grim Reaper,” a new song that he cowrote with guitarist Marcus Nand, and while he was personally happy with the performance, he also sent their demo to the Rainbow/Deep Purple legend to ask what he thought, and what he might do different.

Ritchie got back to him directly.  ““The guitar solo on what you sent is very good. I don’t feel I can add anything to change or improve it.”

So Nand, already widely regarded as one of the best, if under-rated, guitarists on the current scene, known for his refined, tasteful playing style, takes one more giant step towards immortality.  Ritchie, after all, is renowned for his refusal to accept second best… if he says something’s good, you’d better believe it’s good.

And Nand is good, his eclectic upbringing formulating a style that spans the flamenco traditions of Spain, the soulful depths of blues, and the raw power of rock. This unique blend has garnered him significant recognition, notably through his work with long-time David Bowie sideman Mike Garson; the metal band Freak Of Nature, featuring Mike Tramp; and the world music-infused rock ensemble Ziroq, alongside another Bowie veteran, bassist Carmine Rojas.  

Blackmore, who has previously collaborated on two William Shatner albums, the Blues and Christmas albums, also expressed his gratitude for being considered for this new project and conveyed his encouragement.

And so work continues apace on this most eagerly-awaited of albums, but if you can’t wait to hear just how good a guitarist Nand is, catch his debut solo album The Traveler, released in 2024 by Cleopatra Records. Garson, Tramp and Rojas all appear on the album, alongside Billy Idol collaborator Steve Stevens.

More on Marcus Nand, here.

Symphonic Power Metal Opera Sensations LIVA Sign with Wormholedeath

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 15, 2026
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Wormholedeath is proud to announce the signing of Canada’s premier Symphonic Power Metal Opera force, LIVA, for the worldwide reissue of their masterful album, Ecce Mundus, due for release on May 29, 2026.

Ten years after their previous release, Liva returns with a new album, Ecce Mundus (“This is the world”). According to composer Pier Carlo Liva, this is his most ambitious work since Requiem (2002).

The album pushes the band’s signature blend of power metal and classical music even further. Expansive sonic exploration and detailed orchestration open up a broader instrumental scope. Liva also returns to Latin texts, drawing from medieval sources and themes rooted in Antiquity. The record explores the glory of Rome, the story of Samson and Delilah, and enduring human flaws such as greed, corruption, and hypocrisy—issues that remain unchanged from ancient times to today.

Known for its symphonic power metal opera approach, Liva is among the first Canadian acts to merge classical music and metal in this format.

The lineup on the new album features Nadine Guertin (soprano), Pier Carlo Liva (death and tenor vocals, guitars, electronics), Martin Tremblay (bass), and Claude Lacroix (drums). Following the recording, Philippe Leblanc joined the band as the new drummer.

Liva’s back catalog includes Requiem (2002), a heavy metal interpretation of the Latin requiem mass; De Insulis (2007), based on the Latin texts of 12th-century theologian Alain de Lille; and Human Abstract (2013). In March 2002, the band performed live with a 13-piece chamber orchestra for a Radio-Canada broadcast. The following year, they received the MIMI award for “artiste le plus avant-gardiste” (most avant-garde artist), recognizing their fusion of classical and metal.

Over the years, Liva has shared the stage with acts such as Voivod, Gorguts, Nightwish, Kataklysm, and Therion.

The album also features key collaborators. Christophe Pilon contributed orchestrations, while Christophe Viau created the album artwork. Long-time collaborator Patrick Bouchard, who has worked with the band since 2002, handled the graphic design.

Ecce Mundus was recorded and mixed by Pier Carlo Liva at Magic Forest Studio. Mastering was completed by Maxime Lacroix at House of Gain Studio.

Tracklist:
1-De avaritia et luxuria mundi
2-Materiae summa
3-Ecce mundus demundatur
4-Sunt 3m34s
5-Samson & Dalila I
6-Samson & Dalila II
7-Obscura
😯 Roma nobilis
9-Silence

Experience the power and grandeur of Ecce Mundus through the video for “Samson & Dalila, Pt. 1″:

Connect with LIVA:

www.livaband.com
www.instagram.com/livametalband
www.tiktok.com/@livametalband
www.youtube.com/@musicLiva
livametalband.bandcamp.com

BOYS FROM HEAVEN Unveil New Video Single ‘Hold Your Heart’ from Upcoming Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 15, 2026
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Photo by Mads Noyé

Denmark’s finest AOR export, Boys From Heaven, unveil today a new single, “Hold Your Heart”, along with an official video, ahead of their upcoming third studio album, “The Wanderer”, set for release on May 22, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.

The band commented: “Every great rock album needs a grand ballad. “Hold Your Heart” is the hopeful melancholic flipside to our previous single. Where “How Long” was a tale of regret, “Hold You Heart” is the hopeful story of a hopeless romantic, the longingly naive inner monologue of a dreamer. And if the saxophone fade-out towards the end doesn’t immediately transport you to a simpler, more carefree time, then we don’t know what will!”

Pre-Order “The Wanderer” HERE

“The Wanderer” marks a significant milestone for Boys From Heaven, as their debut release for Frontiers Music. Known for their unique blend of 80s rock nostalgia and fresh, forward-thinking songwriting, the band continues to carve out their own niche – one that evokes the timeless class of Toto, the smooth sophistication of the L.A. soft rock scene, and their own Scandinavian melodic sensibility.

Produced by frontman Chris Catton together with the band, and mixed and mastered by genre heavyweight Erik Martensson (Eclipse, W.E.T.), this new chapter sees Boys From Heaven refining their sound to its purest form. 

The result is an album that shines with lush, almost luxurious arrangements, velvety layers of keys and sax, pristine harmonies, and melodies that stay with you long after the music stops.

The band stated: “Recording the last record ourselves and having Erik Martensson take care of mixing and mastering was a winning combination, so we had no doubt that we wanted to do the same thing with “The Wanderer”. 

“With the new album we’ve leaned even harder into that 1980’s synthesizer-driven power rock sound, and our fans can definitely look forward to an album which is high-energy right from the first chord is struck, all the way to when the last note has rung out”, they added. “We can’t wait to share it with you all!”

With special guest contributions from Lucas Szczyrbak (bass) and Michael Catton (background vocals), the album is a true ensemble effort, executed with taste, precision, and emotion. From the first track to the last, the band demonstrates their deep respect for the genre’s legacy while injecting it with rich textures, impeccable songwriting, and a clarity of vision that’s rare in modern melodic rock. 

Warm yet vibrant, technical yet deeply human, this album confirms that Boys From Heaven are not just students of AOR – they’re master craftsmen.

“The Wanderer” Tracklist:

1.    I’ll Wait
2.    Hotline
3.    Hold Your Heart
4.    Street Life
5.    Say Goodbye
6.    How Long
7.    Eileen
8.    I Will Never Let You Down
9.    Time Is On Our Side
10.    Till The Bitter End

Line Up:
Chris Catton – Lead vocals 
Jonas Klintström Larsen – Saxophone 
Mads Noyé – Keyboards 
Mads Schaumann – Guitar and backing vocals 
Søren Viig Mathiesen – Drums

Guests:
Lucas Szczyrbak – Bass
Michael Catton – Background vocals

Follow BOYS FROM HEAVEN:
Website
Facebook
Instagram

Rock Takes Sanremo by Storm: The Second Edition of Two-Day SCREAM ROCK FESTIVAL Kicks Off in May

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 15, 2026
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After the success of the first edition, great rock returns to the City of Flowers, Sanremo (Italy). On May 29th and 30th, starting at 9:00 PM, Mamely (Via Gioberti, 37) will host the SCREAM ROCK FESTIVAL, a two-day event of pure energy dedicated to the best independent and historic bands from the Ligurian and national music scene.

The event, created to showcase original productions and live performances, this year boasts the prestigious international support of Metal Shock Finland, with the technical collaboration of Rock Fog Service and the support of Luca Rolando and Il Conte di Ramello.

The Program:
The festival will unfold across two evenings with distinct soundscapes, yet united by the quality of their compositions:

  • Wednesday, May 29th: The scene lights up with the sonic experiments of the Artichokes, the “acid-garage” energy of Le Carogne, and the historic heavy metal of Wild Wings, fresh from their recording comeback.
  • Thursday, May 30th: An electric marathon featuring the alternative rock of Applefield, the hard rock of the historic Hollywood Heartbreakers (who reunited in 2025), the visceral rock of Jennifer Scream, and the dreamlike indie-rock atmospheres of No More Mario.

Event Details:
Location: Mamely, Via Gioberti, Sanremo – Italy.
Time: Concerts start at 9:00 PM.
Admission: Free, with the option of seated dinner (reservations recommended).

The Scream Rock Festival remains an unmissable event for fans of the genre, uniting different generations of musicians under the common denominator of loud music and uncompromising creativity.

For more information: https://www.instagram.com/scream_rock_festival

GRAPHIC NATURE Return with New Single + Video ‘Faceless’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 14, 2026
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Photo Credit: Harry Steel

London quartet Graphic Nature have returned with new single, ‘Faceless’, a feral slab of nu-metalcore, digging into identity, pressure and the urge to strip everything back. It leans into that raw, cathartic side of the band while keeping things direct and grounded. The release, the band’s first for new label home Century Media, lands just ahead of their one-off London headline show on April 30th. ‘Faceless’ is a track to sit with when things feel a bit too real, or simply just to play loud and get out of your head for a minute.

“Faceless is the beginning of the new era of Graphic Nature,” states frontman Harvey Freeman. “We spent a lot of time working on what we wanted to get out of the new sound, our collective influences helped pave the way for what we’ve created. We are pleased to announce this single will be released via our new record label Century Media.”

Listen to the single here: https://graphicnature.lnk.to/Faceless-SingleNE

Graphic Nature are fast becoming one of the most uncompromising voices in modern heavy music, fusing the grit of nu-metal with the weight and precision of contemporary metalcore. Since emerging with their debut album ‘A Mind Waiting To Die’ (2023) and its follow up, ‘Who Are You When No One Is Watching?’ a year later, the band have built a reputation for crafting visceral, groove-driven tracks that channel frustration, identity and the pressure of modern life into something raw and immediate.

With a growing live presence and a string of increasingly confident releases behind them, Graphic Nature are stepping into their next chapter with purpose. Leaning further into heavier textures and sharper conceptual ideas, the band continue to refine a sound that feels both familiar and forward-thinking, positioning themselves as one of the UK’s most vital and confrontational new heavy acts.

FORTHCOMING LIVE SHOWS:

APRIL
30: LONDON The Dome

JULY
04: PILSEN Fajtfest

AUGUST
03: DUBLIN Academy (w/ Northlane)
04: BELFAST Limelight 2 (w/ Northlane)
06–09: KORTRIJK Alcatraz Festival
06–09: WALTON-ON-TRENT Bloodstock Festival

GRAPHIC NATURE is:
Harvey Freeman (vocal)
Pete Woolven (guitar)
Matas Michailovskis (guitar)
Jack Bowdery (drums)

SOULFLY Unleash Gritty Animated Visual for ‘Favela/Dystopia’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 14, 2026
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Arizona extreme metal trailblazers SOULFLY unleash the groove-heavy onslaught of ‘Favela/Dystopia.’ Taken from their latest album, Chama, the track features Zyon Cavalera commanding the kit, injecting a modern intensity into the band’s signature tribal-infused sound.

For this visual journey, the band enlisted Matt Creeptoon to bring the track to life through haunting animation. The video offers a stark, unflinching portrayal of life within the Brazilian favelas, perfectly capturing the gritty reality behind ‘Favela/Dystopia.’ 

Max Cavalera states, “Nightmare Before Christmas meets City of God! This video showcases the struggles of Brazilians living in the favellas, with the thrash  Metal side of Soulfly’s Chama. Amazing animation by Matt Creeptoon!”

Order Chama: https://soulfly.bfan.link/chama

Watch the gritty new animated video for ‘Favela/Dystopia’—a visceral portrayal of the struggle:

The onslaught continues! SOULFLY are entering the home stretch of their U.S. trek, supporting the mighty GWAR on ‘The Gor-Gor Strikes Back Tour with KING PARROT.

04.14.2026  Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
04.15.2026  Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall
04.17.2026  Sacramento, CA @ Channel 24
04.18.2026  Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
04.19.2026  San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
04.20.2026  Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater
04.21.2026  Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
04.23.2026  Austin, TX @ Emo’s
04.24.2026  Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
04.25.2026  Mobile, AL @ Soul Kitchen Music Hall
04.27.2026  Chattanooga, TN @ The Signal
04.28.2026  Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
04.29.2026  Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore

Purchase the tickets here: https://www.soulfly.com/tour

Chama Track listing
1. Indigenous Inquisition
2. Storm the Gates
3. Nihilist
4. No Pain = No Power
5. Ghenna
6. Black Hole Scum
7. Favela / Dystopia
8. Always Was, Always Will Be…
9. Soulfly XIII
10. Chama

CHAMA was recorded at the Platinum Underground Studio in Mesa, Arizona by John Aquilino. John has worked with Max and company multiple times before and is not only a talented engineer but a family friend. The album was produced by Zyon Cavalera and Arthur Rizk. The latter was also responsible for the mixing and mastering. Rizk has not only worked with the Cavalera family numerous times before, but has also helped to shape the world of heavy metal in the modern day. SOULFLY enlisted Carletta Parrish to create the album artwork. For the album, Igor Amadeus Cavalera (GO AHEAD & DIE, NAILBOMB, HEALING MAGIC) played bass and Mike De Leon played guitar. The album also includes features from Dino Cazares (FEAR FACTORY) and Todd Jones (NAILS).

SOULFLY‘s line-up on Chama is :
Max Cavalera | Vocals & Guitar
Igor Amadeus Cavalera | Bass
Zyon Cavalera | Drums
Mike De Leon | Guitar

More information:
https://www.facebook.com/SoulflyOfficial
www.instagram.com/thesoulflytribe
www.x.com/thesoulflytribe
open.spotify.com/user/soulflyband
www.youtube.com/@soulfly
www.tiktok.com/@thesoulflytribe