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...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Release Date: May 1st, 2026                                                Label: Eclipse Records Munich-based alternative metal band Antirope is set to drop their second album, "Bring Me to Zero," next month through Eclipse Records The quartet delivers a melancholic and unsettling set of tracks, recorded live at Patrick Fleischer 's home studio, LungFull Studios . The music feels brooding yet comforting, with crushing riffs merging into monotonous vocals, sludge-like instrumentals, and lyrics brimming with emotion. There is obvious influences by Black Sabbath , A Perfect Circle and Tool , which is conveyed through each outpouring of emotion throughout this release. Formed in Munich, Germany in 2015,  Antirope  of Slaven Stokic on vocals and guitar, Patrick Fleischer on guitar and backing vocals, Julie Fleischer on bass, and...

📸: Brandon Gullion TESLA have announced their new covers album, 'Homage,' set for release on July 17, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl . The album finds the band returning to their roots with a collection of covers honouring some of rock’s most timeless hits. It's an exciting moment for long term fans, as it marks their first material in six years. To whet appetites, Tesla have  shared a  cover of Climax Blues Band 's iconic track, "I Love You" (2026 Version). The new single arrives alongside an official video, available to view below. Tesla share their thoughts on the release; "'I Love You,' like all the tracks on 'Homage,' not only pays tribute to legends but gives us a chance to showcase our lead singer’s diversity as well as the musical dynamics we learned as a band many years ago." Watch the Official Video for “I Love You” (2026 Version)     Tesla started their career as a cover band, playing in California nightclubs before mo...

Photo Credit: Hugo Genest ------------------- Montreal ’s sixteen-year-old punk trio General Chaos have released their latest single with “ The Idiots Have Taken Over ,” via  Stomp Records . The second advance single from their upcoming LP Can’t Please ’Em All   is a mid-tempo, groove-orientated track , which is a blend betweenlands between Rancid ’s punch, and the hook-heavy grit of Social Distortion .. “The Idiots Have Taken Over” is a direct, confrontational take on  political dysfunction and power control. Lines like “There’s a problem and no one there to fix it / Shut your fucking mouth because I’m having none of it” are  blunt statements, carried by a chorus that hits you hard. The band contrasts biting lyrics with tight, melodic structure and harmonies. General Chaos formed in 2022 at just twelve years old, they have grown up quickly inside Montreal’s punk scene, from performing at  Pouzza Fest sets to  across Québec and Ontario.They released their ...

📸: Sean Stiegeimeier Today, ATREYU have unveiled their new single, "Children Of Light," featuring the ex-Sepultura vocalist, Max Cavalera . The new track is taken from ATREYU's upcoming album, 'The End is Not the End,' set for release on April 24, 2026 via Spinefarm . ATREYU explains the reasons behind the track is inspired by a particular Classic metal act: "'Children of Light' was created with a primal spirit in mind. A 'festival' song. Heavily inspired by classic Sepultura, though it seemed like an untouchable ask, we wanted Max involved. We’re honored to share this song with a legend." Watch the Visualizer for "Children Of Light" HERE  below 'The End is Not the End' has been described as  " ATREYU’s heaviest album ever and their most adventurous", according to a press release. “ We realized what made ATREYU great in the beginning was that we didn’t sound like anyone else,” frontman Brandon Saller expl...

  Words written by Anselm Anderson This upcoming Friday, English Heavy Metal band DA are set to unleash their much-anticipated self titled- debut album . This ten-track album blends modern rock vibes with classic rock influences , clearly drawing inspiration from bands like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest . It has a strong throwback feel to the NWOBHM era , mixing  fast riffs with a dark, moody atmosphere and powerful, soaring vocals. DA emerged from the NWOBHM band Desolation Angels , when former guitarist Robin Brancher formed the group in 2021 with vocalist Matt Oakman. They were soon joined by bassist Neil Craddock and drummer Dan Smith.  Photo courtesy of San PR The album’s use of atmospherics adds depth and sincerity to the storytelling in the music. The opening track, " Daisy Chains ," kicks off with ominous cracks of thunder, gradually building in a slow, rhythmic patterns before erupting into Oakman’s towering vocals, which play a significant role throughout th...

artwork by OMGXERO Edited by Anselm Anderson Industrial Metal supergroup RIKETS are set to release a long-awaited EP titled Tales from the Construct AlphAA v.1 on April 20. The five track EP was produced by RIKETS and Ben Schigel ( Chimaira , Drowning Pool , Walls of Jericho , MGK ) and mixed by Ben Schigel at Spider Studios in Cleveland, Ohio.  The EP is a collection of material written during the Covid lockdowns tackling subject matter such as isolation, the takeover of artificial intelligence , trans-humanism and system overreach. Subjects that may be far beyond this editor's reach.  This will be the band's first release in fifteen years, picking up where their All American Death Cult album left off after a near 16-year hiatus. The new effort sees the band swing in a massive direction to a more synth-based sound while still staying true to its metal roots with tracks like “Misery”, “Infected and Controlled” and “FEED” “FEED” is  the first single from the upcoming...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Brazilian thrash metal band Nervosa returns with another batch of raw, brutal, and honest songs, centred around politics , war , and religion . The band's sixth album, titled " Slave Machine ," will be released on Friday, April 3rd via Napalm Records . The album picks up right where 2023's Jailbreak left off, with singer Prika Amaral still in top form after making her debut on that record. Her fierce, abrasive vocals rival those of any male singer with guttural growls , as she howls like a wolf on the hunt. The quintet are helped by the strong production skills of Martin Furia , best known for his work with German destroyers, Destruction . His attentive ear to detail brings out the menacing and hellacious feelings of the band as a whole. I have been an admirer of the band ever since i saw them open for fellow Female Metal act, Burning Witches on tour a few years back. Their sound is crisp and emotional, layered over sharp, frenetic guita...