The Rockstar Reviewer (Rambling Man's Reviews)

Photo courtesy of Kinetic Edited by Anselm Anderson Eclipse Records continue to grow as a  record label with a keen eye for fast, emerging bands. They have  just announced the signing of the progressive metal unit KINETIC from Kolding, Denmark to an exclusive worldwide deal. Emerging with a sound that bridges technical precision, atmospheric depth, and cinematic storytelling, the band was built on a shared ambition to create music that moves the beyond convention. Formed in 2022 by guitarist David Thing and bassist Christian Heitmann, the band recently wrapped up production of their debut full-length album entitled Liminal which will be released via Eclipse Records on October 16, 2026. “We’re very honoured to sign with Eclipse Records.” says keyboardist Marcus Levin, “it feels very natural since they recognized our vision and spirit immediately. They didn’t ask us to be louder, faster, or different. It’s very rare to find a label that truly values and respects patience, de...

Photo Credit: Pooneh Ghana | New York City rock-and-roll quartet BODEGA have announced their fourth full-length album All Inside Aquarium for an October 9th release via Chrysalis Records. Alongside the news, they have released the record’s title-track single along with a limited edition 7” single, featuring vinyl exclusive B-side, “Since You Ask.” All Inside Aquarium is available for pre-order, with a Dinked exclusive featuring 7” single and Cloudy Blue vinyl, along with a limited Bandcamp exclusive edition featuring hand-painted alt artwork, by the band's percussionist/vocalist Nikki Belfiglio. Fans are expected a treat for when the records comes out. Discussing “All Inside Aquarium,” guitarist/vocalist Ben Hozie attempts to explain the reasoning behind the title track;  “This track is an attempt at an existential anthem. Pain (after it subsides) can bring you closer to a beatific perspective where dichotomy disappears and curious creativity calmly trickles out like the faucet...

  Words by Anselm Anderson British trio RJ Archer and the Painful Memories made their comeback last week with their fourth album, titled "Infernow," a fiery eight-track release that channels all the disillusionment the band feels toward modern-day politics. This album stands apart from their usual blues-infused hard rock, as "Infernow" offers a more diverse sound, blending a range of influences and styles. If you’re a new reader, I’ve previously covered the band’s last album, “The Cost of a Loving Crisis.” RJ Archer was formed in 2019 when lead vocalist Richard brought together a few friends to start the band after winning studio time in a competition. " Infernow" is the follow up to that release, having recorded the album in 20 hours on one January afternoon this year. Recorded at Half Ton Studio, the album is twenty three minutes of raw rock 'n'' roll. Photo Courtesy of Richard Archer The album kicks off with the energetic blues of "I Ca...

 British heavy metal giants Saxon have announced the first UK and Ireland leg of their Gods of Thunder World Tour .  The eleven date tour will feature the revival of their legendary 30-foot mechanised Eagle for all UK and Ireland shows, with the exception of Cardiff due to venue restrictions. Saxon will also be bringing the  Castles & Eagles stage production. Originally constructed in the early 1980s as Saxon prepared to tour their seminal album Denim and Leather , the iconic Eagle was built by Midlands-based company LSD using airport runway landing lights. It made its first appearance during a pre-tour rehearsal in London before becoming an enduring symbol of the band. Towering above audiences during Saxon’s massive arena tours, the emblematic Eagle quickly became Saxon’s mascot and inspired the title of their acclaimed 1982 UK Top 5 live album, The Eagle Has Landed , leading to fans requesting its presence ever since. “We wanted to make the Gods of Thunder UK ...

Words by Anselm Anderson S epultura is getting ready to close the chapter on their remarkable forty-year career with the release of their final four-track EP, The Cloud of Unknowing , arriving this Friday, April 24th, via Nuclear Blast Records . The Brazilian Quartet wraps things up on a high note with their most heartfelt and inventive work yet. Each track explores a different side of the band’s emotions, blending thunderous drums, sweeping orchestral arrangements, and their signature fierce vocals and riffs. The band brought in American drummer Greyson Nekrutman for their latest tour across North America, Europe, and Latin America. His prodigious talent adds a fresh layer to the band’s often wild and chaotic brand of tribal metal . Nekrutman’s precise yet powerful hits blend seamlessly as the rest of the band pour their energy into this final chapter of their career. The band chose the legendary Criteria Studios as the place to record The Cloud of Unknowing, produced by long...

Photo Credit: Michael Selby Edited by Anselm Anderson Toronto’s The Get Alongs return with their first single “Come On,” from their upcoming album,  Second To None ,  which is due out on June 19, 2026 via Having Fun / We Are Busy Bodies . It’s dose of  jangly,  guitar rock leans towards The Brian Jonestown Massacre and early Oasis . The track is being released using bone conduction technology , which transmits vibrations through the skull. You can enjoy the experience by sucking on a limited-edition lollipop . Come On,” can only be heard while sucking on it The song plays directly inside a user's head using vibration technology. It works by transmitting audio vibrations through the teeth and jawbone to the inner ear, bypassing the eardrum entirely. That means that the song travels straight through your jaw and into your skull, bypassing the usual distance between listener and sound. All quite interesting like a Science class! Formed in 2017, the four-piece consists ...

[photo credit: Beatriz Mariano] Spanish melodic death metal band BLOODHUNTER will release their hotly-anticipated studio album, entitled “Sons Of The Abandoned”, on June 12, 2026 via ROAR – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music . In support of the news,  BLOODHUNTER have released music video for their latest single “Threshold Of Hell”, featuring Fernando Ribeiro of Portuguese dark metal legends MOONSPELL . Guitarist Dani Arcos comments:  "I think it's the most complete song on the album. We worked really hard on it, both musically and in terms of sound effects, the collaboration with Fernando Ribeiro... and it also has a great groove." Vocalist Diva Satanica adds about the meaning behind the track: "It’s an anti-war song that dissects the mysteries of human behaviour and how it seems we didn’t evolve at all, making the same mistakes of the past. We wanted to emphasize this contradiction of being an anti-war song but using the typical sounds in this context, s...