Battle Beast’s new album Steelbound comes out in October. It is their 7th studio album, and it seems these Finnish Heavy Metal masters keep getting better and better. This band never ceases to amaze me. Their soaring melodies, chugging heavy riffs, and epic synths and orchestrations are mindbogglingly good. This band’s music hearkens back to the 70s and 80s where good ol Heavy Metal had catchier lines and riffs than any other genre on the planet. Singer Noora Louhimo’s stunning range has no limits it seems, switching between impossibly high Power Metal screams and soft Ann Wilson style storytelling, she may be the most underrated vocalist of our time.
The three new singles from Battle Beast’s Steelbound, the title track, “Here We Are”, and “Last Goodbye” are three of the best Metal tracks I have heard this year. They are catchy, moving, energetic, powerful, and extremely well written. “Here We Are” is part 80s dance track, part Pat Benatar, and part Rhapsody of Fire. “Last Goodbye” is as if ABBA, Judas Priest, Europe, and Dimebag Darrel had a love-child. It’s fist pumping like Sabaton, a battle track to get you through a workout or rush hour traffic. “Steelbound” is a harmonic delight straight from the 1980s. Man, I am loving the throwback sounds that bands like Battle Beast are bringing back. The vocals on this send insane chills up my neck. The vocals have so much tone without a ton of production. It’s so refreshing after hearing bands like Sleep Token, Bad Omens, and Falling in Reverse that are so over produced, it is grating to my ears. Stop listening to the Radio, stop watching the charts, and listen to Battle Beast. This band is one of the greatest bands of the past two decades, in my opinion. I cannot wait to hear what else they do with Steelbound.
This Spring has been nuts with amazing release after the next. I’m still catching up on albums released and compiling a list of my favorites so far, but it’s taking a lot more time than expected. It is also Women’s History month, which should absolutely include women in music! I am planning on writing an article about the history of women in heavy music, a topic I have never delved into sadly. So, a lot of writing yet to be completed. For now, here’s some new fresh bangers to fuel the rest of the week!
Berlin Emo Band Stuns With Paramore-esque Track
Southern Hard Rock Band Brings Some Soul
British Heavy Metal band Carries a Torch for Original Power Metal
Canadian Epic Death Metal band Premiers new video
Italian Symphonic Power Metal band release INCREDIBLE new ballad
Chicago Hard Rock band reignites with new bass chunky single
Evanescence Premiers New Track for Devil May Cry Netflix Series
All Girl Swiss Hard Rockers Drop new catchy single
Swedish Glam Rock Trio Nails it with Halestorm-like new track
My Favorite Song of this list; Darkgaze Kardasehev
LONG BRANCH RECORDS NEWS Modern Hard Rock Act WUCAN Return With New Single + Video “Irons In The Fire”
Watch the Official Music Video HERE[Photo Credit: Edgar Kohn]
“WUCAN have the best rock singer in the universe right now, completely original songs, unparalleled energy, more joy playing music than all Scandinavian snot rock bands combined, intelligent lyrics, great charisma – and the absolutely perfect production for this kind of music.”  — DEAF FOREVER
“Original, exciting and challenging at the same time. Open your ears!” — ROCK HARD
“The band is so juiced up rock-wise that no one could get the idea that there are Germans at work here”— AUDIOThree years after the release of their latest studio album Heretic Tongue, modern hard rock act WUCAN returns with new single and video “Irons in the Fire”.
In good old WUCAN fashion, musically, the band is moving forward with heavy beats, loud guitars, and epic vocals, ensuring that no rock fan can stand still. The new single is an undeniable headbanger that still holds surprises for longtime fans and leaves no wishes unfulfilled in terms of sound diversity. All in all, a song for all music lovers and, as always, with a touch of surprise that makes WUCAN songs… WUCAN songs.Â
Singer Francis Tobolsky comments: “I wrote ‘Irons in the Fire’ as a little toast to all those who refuse to be beaten down by the adversities of the world and keep pushing forward,”
Watch the Official Music Video for “Irons In The Fire” HERE
Francis continues: “How does the saying go? ‘Diamonds are made under pressure?’ It sometimes feels like that when you pursue a goal and have to overcome obstacles and hurdles to fulfill your dream. Every setback shapes us, every defeat carries a chance within it, and it takes iron will and a good dose of passion to withstand this pressure,”Â
“‘Irons in the Fire’ was the first song we wrote for our upcoming album. We recorded it in 2024 with our homeboy Max Power in a studio in Berlin. After Heretic Tongues, we floated through jams for a while and were still unsure where the journey with the new album should go. When Tim brought this riff to a rehearsal, we let ourselves be carried away by it. At a certain point, one part flowed organically into the next. It felt really good when the song was finished and already hinted at the direction the new album would take.”
The band says: “For the video shoot, we rented an old glass factory in Weißwasser, DE and an old brewery in Medingen near Dresden, DE, capturing the cold and raw atmosphere that these professions bring with them”Â
“In the glass factory, we shot the performance scenes with cold hands in the shadow of the large old machines,” the band furthers. “In Medingen, we went all out and literally smashed TVs, dishes, tables, and even a toilet. The images and scenes that emerged show the fun we had! The video was once again produced by Armin from Massengrab Records, to whom we have entrusted our projects since Heretic Tongues. This time, his colleague Hans and photographer Edgar Kohn were also involved. We would like to thank Hafenstube Telux and the Ostpol team for providing the filming locations. Also, thanks to Massengrab Records, Ravierfilms, and Edgar Kohn for the production.”
CATCH WUCAN LIVE: June 19 — Netphen, DE — Freak Valley Festival
 WUCAN are: Francis Tobolsky – Vocals / Guitar / Flute / Theremin Tim George – Guitar Philip Knöfel – Drums Alexander Karlisch – Bass WUCAN online: FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM TIK TOK WEBSITE
Looking for new bands or songs to freshen up your music rotation? I’ve got you covered with this week’s Rock and Metal report! If you’re anything like me, I tend to get stuck on the same bands (Ankor) or albums for a month straight. So, here’s some newer music you may not have heard before!
What have you been listening to lately?
German Eurovision Stars Release New Single
Norse Folk Metal band You Probably Haven’t Heard
Female Fronted Jazz Death Metal, something I never thought I’d Say
Steven Wilson Pays Homage to Pink Floyd in the Epic “The Overview”
Melodic Rock From Sweden Drop New Anthemic Single
80s Stars Giant Are Back With Whitesnake-esque Power Ballad
Legendary Cradle of Filth Are Back witha Vengeance
Swiss Fantasy Metal Band Are Growly but Chill
Italian Noir Band Bring Doom, Jazz, and Ambient sounds together. Love this band!
All Female Hard Rock Band rivals Doro, Dorothy, Burning Witches
All Girl Melodeath Band Releases New Serial Killer Inspired Song
Female Fronted Black Metal Stuns with Folky new Song
Slovenian Speed/Heavy Metal With Gorgeous Hansi-like Vocals
My Favorite Song right now, and a top ten of all time favorite. Have to end it with Ankor
In the age of social media, everyone is a critic with biased uneducated opinions and we are subjected to constant negativity from old washed up Rock stars that play to a backing track. “Rock Is Dead” seems to be a go to trope when you don’t know what Youtube or Sirius Xm are and think that you’re the last rock star. I am so very tired of the misinformation that “Rock is Dead”. Is Rock suffering monetarily, because big corporations continue to shove their Pop and Rap down our throats? Yes, Rock is not as big as it was in the 1980s and 1990s, and everyone continues to blame Hair Metal and Grunge. Are there good Rock bands? YES there are million good Rock bands still putting out absolutely fantastic music that has progressed without the crutch of technology. Below is a comprehensive list of Rock bands catering to a wide range of tastes! Rock IS NOT DEAD! It’s just been shut out from the mainstream by big corporate radio.
Blondshell- Indie Rock Solo Musician from Los Angeles left Pop to create throwback music like The Cranberries, The Cardigans, Yeahyeahyeahs
The Hellacopters- Swedish Garage Rock band formed in 1994, reformed in 2016. Inspired by Early Punk Rock and Grunge
The Band Camino- American Rock and Electropop with slick guitars and anthemic nostalgic sound
The Warning- Mexican High Octane Rock and Heavy Metal with great riffs and huge vocals and technicality. My favorite band on this list. Prepare to be blown away by these three sisters
Eva Under Fire- Detroit Hard Rock band with 1980s Arena Rock sounds and early 2000s Metalcore. Hell of a voice
Halestorm- Pennsylvania Hard Rock band and Grammy Award winners, this band is still underrated and should be the pinnacle of Rock. One of the greatest singers of all time, Lzzy Hale should be a household name. Like Skid Row, Pat Benatar, Alice Cooper. and so many classics
Chevelle- Chicago brothers bring a dark new feel to Hard Rock with heavy riffs, Proggy drums, and melancholy vocals. These guys don’t get enough credit.
Nonpoint- Groove Heavy Metal with soulful vocals and heavy riffs came out in the Nu Metal era.
Squid- British Post Punk formed in 2016, sounds like The Offspring, Talking Heads, Queens of the Stone Age with Jazz elements
Breaking Benjamin- Pennsylvania Hard Rock band consistently puts out catchy, heartfelt, bass heavy music with expert vocals. Gets looked over a lot due to Christian labels and mistaken for a Radio Rock band despite having one of the greatest Rock albums of the 2000s.
Currents- Connecticut Metalcore band formed in 2011 always changing their sound and evolving to create technical, progressive, heart wrenching music.
The Pretty Reckless- American Grunge and Blues Rock band brings back the glory of American Rock with heavy riffs, vocals with character and power, and great grooves. Akin to Soundgarden, The Winery Dogs, and Southern Rock. You can’t say Rock is dead with these guys around
Illumishade- On the heavier side of things, this band breaks genre constructs and brings Symphonic Metal, Blues, Soundtrack, and Prog Metal altogether with heavy riffs, great solos, and a dynamite vocalist. They have something for everyone.
Plush- Alternative Rock all girl group formed in 2020 aims to bring Rock back to its former glory with epic powerful vocals, insane music chemistry, and great riffs and hooks. One of the best bands on this list, Moriah Formica is one of the most underrated singers of our time, sounding like she could be Chris Cornell’s daughter.
Lords of the Trident- Wisconsin Power Metal band might be a little heavy for Rockers, but they bring a throwback sound that is sure to please an 80s Metalhead. They have neoclassical guitars and dueling solos, Meatloaf and Hagar-esque vocals, and great hooks that are sure to get stuck in your head for days.
Seven Kingdoms- Florida based Heavy Power Metal band bringing back Iron Maiden dual guitars, Speed Metal, 1980s Metal and Rock, and powerful female vocals. One of my all-time favorite bands.
Mammoth WVH: The Son of Eddie Van Halen has launched his solo project. He writes all the songs and plays all the instruments, and not surprisingly creates some of the best Rock I have heard in ages.
Copy and Paste this list in a memo to check out all my recommended bands:
Black Absinthe, the acclaimed heavy metal band known for their raw energy and immersive storytelling, announces the release of their gripping new single, “Jean Lanfray”. This latest offering comes ahead of their highly anticipated album, “On Earth Or In Hell”, set to be released on March 27th. I am looking forward to this album immensely. It sounds fresh, but has an excellent throwback sound that I am digging lately.
“Jean Lanfray” delves into the dark and turbulent history of Absinthe, the infamous spirit. The band was inspired by the chilling story of Jean Lanfray, a man who, in 1905, committed a heinous crime under the influence of alcohol, including Absinthe. This event sparked a moral panic that contributed significantly to the temperance movement and the eventual banning of Absinthe in many European countries.
Black Absinthe uses this narrative to explore themes of denial and the devastating effects of alcohol addiction. “When exploring concepts and stories relating to Absinthe, we came across the story of Jean Lanfray; who, after a day of excessive drinking, murdered his wife and children. Despite consuming a variety of liquors, it was his consumption of Absinthe that scandalized the public. The murders and subsequent trial kicked off a temperance movement that would see the sale and production of Absinthe banned in most European countries,” the band reflects. “The band uses the story to depict the denial ever present in an alcoholic mind. ‘Jean Lanfray’ works to depict a narrator pathetically denying the reality he has caused and showing the depraved actions a man can take when gripped with alcohol addiction.”
About BLACK ABSINTHE: Formed in the underground dungeons and dives of Toronto’s metal scene, BLACK ABSINTHE is a Canadian contemporary heavy metal band. Since 2011, BLACK ABSINTHE has performed, recorded, and reached new fans all over Canada. Presenting a mix of thrashing mosh pits and riff heavy anthems, their growing presence in the diverse heavy music scene, unifies classic metal grandeur, speed-demon rhythm sections, soaring solos, with modern technicality. Over the course of three EP’s and one LP, Early Signs of Denial (2016), BLACK ABSINTHE has continued to grow and experiment on its NWOBHM influences while maintaining the intensity of the contemporary heavy metal genre. The band draw influences from the likes of GOJIRA, MASTODON, SLAYER, and MOTÖRHEAD, to name a few.Â
In 2019, founders Jack Cerre and Kyle Scarlett proudly welcomed Fernando Villalobos (Ex-SLUDGEHAMMER) into the fold. BLACK ABSINTHE continues to carve their own path with performances across Canada and have brought new material to fans in Montreal, Newfoundland, and Toronto. Most recently opening for TOWER, FIREBREATHER, and WITCHROT.Â
In 2020, the band began laying the groundwork for their latest album On Earth or In Hell. In 2021 the band began pre-production demos with JC Sandoval (THE CROOKED, WE THE CROOKED). As producer, he oversaw the entire project, also engineering vocals and bass. In February 2022, the band engaged Juno-nominated producer Tyler Williams of Monolithic Productions (LINDSAY SCHOOLCRAFT, LUTHARO, SLUDGEHAMMER) to co-produce, engineer drums and guitar, and mix the album. The album is slated for release on March 27th, 2024. Â
BLACK ABSINTHE is: Jack Cerre (Vocals/Guitar) Kyle Scarlett (Bass) Fernando Villalobos (Drums)
Single Credits:Â Performed/Written by: BLACK ABSINTHE Lyrics by: Austin Henderson Produced by: J.C. Sandoval Co-Produced by: Tyler Williams Mixed by: Tyler Williams (Monolithic Productions) Mastered by: Lasse Lammert (LSD Studios) Photography: Michael Jari Davidson Album Art by: Darrin Crosgrove
Track List: 1. Dead Queen 2. Nobody Knows 3. Jean Lanfray 4. Call of the Void 5. On Earth or In Hell 6. The Hard Way 7. Essentially Fucked 8. Twisted Past
[Photo Credit: Edgar Kohn]
Metal Valkyrie 