History has proved that live albums can be hit and miss affairs. Even when it’s your favourite band, there’s no guarantee it’ll hit you in the feels like you expect. Some bands get it right; some get it wrong. Especially now, with an oversaturated market and low attention spans, music, like all media, has become a throwaway commodity, like it or not. Musicians must up their game to compete, survive and ultimately gain the attention of a potential new fanbase. We all know it shouldn’t be that way, but here we are in 2026.

That’s where Delila Paz & Edgey Pires (otherwise known as The Last Internationale) come in. Remember when getting hold of a new album was an event? When you would queue at the record shop on a Saturday to get something no one else, or very few others had. The excitement of peeling off the film and perusing the artwork while listening for the very first time…a ritual. Delila & Edgey do, and one of the pros of being an independent artist is having total control of your music. At the time of writing, ‘Live In Europe’ is not on streaming services, you can’t buy it on Amazon, and you can only purchase it directly from the artist. Yes, it’s more expensive, yes, it takes longer than 24 hours to get to you. But they will sign the cover, ship a beautiful looking record to your house and believe me, you will listen to, appreciate and spend more time with that album than you ever will on Spotify.

With just 7 tracks, ‘Live In Europe’ is not a sprawling, career-defining double live album, and it doesn’t outstay its welcome. The fat has been stripped back, and Delila, Edgey and the band are presented in the raw, as they are live, night after night, whether it be in clubs or on festival stages across Europe.

“Kick out the jams, motherfuckers!” is a statement of intent and a killer intro for any live album, and their version of the MC5 classic is done justice here as it sets the scene for one of the finest live acts currently treading the boards. ‘Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Indian Blood’ is a live favourite with a chanting refrain designed to ignite a festival crowd; the added Hammond organ and guitar-wielding chaos make it an exciting live version. The 70’s rock swagger of ‘1984’ and recent single ‘Hero’ comes across great live too.

Side two takes it down a notch with the emotive ‘Soul On Fire’. A piano introduction and a stunning lead vocal that leads nicely into an extended and quite mesmerising intro to ‘Wanted Man’, where Delila shines as one of the strongest live voices around. A powerful statement of intent from a band with a political agenda as strong as its musical one. The rhythm section pumps the beat along to Delila’s faultless and emotive vocal until Edgey’s effect-ridden guitar takes centre stage. The crowd participation section may be lost on the listener, but I can assure you the singer is in the crowd with the whole room in the palm of her hand, as she makes a whole room sit on command.

It ends as it began with a punk rock fury. ‘1968’ is their very own anthem of defiance and revolution, a long-time set closer that is extended with crowd interaction, yelling the “freedom” refrain. It builds to a marvellous climax that will see the guitarist literally rip the string from his guitar night after night.

The Last Internationale are an independent band who live for the stage and fights to survive night after night, and ‘Live In Europe’ captures the power and emotion of a high-energy, entertaining live band and is a fine example of how to do a live album in 2026. Support independent music and spend your Xmas money on something worthwhile.

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Author: Ben Hughes

Punk Rock Power Trio ULTRABOMB Release New Single “Artificial Stars”Out January 2, 2026 — First Single from Upcoming AlbumThe Bridges That We Burn — Out April 3, 2026

Band Consists of Greg Norton (Hüsker Dü)Derek O’Brien (Social DistortionAgent OrangeAdolescents) and Ryan Smith (Soul Asylum)

“After a pair of LPs over the past four years, Utrabomb is back with “Artificial Stars,” a swift blow to the sternum that harnesses both the speedy energy of Norton’s early Minneapolis days and the ragged hard-rock sensibility of Twin Tone-era Soul Asylum.” – Magnet

Stream “Artificial Stars”Here

Minneapolis, MN — Punk rock power trio Ultrabomb have released their new single “Artificial Stars.” The track marks the first release from their forthcoming full-length album The Bridges That We Burn, arriving April 3, 2026 via DC-Jam Records/Virgin Music Group.

“Artificial Stars” delivers Ultrabomb’s signature blend of urgency, melody, and grit — drawing on decades of lived punk experience while confronting themes of isolation, endurance, and the drive to keep reaching forward even in uncertain times.

Greg Norton explains: “Sitting in our bunkers, we only have artificial stars to look at. We are all scarred, but we keep reaching for those stars.”

Release Dates • The Bridges That We Burn (album): April 3, 2026

LabelDC-Jam RecordsHere

Follow UltrabombHere

Rock music is about to get louder, bolder, and more alive than ever. 

To order / stream The Line single with Ian Gillan hit Here

UROCK have released The Line, an electrifying new single featuring legendary Deep Purple frontman IAN GILLAN.

A bold and thrilling anthem, The Line bursts to life with thunderous riffs, fierce intensity, and unstoppable momentum. From the very first note, it seizes your attention and never lets go. But The Line isn’t just another collaboration—it’s a fusion of rock generations, built on molten guitars, unfiltered emotion, and Ian Gillan’s unmistakable vocals riding the storm. UROCK channels the raw, defiant energy that once shook stadiums to their foundations—and they’re doing it all over again.

Lyrically, the song confronts a system that controls and manipulates everyone to think and live the same way, daring listeners to break free and get out of the line.

“I would say to all the rock fans out there, you’ve just got to get yourself tangled up with The Line and with UROCK. It’s fantastic. I wouldn’t have got involved in this had it not been a great tune, had they not been a great band—and I’m very proud to be on the video and on the recording. So get out there and get involved.”

— Ian Gillan

“Ian poured his heart into The Line, contributing melodies, harmonies, and arrangements, truly co-writing the piece. His passion and work ethic were inspiring, both in the studio and during the video shoot.
Ian’s generosity and enthusiasm, even as a rock legend collaborating with a self-produced band, were extraordinary—a story I’ll cherish forever.”
— Umberto UROCK

The Line single is just the beginning—a powerful preview of UROCK’s full-length album, The Line, coming in early 2026.

UROCK’s eagerly awaited newalbum brings together an exceptional unparalleled lineup of rock icons. From Ian Gillan to Alan Parsons, the sonic architect behind Pink Floyd’s most iconic sounds, and Jack Endino, the producer who discovered Nirvana and helped shape the grunge revolution, this project is a masterclass in rock history. Adding to the star power is special guest Alastair Greene, a modern blues-rock virtuoso whose fiery guitar work bridges the gap between rock’s golden era and its future. This album isn’t just music—it’s a landmark moment in the genre.

Featuring eight original tracks, the album showcases UROCK’s exceptional musical talent and infectious energy. Each song delivers a compelling blend of melodic choruses, hard-hitting riffs, and dynamic guitar solos, creating an exhilarating listening journey that both honours and expands the band’s signature sound. Drawing inspiration from classic rock roots while embracing contemporary influences, The Line offers a fresh perspective on the genre. For anyone craving a unique and unforgettable musical experience, this is an absolute must-listen.

With The Line, UROCK proves that rock is eternal—raw, unfiltered, and unstoppable. This is what rock ’n’ roll sounds like when it’s alive, loud, and unapologetically theirs. The future of rock starts here—with UROCK.

🌐 www.urockband.com

📱 @urockofficial

This song, featuring the always amazing Inga Liljestrom, is from their latest album “Shamanic Faultlines” which is still available on vinyl, CD and digital.  Here

Golem Dance Cult is an Australian-French band. Their music has been defined as “a Hammer Horror movie directed by Dali and recoloured by Andy Warhol”. Practically, it means they inhabit the “Industrial Dance Rock, Post-Punk, Glam Goth” realm.
In 2025, they signed with Spanish label “Pugilat Deluxe” for the release of their second long-form album, ‘Shamanic Faultlines’

What a fantastic end to another fantastic year of music for RPM Online, and I can’t think of a better place to be to send off the year than in a packed Empire watching the return of Vent 414and The Wonderstuff celebrating doing this malarky for 39 years!

With Milo and Peter putting in a double shift tonight, it seemed only fair that we make the effort to be in the venue early for this, and after making the 400-mile round trip, we wanted to get our money’s worth and boy did we achieve that. Vent 414 made an admission earlier this year that they were indeed in rehearsals and recording a follow-up album to their debut a mere 29 years ago, so it was a delight when Morgan, Milo and Pete wandered onto the stage and then proceeded to fill every conceivable space in the venue with their huge wall of noise beginning with ‘Laying Down With’. The band cranked out the tunes with a couple of brand new ones they’ve been recording, and Milo did inform us that the album was coming in 2026 and possibly more shows.

The first new song was built around a mega groove baby (aren’t they all) before ‘Fixer’ touched on familiar ground. By the time we locked into the volume control, it was Milo offering up the final song of the seven-song set, another new song entitled ‘Lucinda Comes In Many Colours’, I’m excited to hear the new album and what can only be described as something of a creative purple patch for the man from the midlands and this sounds bang on the money.

After warming his voice up with Vent 414, Milo marched on to the Stage, beaming from ear to ear and proceeded to kick the shit out of the finest tunes the Wonder Stuff has to offer in a manner that defies the years because not only did the band sound leaner and meaner they were on fire, and Milo’s vocals were absolutely outstanding. Little time for chit chat other than to introduce a few tunes and announce this was being recorded for a live album in 2026, it was ‘Red Berry Joy Town’ to kick off, and for the next 90 minutes plus, this ‘Eight-Legged’ heavy set list was nothing short of stunning. Malc and Mark weaved the riffs, and the rhythm was maybe tighter than ever, whilst Erica and Milo let proceedings with nicely timed riffs and licks.

The classics came thick and fast from ‘On The Ropes’ and ‘Cartoon Boyfriend’ to ‘Piece Of Sky’ and an epic ‘Mission Drive’. The Wonder Stuff 2025 were absolutely killing it and bringing the curtain down on one hell of a year for shows. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the revisiting of albums over the past few years and the set lists have been pretty awesome, but for some reason, this one seemed extra special, not because it was being recorded for a live album but the energy from the stage was infectious, and to see post-covid era Milo smiling all the time is as infectious as a dose of flu. So much so that there were cheers for the couple of tracks of the last studio album ‘Don’t Anyone Dare Give A Damn’ and ‘The Guy With The Gift’.

Have I said already how incredible Milo sounded? The guy is singing better than ever, belting out the songs with passion and conviction, and as we headed to ‘Give, Give, Give Me More, More, More’, the clock was ticking, and the end wasn’t far off, even if I didn’t want this to end quite yet, bloody curfews.

The encore was a triple header of ‘Can’t Shape Up’ followed by the finest rendition of ‘Poison’ before a brilliant ‘Ten Trenches Deep’ brought the curtain down on a magnificent night of music that defied the years and absolutely nailed my belief that The Wonder Stuff on form like this are an unstoppable force and are getting better and never going through the motions not for a second. Can we do this again next year for the 40th Birthday, please? Simply stunning! Oh, and if you’re taking requests, chuck ‘Good Night Though’ back into the set, it would have capped off my night perfectly.

Next year marks 40 fucking years of The Wonder Stuff, and that in itself sounds ridiculous, but on this evidence, it would be insane to stop now. This band are on fire, and I say let the music flow and keep on flowing

Author: Dom Daley

Just when you think 2025 can’t throw you any more curveballs, up pops UZU with not one, but two EPs of gothic-tinged electronica.

The curveball here is not so much the music contained within the EPs but more the fact that UZU hail from Newport (just down the road from me), and I’ve never heard of them until now.

The brainchild of David Lloyd Chapman, frontman of alt-metal trio Crisis Talks (who I have heard of, but never seen live), UZU specialise in dark, atmospheric, grunge-tinged (largely due to Chapman’s Layne Staley-tinged vocals on tracks like ‘Choke’ and ‘Under A Blackened Sun’) electronic rock music. There are also touches of ‘Host’-era Paradise Lost and the more introspective side of Marilyn Manson throughout ‘Ichi’s’ 7 tracks, and these factors all make for a very interesting listen indeed.

The production on both EPs is top drawer, creating a claustrophobic intensity that at times has me drifting off into the soundscapes Chapman has conjured up, especially during the short, almost ambient interludes that pop up throughout both EPs.

By contrast to ‘Ichi’ its sibling release ‘Ni’ is the one that has really drawn me in, largely because this one comes with hints of Trent Reznor’s soundtrack work along with a Shawn Smith like vocal influence interspersed throughout its 9 tracks, and whilst these tracks seldom break out of a slow throbbing rhythmic pace (‘Magazine’ being the obvious exception with its AIC riffage) it’s music that fans of the likes of Gazelle Twin and Ben Frost should instantly fall in love with.

I love receiving releases like this, simply because David Lloyd Chapman is doing something different with UZU. He’s cremating the rock ‘n roll envelope by not only including electronic elements but also making them become the main driving force of his creations, and if Soulwax can do this and sell out Academy-sized venues, then why not UZU?

‘Ichi’ & ‘Ni’ are available on all digital streaming platforms right now, check them out, you might be surprised too that this is music produced in South Wales and not some bleak Nordic ambient black metal import LP that will cost you the best part of £40.

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Author: Johnny Hayward

When I first encountered Cardiff punks Hurting Germs back in September, supporting The Drowns, their frontman Nick was quick to point out that some of the songs in their set that night would soon be released as a debut EP.

So, here it is. Now, are you ready to get infected by some Hurting Germs too?

Released on the fiercely independent Nifty Fifty 50 label (run by renowned Rebellion artist Colin Creamcrop Scott), this limited-edition EP is the result of The Germs contaminating Cardiff’s Evolution Studio in the weeks following my aforementioned live encounter.

Kicking off with the band’s mid-set stomper ‘Toxic Nik’, this is the track that immediately made me reference Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom in my live review (which you can READ HERE). Singer Nick spits out his vocal over a riff that is equal parts punk and metal, and I reckon any fan of Anti Nowhere League will love this track.

Elsewhere, ‘Shallow Grave’ and ‘Idle Chat’ continue the punk/metal riot, and I can’t help but think of the legendary Warfare (of the germ variety in the case), especially during the latter.   

‘You Scum’ closes the EP out, and this track is more full-on punk rock than the rest of the release. It’s a song that comes covered in gob and could very easily have fallen off a No Future of Secret Records compilation from back in the day.  

Checking out Hurting Germs upcoming gig list they are due to support the likes of The Defects, The Macc Lads and Hung Like Hanratty in 2026 and these all seem like excellent opportunities to help the lads spread their punk rock disease and promote not only this EP but hopefully a full-length debut.

In the meantime, you can get your hands on a CD copy of ‘Toxic Nik’ right now by hitting the eBay link below and parting with £4.30 (which includes P&P too).

Now, how punk rock is that, eh???

Buy Here

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Author: Johnny Hayward

An ode to the American nun and artist and antiwar campaigner Corita Kent.

It’s classic Fonce. All glam power. A serious conversation but from a smiling starter point.

The cover art is a homage to the 80’s protest punk scene, the famous CRASS stencil and pay no more than text (modernised to Pay What You Want for the Bandcamp page HERE) but they’ve been around the blocks to know the world is going to enough dogs to not squeeze some joy from doing what they love.

D.F. have recently completed tours with Jim Jones All Stars plus appeared on this year’s Sea Power’s Krankenhaus Festival.

The band consist of Welsh twins Stewart & Paul Summers (formerly of Sharp Tongues, Ten Benson, Shrapnel) vocals and guitar respectively, Hanna Edgren (from the superbly named Tits Of Death) vocals & keys, Sam Mansbridge (Rumblestrips) bass and latest recruit, drummer, Andy Prestidge (Warning, Osiris Club, Angel Witch).

The album “II” is released 29th January on 250 LPs and CD through Property Of The Lost Records. It follows the debut long player, 2022’s ‘Eye Love Daemönik Fonce’ containing the seasonal playlist sure fires ‘Autumnal Fix’ and the valentines ‘My Baby’s The Right Side Of Rough’.

Like its predecessor, “II” is a sonic love letter to the music and artists the band grew up with. From Sex Pistols, T Rex, Hawkwind to Fairport Convention and Linton Kwesi Johnson.

More album news and tour dates follow soon….

FIRST NEW SINGLE SINCE 2008 DUE FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 12TH VIA DISCONNECT DISCONNECT RECORDS

PRE-SAVE THE SINGLE HERE

Hailing from Cheltenham, UK, 4ft Fingers is a powerhouse punk rock band that has been making waves in the music scene since their formation in the late 90s. Their signature sound is a blend of fast, melodic, and catchy punk rock, drawing inspiration from iconic bands like The Clash, The Damned, Snuff NOFX among others.

Throughout their career, 4ft Fingers has been known for their relentless work ethic and dedication to their craft. They embarked on extensive tours in the 2000s, solidifying their reputation as “the hardest working punk rock band” as hailed by esteemed publications such as Kerrang! magazine, Big Cheese magazine, and numerous DIY punk fanzines.

In 2025, 4ft Fingers continues to thrive, captivating audiences with their explosive live performances. Currently, they are working on their highly anticipated new album, which will mark their first full-length release since 2008, and are set to end the year on a high with a brand-new single called ‘Better Days’, due for release on December 12th via Disconnect Disconnect Records. Crashing in at just over three minutes, ‘Better Days’ instantly shows that the band’s talent for crafting high-energy melodically charged punk rock hasn’t dissipated one bit in their time away from the studio.

“The single is fuelled with all of the angst and emergency that 4ft Fingers are known for with the speed and melody of their punk rock ‘n roll with soul roots”, states guitarist Tom Saunders. “The song comes from a mature and experienced version of themselves and tackles the highs and lows of life.”

The stage is set for an exhilarating 2026 as 4ft Fingers promises to deliver a blistering and unforgettable punk rock experience. Fans of 4ft Fingers can expect an electrifying fusion of punk rock energy, memorable melodies, and a nod to their influences, creating an unforgettable experience that is both nostalgic and fresh. Stay tuned for their upcoming album and prepare for a blistering ride with 4ft Fingers at the forefront of the punk rock scene.

Find 4ft Fingers online HERE

“‘You Are The Jet’ is a rip-roaring gem, giving a nod to Big Star and The Pixies – fuzz guitars, harmonies and what might be the biggest hook of the year.”- RPM Online

“The new king of British power-pop.”- Vive Le Rock

Marc Valentine has released the music video for his latest single “You Are The Jet,” a punchy blast of power-pop packed with fuzz-driven guitars, soaring harmonies, and an instantly addictive chorus. Produced by Dave Draper, (The Wildhearts) the track channels classic melodic rock energy while showcasing Valentine’s sharp songwriting and irresistible hooks. Energetic, uplifting, and built for repeat plays, “You Are The Jet” is a bold reminder of why Marc Valentine remains one of the most exciting voices in modern power-pop.

Catch Up With All Things Marc Valentine Here

Imagine The Beach Boys getting in a rocket with Green Day and with The Pixies at the controls. You get it!

“You Are The Jet” is Marc Valentine’s first release since 2024’s critically acclaimed album, ‘Basement Sparks’, which was also on Little Steven’s Wicked Cool label.

Based in the UK, Marc has been touring extensively over the last two years, including shows in the USA and all over Europe, whilst also writing and recording a stack of new songs for the next album (scheduled for 2026).

Marc says:

“‘I wrote most of ‘You are the Jet’ while stuck in a traffic jam, staring at the back of a large garbage truck. The actually recording process happened pretty quickly too – we had great fun laying down this track. I think it’s one of those songs that are sometimes sitting there in the dark, just waiting to be written. It has quite a simple main hook really, but it also has a real positive message..like a beacon through adversity.”

Upcoming shows:

Monday 15 December – Hope & Anchor, London (w/ Continental Lovers & Electrics)

Friday 19 December – Grey Seal, Cromer (w/ Lassie)

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Follow Marc Here