Justin Bieber is officially jingling all the way to a new milestone as his 2011 holiday classic “Mistletoe” joins the elite Spotify Billions Club. Reaching this ten-figure landmark just in time for the 2025 season, the track now sits alongside festive giants like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and Wham’s “Last Christmas.” This achievement marks Bieber’s 19th song to cross the billion-stream threshold, further cementing his status as one of the most dominant forces in streaming history. With over 113 million monthly listeners this December, the “Prince of Pop” continues to prove that his catalog—from teen-pop origins to modern holiday staples—remains an essential global soundtrack.
The “Mistletoe” milestone caps off a record-shattering 2025 for Bieber, fueled by the massive success of his surprise July album ‘Swag’. The project, which features heavy hitters like Gunna and Sexyy Red, didn’t just break his personal records—it obliterated them, surpassing one billion album streams in mere months and launching hits like “DAISIES” onto the global charts. Between his historic 69 billion total career streams and a “Billions Club” roster that includes “Stay,” “Ghost,” and “Love Yourself,” Bieber’s influence is undeniable. As 2025 draws to a close, it’s clear that whether he’s dropping experimental new tracks or revisiting a decade-old Christmas favorite, the world is still hitting play on Justin Bieber.
The Recording Academy has just unveiled a breathtaking lineup of legends for the 2026 Special Merit Awards, proving that true greatness only shines brighter with time. On January 31st at the historic Wilshire Ebell Theatre, the industry will gather for an emotional masterclass in musical heritage, honoring icons like Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Cher, and Paul Simon with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This year’s list also pays a long-overdue and powerful tribute to the late “Voice” herself, Whitney Houston, and the revolutionary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, whose legacies continue to shape the very pulse of modern sound. It is a stunning convergence of artists who haven’t just made music—they’ve built the foundations of our culture across generations and genres.
Beyond the stage, the Recording Academy is rightly celebrating the visionary minds behind the scenes with the Trustees and Technical Grammy Awards. From the poetic genius of Bernie Taupin to the pioneering executive leadership of Sylvia Rhone and the groundbreaking Latin jazz brilliance of the late Eddie Palmieri, these honorees represent the architects of the industry. We also see technical wizardry take center stage as John Chowning is recognized for his revolutionary discovery of FM synthesis, a feat that transformed the electronic landscape forever. As CEO Harvey Mason Jr. noted, this group’s influence spans the very foundation of music, and celebrating them on the eve of Grammy Sunday is the perfect prelude to the biggest night in music.
Louisville rap titan Est Gee is delivering an early holiday masterpiece with his latest single, “Supreme Sanders,” a speaker-rattling declaration of his undeniable status in the game. Released via CMG/Interscope, the track finds Gee at his most charismatic, weaving intricate bars about his “Supreme Vanson” and Shedeur Sanders-level confidence over a dark, hypnotic soundscape crafted by his longtime collaborator ForeverRolling. This release marks the culmination of a staggeringly prolific 2025, which saw the “Young Shiner” drop two full-length projects—’I Ain’t Feeling You’ and the raw, head-down surprise tape ‘My World’—proving he’s a workmanlike force that simply cannot be canceled. Between the heavy keys and the “too-big-to-fail” energy, Gee is cementing his legacy as the street’s most reflective and relentless storyteller.
The track arrived just as the buzz from last month’s “Thug Club” reached a fever pitch, further solidifying Gee’s reputation for pairing vivid block etiquette with subtly masterful rhyme schemes. This year has been a victory lap for the CMG powerhouse, featuring high-profile link-ups with Lil Baby and Travis Scott, yet “Supreme Sanders” feels like his most personal victory yet—a celebration of the “winding road” that led him from the Kentucky underground to global stardom. With his head down and his wrist on “200 Gs,” Est Gee is closing out the year exactly how he started it: with a head-down, hustler’s ambition that leaves the rest of the pack in the dust. Whether he’s rocking the soulful vibes of “Take my time” or the dark documentary style of “Above the Rim,” Geeski is undeniably the boss of all bosses right now.
Denver’s genre-bending pioneers NightWraith are back to set the underground ablaze with their infectious new standalone single, “The Candlelight.” Marking a thrilling sonic evolution, this hook-heavy anthem trades technical death metal density for a mid-tempo “black ‘n’ roll” groove that captures the spirit of classic heavy metal without losing the band’s signature blackened edge. Alongside this riff-packed release, the band has officially welcomed the phenomenal Lauren Vieira of Dreadnought as their full-time keyboard and synth player. Vieira’s atmospheric textures add a whole new layer of sophistication to frontman Ben Pitts’ gritty, romantic ode to Denver’s legendary Yellow Bordello punk house. With stunning pen-and-ink artwork by Nate Burns and a mix by NITE’s Van Labrakis, “The Candlelight” is a masterclass in melodic melancholy and a bold harbinger of the band’s fourth full-length album currently in the works.
The flame is only spreading as NightWraith prepares to take their captivating live show on the road for a massive 2026 North American tour alongside black metal titans UADA and dungeon synth legends Mortiis. This “unholy” package will see the band captivating audiences from the Brighton Music Hall in Boston to the Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver, culminating in a heavy-hitting night at Los Angeles’ Teragram Ballroom. For fans of Opeth and Tribulation, this tour is a mandatory destination to witness NightWraith’s unique brand of “blackened dad rock” in its most potent form. Whether you’re spinning the new single or catching them live on this coast-to-coast trek, one thing is certain: NightWraith is firing on all cylinders and ready to lead the charge into a daring new era of heavy music.
Jeremy Allen White has officially cemented his status as a cinematic powerhouse, earning a prestigious Golden Globe nomination for his raw and transformative portrayal of Bruce Springsteen in ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’. While the film’s intimate focus on the making of ‘Nebraska’ provided a soulful alternative to the typical blockbuster biopic, it is White’s fearless performance—singing and playing guitar with heart-wrenching authenticity—that has captured the industry’s highest honors. Fans who missed this “brooding masterpiece” in theaters can finally bring the experience home when the film arrives on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on January 20, 2026, offering a definitive look at the solitary bedroom sessions that birthed a legend.
The 4K Blu-ray release is a true collector’s haven, featuring a stunning Dolby Vision presentation and a heavy-hitting four-act documentary titled ‘Making Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’. This exclusive bonus content takes viewers from the Asbury Park boardwalk to the recording of the four-track master tapes, detailing White’s deep dive into the grit and grace of “The Boss.” Joined by an elite cast including Jeremy Strong as Jon Landau and Stephen Graham as Bruce’s father, White’s award-nominated turn remains the heartbeat of this “Nebraska” era story. Whether you’re a lifelong E Street devotee or an audiophile seeking the perfect high-definition spin, this home release is the ultimate way to witness one of the most acclaimed performances of the year.
Multi-instrumentalist Chris Hathcock has delivered one of the most punishingly brilliant tracks of his career with the new video for “The Bed of Wasps (Those Consumed with Panic).” Taken from the critically acclaimed new album ‘please’, the track is a technical masterclass that sonically mirrors the disorientation of a real-world panic attack through jagged rhythms and dissonant shifts. Engineered by Hathcock himself at Silent Muse Studio and mixed by the legendary Jamie King, the song is a visceral dive into the battlefields of mental health. It’s raw, it’s technically demanding, and it’s a perfect example of why The Reticent is hailed as the most emotionally gut-wrenching band in the progressive metal underground today.
The momentum continues to build as The Reticent prepares to bring their devastatingly powerful live performance art to the international stage in 2026. Fans can witness the group—featuring James Nelson of Nospūn and Paul McBride of Voraath—at the 25th-anniversary edition of ProgPower USA in Atlanta this September, followed by an opening-night appearance at ProgPower Europe in the Netherlands. These performances are set to be landmark events for the band, showcasing the intense storytelling and cinematic metal that made ‘The Oubliette’ a modern classic. With a follow-up record already in development, Chris Hathcock remains at the vanguard of the genre, turning personal tragedy into a sonic haven for fans across the globe.
Tour Dates:
Sep 09 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage (ProgPower USA Day 1)
Oct 02 – Baarlo, Netherlands – Sjiwa (ProgPower Europe)
Electronicore titans The Browning are taking their signature sonic assault to the next level with the announcement of ‘Burn This World [EVOLVED]’, a relentless, ground-up reimagining of their 2011 breakout classic. Anchored by the explosive new single “I Choose You [EVOLVED],” this project sharpen’s the band’s fusion of deathcore grit and hardstyle trance into a high-octane rave-metal experience that hits harder than ever before. Frontman Jonny McBee has painstakingly rebuilt every track from scratch, elevating the drops and punishing breakdowns with modern production power. With digital pre-orders live on FiXT and a limited vinyl release arriving February 27, this “evolved” era marks a ferocious celebration of 15 years of boundary-pushing musical chaos.
The energy continues to surge as the band prepares to launch the massive “Burn This World [EVOLVED] Tour” across both the US and Europe in early 2026. Joined by heavy hitters like Within Destruction and Convictions, the US leg will storm through legendary venues from The Shelter in Detroit to the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles before the band crosses the pond for a visceral European run with Stain The Canvas. Between Hardcore Keem’s crushing guitar work and McBee’s dual-threat role as a songwriter and “THE DEFECT” side-project mastermind, The Browning remains the undisputed gold standard for industrial-electronic metal. Don’t miss your chance to witness this ultimate form of electronicore live as they burn down stages across the globe.
Pop-punk royalty meets audiophile perfection as blink-182’s legendary 1999 album ‘Enema of the State’ becomes the newest masterpiece in Interscope-Capitol’s prestigious Definitive Sound Series (DSS). This isn’t just a reissue; it is a full-throttle sonic restoration of the album that redefined a generation, now meticulously crafted using the state-of-the-art One Step process to deliver unparalleled clarity. Mastered directly from the original analog master tapes by the renowned Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, this 180-gram AAA vinyl pressing allows fans to hear every high-velocity hook and thunderous drum fill from Travis Barker with a depth and punch never before achieved on the format. Limited to just 3,000 hand-numbered copies, the package is a true collector’s dream, featuring a heavyweight Tip On gatefold jacket protected by a custom DSS slipcase and a certificate of authenticity to verify its elite pedigree.
The cultural impact of ‘Enema of the State’ remains massive, having launched the trio into global superstardom on the strength of era-defining hits like “All the Small Things,” “What’s My Age Again?”, and the raw, emotional “Adam’s Song.” By selecting this landmark recording for the DSS lineup, Interscope and Capitol are honoring the architectural influence blink-182 holds over modern alternative music. Pressed at the world-class Record Technology, Inc. (RTI), this $100 limited edition is designed for the most discerning listeners who want to experience the irreverent energy and melodic genius of the late ’90s in its ultimate form. Pre-orders are officially open, with the high-definition discs expected to ship on February 20, 2026—making this the definitive way to “stay together for the kids” and your turntable.
Bozeman’s own progressive roots powerhouses Kitchen Dwellers have just dropped a breathtaking surprise with ‘The Katabatic EP’, a three-song journey that captures the raw, windswept soul of a Montana winter. Recorded during a fertile creative window in late 2021, this new project is a sonic masterclass in “Galaxy Grass,” blending high-octane bluegrass with psychedelic grit and atmospheric depth. The EP is bookended by the instrumental tracks “Katabatic” and “Mimas and Ida,” both featuring the fiery brass textures of guest trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom of Lettuce, while the poignant “Madison” dives into the erratic, beautiful rhythms of life and fly-fishing. It is a thrilling snapshot of a band at the height of their powers, taking their Montana-bred storytelling to soaring new heights.
The excitement continues as the quartet prepares to ring in the New Year with a sold-out two-night stand in Portland before launching an expansive 2026 Winter Tour. This trek is set to be a legendary run of multi-night residencies in home-turf venues like The ELM in Bozeman and the Mission Ballroom in Denver, featuring an elite roster of guests including Lindsay Lou, Cordovas, and Mountain Grass Unit. From the high-altitude energy of Telluride to the coastal vibes of Solana Beach and the immersive art of Meow Wolf, Kitchen Dwellers are bringing their explosive live chemistry to every corner of the country. Whether you are catching them in a cozy opera house or at the tropical Viva El Gonzo festival in Mexico, these 2026 dates are a mandatory pilgrimage for anyone craving the cutting edge of modern string music.
Tour Dates:
Dec 30 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
Dec 31 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
Jan 15-16 – Telluride, CO – Sheridan Opera House
Jan 17-18 – Crested Butte, CO – Center for the Arts
Jan 20 – Buena Vista, CO – Surf Hotel
Jan 22-23 – Denver, CO – Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom
Jan 24 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
Jan 29 – Billings, MT – The Pub Station Ballroom
Jan 30-31 – Bozeman, MT – The ELM
Feb 12 – Jackson, WY – The Virginian Lodge
Feb 13-14 – South Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth Room
Feb 15 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
Feb 17 – Menlo Park, CA – The Guild Theatre
Feb 19 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Solana Beach
Feb 20-21 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s
Feb 22 – Flagstaff, AZ – Orpheum Theater
Feb 24 – Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf
Feb 26 – Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall
Feb 27 – Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum Art Co.
Feb 28 – Austin, TX – Empire Garage
Mar 13-15 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Pour House
Americana fans, get ready to lose yourselves in the ordered chaos of “Bees,” the breathtaking new single from Chris Williams and Kid Reverie (aka Steve Varney). Following the “life-affirming” success of their 2023 debut ‘Something From Nothing’, this new collaboration marks a thrilling shift as the duo moves from remote Zoom sessions to the legendary Blasting Room Studios in Colorado. “Bees” is a masterclass in atmospheric folk, weaving together pensive banjo, soaring cello from Russick Smith, and Varney’s restrained tenor into a ruminative meditation on human self-interest. The track beautifully captures the duo’s evolving chemistry, blending Williams’ roots-rock sensibility with Varney’s subversive production edge to create a soundscape that is as intellectually sharp as it is emotionally resonant.
This latest project signals a deeper level of collaboration, with Williams and Varney trading songwriting duties and pushing each other into new creative territories. While their first album was born from a serendipitous connection over a banjo lesson, this upcoming EP proves they have blossomed into one of the most exciting partnerships in modern folk. Recording in person has added a raw, immediate energy to the tracks, anchored by the stellar musicianship of a full ensemble including Max Barcelow and Jeb Bows. It is rare to find music that feels this cinematic yet deeply personal, but “Bees” manages to strike that perfect balance, offering a quietly powerful entrance into what is certain to be one of the most anticipated folk releases of the coming year.
![The Browning Ignites a Rave-Metal Revolution with ‘Burn This World [EVOLVED]’ and 2026 World Tour](https://www.thatericalper.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/THE-BROWNING.jpg "The Browning Ignites a Rave-Metal Revolution with ‘Burn This World [EVOLVED]’ and 2026 World Tour")
