Melanie loved the holidays – so much so that she celebrated Christmas twice, once on December 25 and again, in honor of her Ukrainian heritage, on January 7.
It’s a tradition that she shared with her husband Peter Schekeryk, himself born in the Carpathian Mountains; and which was naturally passed onto their children Leilah, Jeordie and Beau Jarred. Yet it was not until the mid-1990s that Melanie and co set about realizing her long-cherished dream of recording a Christmas album, combining Melanie’s own Xmas compositions and the all-time favorites that need no introduction across the much-loved Antlers.
Several remastered and revised editions of the album followed over the decades before Melanie’s death in January 2024, alongside a clutch of digital singles that further celebrated the holidays.
And now the best of these projects has been brought together as the very aptly-titled Melanie’s Christmas Treasury – a beautifully arranged and pristinely produced collection that will be out on November 7.
Today, however, we get a delicious taste of what’s to come, and an almost heartbreakingly pure rendition of “Silent Night” – one of half a dozen tracks on the collection remixed by rockabilly maestro Danny B Harvey, and hitherto available in digital form only.
Indeed, much of Melanie’s Christmas Treasury is making its CD and vinyl debut with this release, including the spoken word passages that bookend the treasury, introducing “Santa Claus is Coming To Town” and rereading the evergreen “Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus”; the timeless “Will Peace Come In Time For Christmas”; and the all-season, all-purpose, festive potpourri that is “Christmahanavaloween.”
All of course bear Melanie’s unmistakable imprimatur. “Momma loved Christmas,” recalls Beau Jarred, “but musically, she had her own very unique take on it. Even when she was singing a song that everybody knows, she was able to make it her own, at the same time as she was writing new Christmas songs that a lot of people were convinced were traditional numbers.”
Looking at the calendar, it still seems a little early to be thinking about the holidays… could we at least get Thanksgiving and Black Friday out of the way first?
At the same time, though, it’s never too early to begin preparing the playlists that will swing us through these last weeks of the year, and “Silent Night” is certainly a great place to begin. At least until the full album is available!
Emerging from the northern shores of Poland, HÉR are both seekers and storytellers. Their upcoming debut album, Monochrome, weaves bowed strings, raw incantations and entrancing percussion into ritual soundscapes that conjure the vast and mythical landscape of the North. The album’s lead single, “Needles and Bark”, calls on the enduring spirit of Icelandic fjords and Old Norse myths, inviting us into a meditation on decay and endurance.
“The pine on the rocks dries and dies / needles neither protect nor the bark / why should he live long?”
“We are honored and deeply thrilled to announce our signing to Season of Mist”, HÉR says. “To begin our musical journey with such a renowned and visionary label is both a privilege and a powerful affirmation of our path.
“HÉR — meaning ‘here’ in Icelandic — is more than a name; it is a call to presence. And here, in this moment, something new begins. Our collaboration with Season of Mist opens a gateway to share our sound, our myth, and our vision with a wider world”.
“This signing marks not only our debut”, HÉR continues, “but also the crossing of a threshold — from the roots of Old Norse poetry and northern mysticism into a vast, boundless landscape of sound and emotion. We stand ‘here,’ united by rhythm, voice, and story, ready to bring the raw essence of the North to those who are willing to listen, feel, and be transformed.
Sit here with us — sestu hérna — and witness what begins now”.
Tracklist: 1. Chant (10:47) 2. Needles and Bark (4:57) 3. Going Down (4:19) 4. Patience in Observation (3:02) 5. Slipknot (6:24) 6. Praise the Day (6:08) 7. Farewell (6:32) Full runtime: 42:11
“Hér” in Icelandic means „here”. It is a very clear calling from the band to the audience: be here, experience, be inspired, it is happening now, and it is the essence of participating in our artistic expression. HÉR was formed in Gdańsk, northern Poland. Five independent, strong musical personalities met “here”—in a specific place and time—to create communitas that are both unique and harmonious.
The music the band proposes carries the listener to 11th-century Old Norse wisdom poetry. The first inspiration for this artistic meeting were the poems of the Poetic Edda. Hér reveals wild, root-like, undiscovered musical spaces, the clash of worlds, and a glimpse of the otherworld. It uses raw means of expression and sounds, as raw as the North itself: trembling throat singing, increasing trance-like rhythm, gliding over the violin strings like over an ice surface. We start here: Iceland, the beginning of Europe. It is a musical meditation on a place, growing out of specific soil, reaching to the roots of Norse mythology but not stopping there. It is not only the wisdom of the Vikings, Odin’s recommendations for those who stand at the gates of Valhalla. The threshold of the otherworld leads further to universal, human, fundamental experiences.
By exploring the human nature described in Norse mythology, the musicians make a deep insight into the emotions embedded in its verses. They bring out the dark beauty of the North and its extremes: fire and ice, violence and tenderness, bravery and care, the brutality of war and the solace that peace brings, struggle and feast, the milky sweetness of honey and the salty tang of blood, love and hatred, birth and death, beginning and end, terror and awe…
Sestu hérna, sit here… sit here and listen, sit here and grow, sit here and drift away.
Line-up: Maciej Świniarski — Vocal, Percussion Tomasz Chyła — Vocal, Violin, Synth Percussion Piotr Chęcki — Saxophone, Percussion Tomasz Sadecki — Bass Guitar, Synth, Percussion Sławek Koryzno — Drums, Percussion
Production Credits: Recorded at Monochrom Studio, Gniewoszów, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. Produced & Engineered by Ignacy Gruszecki. Mixed & Mastered by Marcin Bors at Fonoplastykon, Wrocław, Poland.
WitcheR’s history started back in 2010. The band was formed by Gere Karola (synths, vocal) and Neubauer Roland (guitars, drums, vocal) in order to perform atmospheric black metal music based on classical music elements and strong synths harmonies. From the very beginning, catchy melodies and elevated mood took important parts in the music. The lyrics are mostly about witchcraft, Hungarian folklore, adherence to old values, and the maximum opposition to the modern world.
Music for new album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Vrag at Forest Studio in 2023-2025. All music and lyrics written by WitcheR, expect Piano Trio No. 2 – Andante con moto (by Franz Schubert). Cover artwork was done by Grafit & Hamu Artworks.
New album “Öröklét” was released yesterday, November 4, 2025. The record is available on CD and cassette via Filosofem Records (pre-order), on vinyl via Beveria Productions (pre-order) and popular streaming platforms (Bandcamp, Spotify, Amazon, Apple, Deezer, Tidal).
TRACKLIST:
1. Örökség 2. Szélhozó 3. Röghöz kötött 4. Öröklét 5. Piano Trio No. 2 – Andante con moto (Franz Schubert cover)
SOEN unleash the crushing second single ‘Mercenary’ from forthcoming new studio album Reliance, set for release on January 16th via Silver Lining Music.
With Reliance, their seventh studio album, the Swedish progressive metal powerhouse, spearheaded by Joel Ekelöf (vocals) and Martin Lopez (drums), continue to find incredible new pathways into the spatial areas between light and dark, loud and calm, heavy and soothing.
HONESTY is what runs through the album’s writing, where emotional gravity and raw power coexist without compromise. It’s a duality that defines SOEN’s sound — the willingness to confront darkness not for spectacle, but for truth. Nowhere is that balance more evident than on ‘Mercenary’, a track that channels the weight of inherited violence and the personal cost of conviction with unflinching clarity.
“‘Mercenary’ is about the violence we inherit, which then sees hatred seeping into lives -and life- which in turn shapes generations,” comments vocalist and frontman Joel Ekelöf. “It also addresses betrayal, about how that can see us ‘crowning vultures into kings’”, furthers founding member and drummer Martin Lopez.
“At its heart, ‘Mercenary’ speaks to the cost of belief,” Ekelöf adds before Lopez affirms that “musically, it carries the essence of SOEN – heavy yet melodic and built on power and precision.”
Watch/Listen to ‘Mercenary’ below – video by Freakshot Film.
The recently released first single, ‘Primal’, is a provoking, barrel-chested roar detailing the existential fight between the human spirit and our current world, with Ekelöf’s incredible vocals leading the heavy charge.
Watch/Listen to ‘Primal’ here – video by Freakshot Film.
With Lars Enok Åhlund (keyboards & guitar), Cody Lee Ford (guitar), and Stefan Stenberg (bass) standing shoulder to shoulder with Ekelöf and Lopez, the lush continual evolution of SOEN’s sound soars and with its seamless march across deeply human emotional terrain, SOEN’s music continues to explore the human mind, heart and soul with a visionary duty of care, plus an extra edge of heavy.
SOEN are gearing up for a packed 2026, with an array of festival appearances and headline shows already on the horizon. Following the band’s acclaimed recent tours, fans can expect an even more intense live experience as the bandbring their trademark blend of power, precision, and emotion to stages across the globe.
Confirmed festival dates as follows, additional dates and festival announcements will be revealed soon. For more information and tickets visit: https://www.soenmusic.com/tour
2026 Shows: 29 January / 2 February – 70000 Tons Of Metal 6 June – Plzen / Metalfest Open Air (Germany) 4 July – Joensuu / ilovaari Festival (Finland) 7 August – Kortrijk / Alcatraz Festival (Belgium) 14 August – Carhaix / Motocultor Festival (France) 15 August – Dinkelsbühl / Summer Breeze Open Air (Germany) 28-30 August – Campulung Muscel / Posada Rock Festival (Romania)
Thoughtful, provocative, beautiful and brutal, Reliance is a journey you need to take.
Reliancewill be released on January 16th 2025, via Silver Lining Music. Available as a CD, 12” Vinyl Album in Black and colour variants, digital formats and special D2C products and bundles.For pre-orders, go to this location.
Reliance Track Listing:
Primal
Mercenary
Discordia
Axis
Huntress
Unbound
Indifferent
Drifter
Draconian
Vellichor
–Produced, recorded and mixed by Alexander Backlund at Fascination Street Studios. –Mastered by Tony Lindgren.
SOEN: Joel Ekelöf – Vocals Martin Lopez – Drums Lars Enok Åhlund – Keyboards and Guitar Cody Ford – Lead Guitar Stefan Stenberg – Bass
ROKK, the fairer music streaming platform founded to put artists first, has officially exited its beta phase. Early reports from the platform’s initial launch period reveal that artists on ROKK are receiving 20 times more per stream than on Spotify, underlining the platform’s mission to make streaming sustainable for musicians.
“You can keep complaining about Spotify, or you can try to change something,” said Alexander Landenburg, co-founder of ROKK and drummer for Kamelot and Cyhra. “There are better alternatives, and I believe ROKK is one of them – for our music scene, probably the best. Streaming payouts are directly tied to the volume of streams on a platform. Our users listen to longer songs and almost always choose the tracks they actually want – no mindless top 10 playlist streaming. That’s why our payouts are so much higher. As our user base grows, I expect payouts to settle around 5–6 times what Spotify pays per stream, which is still exceptionally high.”
Since its beta launch, ROKK has grown rapidly, offering over 70 million tracks with high-quality streaming, offline listening, and easy playlist import tools. The platform also includes Direct Artist Support, allowing fans to contribute directly to their favorite artists on top of streaming royalties.
The transition out of beta marks a major milestone for ROKK, with plans to continue expanding globally (at the moment, ROKK is only available in the EU & UK) while maintaining its focus on fair pay, transparency and its clear stance against fully AI generated music.
Photo: Founders Alex Landenburg and Peter Moog
About ROKK ROKK is a music streaming platform dedicated to fairness in the music industry. Founded by musicians ROKK delivers a premium listening experience while paying artists significantly higher royalties than other major platforms. The company’s mission is to create a sustainable streaming ecosystem where artists and fans thrive together.
ROKK is available now on iOS, Android, and on the web at http://rokk-app.com/ throughout Europe and the UK, with plans to expand to other territories soon.
Today, Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to release “Eye of the Tiger,” the second single taken from the JIMI JAMISON collection, ‘1998 Live Hits,’ due out on December 12, 2025. The track arrives alongside an official live video, available to view below.
‘1998 Live Hits’ is a powerful time capsule capturing the energy, emotion, and artistry of legendary vocalist JIMI JAMISON at a pivotal point in his post-Survivor career. Recorded across three vibrant shows in Little Rock, AR, Nashville, TN, and Bettendorf, IA, and now to be released by Frontiers Music Srl, this album showcases JAMISON’s electrifying live presence and undeniable vocal prowess as he revisits some of the most iconic songs from his time with Survivor, along with deep cuts, original solo work, and inspired covers. The album will be out on December 12, 2025.
Backing JAMISON is a seasoned and soulful ensemble: longtime collaborators Jeff Adams (bass, vocals) and Hal Butler (keyboards, vocals) were joined by guitarist Chris Adamson, drummer Pete Mendillo, and Memphis-based producer and guitarist Wes Henley, who also supervised these live album recordings. This lineup reflects a strong musical camaraderie built over years of touring, with several members having roots alongside JAMISON that date back to his 1970s band Target.
Now, years later, these recordings allow fans—old and new—to reconnect with a voice and spirit that remains timeless. ‘1998 Live Hits’ is more than a concert album; it’s a tribute to an era, a legacy, and the enduring magic of JIMI JAMISON.
One standout from the set is a haunting performance of “Riders on the Storm” by The Doors — a testament to JAMISON’s ability to tap into a wide range of emotions and his gift for storytelling through song. His delivery brings an atmospheric intensity, drawing the listener deep into the moment.
The track list includes fan favorites such as “Burning Heart,” “High on You,” “I Can’t Hold Back,” “The Search Is Over,” and “Eye of the Tiger,” all songs that defined a generation of melodic rock. Deeper cuts like “Oceans” and “Too Hot to Sleep” reveal the richness of Survivor’s catalog, while JAMISON’s originals, such as “Rock Hard” and “I’m Always Here” (the iconic Baywatch theme), showcase his creative versatility.
Of particular note is the interplay between Chris Adamson and Wes Henley on guitars. Though Henley’s primary role was behind the board, his friendship with JAMISON and passion for the Survivor material often brought him onstage. Together, he and Adamsonbring layered, textured performances that do justice to the intricate compositions of Peterik and Sullivan.
Through warm crowd interactions and powerful vocal moments, ‘1998 Live Hits’ highlights JAMISON’s authentic stage presence, Memphis soul, and deep bond with both his band and his audience. As friends and collaborators reflect, this wasn’t just a group of musicians—it was a family.
1. Burning Heart 2. High On You 3. Rebel Son 4. I’m Always Here 5. I See You In Everyone 6. Rock Hard 7. Oceans 8. The Search Is Over 9. Is This Love 10. I Can’t Hold Back 11. Riders On The Storm 12. Too Hot To Sleep 13. Eye of the Tiger
Powerhouse vocalist JIMI JAMISON earned recognition as the frontman for hard rock bands Target and Cobra before reaching platinum heights with Survivor, singing the hits “Burning Heart” from the film Rocky IV, “I Can’t Hold Back,” “High on You,” “The Search is Over,” and “Is This Love.” Acclaimed by legendary U.S. disc jockey Casey Kasem as “The Voice,” JIMI JAMISON’s performances are treasured by connoisseurs of AOR and melodic rock who consistently rate him as one of the genre’s Top 5 vocalists of all time.
Raised on R&B, Blues-Rock, and Country music in Memphis, Tennessee, JIMI JAMISONreleased his first single in 1967 with a band called The Debuts. “If I Cry” was originally intended for fellow Memphis band, The Box Tops, featuring lead singer Alex Chilton. Jamison honed his craft by singing commercial jingles by day and fronting gritty rockers Target by night. His next band, Cobra, with Mandy Meyer on guitar, cut a cult classic in 1983’s First Strike, but that was just a prelude to Jamison’s breakthrough as lead singer of Survivor.
With JIMI JAMISON at the mic, Survivor proved that its earlier success with “Eye of the Tiger” was no fluke. The combination of JAMISON’s emotion-charged vocals with Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan’s masterful songwriting and Ron Nevison’s radio-friendly production resulted in 1984’s Platinum-selling ‘Vital Signs’ album. Its hit singles “I Can’t Hold Back,” “High on You,” and “The Search Is Over” were massive hits, later joined by Survivor’s Rocky IV theme, “Burning Heart,” and the further Top 10 hit “Is This Love.” Survivor’s 1980s trilogy featuring JAMISON – ‘Vital Signs’ (1984), ‘When Seconds Count’ (1986), and ‘Too Hot to Sleep’ (1988) – are acclaimed as AOR and melodic rock landmarks. Concurrently, JAMISON’s voice could be heard singing prominent harmony vocals on ZZ Top’s smash ‘Eliminator’ album, most notably on ‘Gimme All Your Lovin’.’
Striking out on his own in the 1990s, Jimi Jamison released the solo albums ‘When Love Comes Down’ and ‘Empires.’ His voice and songwriting reached new audiences through “I’m Always Here,” the theme song for Baywatch, the most-watched television series in the world with a weekly audience of over 1.1 billion viewers. But touring became his primary focus throughout the decade, both with all-star projects including Voices of Classic Rock and with his own band. JAMISON’s primarily Memphis-bred group comprised acclaimed musicians including keyboardist Hal Butler; guitarists John Roth, Jerry Riggs, Hal McCormack, and Chris Adamson; bass players Jeff Adams and Barry Dunaway; and drummers Bill Marshall and Pete Mendillo. The most stable lineup of Butler, Adamson, Adams, and Mendillo was captured live in concert in 1998, but the recordings went unreleased.
JAMISON returned to the record racks with a vengeance in the 2000s, with projects including Survivor’s 2006 album, ‘Reach’; the 2008 collaboration with Jim Peterik, ‘Crossroads Moment,’ and its 2010 companion piece ‘Extra Moments’; 2011 duo albums ‘Kimball Jamison’ with his longtime friend, Toto lead vocalist Bobby Kimball, and ‘One Man’s Trash’ with guitarist Fred Zahl; and his final solo album, 2012’s ‘Never Too Late.’ JAMISON’s triumphant first-ever UK appearance at Firefest 2010, backed by a band featuring guitarist Tommy Denander, was memorialized on the CD and DVD Live at Firefest. JAMISON performed his final show just two days before his untimely passing on September 1, 2014.
JIMI JAMISON’s family and friends have worked diligently to keep his memory and music at the forefront. Several all-star “Jam for Jimi” concerts have been staged in Memphis to raise money for JAMISON’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A stretch of Highland Street in Memphis was named “Jimi Jamison Street” in 2022. That same year, the first of several CD releases from the Jimi Jamison Archives, ‘Rock Hard,’ presented his 1990 solo debut album as it was originally intended. JAMISON was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2023. Memorabilia, including a fan-funded bronze bust, is on permanent display at the iconic Memphis venue, Lafayette’s Music Room. The tenth anniversary of JAMISON’s passing was acknowledged by Representative Steve Cohen in the United States House of Representatives. Jimi’s shelved 2008 country rock collaboration with Jim Peterik, entitled ‘Jimmy Wayne Jamison,’ was unvaulted at the same time. Members of JAMISON’s solo bands continue to play together in both .38 Special and Starship. A film, Resonating Voices: The Jimi Jamison Documentary, is in the early stages of development.
2025 brings the most exciting Jimi Jamison Archives release yet, one which his fans have been anticipating for 25 years: the never-before-issued live album he recorded in 1998. With a setlist drawn from Survivor, his solo career, and even a cover of The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm,” ‘1998 Live Hits’ ensures that JIMI JAMISON’s strong, clear voice will continue to thrill fans worldwide.
Line-up: Jimi Jamison – lead vocals Jeff Adams – bass and vocals Chris Adamson – guitars Hal Butler – keyboards and vocals Pete Mendillo – drums Wes Henley – guitars
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 ) 