The Studio 68! – Need A Miracle

The Studio 68! – Need A Miracle

THE STUDIO 68! & DANI TURNER ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘ROLLIN’’ TO BE RELEASED FEBRUARY 20TH 2026 VIA DETOUR RECORDS

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM HERE

SEE THE BAND LIVE AT THE 100 CLUB, LONDON ON JANUARY 28TH FOR THEIR ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY – TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Medicine music for the mind, spirit & soul

Imagine Janis Joplin jamming with the Small Faces, down at Withnail and I’s place. Charles Bukowski is manning the bar, Malcolm McLaren is handling the guest list, and Terence Stamp and Julie Christie are canoodling in a corner. Now you’re getting a sense of the weird and wonderful world of The Studio 68!.  A high-octane rock ’n’ roll band formed in North London steeped in late ’60s and early ’70s influences, they were destined for stardom in the early ’90s before their chaotic lifestyle derailed them. One explosive Camden performance caused MOJO magazine to remark, “It was the night the foundation stone of Britpop was laid.”

Regenerated, Doctor-Who style, in 2023 as a rollicking rock ’n’ roll outfit fronted by lead vocalist Dani Turner, the six-piece have since blown the doors off everywhere from the ‘Shiiine On’ festival to Camp Bestival and are now ready to unfurl their new album Rollin’ upon the world.

Set for release this coming February 20th, 2026, via the legendary UK mod and punk label Detour Records, the album will be available on CD, download and as a limited-edition bright orange vinyl Rizla-style sleeve, with a lush gatefold for paper Rollin’ ease. 

Recorded in London with legendary producer Brian O’Shaughnessy (Primal Scream/Rumer), Rollin’ sees the 68! fusing elements of funk, soul, jazz and blues to create a modern classic and this week the psychedelic express that is The Studio ’68! & Dani Turner rolls back into town in spectacular style with brand-new single ‘Need A Miracle’ – a gilt-edged rock ’n’ soul anthem, it fuses a relentless four-to-the-floor Northern Soul groove with a tune worthy of peak-era Fleetwood Mac. All welded to a lacerating lyrical examination of the pop process.

If that wasn’t enough, the whole thing is sent stratospheric by the extraordinary vocals of powerhouse lead singer Dani Turner. As powerful as P.P. Arnold and as raunchy as namesake Tina, Turner’s diamonds-on-sandpaper delivery on ‘Need A Miracle’ brings to mind the larynx-busting majesty of Merry Clayton’s vocals on the Stones’ Gimme Shelter’. 

“‘Need A Miracle’ is a cautionary tale for anyone thinking about entering this weird and wonderful business,” says band spokesman Paul Moody. “It’s a tribute to every band that has ever fallen foul of the music biz — an aural ragu for a dish served cold.”

Recorded at the iconic Bark Studio in Walthamstow, Rollin’ is a passionate love letter to rock ’n’ roll’s late ’60s and early ’70s heyday; it’s a 35-minute blast of grooviness, littered with sonic and lyrical nods to everyone from Brian Auger And The Trinity to Delaney & Bonnie, Bobbie Gentry to Deep Purple.

The standard of musicianship is, frankly, sickening — check out Thrill Heaven’s mesmeric Hammond playing on six-minute epic ‘Time Slips Through Your Hands’, while the one-in-a-generation vocal talent of Dani Turner brings to mind everyone from Elkie Brooks to Beth Ditto; Betty Davis to  Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard. And that’s just the Bs.

Each of the ten tracks is also constructed with an attention to detail worthy of the Brill Building. An epic ‘The Way It Is’ holds up a (black) mirror to Britain in 2025, a country where hope has been reduced to a game-show appearance or a betting slip, while ‘Seasons’ is an other-worldly meditation on loss reminiscent of Traffic at their most transcendental. ‘Turn Off Your Mind’ is a Fantastic Negrito-style groove decrying tech-consumerism, while ‘Wasn’t Ready’ is a breezy meditation on the fleeting nature of existence worthy of Rod’s Never a Dull Moment. The overall effect is an album which will stay on your turntable for months.

Musically there are nods to everyone from Rod Stewart and the Faces (Wasn’t Ready’) to Traffic (a sublime ‘Seasons’) to Stephen Stills’ Manassas (Funky People’), but lyrically Rollin’ is bang up to date. ‘The Way It Is’ holds up a (black) mirror to Britain in 2025 — a country where hope now comes in the shape of a TV game-show appearance or a betting slip — while ‘Hall of Mirrors’ addresses the distorting gaze of social media. ‘Turn Off Your Mind’, meanwhile, is a swampy mantra reminiscent of retro-centric fellow traveller Fantastic Negrito. All filtered through a Technicolor lens of good vibes and boundless positivity.

For the ’68!, it’s not just about the music. Their rock ’n’ roll travelling show is powered by an over-arching band philosophy, deeply rooted in the progressive social and cultural spirit of 1968. 

“We’re here to bring the joy — and the danger — back into rock ’n’ roll,” says band spokesman Paul Moody. “The psychedelic express is picking up speed and we’d love you to come along for the ride.”

Dani and the ’68! will be playing this and other choice cuts from Rollin’’ at their not-to-be-missed album launch at the legendary 100 Club on Wednesday January 28, which will see the band joined by XL, newcomers Raw Sonik, and an all-star DJ line-up of Jon ‘Mojo’ Mills (editor of Shindig!), Andy Lewis (Blow Up) and cult dancefloor mavericks Uncertain Ratio. Plus light show and a host of surprises!

Tickets available HERE

Find The Studio 68! & Dani Turner online at:

INSTAGRAM

YOUTUBE

Michael Monroe gets ‘Disconnected’

Michael Monroe gets ‘Disconnected’

MICHAEL MONROE

New Video/ Single

‘DISCONNECTED’

OUT NOW

New Album OUTERSTELLAR

OUT FEBRUARY 20

PRE-ORDER AT THIS LOCATION 

Michael Monroe releases the irresistibly anthemic second single ‘Disconnected’ from forthcoming new studio album Outerstellar, set for release on February 20th via Silver Lining Music. For pre-orders go to this location.

‘Disconnected’ speaks of something that Michael Monroe feels passionately about: that live music is a rare and vital space for people to find each other in the moment.

“Technology was supposed to bring people closer together, when, in fact, people are more disconnected than ever. They’re looking at their phones and their computers and downloading stuff” comments Michael Monroe. “And, you know, the Internet can’t take away the experience of being at a live show. You’re on stage, and you communicate with the audience who are there, in that moment. That‘s where the magic really happens, and absolutely no program or device or computer can reproduce that!”

The new album Outerstellar, is an experience as much as a collection of great songs, a sweet smelling, leathery, glitter-shimmered, sweat-soaked raunch and punch wrapped in one of the great voices in rock ‘n’ roll. The harmonies and vibes roll effortlessly in silk scarves, lounging in leather pants with liquor and a smile on a beat-up sofa in those small AM hours. And the sheer attitude, which screams carefree (not careless!) confidence (not arrogance!), a cocksure sense of self-bathed in the sheer joy of playing real rock ‘n’ roll the right way.

The recently released first video and single, ‘Rockin’ Horse’, is a defiant blast against critics and judges and comes with one of the craziest Michael Monroe videos you’ve ever seen. “I am who I am and I’m not going to edit myself for your benefit,” Michael says unequivocally for anyone who might doubt that fact.

From loud crashing guitars to harmonicas, to gorgeous acoustic moments, you’ll sing, you’ll dance, you’ll shiver, you’ll shake, and you’ll smell this wonderful exhilarating record in all its weathered biker jacket incense-coated glory and you’ll also realize that whatever the hell is going on in the world right now, when you put this album on, it’s an instant escape to carefree days and an emancipation from worries, fears and woes.  

Outerstellar will see a whole burst of life onstage when Michael Monroe and the band bring it to stages internationally over the next year. It is EXACTLY what rock ‘n’ roll in its truest sense is meant to be, in fact, just stop reading this, get off your ‘Rockin’ Horse’ and go see Michael Monroe on tour at your first opportunity! In support of the release of Outerstellar, Michael Monroe and band will embark on a UK co-headline tour with Buckcherry, kicking off in Southampton on February 24th. For a full list of upcoming shows and tickets visit: michaelmonroe.com – more dates to be announced.

2025:

24 Nov Rock Beyond Rock Vol. 2, Osaka (JP)

25 Nov EX THEATER ROPPONGI, Minato City (JP)

2026:

24 Feb The 1865, Southampton (UK)

25 Feb O2 Ritz, Manchester (UK)

27 Feb KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton (UK)

28 Feb Northumbria Institute, Newcastle (UK)

1 Mar SWG3, Glagsgow (UK)

3 Mar Tramshed, Cardiff (UK)

4 Mar The Foundry, Torquay (UK)

6 Mar Rock City, Nottingham (UK)

7 Mar O2 Forum, London (UK)

8 Mar Chalk, Brighton (UK)

3-7 Apr Underground Garage Cruise, Miami (US) to Cozumel (MX)

Outerstellar will be available on Limited Edition 12” White Vinyl, 12” Turquoise Vinyl, 12” Black Vinyl, CD Digipak, Digital Download, Streaming and special D2C bundles. Available to pre-order now at this location 

Follow Michael Monroe:

www.facebook.com/michaelmonroeofficial 

www.x.com/michaelmonroe 

www.instagram.com/michaelmonroeofficial

www.michaelmonroe.com/web/

www.tiktok.com/@officialmichaelmonroe 

Massive Wagons -New Single & Video

Massive Wagons -New Single & Video

‘Everywhere We Go’,

New Record & Management Deals in Germany and Announce 2026 UK Tour Dates.  
 TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
  “EVERYWHERE WE GO”


Lancaster’s finest rock export, Massive Wagons, release their brand-new single and video “Everywhere We Go” today, Friday 14th November. The track, packed with the band’s trademark energy and stadium-sized hooks, comes accompanied by a video filmed at the Iconic Winter Gardens in Morecambe.

 The single is a celebration of everything Massive Wagons stand for, big riffs, bigger choruses, and a sense of community that runs through everything they do.

 Guitarist Adam Thistlethwaite comments on the track “We wanted it to sound huge wherever it’s played… radio, kitchen, or concert hall. Matt O’Grady completely understood that and nailed the energy in the mix.”

 Vocalist Barry Mills adds “Everywhere We Go is one of those songs you just know will go off live… big chorus, big energy, it’s built for the stage.”

 
 The release signals a bold new era for Massive Wagons, building on their growing success across Europe with powerful new partnerships in Germany as they announce signing to Reaper Entertainment for their next album and join forces with Brainstorm Music Marketing in Germany, cementing their presence on the European rock scene.

 Flori from Reaper Entertainment comments: “Massive Wagons” are one of the most exciting rock bands in the UK and among the most promising and exciting rock acts worldwide. We are thrilled to help them achieve, in other countries, the level of recognition and success they have already earned in the UK. Their energy, authenticity, and passion make them a perfect fit for our label, and we look forward to supporting them as they reach new rock & metal fans around the world.”

 Deville adds: The Brainstorm Music Marketing team is excited working even closer now with Massive Wagons because their energy, grit, and honest rock spirit match exactly what we want to champion. They bring a loyal fanbase, a powerful live presence, and a clear creative identity. Partnering with them feels like joining a band already in forward motion, ready for bigger stages and bolder steps.”

 To mark the occasion, the song will also be released as an exclusive 7-inch vinyl single, limited to 500 copies worldwide. The vinyl will be available on tour at the merch stand and can be pre-ordered now via the official Reaper Entertainment shop HERE

 Manager Terri Chapman shares her excitement about the band’s next steps,
“Massive Wagons have never been a band to rest on their laurels. With fans always at the heart of everything they do, this partnership with Reaper Entertainment feels like the perfect next step. Reaper bring experience, integrity, and a genuine ‘fans-first’ ethos that mirrors the band’s own. We’re already deep into plans for the next album and it’s shaping up to be their strongest yet. The band’s momentum in the UK continues to build, and with our German partners at Brainstorm leading the charge overseas, in a country where the guys have spent years touring and building a loyal fanbase, everything feels perfectly aligned. This is a new era for Massive Wagons, and one that fans will definitely want to be part of.”

 Following their headline set at Planet Rockstock and European Headline tour this December, Massive Wagons will release a live album in March 2026 via Earache Records, captured during their sold-out homecoming show at Lancaster University’s Great Hall, the venue’s first rock concert in over 40 years. This is available to Pre-Order here

 Looking ahead, the band have just announced their UK headline ‘Everywhere We Go’ Tour for April–May 2026, hitting towns and cities across the country.

Tickets are available here.

Barry Mills sums it up best: “We’re hitting the road again back on our home turf in the UK for 2026, loud, hard, and unapologetically Massive Wagons! No agenda, no gimmicks just rock ’n’ roll in your face. Grab a ticket, it’s gonna be chaos.”

2025
 28.11.2025 – Trecco Bay  UK (Planet Rockstock)
BLOOD & BONE EU TOUR – 2025
 29.11.2025 – Kortrijk, Belgium (DVG Club)
 01.12.2025 – München, Germany (Backstage Halle) 
 02.12.2025 – Stuttgart, Germany (Im Wizemann) 
 04.12.2025 – Haarlem, Netherlands (Patronaat) 
 05.12.2025 – Paris, France (Le Backstage by The Mill) 
 06.12.2025 – Essen, Germany (Weststadthalle) 
 08.12.2025 – Hannover, Germany (Musikzentrum) 
 09.12.2025 – Berlin, Germany (Frannz Club) 
 10.12.2025 – Frankfurt am Main, Germany (Das Bett) 
 12.12.2025 – Lübeck, Germany (Rider’s Café) 
 13.12.2025 – Wissen, Germany (kulturWERK Wissen) 

2026: 
 07.02.2026 Warrington,UK, (Parr Hall) Full Nelson Show
EVERY WHERE WE GO UK TOUR – 2025
 17.04.2026 – Norwich, Epic Studios
 18.04.2026 – Leicester, O2 Academy
 19.04.2026 – Holmforth, The Picturedrome
 23.04.2026 – Aberdeen, The Tunnels
 24.04.2026 – Middlesbrough, Empire
 25.04.2026 – Hull, The Welly
 30.04.2026 – Margate, Dreamland
 01.05.2026 – Exeter, Phoenix
 02.05.2026 – Gloucester, Guildhall

 Tickets: https://www.massivewagons.com/live

The track is available now on all digital platforms:
https://lnk.to/EverywhereWeGo

 Website: https://www.massivewagons.com
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MassiveWagons/
  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/massivewagons/

Saxon – U.D.O. – Cardiff University Great Hall. 16.11.25

Saxon – U.D.O. – Cardiff University Great Hall. 16.11.25

The mighty Saxon’s Hell, Fire and Steel tour has been rolling through the UK. The final date is here in Cardiff; there’s a definite chill in the air as I queue to get in with the rest of the sold-out denim and leather-clad audience. By the time I get in, U.D.O. have already started their set. I catch most of the opening track – ‘Balls to the Wall’ (complete with giant inflatable balls), and I’m reminded of how much I love that song. I find myself headbanging (gently these days!) along to the monstrous riff and groove. Udo Dirkschneider is looking good for a 73-year-old, and his voice sounds like it always has. He has assembled a fantastic band, they play the Accept classics with flair, and we get a top selection of tracks, including the so bad it’s good – ‘London Leather Boys’, ‘Turn Me On’, and of course, they finish the set with a solid version of the proto thrash metal classic – ‘Fast as a Shark’. The audience gives U.D.O. a rapturous ovation, and we wait for Saxon to take the stage.

Yes, yes, I know you all know my love for Saxon. They were, after all, my introduction to the world of heavy metal back in 1986 when I was a young, impressionable 13-year-old. My mate in school brought me a tape of the compilation album ‘Strong Arm Metal’ and that was it! I’ve been a metal head ever since. It’s hard to believe that the band are as relevant now as they were then. The band have consistently released quality albums, some of their latest efforts are up there with the classic stuff.  They have weathered many storms in their long career. Drummer Nigel Glockler suffered a brain injury back in 2014, and vocalist Biff Byford recovered from a heart attack in 2019, and more recently has had treatment for prostate cancer. Not that you would know any of this when you see and hear their performance tonight!

The unmistakable tones of Brian Blessed blast through the PA as the intro to Saxon’s latest album – ‘Hell, Fire and Damnation’ is played. The curtain drops and the riff to the album’s title track kicks off the show with style. Biff is on fine form vocally; he genuinely sounds better now than he ever has. For a man of 74 years of age, he puts many younger vocalists to shame. The first half of their set includes the standards – ‘Power and the Glory’, ‘Never Surrender’, ‘Backs to the Wall’, ‘Heavy Metal Thunder’ and ‘Dallas 1 pm’. We also get some newer tracks that have also become classic Saxon – Sacrifice and Madame Guillotine.

The video screen behind the band is used to great effect, with images to highlight the songs. The guitar duo of long-time member Doug Scarratt and new boy, Diamond Head legend Brian Tatler, works perfectly. They play for the song, no unnecessary showboating, just tasteful playing. Their twin lead attack is a joy to behold. Bassist Nibbs Carter shows no sign of slowing down; he’s like a shirtless Tasmanian devil. Headbanging furiously, saluting the crowd with horns aloft, he’s a focal point of the band. Nice to see him using a Rickenbacker for part of the set too – a nod to their old friend Lemmy? A special mention must go to drummer Nigel Glockler, at 72 years of age, he is still a force to be reckoned with. He doesn’t miss a beat; his thunderous attacking of the drums really is something special. Saxon have a real affinity with Wales, Biff tells us stories of the band playing in South Wales when the band first started out, “the Rhondda valleys!” he shouts in a pretty good Welsh accent!

Then we get to the part of the set that everyone has been waiting for – the seminal album ‘Wheels of Steel’ played in its entirety. Biff introduces ‘Motorcycle Man’ by taking us down memory lane, he asks us what the first thing we all heard when we dropped the needle on the LP for the first time… That’s right, the roar of a bike tearing up the tarmac. They kick into the track with gusto! The audience goes nuts and sings every word. This is a real treat for all of us in the room. We get to hear deep cuts like Freeway Mad and Street Fighting Gang as well as standards – 747 (Strangers in the Night), Wheels of Steel and See the Light Shining. The highlight for me, though, is hearing ‘Machine Gun’ live for the first time. The bomb effect at the end of the track clears out everyone’s bowels… amazing! ‘Suzie Hold On’ sounds great too (even though it’s my least favourite on the album). There’s a lovely moment where someone hands Biff their beloved vinyl copy of ‘Wheels of Steel’ and he pulls out a Sharpie from his pocket, signs it and hands it back. Biff tells us that a new album is in the works and we should expect it sometime in 2026. No slowing down for these guys!

We get an encore of ‘Denim and Leather’, some of the audience throw their battle jackets on stage and the band wear them, Biff signs them all while the guys in the band are still wearing them! The final tracks of the night are ‘Strong Arm of the Law’ and the fantastic ‘Princess of the Night’. What a set, what a band. There are smiles of appreciation on every face. Saxon more than delivered tonight. Long live the Barnsley big teasers!   

Author: Kenny Kendrick

Hound Gawd! set to unleash the new Zeke single

Hound Gawd! set to unleash the new Zeke single

ZEKE ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE – ‘PETERBILT’ ON NOVEMBER 28 VIA HOUND GAWD!

Short. Fast. Loud. No compromise.

With their new 7″ single “Peterbilt”, ZEKE unleash an adrenaline rush only they can deliver. Since forming in Seattle in 1992, ZEKE have defined speed rock: an unrelenting mix of hardcore punk, rock ’n’ roll swagger, and breakneck fury.

The two tracks, “Peterbilt” and “From The Ashes”, are nothing short of a frontal assault—razor-sharp riffs, relentless drumming, rumbling bass, and the feral snarl of frontman Blind Marky Felchtone. Every second hits like a strike, every note is pure velocity. This is rock ’n’ roll in the red.

Led by founding members Blind Marky Felchtone (vocals, guitar) and Donny Paycheck (drums), alongside Jason Freeman (bass) and Jeff Hiatt (guitar), ZEKE channel their explosive live energy straight into vinyl. In less than three minutes, they deliver the kind of sonic intensity most bands can’t capture across a whole album. “Peterbilt” is uncompromising, high-octane punk rock—raw, direct, and unapologetically loud. Essential listening for anyone who craves speed, aggression, and attitude.

ZEKE are back—faster, louder, and more ferocious than ever.

The tracks are not available on streaming platforms.

Tour Dates

18.03.2026 – NL – Eindhoven – Effenaar

19.03.2026 – DE – Saarbrücken – Studio 30

20.03.2026 – BE – Aalst – St-Annazaal

21.03.2026 – GR – Athens – An Club

23.03.2026 – DE – Köln – Volta Club

24.03.2026 – tba

26.03.2026 – tba

27.03.2026 – ES – Vitoria-Gasteiz – Jimmy Jazz

28.03.2026 – ES – Madird – Gruta 77

29.03.2026 – PT – Lisbon – Republica da Musica

30.03.2026 – ES – Jerez de la Frontera – La Guarida

02.04.2026 – ES – Valencia – 16 Toneladas

03.04.2026 – ES – Barcelona – Upload

04.04.2026 – FR – Montpellier – Secret Place

05.04.2026 – FR – Marseille – Molotov

07.04.2026 – DE – Freiburg – Atlantik

08.04.2026 – DE – Wiesbaden – Schlachthof

09.04.2026 – DE – Düsseldorf – Pitcher

10.04.2026 – NL – Rotterdam – Baroeg

11.04.2026 – NL – Zwolle – Skroetfest

Continental Lovers – Hanger 18 Swansea 08.11.25

Continental Lovers – Hanger 18 Swansea 08.11.25

On a depressingly cold and wet night, Nottingham’s Rock n Rollas Continental Lovers brought the glamour and the tunes for a rock n roll support slot that kicked the backside of many a band. It was a pleasure to catch Nottingham’s finest at the early onstage time of seven thirty, but it was showtime, and the chaps from the East Midlands didn’t disappoint and proceeded to shake their shit and put on a down n dirty sleazy showcase that was exactly what the rock n roll doctor ordered.

Opening up a show can be a tricky proposition, but when you have the tunes on board and the unmistakable look of a rock n roll band, you can be sure as hell that they can walk the walk and talk the talk. With a swagger and a cheeky smile, Joe, Ben, Kerri and Ace had great on-stage chemistry and looked like they were true believers, hashing out some dirty Rock n Roll handed down by the good and the great, a smidge of Thunders and his Heartbreakers, the undeniable Ragged Glory of The Dogs D’Amour and that swagger I mentioned of Stiv Bators and his lords. No denim jeans, or Nike running shoes with a high street T Shirt for these boys, it’s Rock n Roll SLippers and Leather jackets all the way, baby just like Baby Jesus intended Rock n Roll bands to look and sound. Playing a relatively short but very sweet set, there were plenty of tunes from the band’s most excellent CD and even time for some new tunes. ‘Tape Deck’ is snotty, and ‘St Joan’ adds some dirt to the snot as we all hail the first Lady of Rock n Roll. The band move around when they deliver the punches, and Joe holds court centre stage whilst Ace Carlton pours petrol on the drums in the engine room, whilst giving those drums a good seeing to. They burn through the songs quickly, and the standouts happened to be the single ‘Wedding Song’ and a special mention for ‘The Girl’ power pop at its finest, delivered in style.

Joe has always written great tunes, but with the Continental Lovers, he’s found his sweet spot, and the rest of the band gives sparkle and dirt to the power pop, making it sound glorious.

Easily as good as any of the bands marauding across the US of A, like The Poison Boys and Ravagers. It’s refreshing to see and hear a band that looks like they know how it’s done and, more importantly, sound like they know how it’s done. Borrowing from the good and the great, it’s satisfying that Dirty power pop is in such good hands. I look forward to seeing them again and hearing the new songs in the studio. Get on it, boys n girls, that is if you want a great time and top tunes from a band who love to rock n roll.

Buy Continental Lovers Here

Cheap Trick – ‘All Washed Up’ (BMG)

Cheap Trick – ‘All Washed Up’ (BMG)

Celebrating their fiftieth year of playing this Rock n Roll game, the mighty Cheap Trick ain’t done yet, and with this, their latest offering, ‘All Washed Up’, is a tongue-in-cheek title because on the evidence herein, they are on fire and sounding as hungry as the day they first broke out of Rockford. From the opening few bars of the title track, you kinda know exactly what you’re in for. The band sounds vibrant and kicking it with the energy coming from the engine room, which is now driven by Rick’s son Daxx, who is proving to be a real power house and driving the music on, adding a ton of x factor to proceedings.

To be fair they are on fire here and turning everything up to 11 they’re rockin hard. by the time you get to the third track, Nielsen has decided that he wants to show everyone hes lost none of his fire and love for loud guitars as he rinses ever last drop out of how ever many necks he feels like swinging around these days. Hell, they are right on it for ‘Bet It All’ with the musicianship being put to the test and throwing down the gauntlet to anyone within earshot. I remember when Aerosmith returned decades ago after ‘Done With Mirrors’ and every man and his dog wanted to champion the band for their hunger and quality, well, this reminds me a lot of the spirit captured in these here tracks. Even the first slower ballad-like track, ‘The Best Thing’ (of course it’s called that and with slushy tempo and dreamy solo it’s built for American Radio if that’s still a thing.

Another point apart from the rhythm section and lead breaks sounding fantastic, a special mention to the amazing vocals courtesy of Robin Zander, who is pealing back the years. I’m not even sure a guy of his years should be allowed to possess a voice that bloody good; it might be illegal these days.

Throughout the eleven songs that unmistakable Cheap Trick power pop is there for all to hear, of course, it is its part of them like a gas or the lifeblood that courses through their veins, it’s always there. ‘Twelve Gates’ is a great example of the old dog and new tricks, it’s power pop gold. Hang on, ‘Bad Blood’ is even more Cheap Trick with a fantastic melody and a thick edge on the Bass, whilst Nielsen is having the time of his life all over this record. Even the parts where they might be cruising, Rick has something fire up his sleeve just so you don’t get complacent.

Finally, I’d just like to say that when they turn it up, they really do capture some magic, and whilst the production is slick and thick, it’s when they up the RPM that they hit the dizzy heights on ‘All Washed Up’, and those are the songs that take this to the next level.

To produce a product this good, this deep into a career, is nothing short of remarkable. I’ll even forgive them the skiffle and jazzy outro of ‘Wham Boom Bang’, they’ve earned it because Cheap Trick are still the cats whiskers and this is the mutts nuts now wham boom bang that one and buy this album!

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

THE GODFATHERS ANNOUNCE NEW MUSIC AND U.K. SHOWS!!!

THE GODFATHERS ANNOUNCE NEW MUSIC AND U.K. SHOWS!!!

After a Summer and Autumn touring Europe, The Godfathers kickstart 2026 with a trio of UK dates and a brand new single.

The band hit the European festival circuit for shows in Croatia, Portugal, Germany, Austria and Greece, sharing stages with the likes of the Sex Pistols, The Damned, Sisters Of Mercy and The Stranglers along the way.

They’ve also found time to record two new songs, their first new material since the release of their highly praised 2022 album Alpha Beta Gamma Delta.

Set for release on 6th February and featuring guest contributions on synthesiser and guitar from Devo’s Josh Hager, the double A-side single has been described by The Godfathers’ frontman and founder Peter Coyne as “exciting, finger on the pulse rock and roll social commentary – another sonic leap forward for the group.”

The Godfathers will follow the release with their annual Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre concert at the iconic 100 Club in London as well as gigs in Leeds and Edinburgh. Full dates are…

Wed 11 February – EDINBURGH – Voodoo Rooms  (w/The Primevals) – Edinburgh Tickets

Thurs 12 February – LEEDS – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds Tickets

Fri 13 February – LONDON – 100 Club  (w/The Witchdoktors) – London Tickets

Tickets for all shows are available NOW!!

Website / Facebook / Instagram

GRADE 2 ‘Cut Throat’ Single & 2026 Tour

GRADE 2 ‘Cut Throat’ Single & 2026 Tour

British punk band Grade 2 share their blistering new single “Cut Throat”, a hard-edged anthem about perseverance in a world that never lets up. Fueled by fierce guitars and a pounding rhythm section, the track captures the sound of a band fighting to stay one step ahead while the world tries to drag them down.

“Cut Throat is about a world that takes more than it gives,” the band explains. “It’s a commentary on striving for more in situations where most people are out for themselves. It’s personal perseverance in a time that feels so empty and cold.”

The accompanying video, directed by Jason Link, with live footage by Flo Ehlich, strips everything back to black-and-white stills taken from the band’s live shows: sweat, motion, and flash-frozen defiance. It’s raw, unvarnished, and perfectly mirrors the spirit of the track—no gloss, no polish, just truth in the moment.

Grade 2 have announced a string of UK headline shows for March and April 2026, alongside their upcoming summer festival appearances. The first dates are listed below, with more to follow soon.

Tickets for the UK tour go on sale this Friday at 10am via Tickets.

UK Headline Dates:

March 28 – The Bodega Social Club, Nottingham

March 29 – The Key Club, Leeds

March 30 – The Deaf Institute, Manchester

March 31 – The Garage Attic, Glasgow

April 1 – Exchange, Bristol

April 3 – O2 Academy Islington, London

April 4 – Strings, Isle of Wight

Festival Appearances:

June 18 – Graspop Metal Meeting Festival, Dessel (BE)

June 20 – Letzigrund Stadion, Zurich (CH) supporting Die Toten Hosen

For more information:

Website | Instagram | YouTube

AFI – ‘Silver Bleeds The Black Sun’ (RFC Records)

AFI – ‘Silver Bleeds The Black Sun’ (RFC Records)

Those in the know have been enjoying Davey and the lads leaning further and further into their 80s Goth tinged influences for some time now. No redundant modern catch-all Post Punk labelling here. AFI will always be the real deal. Stark guitars married with lush synths, balancing the brighter moments with the crucial doom and gloom. You’d think Steve Lilleywhite and Flood were behind the desk.

Following upon 2012’s tremendous Bodies was never going to be a simple exercise. Which in itself was also a love letter to 80s counter culture and dark aesthetics. But Silver Bleeds the Black Sun is right up there, shoulder to shoulder.

Opening with the galloping Bunnymen-esque “the Bird of Prey”, urgent, dreamy and anthemic all at once. “Behind the Clock” is a much different animal all together, heavier and pummeling, but with a groove so infectious it’s devastating when it ends. “Holy Visions” is a dancier number, exquisite guitars, the sound landing somewhere between A Flock of Seagulls and Ministry.

Although some of the styles and influences on the record can be quite apparent, this does not make what AFI are doing redundant or generic. It still has a twist uniquely their own and a distinct signature as well as the fingerprints of all the impactful artists when creating the sound to the record without being too obvious or unoriginal.

Credit as always, needs to be given to guitarist Jade Puget. A game changer for the band’s output since joining and always helping raise the game record after record. “Ash Speck in a Green Eye” offers up sublime guitar lines and a fast paced rhythm akin to overlooked 80s outfit the Sound. Leading on to the rapid “Voidward, I Bend Back”, the dark textured guitar is married to a rattling bass that takes command of your very being.

It’s a record that gets better and better with every listen. Being rounded out with the dark and brooding “A World Unmade”. With the slow and pensively (almost) spoken word vocals, reminiscent of The The’s Matt Johnson. Final track “Nooneunderground” is a screeching Deathrock anthem, at times giving the odd Punk Rock nod to their past. Just when you thought it was safe to pack away the Halloween decorations.

Another stellar record from a band that simply refuses to be pigeonholed. Thirty years into their career, they are constantly adapting and adding new facets to how they are perceived. 

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Author: Dan Kasm