Mad About Rock

  Lightbulb Film Distribution today have announced that Welcome to The Darkness, a warts and all feature-length documentary about British rockers, The Darkness, is coming to cinemas on November 9th for one night only, plus encores. It will also be available on digital download and Blu-ray from December 4th. A first look clip from the documentary has been released alongside the official poster. In 2003, British rockers The Darkness took the world by storm with their smash hit single ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ and the award-winning, chart-topping, multi-platinum debut album Permission to Land. Then, at the height of their fame in 2006, the band split up and fell off the music radar. Nine years later, director, and renowned celebrity portrait and beauty photographer, Simon Emmett (Underhill) followed The Darkness on their long, rocky and hilarious comeback trail. From a small pub gig in the middle of nowhere with the ambition of performing at packed arena shows once again, ...

  Dutch metallers, Within Temptation, have released their brand-new single 'Ritual' today. The song is the focus track of their upcoming eighth studio album Bleed Out, on October 20th. Reflecting the tumultuous state of the world, for their newest record the band have drawn inspiration from events such as the murder of Mahsa Amini in Iran and the war in Ukraine. However, that isn’t to say that there’s no light to balance out the heavy shade on Bleed Out. The delectable ‘Ritual’ is one of the kinkiest songs the band have ever written, as Sharon explains. “It’s a fun track about seduction, about the lady taking power in a male dominated world and taking her own initiative.” The song is inspired by the iconic Quentin Tarantino movie From Dusk Til Dawn, about a seemingly normal road trip turning into a vampire slayer party. Bleed Out signifies a bold leap forward for the band. From contemporary, hard-hitting djenty riffs to soaring melodies displaying their symphonic roots, Wi...

  There is nothing stopping Brit rockers, NIGHTBLADE. The irrepressible riff masters are back with their fourth album in a staggering four years. The prolific rock crew release their stunning new album, 'That’s The Way You Want It', on Friday 8th December. The record is also backed by the album’s namesake, which has just been released as a single and video - https://youtu.be/Idr_RCVV75k?si=C8_fogKVlFlNjLFB Never ones to sit on their hands, NIGHTBLADE continue their rise, following up last year’s Hope to Be There album with another scorching record. In 2020, the band delivered their impressive relentless rock revelation with the release of Ignorance Is Bliss, and in 2021, NIGHTBLADE set loose their powerful album, Unknown Territories. 2023 is primed to end with a bang, as the band drop their mesmerising sixth album and fourth successive album in four years, That’s The Way You Want It. Mark Crosby discusses the release: “We have put this album together with our usual diversity,...

  Manchester based Art-Rock / Post Hardcore outfit Pleiades are today proud to release their debut album ‘Affinity With’. This ten track body of work builds on Pleiades previous post-metal sound, sculpting a more cohesive Post-Hardcore approach in places whilst pushing their sound into the weirder corners. Talking through the concept of ‘Affinity With’, vocalist Andrew Calderbank shares - “Affinity With as a title is defined as “a natural liking or understanding of something or someone” and in turn each track is an opportunity to understand or relate to a complex character in its twisting narratives. The album’s objective is to speak on the actions and consequences of human behavior from different perspectives, both personal and historical.” On top of the album release, Pleiades have today shared the official visual for album focus track ‘Honeyguide’ - the opening track of the album and the one that started the band on their journey to create this debut album. “It was the genesis o...

  In 2003, when the rock charts were dominated by predominantly male nü-metal and post-grunge acts, a young female-fronted band from Arkansas stood out from the crowd, offering something entirely new. They were Evanescence – and with their debut album, Fallen, they transformed the rock landscape. Led by frontwoman Amy Lee, Evanescence’s cinematic blend of metal and symphonic, piano-driven melodies captured a generation, while Fallen set the band on a path to global superstardom, earning them multiple GRAMMYS®, and becoming one of the highest-selling albums of all time. Now, two decades later, Craft Recordings celebrates Evanescence’s enduring debut with a series of collectible reissues. Available on 2-LP, 2-CD, and digital formats — as well as a Super Deluxe Edition collector’s box set — Fallen (20th Anniversary Edition) will offer newly remastered audio, including the album's global chart-topping singles “My Immortal,” “Going Under,” “Everybody’s Fool,” and the GRAMMY®-winning sm...

  Essex based Alternative Rock artists Butterfly Hurricane (the solo project of Harry Acreman) has today returned with their sophomore single ‘Super Turbo’ - a track created to help people find the courage to start letting go of their bad habits.  “On a personal level, the song delves into my experience with Crohn's disease. Its lyrics mirror the emotions I once harbored about the challenges it posed. I despised the way it affected me, the consequences it brought, and the medication's side effects. However, during that phase, it seemed as though it defined my existence. To embark on a path towards improvement, I realised I would have to re-discover who I am and take a plunge into something new.” - Butterfly Hurricane (Harry Acreman) Check out the official music video below: Butterfly Hurricane’s debut single, "Barricade," made waves when it was premiered on BBC Radio 1 by Alyx Holcombe, captivating audiences with its raw energy and emotional depth. Notably, "Ba...

  Ontario, Canada- Grammy nominated band Sum 41 make a boisterous return with “Landmines”, their newest single and first release on Rise Records. “Landmines” is a testament of going to hell and back for the ones that matter – vocalist Deryck Whibley paints a picture of dodging shrapnel and smoke, but valiantly holding on to the ones you love. The chorus is an instant crowd-pleaser with anthemic chants that pull a room together, glued by drum fills that shake the ground as hard as the metaphorical landmines. The track is paired alongside a brand new music video that finds the band transforming prom from the class of 1998 into a raucous rock show-turned-foodfight, thrusting Sum 41 and their fans back to the early days of their career. Although Sum 41 may have announced the impending closing of their chapter, “Landmines” proves that the pop punk legends are going out with a bang. "When I wrote Landmines I had no intention of writing an old school “pop punk” song. It just came out rea...

  Today, Taking Back Sunday: John Nolan (lead guitar, piano, vocals), Adam Lazzara (lead vocals), Shaun Cooper (bass) and Mark O’Connell (drums) shared “Amphetamine Smiles,” the third preview track from their forthcoming new album 152 , due October 27, 2023, via Fantasy. The new track, a passionate call for reconnection that’s as much about the band themselves as it is the world at-large, exemplifies the stirring reassurance that make Taking Back Sunday so special. Listen to “Amphetamine Smiles” HERE . This morning, fans can tune-in HERE for special livestream Q&A with Taking Back Sunday at 8:45AM PT/11:45AM ET, 15-minutes prior to the worldwide premiere of the “Amphetamine Smiles” official video at 9:00AM PT/12noon ET/5pm GMT. “You could document the writing, arranging, and recording of “Amphetamine Smiles,” but there’s no way to explain how it came together,” said John Nolan. “It’s the product of some kind of magic.” To celebrate the release of 152, the band’s first new alb...

  Ahead of kicking off their headline tour of the UK & Europe next month, The Raven Age have revealed a video for their new single ‘Nostradamus’ , taken from their critically acclaimed album Blood Omen out now via Music For Nations/Sony Music. ‘Nostradamus’ is an epic metal tale of a great prophet predicting the rise of The Raven King, the band’s imposing motif who looms large on the album artwork of Blood Omen, a record described as “epic, hook-laden metal” by Metal Hammer and “tight as hell and impressively melodic” by Kerrang. As demonstrated in the video for ‘Nostradamus’, recorded during their thrilling live shows to capacity arena crowds throughout Europe and the UK on their recent tour with Iron Maiden, the prophecy for The Raven Age spells global domination. “We wanted to capture the live environment with this video for ‘Nostradamus’,” says guitarist George Harris. “It’s where we come into our own, this happens to be one of the most fun songs for us to play in the ...

  If you've been hanging on for a few more bands to be revealed for BLOODSTOCK 2024 before snapping up your early bird ticket, this is the announcement you’ve been waiting for, with seven more stellar acts joining the bill. Don’t wait much longer for an early bird, because the allocation is over 90% sold, and after that, prices will increase. Swedish progressive legends, OPETH will headline Friday’s Ronnie James Dio main stage for a very special fan-chosen set. What’s more, the performance will be their only UK show in 2024. Frontman Mikael Akerfeldt extols, “So…back to BLOODSTOCK 2024 for us, it appears! I don’t remember how many times we’ve played the festival, but we do have fond memories from there. ”Filling in” for Heaven and Hell when RJD had passed is one. Fuck! Can’t remember a more emotional event on stage for us, to be honest. Anyhoooo, we’ll be there ‘rocking’ and ‘rolling’ in our own way, playing songs that you’ve chosen (apparently). Please be gentle. Right no...

  Newcastle Upon Tyne Alternative Post-Hardcore band ‘headcage’ have announced the details of their forthcoming EP ‘under my skin’ and shared it’s lead single ‘gaslight’. The band’s debut EP ‘under my skin’ (out 20th October 2023) encapsulates years of meticulous process, blending colossal, riff driven instrumentation with fiercely melodic and incredibly vulnerable vocal crooning. It’s lead single ‘gaslight’ which is out today, details the anger that vocalist Leyum Pattinson felt in his younger years / early adolescence. “I was struggling with symptoms of depression and I distinctly remember trying to explain how I was feeling to my family/friends/doctor and was met with a general dismissive response. Being able to vocalise the frustration I felt at that time, and adding current awareness of these issues using a term like ‘gaslight’ I can use this song as effective catharsis.” shares vocalist, Leyum Pattinson. Watch the official music video for ‘gaslight’ below: On top of the EP...

  Renowned around the world as one of the greatest and most distinctive heavy metal vocalists of all time, Bruce Dickinson will be releasing a brand new solo album in early 2024 on BMG Records. Entitled The Mandrake Project it sees him reunited with long-time musical collaborator and producer Roy Z. The Mandrake Project will be Dickinson’s seventh solo album and his first since Tyranny Of Souls in 2005. Dickinson explains, “This album has been a very personal journey for me and I am extremely proud of it. Roy Z and I have been planning, writing and recording it for years, and I am very excited for people to finally hear it. I’m even more excited at the prospect of getting out on the road with this amazing band that we have put together, to be able to bring it to life. We’re planning to play as many shows as we can in as many places as possible, for as many people as we can! “As for what The Mandrake Project actually is… all will be revealed soon!” The first live shows to be ann...

  Manchester-based Art-Rock/Post Hardcore outfit Pleiades have been making waves since their critically acclaimed second EP ‘All At Your Mercy’ and now they are gearing up to release their highly anticipated debut album and are ones to watch in the rock/metal scene with their diverse sound and interesting topics they address on their debut which is titled 'Affinity With' which is released 29th September 2023. 'Affinity With’ is inspired by stories of empathy and human nature. We discuss the band's upcoming debut with vocalist Andrew Calderbank and bassist Josh Edmondson. I have to ask the obvious question before going into the album. How did you come up with your band name PLEIADES? Josh: So it was actually our old drummer who came up with it because we did initially set out to be a 3-piece with no vocalist as at the beginning we wanted to be a post-rock band so we were toying with that idea for the better part of six months and jamming and trying to make the whole thi...