South Africa’s shadow-drenched new force BLVD HVNNY have dropped their blistering debut album IX—a cinematic plunge into gothic, trip hop, and electronic depths via Mongrel Records.
Led by Cito (WONDERboom, Absinthè), BLVD HVNNY transforms personal myth into musical ritual. Originally a solo studio project, the band has exploded into a five-piece sonic cult, performing beat-heavy, synth-laced epics entirely live.
Their striking reimagining of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ The Weeping Song, featuring Ross Learmonth of Prime Circle, dominated Mix 93.8 FM’s SA Top 40 for five consecutive weeks and was crowned Song of the Year. Visually, their music videos for Joaquín and Nocturnes have won a combined eight international film festival awards.
IX is a beautifully fractured sonic journey through mood and memory, featuring lyrical collaborations with long-time co-writer Erin Alden (Lilac Sky, Joaquín, Scarface), gothic icon Ashton Nyte of The Awakening—who also lends his vocals to She’s One of Us Now—and Bronwyn Leigh Fink on a stirring cover of Yazoo’s Winter Kills. That track was elevated further by world-renowned producer Craigie Dodds, whose genre-defying touch brought new depth and intensity.
The band comments: “The album was created by selecting 12 of the 15 songs in the demo phase for further development. These 12 songs were played in the studio and 10 of them followed a consistent theme. “Tiimalasi” was selected as the title song because it deals with the life cycle and most of the songs’ themes are set towards the end of the life cycle. A couple of songs did not end up on the album because their topics did not quite fit the album’s theme.
The creative phase gathered interesting collaborations, with Kaasu Gas Lipstick participating as a technician creating drum sounds, and the song “Pedon kieli” on the album was created after contact from author Janne Tulonen, who wrote the novel of the same name. Making the theme song was a new and interesting process for the band.
The recordings took place at Vikke ry’s training facilities in Vihti, and at our guitarist Tom’s FMS studio in Karkkila.
“Tiimalasi” is the band’s first album created with the current lineup, and we as a trio are really pleased with the end result.”
I.F.A was founded in 1985 in Vihti. Aapo McMillan and Timo Supperi were the founding members, and Jouni Kaunisto was brought in as a singer. The band’s name was derived from the East German Industriverband Fahrzeugbau (IFA) car brand, whose cars were manufactured between 1948 and 1956.
The music of the early days of I.F.A was punk-influenced. Over the years, the sound took shape into the current heavier form without forgetting the band’s roots. The band’s activities took a break in 1989, until it was reactivated in 1999. The current line-up took shape when guitarist Tom Heskell joined in 2019 and drummer Herra Koivuniemi in 2023.
The band released their first album of their long career, which was named Ifandia, self-published for streaming in 2021. Albums 17 songs have been collected over the band’s long career.
Kumarra, Panssarimorsian, Pimeää and Taiteilija singles released in 2023 – 2024 gathered promising streaming numbers as a self-published artist and received airtime on Radio Rock, among others. In 2024, the band signed a recording contract with Inverse Records. The new album is released on August 8th 2025.
Line-up: Aapo McMillan – Vocals & bass Tom HeskELL – Guitars Herra Koivuniemi – Drums
Country rockerCORY MARKS is continuing to forge his own lane with a sound that fearlessly fuses country grit with a hard rock edge. Growing up on legends like Merle Haggard and Ozzy Osbourne, it shows in his raw, high-energy style. His upcoming fourth album, SORRY FOR NOTHING VOLUME 2 due out October 3 via Better Noise Music, continues that evolution—led by the dark, stomping track “Hangman,” released yesterday (August 8).
Cut me loose, set me free Keep your noose away from me I’ve had enough losing blood to feed your cancer I’ve done my time, paid my dues You got me high to watch me lose –“Hangman,” Cory Marks
“Hangman”—highlighted by CORY’s defiant lyrics and potent vocals—is available as an instant download with pre-orders of the album HERE, and the video can be seenHERE.
Produced once again by Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Shania Twain), Kile Odell (Nothing More, Nita Strauss) and Andrew Baylis (Jelly Roll, Brantley Gilbert), MARKS’ SORRY FOR NOTHING / SORRY FOR NOTHING VOLUME 2 era bridges honky-tonk heart and rock arena power.
“’Hangman’ is a gritty, hard-hitting rock anthem about defiance in the face of judgment,” says CORY MARKS. “Doing it your way knowing you’ll have the ‘gate keepers’ turning their heads, because it isn’t their seed planted or their own plan. With roaring guitars and thunderous drums, it tells the story of a condemned man walking his final mile thinking back to those western days; however, it’s more through the eyes of an artist (me) today—instead of begging for mercy, and following ‘flavor of the week’ or what’s expected to work and be commercialized he dares the hangman to meet him eye to eye and knows that if the right crowd of people gets to hear him. It’s the change and sound the people want. It’s about rebellion, justice, and going down on your own terms or…believing it will work and he will rise!”
CORY was so musically inspired by his recent European tour earlier this spring, that he decided to release a brand-new song on April 25, a musical rallying cry called “Are You With Me?” It was released as a double-single on digital outletsHERE along with “Lit Up” from SORRY FOR NOTHING that can be streamedHERE. New lyric videos were also released, for “Are You With Me?”HERE and “Lit Up”HERE.
With over 373 million global streams to date, CORY has been captivating fans across the country and rock spectrum. Unafraid to stand out and stay true to himself, his third album SORRY FOR NOTHING is an unapologetic double-barreled blast of 13 songs produced by longtime collaborator Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Five Finger Death Punch, Shania Twain, Papa Roach), plus Kile Odell (Nita Strauss, David Draiman), and Andrew Baylis (Jelly Roll, Brantley Gilbert). The album comes as a follow-up to CORY’s successful debut, WHO I AM, which included the hit single “Outlaws & Outsiders.” The song made history as the first-ever Top 10 rock radio-charting single from a Canadian country act and over 207 million global streams to date. The single received Platinum certification in Canada and Gold in the U.S.
The songs on SORRY FOR NOTHING—which was released December 6, 2024 via Better Noise Music—range from Haggard-like country and virtual bluegrass to straight-up arena anthems and almost Pantera-like hard metal as well as mashing both styles in a single song. Guest appearances include Sully Erna of Godsmack, Travis Tritt and Mick Mars on the Top 20 Active Rock radio-charting single“(Make My) Country Rock” and DL of Bad Wolves on “Guilty.”
CrypticRock.com described the album as one that, “…showcases MARKS’ ability to navigate the deep waters of soulful country ballads and high-energy Rock anthems, creating a barrage of sound that verges on magic, once it permeates your anticipating ears…SORRY FOR NOTHING positions CORY MARKS as a trailblazer in modern Country Rock, a true force to be reckoned with on the international stage, and if he continues pushing boundaries while staying true to his roots, there is truly no stopping this young man. A must-listen..”
His debut breakout 2019 hit, “Outlaws & Outsiders” (featuring Ivan Moody, Mick Mars, and Travis Tritt) went Top 10 on U.S. rock radio, and it was certified Gold in the U.S. and Platinum in Canada.
In touring news, MARKS will head out with Sevendust this fall on their “Southside Double-Wide Tour” that kicks off November 14 in Columbia, MO. Earlier this year, MARKS made his own headlining jaunt throughout Canada, and he ventured overseas for his debut Europe and U.K. tour. He also toured the U.S. in support of Dorothy as part of their “REDEMPTION” tour, following performances with Toby Keith, Travis Tritt, and Theory Of A Deadman. In recent years, MARKS has shared stages with a blend of artists including Five Finger Death Punch, ZZ Top, and Brantley Gilbert, while also having joined Nickelback on the main stage at the annual Boots and Hearts festival in Toronto in 2023.
Here’s the track listing for SORRY FOR NOTHING VOLUME 2:
Hangman
Are You With Me?
Change The Game
The Heart Breaks When It Wants To
Wild Ride
Someone I Hate
Whiskey River
Empty Bottles
Pick Up The Phone
A Different Kind of Year
Sorry For Nothing (Acoustic)
CORY MARKS’ tour dates:
Nov 14 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note Nov 15 – Memphis, TN – Graceland Nov 16 – Nashville, IN – Brown County Music Center Nov 18 – Newport, KY – MegaCorp Pavilion Nov 19 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Jack White Theatre Nov 21 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre Nov 22 – Somerville, MA – Somerville Theatre Nov 24 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE Nov 25 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe Nov 26 – Bloomington, IL – Bloomington Center for The Performing Arts Nov 28 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore Nov 29 – Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom Nov 30 – West Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom Dec 2 – Green Bay, WI – EPIC Event Center Dec 3 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre Dec 5 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman Dec 6 – East Moline, IL – The Rust Belt Dec 7 – St. Louis, MO – The Hawthorn Dec 9 – New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore Dec 10 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Dec 11 – Dallas, TX – Texas Theatre Dec 12 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theatre
“Eternal guardians FOREVER!” Following their adrenaline-fuelled ‘Grail Gym’ single, superheroic metal powerhouse GRAILKNIGHTS have unleashed the title track of their empowering new opus “Forever,” their first full-length release through PERCEPTION – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music. More guitar-driven than the quintet’s previous anthem, the mission of ‘Forever’ can’t be missed: The bond between the GRAILKNIGHTS and their brave followers has never been stronger and will remain until the end of the galaxy and beyond!
“’Forever’ is more to us than just the title song of our new album – it’s our anthem to what has grown between us and the Battlechoir – our loyal supporters,” they comment. “Even now, it thunders with full force from the speakers, but we firmly believe: When we play it live and the Battlechoir joins in loudly, the song will unleash a whole new energy. These moments – when everything comes together and the hall is shaking – are the essence of what we love and why we do all of this.”
The band’s new album “Forever” will be released on Friday, October 17, 2025, featuring twelve new hymns that build the seventh chapter of GRAILKNIGHTS’ glorious history (incl. ‘Necronomicon,’ ‘Grail Gym,’ ‘Forever’ & a bold ‘Super Trouper’ cover version). Secure your copy (excl. ticket & merch bundles etc.) & pre-save “Forever” now at: https://grailknights.rpm.link/foreverPR
Crafted at Sascha Paeth’s Pathway Studios, their sidekick Sebastian Khayat delivered maximally heroic cover artwork for GRAILKNIGHTS’ new record, which fans can finally hold their hands on at the beginning of the quintet’s forthcoming “Battle Of Metal” co-headline tour with ALL FOR METAL.
20 – 25.09.2025 DE Kiel – Full Metal Cruise XII (Part I) SOLD OUT 25 – 30.09.2025 DE Kiel – Full Metal Cruise XII (Part II) SOLD OUT
“Battle Of Metal” Co-Headline Tour 2025 GRAILKNIGHTS & ALL FOR METAL w/ special guests Presented by Rock It!, musix, metal.de, Tasmanian Devil Agency, RPM & PERCEPTION
16.10.2025 DE Hanover – MusikZentrum 17.10.2025 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser 18.10.2025 DE Berlin – Lido 19.10.2025 DE Hamburg – Markthalle 21.10.2025 DE Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal 22.10.2025 CH Pratteln – Konzertfabrik Z7 23.10.2025 DE Bochum – Matrix 24.10.2025 DE Munich – Backstage (Werk) 25.10.2025 DE Schirnding – Gemeindehalle 26.10.2025 CZ Zlín – Masters of Rock Café 27.10.2025 HU Budapest – Analog Music Hall 29.10.2025 AT Vienna – Viper Room 30.10.2025 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann (Club) 31.10.2025 DE Cologne – Club Volta 02.11.2025 FR Paris – Nouveau Casino 03.11.2025 ES Bilbao – Sala Groove 04.11.2025 ES Madrid – Revi Live 05.11.2025 ES Salamanca – Sala B Caem 06.11.2025 FR Lyon – Rock n’ Eat 07.11.2025 BE Kortrijk – DVG Club 08.11.2025 DE Löffingen – Rocknacht
If it’s on their 2004 debut album “Across The Galaxy,” its follow-ups “Return To Castle Grailskull” and “Alliance” or their tales of the past 15 years (“Calling The Choir,”“Knightfall” & “Muscle Bound For Glory”), GRAILKNIGHTS’ goal has remained the same – the Holy Grail must be returned to Grailham City! Their mission also led their flight path to stages around the globe, which they boldly dominated as headlining act and shared with acts such as SABATON, FEUERSCHWANZ, BROTHERS OF METAL and TWILIGHT FORCE among others, always supported by their brave fan base aka the Battlechoir.
During the years, some of these equally brave musicians have also lent their additional vocal support to the Hanover, Germany based squad: Tracks like ‘Turbo Boost [feat. FEUERSCHWANZ]’ but especially ‘Pumping Iron Power,’ which was graced by SABATON’s Joakim Brodén, crafted additional intergalactic bondings between the band and metalheads worldwide, and saw GRAILKNIGHTS’ success numbers go through the roof with ‘Pumping Iron Power’ recently hitting 15 million Spotify streams only.
Highly experienced in both studio and live battles, the superheroic metal group have faced and overcome several evil powers over time, and now they are set to oppose Dr. Skull in full length once again with their 7th adventure, followed by yet another journey across Europe. Joining forces with label family members ALL FOR METAL in autumn 2025, the “Battle Of Metal” can actually only end in another victory against all evil.
GRAILKNIGHTS are: Sir Optimus Prime | vocals Sovereign Storm | guitars, vocals Count Cranium | guitars, vocals Duncan MacLoud | bass, vocals Lord Drumcules | drums
Powerhouse newcomers The Switch share today their new single and official visualizer “Young Hearts”, taken from the upcoming debut album “No Way Out”, set for release on September 5, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.
Tom and James Martin said: “Young Hearts is one of the more bittersweet lyrics on the album. It’s a story of living life to the fullest as any day now you could leave the earth, and also about leaving a footprint or memory of your past life lived”.
Canadian vocalist Bobby John, twin brothers Tom and James Martin (ex-Vega, Nitrate) and Swedish bassist Dennis Butabi Borg (Cruzh) join forces for this new project.
“No Way Out” has been a labour of love, the listeners are gonna get zapped back to the mid 80’s for a nostalgic trip back to the sound we all fell in love with!”, Tom Martin commented.
Check out this EPK about The Switch and their upcoming album HERE – Pre-Order “No Way Out” HERE
Tom and James Martin first heard Bobby singing a song they had written with Eddie LaValle and instantly knew they had to work with him.
James Martin explained: “I rang Tom up one morning after hearing Bobby sing and told him that he was our guy – we knew straight away we had the right combination with him”.
The brothers then asked their long-term friend and musical collaborator Dennis Butabi Borg if he’d like to play bass on the entire album and join the group.
Tom Martin said: “It’s the best work we’ve ever been part of: James and I never had complete control of an album with writing and mix, so it’s completely to our taste”.
Butabi added: “I couldn’t agree more, after I’d heard the first demo there was no doubt that I wanted a part of this excellent cocktail of fun, retro vibes that reminds me of growing up in the 80’s. It’s like steering a Testarossa in the Outrun arcade machine while chewing Juicy Fruits and cranking music on your walkman. This is 100% the kind of feel-good album that the world needs in these times”.
Not only is The Switch a powerhouse group, but the album was written with a theme. Imagine a movie coming out in the 1980’s that gripped the world the same way 80s classics like “Back To The Future” did, but in a parallel universe.
That movie is called “The Switch” and it’s about a band that goes on a US tour, and encounters trouble with an underworld mob. In a cruel twist of fate, the band must swap guitars for deadly weapons and end up in the ultimate fight for survival. It was the biggest movie of 1987 and spawned this huge soundtrack which you can hear on “No Way Out”!
“No Way Out” Tracklist:
1. Danger On The Loose 2. Play The Game 3. Young Hearts 4. Search For Love 5. Hangin’ On To Seventeen 6. No Way Out 7. Young Gun 8. One Night With You 9. Anytime 10. Strangers Eyes
Line Up: James Martin Tom Martin Bobby John Dennis “Butabi” Borg
Guitarist Jerry Jeter and Don Falcone (on bass) recording As If Possessed in Don’s studio (photo by Karen Anderson)
Prepare for a cosmic journey as the realms of fantasy literature and progressive space rock collide in The End Of All Songs – Part 2, the final installment of the ambitious collaboration between visionary fantasy writer/art rock icon Michael Moorcock and the acclaimed space rock collective Spirits Burning, led by Don Falcone, with godfatherly guidance from Blue Öyster Cult’s Albert Bouchard.
Moorcock, widely proclaimed among the 50 greatest British writers since 1945, brings his unique narrative prowess and artistic vision to the forefront of The End Of All Songs – Part 2. Beyond his celebrated literary works, Moorcock has left an indelible mark on the rock world, lending his talents to iconic bands such as Hawkwind, Blue Öyster Cult, and various solo projects.
Moorcock’s creative synergy finds a kindred spirit in Don Falcone, the driving force behind Spirits Burning. With a musical career spanning decades, Falcone has been a consistent trailblazer in the space rock genre with the original Melting Euphoria and his Spaceship Eyes solo project, and in 2025, Stairway Press published his musical memoir, One Of The Spirits Burning (A Musical Memoir), which includes two chapters on the Spirits Burning & Michael Moorcock albums.
Set for release on August 29, the album is based – like its predecessors – upon Moorcock’s Dancers at the End of Time trilogy. But whereas those earlier sets opened with the 19th century poems that Moorcock started each book with, Falcone took a very different approach this time around.
“I turned to my Dancers hardback, which has all three books collected together. There is a prologue there that Mike wrote. I used some of those lines for verses.”
Falcone also created new lines that included the titles of each book – How Do We Survive An ‘An Alien Heat,’ How Do We Free From These ‘Hollow Lands,’ and When Will We Hear ‘The End Of All Songs?’ The result, “When Will We Hear,” previews the album today, as Spirit Burning’s new single.
Michael Moorcock & engineer Nick Pellicciotto, vocal/harmonica session in Texas (photo by Linda Moorcock)
The track features Moorcock at his very sharpest, and Falcone at his most ingenious.
“I decided to have Mike take the lead during the choruses and post chorus. During mixing, I added some sizzle delay to the end of some of his lines, so that his word trails would sound percussive, spacey, haunting.
“And I love Mike’s performance of his prologue text that is about Jherek’s father, Lord Jagged:
“And a thirst took one of these people, Much to his own astonishment, And because he was immersed, We have a story to tell.”
Of the remainder of the album, Falcone continues, “We hadn’t finished the story in the previous album, given the book length, the remaining story to tell. It begged the question: When would we really hear the end of all songs? For me, multiple answers: reaching the end of this cycle of albums; finishing the third book and closing the story of Jherek and Amelia; closing the decade+ collaboration with Al (Bouchard) and Mike (Moorcock). I even provided an answer within the lyrics: “When we resume our dance at the end of time, when we complete our dance at the end of time”; where “we” represents each musician on the album, and each listener too.
Falcone continues: “We have been immersed in this project for over a decade, and it’s exhilarating to see it complete with such a great selection of songs and the musicians who brought them to life.” These include familiar faces Paul Rudolph (Pink Fairies), David Jackson (Van der Graaf Generator) and Chas Cronk (The Strawbs), new crew members Ross the Boss (The Dictators), Nick Saloman (The Bevis Frond), and Mr. Dibs (Hawklords), and many more.
Michael Moorcock writes “This beautiful musical collaboration between a group of outstanding musicians and myself is unprecedented. The conception and the realisation, in which every artist adds their own particular interpretation, is glorious.
“I can think of no other artistic project as complex or as beautifully created as Don Falcone’s Spirits Burning group. It is as successful as it is complex. It is, in my view, a work of genius. This project deserves the highest possible praise. All I can add to this now is to offer my most enthusiastic thanks. This will stand as a high point in our musical history!”
Albert Bouchard pretending to play sax in his New York studio (courtesy Albert Bouchard)
Albert Bouchard adds: “After having time to work on this album in the beginning, I took a long break as I had more commitments. Don also took a break to write his book. When I returned, we worked intensely for about three weeks to make sure every track was optimized, Trading files and emails.”
“Several times a day. The tracks that came out of those three weeks are some of my best work with SB. My favorites are “Bring Back the Living” with Ross The Boss (and Paul Rudolph) on guitar, “The Sun Had Risen” and “Dancers End.” I feel this record is one the strongest of the series, as it should be.
1. When Will We Hear? 2. Remember Those Who Have Died (At Least Once) 3. The Ballad Of Lord Jagged Of Canaria 4. Forward To Go Back 5. Seven Days Of Infinity (Treat The World As A Canvas) 6. A Flurry Of New Worlds 7. Bring Back The Living 8. As If Possessed 9. On Her Island 10. Reading and Writing and Playing 11. There Used To Be A Time 12. Put The Kettle On 13. Peace and Love 14. The Sun Had Risen 15. The Parade (Before The Wedding) 16. The Dancers End
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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
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