Colorado’s Wayfarer are back. “Perdition’s Crossing“, the band’s first new music since their widely acclaimed 2023 album American Gothic, is out NOW – and it signals a bold new chapter. Featuring the singular voice of David Eugene Edwards (16 Horsepower, Wovenhand), the track marks the beginning of a journey into territory the band hasn’t explored before: dark, cinematic Americana, more desolate than anything in their catalog, but no less haunting for it.
The track was recorded in Colorado, and was produced by Ben Chisholm (Chelsea Wolfe), engineered by James Barone (Beach House), mixed by Iver Sandoy (Enslaved) and mastered by Alan Douches (Converge etc).
Accompanying the single is a music video directed by Brendan McGowan, known for his striking visually work with Tribulation, Imperial Triumphant, and many others.
“Perdition’s Crossing” is a track from Wayfarer’s forthcoming studio album Riders of the Setting Sun, an eight-track record due for release in late 2026 that sees the band push further into new sonic and emotional terrain. More details to follow.
To mark the occasion, Vesperian is releasing a strictly limited 12″ maxi-single of “Perdition’s Crossing” – 300 copies worldwide, pressed on black vinyl with a foldout sleeve featuring lyrics, band comments, and notes on each track. Artwork by graphic novelist Julian Brier. Side A carries the title track; Side B features two exclusives: a remix by Ben Chisholm of Chelsea Wolfe (who also produced the forthcoming album) and a field recording. 200 copies are available in the US, with 100 reserved for Europe exclusively through the Vesperian webstore, up for pre-order on July 23 and to be released in mid-August.
Wayfarer will perform at Fire in the Mountains this year, where the 12″ maxi-single – along with other Vesperian releases – will be available at the label’s festival stand. For all further details on availability at the festival and beyond, follow Vesperian on Instagram.
The band comments: “We have long walked a path that was very much informed by Denver Sound legends like 16 Horsepower, and Wovenhand, among many others. To work alongside someone like David Eugene Edwards is not only a bit of a dream come true for us, but also a perfect way for us to start down new roads of the Wayfarer sound that are being fleshed out. We are excited for this collaboration to finally see the light of day.”
Discography: Children Of The Iron Age (2014) Old Souls (2016) World’s Blood (2018) A Romance With Violence (2020) American Gothic (2023) Perdition’s Crossing (2026)
Line-Up (left to right): Joe Strong-Truscelli: Guitars James Hansen: Bass Shane McCarthy: Vocals, guitars Isaac Faulk: Drums
Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records are pleased to announce the signing of heavy rock power trio HIPPIE DEATH CULT.
The band comments, “We are beyond excited to announce our signing with Blacklight Media and Metal Blade Records, a label that has been a pillar of the metal community for decades and has always championed artistic integrity over trend-chasing, which is something we resonate with deeply. We are honored to be part of their esteemed lineage.
“Our journey has always been fueled by passion, creativity, and authenticity and we feel right at home working with a team who understands and shares these values. We can’t wait to unleash some of our most visceral music to date via one of the most respected labels in heavy metal history. Fires are burning and wheels are turning.”
HIPPIE DEATH CULT has steadily become one of the most exciting bands in the modern heavy music scene, pairing massive riffs, deep grooves, psychedelic textures, thoughtful lyricism, and hypnotizing melodies into a sound that feels both classic and contemporary. Formed in Portland, Oregon, the trio – guitarist Eddie Brnabic, vocalist/bassist Laura Phillips, and drummer Harry Silvers – has earned a reputation for delivering dynamic, emotionally charged songs and electrifying live performances that showcase their distinctive sound, transcending traditional genres and captivating fans worldwide.
Since their early releases with Cursed Tongue Records and Heavy Psych Sounds Records, the band has built significant momentum. Their 2019 debut album, 111, and its 2021 follow-up, Circle Of Days, received strong praise from critics and listeners alike, with both records topping the Doom Charts and numerous “Best Of” lists, solidifying HIPPIE DEATH CULT as a standout name in the underground scene.
Following these releases, the band’s evolution into a power trio marked a turning point, with Laura Phillips stepping into lead vocal duties and infusing even more identity and force into the group’s sound and chemistry. This progression came fully into focus on Helichrysum, the band’s first full-length studio album featuring Phillips on lead vocals. Released in 2023, the album was widely praised for its stronger songwriting, greater dynamic range, and the chemistry of the new lineup, becoming their most successful release to date in terms of streams and sales.
The band supported Helichrysum with over 250 shows across North America and Europe, including performances on major festival stages and headlining spots, further showcasing the raw power and intensity that have made their live shows a must-see.
Now signed to Blacklight Media and Metal Blade Records, HIPPIE DEATH CULT is entering a new phase with the most reach and momentum of their career. With a growing international fanbase, an increasingly refined sound, and a new release on the horizon, the band is poised to take the next leap forward. Stay tuned for a new full-length in 2027.
The band will be roadbound for the remaining weeks of Summer and much of the Fall beginning with a US tour that runs from August 14th through September 12th. HIPPIE DEATH CULT will head to Europe and the United Kingdom on September 30th for another stretch of live dates through November 1st.
“After months of dedicated work behind the scenes, transforming our garage into a creative sanctuary and crafting a new album, we’re pumped to finally hit the road again this Summer and Fall,” the band notes. “This tour is all about reconnecting with our incredible fans across the States and Europe, welcoming new recruits, jamming on some classics, and giving everyone in attendance a chance to be among the first to experience some new material before it hits the streets. We can’t wait to share these transcendent moments with you all!“
HIPPIE DEATH CULT Live: 8/14/2026 Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR w/ Abronia ** 8/20/2026 Sunset Tavern – Seattle, WA w/ Earth Tongue ** 8/21/2026 Silver Moon Brewing – Bend, OR w/ Earth Tongue ** 8/22/2026 The Dip – Redding, CA w/ Earth Tongue ** 8/23/2026 Rickshaw Stop – San Francisco, CA w/ Earth Tongue ** 8/24/2026 Zebulon – Los Angeles, CA w/ Earth Tongue ** 8/25/2026 Hotel Congress – Tucson, AZ w/ Earth Tongue ** 8/26/2026 Whiskey Creek Zocalo – Arenas Valley, NM ** 8/27/2026 Copeka Coffee – Grand Junction, CO ** 8/28/2026 Green Mountain Ranch – Pine, CO ** 8/29/2026 What’s Left Records – Colorado Springs, CO ** 8/31/2026 The Sinkhole – St. Louis, MO ** 9/01/2026 Raccoon Motel – Davenport, IA ** 9/02/2026 X-Ray Arcade – Cudahy, WI ** 9/03/2026 Black Circle Brewing Co. – Indianapolis, IN w/ The Well 9/04/2026 Frankie’s – Toledo, OH w/ The Obsessed 9/05/2026 Reggie’s Music Joint – Chicago, IL w/ The Obsessed 9/06/2026 James Ballentine Uptown VFW Post 246 – Minneapolis, MN w/ The Obsessed 9/08/2026 Reverb – Omaha, NE w/ The Obsessed 9/09/2026 Hi-Dive – Denver, CO w/ The Obsessed 9/10/2026 The DLC – Salt Lake City, UT w/ The Obsessed 9/11/2026 The Shredder – Boise, ID w/ The Obsessed 9/12/2026 The Chainsaw Cat – Yakima, WA ** ** HIPPIE DEATH CULT headlining date
EU/UK Tour Dates: 9/30/2026 Scumm – Pescara, IT 10/01/2026 Freakout – Bologna, IT 10/02/2026 MKNŽ – Ilirska Bistrica, SI 10/03/2026 Kino – Ebensee, AT 10/04/2026 Up In Smoke – Pratteln, CH 10/05/2026 Brin De Zinc – Chambery, FR 10/06/2026 Le Molotov – Marseille, FR 10/07/2026 Trinità Live Club – Genova, IT 10/08/2026 Hostaria – Castel D’Ario, IT 10/09/2026 Berchtesgaden – Kuckucksnest, DE 10/10/2026 Kulturfabrik – Kufstein, AT 10/11/2026 Camäleon – Vaduz, LI 10/13/2026 Conne Island – Leipzig, DE 10/14/2026 Sunny Red – Munich, DE 10/16/2026 HPS Fest – Berlin, DE 10/17/2026 HPS Fest – Dresden, DE 10/18/2026 Desertfest – Liege, BE 10/19/2026 1001 Bières – Reims, FR 10/21/2026 TBC – Copenhagen, DK 10/22/2026 Geronimo’s – Stockholm, SE 10/23/2026 Høstsabbat Fest – Oslo, NO 10/24/2026 Kulturscenen – Esbjerg, DK 10/27/2026 Mist Rolling Inn – Nottingham, UK 10/28/2026 Parish – Huddersfield, UK 10/29/2026 Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom – Norwich, UK 10/30/2026 Blondies – London, UK 10/31/2026 Moor Beer – Bristol, UK 11/01/2026 Saturnalia Records – Faversham, UK
To coincide with The Damn Truth’sAugust 2026 UK Tour that kicks off at The Live Rooms in Chester on Friday August 28th, and the Deluxe Editionof their self-titled album The Damn Truth (released September 11th), the JUNO Award-nominated Canadian rock band will perform a FREE 30-minute acoustic session at London’s Gibson Garage on Thursday August 27th from 2pm – 2:30pm.
The Gibson Garage acoustic session is open to the public. Entry is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans are advised to show up early on the day, to ensure admission to the rare and intimate acoustic performance. The band will perform songs from the Deluxe Edition of their album The Damn Truth.
The address of The Gibson Garage is 61-62 Eastcastle Street, London, W1W 8NG.
Originally released in 2025 and produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Bob Rock, the band’s self-titled album The Damn Truth marked a defining moment in the band’s career, blending timeless rock and roll, blues-infused swagger and fearless songwriting.
The album features the band’s latest single “The Willow” which spent eight weeks on Planet Rock; the UK’s premier classic rock radio station.
The Damn Truth (Deluxe Edition) is available to pre-order HERE.
As The Damn Truth prepares for another packed year of touring, the band will continue touring across the UK, Europe and Canada, including special guest appearances on Europe’s The Final Countdown – 40th Anniversary Tour, alongside festival appearances and headline shows.
07 Aug – Mont-Tremblant, Mont-Tremblant, QC, Canada 08 Aug – FESTIMUSIK, Stanstead, QC, Canada 22 Aug – Lost & Sound Festival, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, ON, Canada 27 Aug – The Gibson Garage, London, UK (Free Entry) 28 August – The Live Rooms, Chester, UK 29 Aug – Stonedead Festival, Newark, UK 30 Aug – Nightrain, Bradford, UK
SEPTEMBER 2026
01 Sep – The Globe, Cardiff, UK 02 Sep – Cavern, Exeter, UK 03 Sep – The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes, UK 04 Sep – Bear Cave, Bournemouth, UK 06 Sep – The Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool, UK
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN – 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR FEATURING SPECIAL GUESTS: THE DAMN TRUTH
30 September – Glasgow, SEC Armadillo, UK 2 October – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall, UK 3 October – London, Eventim Apollo, UK 5 October – Arnhem, Musis Sacrum, Netherlands 6 October – Paris, L’Olympia, France 8 October – Barcelona, Poble Espanyol, Spain 9 October – Bilbao, Arena Miribilla, Spain 10 October – Madrid, La Cubierta, Spain 12 October – Lausanne, Salle Métropole, Switzerland 13 October – Zurich, Volkshaus, Switzerland 14 October – Milan, Alcatraz, Italy 16 October – Stuttgart, Liederhalle, Germany 17 October – Vienna, Gasometer, Austria 19 October – Berlin, Admiralspalast, Germany 20 October – Warsaw, COS Torwar, Poland 22 October – Frederiksberg, Falconer Salen, Denmark 23 October – Gothenburg, Sweden 24 October – Stockholm, Sweden 26 October – Oslo, Sentrum Scene, Norway
Italian melodic metal veterans FELINE MELINDA are proud to announce the release of their brand-new EP Duets II, arriving on October 2, 2026 via Diotima Records.
Serving as the follow-up to the highly acclaimed Duets EP released in 2019, Duets II once again teams the band up with singer Doris Albenberger, whose distinctive pop-rock voice brings a fresh emotional dimension to some of the band’s most beloved songs.
Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, FELINE MELINDA embrace both tradition and renewal. Alongside a refreshed visual identity and an updated band logo, Duets II showcases the group’s enduring passion for melodic songwriting while reaffirming their commitment to evolving without losing the sound that has defined their career for four decades.
The EP features five carefully selected songs spanning different eras of the band’s catalogue. Two tracks have been re-recorded as brand-new duet versions revisited with new vocal arrangements, two fan favourites from the Seven era have been added, as well as one song released in 2025 a single, creating a balanced journey through heartfelt ballads, melodic anthems and powerful hard rock.
Strong melodies, memorable choruses and expressive guitar work remain at the heart of FELINE MELINDA‘s music. Guitarists HeadMatt and Francesco Pinter enrich the songs with tasteful solos and melodic textures, while the vocal chemistry between Rob Irbiz and Doris Albenberger adds warmth, depth and new perspectives to every performance. The EP draws inspiration from themes of love, hope, personal growth and emotional resilience, offering listeners a collection that is both intimate and uplifting.
Duets II will be released digitally worldwide through Diotima Records, while a limited CD digipak edition will be available directly from the band for collectors and longtime supporters.
The EP was recorded, edited, mixed and mastered by Marco Ober and Sascha Paeth, while the atmospheric cover artwork was created by Rhett Podersoo.
Tracklist
More Than Ever
Seventh Heaven
Morning Dew
Seven Sins Seven Lies
Before The Dawn
For nearly four decades, FELINE MELINDA have represented one of Italy’s longest-running melodic metal acts. Formed in South Tyrol in 1986, the band has consistently blended melodic hard rock, power metal, AOR and emotional ballads into a distinctive sound that has earned them a loyal following. With Duets II, FELINE MELINDA celebrate their legacy while proving that inspiration, passion and musical chemistry continue to drive the band forward.
Swiss spheric rock trio BIRDLORD unveil “Where Do You Lead”, the third and final single taken from their forthcoming debut album, Dreams Lie In The Eagle’s Eye, due for release on September 25th, 2026 via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records on deluxe limited colored vinyl and digital.
Stream “Where Do You Lead” on all platforms.
Following the release of “Plumas Y Espadas Para Luchar” and “En Dónde Me Perdí”, the new single further showcases BIRDLORD’s evolving artistic identity, blending progressive songwriting, psychedelic atmospheres and emotionally driven performances into a sound that is both immersive and unpredictable. “Where Do You Lead” explores the fragile space between uncertainty and determination, offering another compelling preview of a debut album shaped by dynamic contrasts, layered arrangements and cinematic intensity.
Recorded at KVV Tonstudio Niedergösgenin Switzerland with producers Jelmer Schippers and Jona Mareque, the album captures the chemistry of the trio through a hybrid recording approach, combining live performances with carefully crafted overdubs to preserve both spontaneity and sonic depth. The final mastering was handled by Jaime Gomez-Arellano at Orgone Studios, giving the record its expansive and powerful sound.
The band says:
“Dreams Lie In The Eagle’s Eye revolves around a simple yet demanding question: How do we remain connected to nature, to each other and to ourselves in a world that feels fractured and overwhelming? Across its eight tracks, the record moves through disconnection, inner conflict and despair, yet refuses to surrender to them. Instead, it searches for clarity beneath the noise of the present and insists on hope not as naïve optimism, but as an act of resistance. The eagle, a creature born to fly yet choosing the harder road, becomes a quiet metaphor for this decision. Freedom is not defined by what we are expected to be, but by what we consciously choose to become. The closing piece, ‘We Hope We Heal’, suggests that healing is not an arrival but a process, one that begins with embracing our own incompleteness.It also carries a quiet hope that we, as humanity, will learn to live more gently with the world around us. The suffering caused by the exploitation of other living beings is impossible to ignore (it really hurts). Perhaps healing begins when we remember that we are not separate from nature, but part of it. At its core, the album carries a conviction: the most transformative force we possess is (self-)love. Not as softness, but as courage.”Dreams Lie In The Eagle’s Eye:
Side A
The Birds Don’t Sing (They Screech In Pain)
Plumas Y Espadas Para Luchar
En Donde Me Perdí
Where Do You Lead
Side B 5. Rebuild What Was Lost 6. Drunken Dream 7. Carry On What’s Left Of Me 8. We Hope We Heal
Dreams Lie In The Eagle’s Eye will be released on September 25th, 2026 via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records on deluxe limited colored vinyl and digital formats.
Finnish chart-topping modern metal outfit BLIND CHANNEL are back.
After 1.5 years of deliberate silence, the 5-piece outfit returns with a grown attitude and hunger for a new musical chapter. Inspired, motivated, and eager to take fans and new listeners on a both intensely personal and universally relevant journey, BLIND CHANNEL proudly present their most mature, honest, and ambitious album to date: ‘Painstream.’
‘Painstream’ is BLIND CHANNEL’s 6th studio album, which will be out via Century Media on October 30th. The 12 new powerful tracks lead through the pain of growth, sharp self-reflection, and explosive energy.
As a taste of what’s to expect from ‘Painstream,’ BLIND CHANNEL reveals an official music video containing the first new musical pieces, “Diana” / “No Encores In A Swan Song,” since their last album ‘Exit Emotions,’ which was released on March 1st, 2024. In addition to the first two singles, the band has also revealed single releases for September 3rd and October 1st. Stay tuned!
On ‘Painstream,’ the band comments:
“In a world filled with uncertainty, conflict and division, pain is one thing all humans share. Rather than separating us, ‘Painstream’ explores the idea that pain can unite us, reminding us of our common humanity. We examine pain from personal, societal and existential perspectives, while also uncovering something unexpected: hope.”
‘Painstream’ will be available in the following formats: => Ltd. CD Digipak => Ltd. CD Digipak – The 500 Frames Edition (limited edition with 1 of 500 unique Polaroids, shot by the band) => Standard CD Jewelcase (US & Japanese versions) => Black LP => Ltd. Transp. Coke Bottle Green LP => Ltd. Black-White Marbled LP (Exclusively available at blindchannelofficial.com) => Digital Album
Fans in both Europe and Japan will get the chance to soon experience the Finnish full force live: The band has teased a debut show in Helsinki Ice Hall on November 14th (tickets will be available on August 11th) and will play two live shows in Japan (tickets will be available shortly).
In addition, BLIND CHANNEL will embark on an extensive ‘Painstream’ European headlining tour in early 2027. Tickets will be available on September 3rd, for a full list of dates, please see below.
BLIND CHANNEL Live:
11/14 – Helsinki, Finland 11/18 – Tokyo, Japan 11/19 – Osaka, Japan
BLIND CHANNEL are: Niko Vilhelm Moilanen – Vocals Joonas Porko – Guitar Olli Matela – Bass Tommi Lalli – Drums Aleksi Kaunisvesi – Synths
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 