Rambling Man's Reviews

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...

photo credit: Stian Andersen Norwegian symphonic black metal giants DIMMU BORGIR make their long-awaited return after an eight-year break with their new release , Grand Serpent Rising ,  due for release on May 22 via Nuclear Blast Records .  The album delivers thirteen  remarkably diverse tracks that cement the band’s status as one of the most formidable forces in extreme music. Vocalist  Shagrath  says the reflects the past thirty years' of the band's history:  “I truly feel we’ve outdone ourselves musically on this album. It’s been a long and demanding process, but seeing how it all came together makes it incredibly rewarding. Grand Serpent Rising reflects every era of Dimmu Borgir — This album carries echoes of every chapter of Dimmu Borgir’s legacy — I believe our fans will recognize that, and find something within it that truly resonates.”  guitarist  Silenoz  explains about the meaning behind the album title Even the sheer weight...

Angel Du$t by Nat Wood | Rising Rock'n'Roll act Angel Du$t have released their final track, ahead of the release of their new album this Friday. This week, they're releasing their highly anticipated new album, COLD 2 THE TOUCH , and today they're sharing " Pain Is A Must ".  Arriving this Friday, 13th February, via Run For Cover Records, COLD 2 THE TOUCH is a 26-minute blast of eclectic, hard-hitting music that proves Angel Du$t's drive to make authentically aggressive rock & roll. "Pain Is A Must" follows the usual recipe of singles,  ahead of an important new release. " I'm The Outside ", " DU$T ", " Cold 2 The Touch ", " The Knife ", and " The Beat " and its guest vocals from Terror's Scott Vogel are sure to leave listeners excited for hearing COLD 2 THE TOUCH in full on Friday. Stream "Pain Is A Must" everywhere: angeldustmoney.lnk.to/painisamust Pre-order COLD 2 THE T...

Photo Credit: Tina Gross Edited by Anselm Anderson Seattle’s The Darts return with “Apocalypse,” the second from their upcoming LP Halloween Love Songs, arriving March 3. “Apocalypse” follows up on “ Midnight Creep ,” which felt like a B-movie anthem. “Apocalypse” is part of the darker half of the album, featuring explosive rhythms and a sing-along chorus. It has a creepy yet sultry vibe that elevates the pulse of horror rock . This track was released yesterday and is available online to enjoy before the album hits the streaming platforms next month.   Watch the Video for “Apocalypse” below. . Singer/organ conjurer  Nicole Laurenne  was inspired to write the song following a trip to  Angers, France , when she visited the massive medieval Apocalypse Tapestry , a wall of woven chaos, angels, beasts and storms. “The lightning bolt struck me,” she says. “The song practically wrote itself in the van as we left the castle.” Nicole felt the strange liberation of ...

KREATOR ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM  KRUSHERS OF THE WORLD  AND RELEASES VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE 'SEVEN SERPENTS' EU & UK HEADLINE TOUR W/ CARCASS, EXODUS & NAILS ANNOUNCED FOR MARCH AND APRIL 2026 Metal Titans KREATOR have announced that their sixteenth studio album, KRUSHERS OF THE WORLD, will be released on January 16th, 2026, via Nuclear Blast Records. Following the recent releases of the KREATOR documentary film Hate & Hop e as well a s Your Heaven, My Hell, the autobiography of front man Mille Petrozza, KRUSHERS OF THE WORLD will be the next step in the evolution of KREATOR. This band continues to thrive even after forty years in its career. This is exciting news for devoted fans as they prepare for the next chapter of their long and illustrious journey. KRUSHERS OF THE WORLD is an expression of pride and self-awareness, sharing with fans an album full of new riffs and blistering drumming, only fans know too well. The album follows the excitement around the film and...

Photo Credit: Remi Thebault Edited by Anselm Anderson Toronto-based indie folk-rock outfit Octoberman  returns with Chutes, their seventh full-length album, due later this year on Ishmalia Records The band has marked the news with the release of its advance single and video, “Harry Nilsson,” out Today. The track draws inspiration from the late singer’s iconic take on “Without You.” “I had recently lost my mother, so I was hyper-aware of mortality and how things can turn on a dime, ” says songwriter Marc Morrissette. “ Losing an ever-present person in your life makes you more afraid of it happening again, especially as a father and husband. In the end, it’s like losing a part of yourself that never comes back.” The band's brand of jangly pop and daydreaming soundscapes is on display in the single’s video, which pairs the song’s airy, powder-soft tones with faux vintage footage from filmmaker and extreme skier Nick Steers . “I remembered a conversation with Nick about th...

  PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL CUSHY Words by Anselm Anderson Canadian Ska band, The Planet Smashers, have released their first single, ahead of their new album on August 22nd.'Meet Me On The Dancefloor' is taken from their upcoming tenth studio album, entitled ' On the Dancefloor', via Stomp Records. Formed over thirty years ago, The Planet Smashers have built a reputation with their ska-punk music, capturing the imagination of fans across Europe and Japan. With over 30 million streams on Spotify, numerous sold-out shows, and appearances in everything from MTV’s Undergrads to Japan’s cult animation series Catman, the band has toured throughout North America, Europe, and Japan, sharing stages with icons while remaining loyal to their fanbase. Matt Collyer, the founding frontman, also co-founded Stomp Records, a label that helped to launch some of Canada's most celebrated alternative acts. “Meet Me On The Dancefloor” is an energetic anthem full of fun and catchy tune...

Photo Courtesy of Chad Cornies of No Rules PR Edited by Anselm Anderson RxHx, the new solo project from Bruce Wilson,  has released the debut single “Star FKD”  across all streaming platforms. The track is the first of a series of singles set for release, as an audio case file from the fictional St. Vitus Neuromusical Centre.   "Star FKD" is a blend of synth-punk, post-existential pop, and nocturnal new wave .The track is derived from a concept revolving around a terminally ill patient in a psychological medical facility, who experiences episodes of dysmorphia and dissociative personality. Formed as part  the brainchild of Vancouver music scene stalwart Bruce Wilson, He began his career with Nineties' grunge band Tankhog, before his career was cut short due to substance abuse. Since then, He has develepod a name for himself in the art and music industry. Wilson spent his recovery fronting various bands across Northern America, lead him to writing his critically...

Photo courtesy of Mynxii White Punk rock band Rise Agains t returns with their first album in four years with the release of " Ricochet "   on August 15th, due on Loma Vista Recordings. The Twelve tracker was produced by GRAMMY®-winner Catherine Marks (Boygenius, Foals, Manchester Orchestra, St. Vincent) and mixed by Alan Moulder (Nine Inch Nails, Paramore, Queens of the Stone Age, The Killers), In their new release, Rise Against urges listeners to reflect on important questions before making decisions about their lives.'Ricochet' is a record massive in sound, rooted in unification, but is centred around positive change. It all starts with oneself, and on the searing lead single, ' I Want It All ,' Vocalist Tim McIlrath comments on the new release “The algorithm wants our attention so it is designed to make us laugh or cry, but mostly, it wants us to be angry, because that is how it spreads the furthest. Like a pile of marbles, hit hard. Who benefits from our...