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Guinness-Certified Japanese Pop-Rock Icons Scandal Release Funky New Single “Girl is Ghost”

Eric Alper
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Guinness-Certified Japanese Pop-Rock Icons Scandal Release Funky New Single “Girl is Ghost”

Scandal make their return count. The Japanese pop-rock quartet, certified by Guinness World Records as the longest-running all-female band without member changes or hiatuses, release “Girl is Ghost” alongside a music video, their first new music since the March 2025 EP ‘LOVE, SPARK, JOY!’

The track blends guitar-driven funk rock with a locked-in four-on-the-floor beat, subtly threaded with Japanese musical elements that give it a distinctive character beneath the surface. Lyrically, it reflects Scandal’s own evolution as a band, one that has continuously transformed while staying unmistakably itself. The song reunites them with long-time collaborator Hidenori Tanaka, whose previous work with the band includes “Haruka,” “Taiyo to Kimi ga Egaku STORY,” and “Terra Boy.”

Scandal will appear as guests at Sakura-Con, running April 3-5 at the Seattle Convention Center, marking their first confirmed U.S. appearance behind the new single.

Symphonic Viking Metal Force Leaves’ Eyes Unleash New EP ‘Song Of Darkness’

Eric Alper
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Symphonic Viking Metal Force Leaves’ Eyes Unleash New EP ‘Song Of Darkness’

Myth, murder, and medieval Iceland collide on Leaves’ Eyes’ new EP ‘Song Of Darkness’, out now via Reigning Phoenix Music. Recorded at Mastersound Studio under the production of band mastermind Alexander Krull, the four-track release opens with the title track and its accompanying epic video, drawing its narrative from the Icelandic saga of Gisli the Outlaw, a world of intrigue, guilt-ridden dreams, and the fragile hope of redemption.

The EP showcases the full range of what Leaves’ Eyes do best. Elina Siirala’s commanding soprano anchors the orchestral sweep while Krull’s growls provide raw counterweight, with towering choirs, crushing riffs, and folk-inspired melodies woven throughout. “Song of Darkness is like a play with contrasts,” Siirala says. “It combines the mysterious and dark with light and angelic. In the midst of a dark story, there’s a feeling of hopefulness.” Krull frames it more directly: “A tragic love story, but no happy ending.”

Each of the EP’s four tracks unfolds like a saga chapter, cinematic in scale and personal in emotional weight. With more than two decades of symphonic and Viking metal behind them, Leaves’ Eyes arrive at ‘Song Of Darkness’ as one of the genre’s most visionary and consistently compelling forces, and the EP signals a full-length record to follow.

Polish Dark Folk Artist Ols Closes the ‘Poświaty’ Chapter With Haunting New Video for “bez nas”

Eric Alper
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Polish Dark Folk Artist Ols Closes the ‘Poświaty’ Chapter With Haunting New Video for “bez nas”

Anna, the creative force behind Polish dark folk project Ols, releases the video for “bez nas” (without us), the final and most emotionally resonant chapter of her album ‘Poświaty’, out now via Pagan Records.

The track is a dreamlike meditation on drifting away, from love, from a former self, and from the sacred myths of childhood. Musically it earns that weight, opening with a melancholic piano that creates a sense of suspended animation before a heavy, guitar-driven chorus influenced by the crushing atmospheres of Cult of Luna shatters the stillness. The contrast is not a device; it is the point. The song mirrors the emotional rupture it describes.

“The world that once felt ‘ours’ no longer belongs to us, and someone we once loved becomes distant and unfamiliar,” says Anna. “‘bez nas’ works like an echo: it recalls and amplifies earlier themes without offering resolution. Instead of closure, it leaves space for melancholy and quiet pain, allowing the afterglow of this story to linger just above the surface.” The track weaves in musical quotations from earlier album cuts and nods to the artists who shaped Anna’s imagination, functioning as a connective thread across the entire record.

‘Poświaty’ is available now in jewelcase CD format with a 20-page booklet including lyrics and translations, and “bez nas” follows previously released videos for “mów do mnie,” “światło III,” “O niej,” and “proch kość liść.”

Finnish Dark-Pop Progressives Rioghan Raise the Stakes With New Single “Chapter III: Teardrop”

Eric Alper
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Finnish Dark-Pop Progressives Rioghan Raise the Stakes With New Single “Chapter III: Teardrop”

Rioghan’s ‘Frozen EP’ is taking shape one chapter at a time. The Finnish band operating at the intersection of modern metal, dark pop, and progressive music releases “Chapter III: Teardrop,” the third single from the EP arriving April 10th, continuing a narrative arc that began with their reimagining of Madonna’s “Frozen” and deepened with “Chapter II: Moment.”

Where “Moment” captured the instant of realization that change is unavoidable, “Teardrop” moves into what follows. “Chapter III: Teardrop tells the story of what comes next, the moment when emotions begin to flow again and the heart cautiously opens itself toward light, warmth, and future possibilities,” explains vocalist Rioghan Darcy. The track brings the EP’s heaviest moments yet while holding onto the darkly infectious pop melodies that define the band’s signature sound. A music video created with Aarni Visuals accompanies the single, consistent with the striking visual approach the band has applied across the entire EP.

The release builds on a strong run of momentum for Rioghan. Their sophomore album ‘Kept’ debuted at No. 6 on the Finnish physical album chart and earned strong international reviews. The band also delivered acclaimed live performances at Heureka’s H-18 Halloween event and John Smith Frozen Festival, the latter featuring choreography from dance artist Hanna Härkönen, and was shortlisted for Teosto’s “Uudet Soundit” campaign.

This spring, Rioghan heads back to Finnish stages alongside I Am Your God, with festival appearances to follow including Ankea Festival in Tampere this summer.

Berlin Doom Trap Originator Mimi Barks Makes Her U.S. Debut on the DeadDollz Tour This Spring

Eric Alper
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Berlin Doom Trap Originator Mimi Barks Makes Her U.S. Debut on the DeadDollz Tour This Spring

Mimi Barks is bringing Doom Trap to America for the first time. The Berlin-bred, London-based artist joins Little Miss Nasty and GG Magree on the DeadDollz Tour 2026, a 22-date run across the U.S. kicking off April 15 in Minneapolis and wrapping May 10 in San Diego. Tickets are on sale now.

Barks built her sound in the Berlin underground, colliding metal, industrial energy, and trap into a genre entirely her own. That foundation carried her onto the stages of Download Festival, Wacken Open Air, Bloodstock, and Boomtown before her profile expanded across Europe and the UK. Her full-length ‘This Is Doom Trap’ and her 2025 reimagining of Linkin Park’s “Crawling” both demonstrated a artist who digs deeper with every release, never retreating toward comfort or repetition.

“My debut appearance in the U.S. has been a long time coming,” Barks says. “The flock has been asking for this moment for a minute, and I’ve been manifesting it long before that.” New music is also imminent, with Barks confirming an early 2026 release that promises to be heavier and darker than anything in her catalog to date.

DeadDollz Tour 2026 Dates (with Little Miss Nasty and GG Magree):

April 15: Green Room, Minneapolis, MN

April 16: The Annex, Madison, WI

April 17: Magic Stick, Detroit, MI

April 18: Mercury, Cleveland, OH

April 19: Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL

April 21: Craft House, Pittsburgh, PA

April 22: Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA

April 23: Ember Music Hall, Richmond, VA

April 24: Racket, New York, NY

April 26: Chapel Of The Bones, Raleigh, NC

April 27: Masquerade, Atlanta, GA

April 28: Downtown Music Hall, Ft. Walton Beach, FL

April 30: Come And Take It Live, Austin, TX

May 1: Trees, Dallas, TX

May 2: Paper Tiger, San Antonio, TX

May 3: Warehouse Live, Houston, TX

May 5: Rock House, El Paso, TX

May 6: 191 Toole, Tucson, AZ

May 7: The Rosetta Room, Phoenix, AZ

May 8: Roxy Theater, Los Angeles, CA

May 9: DNA, San Francisco, CA

May 10: Music Box, San Diego, CA

Def Leppard Release Powerful New Single “Rejoice”

Eric Alper
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Def Leppard Release Powerful New Single “Rejoice”

Def Leppard didn’t ease into 2026. The British rock legends release “Rejoice” via UMe, a hard-driving new single that arrives with the kind of weight and momentum the band hasn’t leaned into for some time. It’s out now.

The song came together through a direct creative exchange between singer Joe Elliott and guitarist Phil Collen. “I said to Phil one day, ‘I’ve got this idea for a lyric where the narrator is at absolute rock bottom and wants to rise up to a higher level,'” Elliott explains. “Do you have a musical piece that might match with that?” Collen had exactly that, building a tribal drum loop around an existing riff before handing it back to Elliott, who sang straight over it in one pass.

“It all started gelling and just sounded like a powerful chant,” Collen says. “It’s hard rock for us. It’s got a bit more of an ‘oomph’ than stuff we’ve been doing for a while. It’s kind of magical.” Ronan McHugh contributed additional drum loop work that helped lock the final arrangement into place. The result is one of the most immediate tracks the band has released in years.

Martin Miller Session Band Perform Ultimate Movie Soundtrack Medley

Eric Alper
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Martin Miller Session Band Perform Ultimate Movie Soundtrack Medley

Hailing from Germany, the Martin Miller Session Band delivers a powerful pop rock medley of unforgettable movie themes. The performance includes “Gonna Fly Now” from Rocky, “The Power of Love” from Back to the Future, “Ghostbusters,” “Born to Be Wild” from Easy Rider, “Danger Zone” from Top Gun, “Training Montage” from Rocky IV, and “The Sound of Silence” from The Graduate.

Reunited UK Indie Favorites The Cribs Bring ‘Selling a Vibe’ to North America This Spring

Eric Alper
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Reunited UK Indie Favorites The Cribs Bring ‘Selling a Vibe’ to North America This Spring

The Cribs are back and they’re not wasting any time. Following their reunion late last year and the release of ‘Selling a Vibe’ earlier this month, the Wakefield indie rock trio announces a North American tour kicking off April 23 in Santa Ana. Tickets are on sale now.

The run follows a European and UK stretch and hits 12 cities across the U.S. and Canada, with stops at Los Angeles’ Echoplex, Empty Bottle in Chicago, Warsaw in Brooklyn, The Sinclair in Cambridge, and Lee’s Palace in Toronto on May 7 as the lone Canadian date. These are the right-sized rooms for a band whose music has always punched above its weight, and the intimacy suits them.

The Cribs 2026 North American Tour Dates:

April 23: Constellation Room, Santa Ana, CA

April 24: Echoplex, Los Angeles, CA

April 25: Popscene @ Brick & Mortar, San Francisco, CA

April 28: Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR

April 29: Sunset, Seattle, WA

May 2: 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN

May 3: Cactus Club, Milwaukee, WI

May 5: Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL

May 6: El Club, Detroit, MI

May 7: Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON

May 9: Warsaw, Brooklyn, NY

May 10: The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

Country Legends The Bellamy Brothers Return to the Ryman Auditorium for the First Time in 50 Years

Eric Alper
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Country Legends The Bellamy Brothers Return to the Ryman Auditorium for the First Time in 50 Years

Half a century is a long time between Ryman shows. ACM and CMA celebrated duo The Bellamy Brothers headline the Ryman Auditorium on June 25th, their first appearance at the Mother Church of Country Music in 50 years. Tickets are on sale now.

The show lands in a milestone year for David and Howard Bellamy. On January 3, 1976, they released “Let Your Love Flow,” which climbed to No. 1 on the U.S. charts during the week of May 1, 1976, becoming one of the most enduring hits of the era and launching the duo onto the international stage. The Ryman performance celebrates that legacy across a career that has spanned genres, decades, and generations of fans.

Beyond the Ryman, The Bellamy Brothers are touring throughout the year in celebration of the anniversary, while continuing to expand their presence across multiple ventures. Now in its fifth season, their reality series Honky Tonk Ranch streams on American Country Network and YouTube, offering a behind-the-scenes look at life on the road and on their Florida ranch. The duo also operates Old Hippie Stash, their medical marijuana brand in partnership with Trulieve, featuring fan-favorite strains Rattler and Blue Rodeo in selected states.

Two-Time Grammy Winners Old Crow Medicine Show Head Back to Their Roots on New Intimate World Tour

Eric Alper
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Two-Time Grammy Winners Old Crow Medicine Show Head Back to Their Roots on New Intimate World Tour

Twenty-two years of string-band credibility, and Old Crow Medicine Show is going back to where it started. The two-time Grammy-winning roots outfit announces The O.C.M.S. Big Iron World Tour: Back to the Roots, a series of intimate shows performing their first two albums, ‘O.C.M.S.’ and ‘Big Iron World’, in stripped-down configurations at venues that reflect the spirit of the recordings themselves. The tour kicks off March 18th at Nashville’s historic Station Inn. Tickets are on sale now.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 22 years since the launch of our O.C.M.S. album and 20 years since our second studio record, Big Iron World,” says frontman Ketch Secor. “Working with David Rawlings, plus the presence of Gillian Welch, is what really made the magic on these albums.” The tour takes those songs back to smaller rooms, leaning into the intimacy that made them resonate in the first place, with stops at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville, The Orange Peel in Asheville, Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, and MerleFest in Wilkesboro among the highlights.

The announcement comes on the heels of a busy stretch for the band. Their first-ever holiday album ‘OCMS XMAS’ arrived in December, following their 2023 Grammy-nominated anniversary record ‘Jubilee’. Secor also released his debut solo album ‘Story The Crow Told Me’ last summer and took over as host of the long-running Tennessee Crossroads travel and culture series.

The O.C.M.S. Big Iron World Tour: Back to the Roots Dates:

March 18: Station Inn, Nashville, TN

March 19: Appalachian Theatre, Boone, NC

March 20: Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville, TN

March 21: Neighbourhood Theatre, Charlotte, NC

March 22: The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC

March 31: Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre, Wilmington, NC

April 1: Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC

April 2: Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA

April 3: Lucas Theatre for the Arts, Savannah, GA

April 4: Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA

April 24-25: MerleFest, Wilkesboro, NC

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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