Page 138 – That Eric Alper

British-Swedish Hard Rockers NERVE STAR Ignite With Debut ‘WHITE HOT’

Music

Eric Alper

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Mar 1, 2026

British-Swedish Hard Rockers NERVE STAR Ignite With Debut ‘WHITE HOT’

British-Swedish hard rock and heavy metal outfit NERVE STAR unleash debut album ‘WHITE HOT,’ out now across vinyl LP, CD and digital formats. Formed in 2021, the band channel 70s hard rock grit, 80s heavy metal charge, NWOBHM fire and a shot of punk attitude into 13 fully loaded tracks. Unrelenting riffs, big drums and twin-lead guitars drive the engine from start to finish.

The lineup solidified with Matt Oakman on vocals, Janne Stark and Chris Billinghurst on dual lead and rhythm guitars, Joss Thorley on bass and Peter Svensson on drums. Recording sessions took place in Sweden and England, moving at pace under Stark’s experienced hand. The result is tight, muscular and built on classic metal foundations with modern weight.

The album closes with an epic rendition of “Richard III,” originally written and recorded by Tony Bourge with Tredegar. Bourge, the legendary Budgie guitarist behind riffs later covered by Metallica and Van Halen, contributes fresh guitar parts to the track. Three lead guitarists collide on the finale, sealing ‘WHITE HOT’ with a blaze of heritage and horsepower.

Soul Master James Hunter Unveils “Gun Shy” From ‘Off The Fence’

Music

Eric Alper

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Mar 1, 2026

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Soul Master James Hunter Unveils “Gun Shy” From ‘Off The Fence’

British soul master James Hunter and The James Hunter Six share the official video for “Gun Shy,” lifted from new album ‘Off The Fence,’ out now via Easy Eye Sound. Co-written with bandmate Myles Weeks, the track captures the tongue-tied rush of a new crush over a dance-floor-ready groove before breaking into a blues-soaked sax solo from Michael Buckley. It swings with ease and lands with style.

“I had heard the phrase ‘gun shy’ before but didn’t know what it meant,” Hunter says. “When Myles Weeks, our bass player, mentioned he had a concept for a song with that title, he outlined the theme as being that of someone being nervously reluctant to declare their romantic intentions. I asked him if he minded if I wrote it, and he graciously said yes. As per my usual ‘Thesaurus method’ of song-writing, I threw a pile of ballistics-related terms on the table and set about arranging them into verses. Once I’d stuffed them into a spare tune I had lying around, we committed it to tape.”

He adds, “Then it was time to make the video. One dark December evening, my wife Jessie accompanied me to a studio in a Victorian-era warehouse in Tichborne Street, in the North Laines, Brighton. Our director, James Slater, filmed me prancing about and lip-syncing on a big sheet of paper unfurled from a roller suspended from the ceiling. I had a blast.” Featuring twelve self-penned tracks, including “A Sure Thing,” “Here And Now” and a duet with Van Morrison on “Ain’t That A Trip,” ‘Off The Fence’ marks Hunter’s eleventh studio album and 40 years since his recording debut.

Welsh Heavy Metal Force VIRTUE IN VAIN Strike With “Between Reflections And Silence” From ‘Nothing Is All I Am’

Music

Eric Alper

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Mar 1, 2026

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Welsh Heavy Metal Force VIRTUE IN VAIN Strike With “Between Reflections And Silence” From ‘Nothing Is All I Am’

Welsh heavy metal force VIRTUE IN VAIN press forward with new single “Between Reflections And Silence,” out now ahead of EP ‘Nothing Is All I Am,’ out now. The track lands with crushing riffs, pounding drums and raw vocal power, reinforcing the band’s reputation for savage live intensity and emotionally driven songwriting that cuts deep.

Completing a trilogy that began with ‘For All You Know Is The Mask I Wore’ and continued through ‘Dusk // Dawn,’ the new EP confronts collapse and rebuilding head on. “Each track represents different emotions,” the band explain, “from panic attacks and unrelenting anger to catastrophising, and the torment of replaying your failings. This EP dives deep into pessimism and self-reflection.”

British Alt-Metal Risers NIGHT THIEVES Unleash “Mycelia” From Debut ‘Metaxis’

Music

Eric Alper

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Mar 1, 2026

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British Alt-Metal Risers NIGHT THIEVES Unleash “Mycelia” From Debut ‘Metaxis’

Firing straight out of the nation’s capital, British alt-metal force NIGHT THIEVES return with new single “Mycelia,” out now ahead of debut album ‘Metaxis,’ arriving March 20. The track drives on pounding riffs and rising choruses, balancing weight with melody and locking into the band’s signature arena-ready hook work. The accompanying video captures that same intensity, focused and direct.

Renowned for their blend of striking alt-metal and emotionally led songwriting, NIGHT THIEVES have earned support from Metal Hammer, Kerrang!, BBC Radio One and Planet Rock. They have also shared stages with Marisa and the Moths and Chuggaboom, building a live reputation grounded in precision and impact. Each release has expanded their reach.

Building on 2024’s ‘Polarity’ EP, produced by Grammy-nominated Romesh Dodangoda, the band reunited with Dodangoda to shape ‘Metaxis.’ The result is a bold, expansive debut that sharpens their sound without losing its edge. With “Mycelia” setting the tone, NIGHT THIEVES step confidently into their next chapter.

Brass Against Reimagine Pink Floyd With “The Great Gig In The Sky”

Music

Eric Alper

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Mar 1, 2026

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Brass Against Reimagine Pink Floyd With “The Great Gig In The Sky”

Brass Against deliver a towering take on Pink Floyd’s “The Great Gig In The Sky,” now streaming alongside its official video. Arranged by Andrew Gutauskas and led by Brad Hammonds, the performance surges with brass firepower and seismic rhythm. Morgan James commands the spotlight, channeling the emotional force of Clare Torry’s original vocal with grit and soul. Filmed and edited by Alexa San Roman, the video captures every swell and crescendo in vivid detail.

Rock Supergroup The Hollywood Vampires Storm Europe On 2026 Arena Run

Music

Eric Alper

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Mar 1, 2026

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Rock Supergroup The Hollywood Vampires Storm Europe On 2026 Arena Run

Hard rock supergroup The Hollywood Vampires return to the stage with a 2026 U.K. and European tour, their first in nearly three years. Led by Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Johnny Depp and Tommy Henriksen, the band launch the run in August with arena and outdoor headline shows across the U.K., Germany, France and Italy.

Joining them in the U.K. are The Jesus and Mary Chain, while The Damned lead the featured guests across mainland Europe. The last time the Vampires toured in 2023, their setlist fused originals with staples like “I’m Eighteen” and “Walk This Way,” alongside tributes including “Baba O’Riley,” “Break on Through (to the Other Side),” “People Who Died” and “Heroes.” The chemistry is loud, loose and built for big rooms.

The Hollywood Vampires channel classic rock history through a modern live charge. Gold and platinum legacies converge onstage, powered by decades of arena experience. This return run lands with scale and weight, bringing the spectacle back to European crowds.

Tickets go on sale in January, with artist pre-sale and general on-sale launching ahead of the August kickoff. These shows mark a major live return for one of rock’s most recognizable lineups.

The Hollywood Vampires 2026 Tour Dates:
Aug 12 – London, UK – The O2
Aug 14 – Cardiff, UK – Depot Live Cardiff Castle
Aug 15 – Scarborough, UK – Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Aug 18 – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
Aug 19 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Aug 21 – Colchester, UK – Colchester Castle Summer Series
Aug 22 – Halifax, UK – Live at the Piece Hall
Aug 25 – Nuremberg, DE – PSD Bank Nurnberg Arena
Aug 26 – Paris, FR – Adidas Arena
Aug 28 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena
Aug 30 – Hamburg, DE – Barclays Arena
Sep 01 – Milan, IT – Parco Della Musica
Sep 02 – Este, IT – Castello Carrese

The Neighbourhood Expand ‘(((((ultraSOUND))))))’ With “(((((ultraSOUND))))))+” Deluxe

Music

Eric Alper

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Mar 1, 2026

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The Neighbourhood Expand ‘(((((ultraSOUND))))))’ With “(((((ultraSOUND))))))+” Deluxe

West Coast alt-rock band The Neighbourhood announce ‘(((((ultraSOUND))))))+’ the deluxe edition of their recent album ‘(((((ultraSOUND)))))). The expanded release adds five new tracks, “Start,” “Good Grief,” “Lulu,” “Red Flag,” and “Bed.” The project deepens the album’s emotional arc while sharpening its electronic edge.

The new songs thread heartbreak and self-realization through vocal samples, vocoders and a full EDM-style drop on “Red Flag.” The atmosphere is darker, sleeker and wired with tension. It feels immersive and immediate, a late-night drive with the volume pushed high.

Originally released in November, ‘(((((ultraSOUND))))))’ marked the band’s first full-length album in five years. Produced by Justyn Pilbrow and Jono Dorr, the record reaffirmed The Neighbourhood’s signature West Coast alt-rock sound. Singles “Hula Girl,” “Private,” and “Lovebomb” arrived with official videos, while “Hula Girl” sits in the Top 20 on U.S. Alternative Radio.

The deluxe edition lands digitally and on CD and vinyl, expanding the physical and digital tracklists into a 20-track experience. From the opening pulse of “Start” to the closing stretch of “Stupid Boy,” ‘(((((ultraSOUND))))))+’ widens the scope and turns the dial further into the band’s shadowed sonic world.

Track List For Physical CD And Vinyl:
Hula Girl
OMG
Lovebomb
Private
Lil Ol Me
Planet
Holy Ghost
Rabbit
Tides
Daisy Chain
Zombie
Mama Drama
Crushed
Mute
Stupid Boy
Start
Good Grief
Lulu
Red Flag
Bed

Track List For Digital Album:
Start
Good Grief
Lulu
Red Flag
Bed
Hula Girl
OMG
Lovebomb
Private
Lil Ol Me
Planet
Holy Ghost
Rabbit
Tides
Daisy Chain
Zombie
Mama Drama
Crushed
Mute
Stupid Boy

Post Punk Pioneers Death Cult Ignite Manchester On ‘Paradise Live’

Music

Eric Alper

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Mar 1, 2026

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Post Punk Pioneers Death Cult Ignite Manchester On ‘Paradise Live’

British post-punk pioneers Death Cult return with ‘Paradise Live,’ a 16-track document of their 40th anniversary resurrection. Recorded at the Albert Hall in Manchester, Billy Duffy’s hometown, the album captures the band on Nov. 18, 2023, with no overdubs. Pressed on 2LP, CD and digital formats, this is the sound of a legacy stepping back into the fire.

In 2023, Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy revived Death Cult for a special run of shows, joined by John Tempesta on bass and Charlie Jones on drums. What began as a limited celebration gathered momentum. These performances place Death Cult back onstage with The Cult, reigniting the gothic futurist charge that shaped an era.

As New Noise Magazine wrote, “Ian and Duffy are brothers in musical cause and are counterparts to a quintessential era of Gothic New Wave or First Wave, Camden-era punk. Death Cult were the brothers of The Clash and Siouxsie and The Banshees. They were in the scene.” The bond is audible across every cut. The chemistry is immediate and locked tight.

The tracklist spans origins and evolution, from “83rd Dream” and “Christians” to “Rain,” “Moya” and “She Sells Sanctuary.” These songs laid the groundwork for The Cult’s rise from Southern Death Cult to global stages. ‘Paradise Live’ stands as a raw, unfiltered testament to that lineage, captured in real time, in a room that roared back.

Tracklisting:
1/A1 83rd Dream
2/A2 Christians
3/A3 Gods Zoo
4/A4 Brothers Grimm
5/B1 Ghost Dance
6/B2 Butterflies
7/B3 A Flower in the Desert
8/B4 Resurrection Joe
9/C1 Horse Nation
10/C2 Go West
11/C3 Hollow Man
12/C4 Dreamtime
13/D1 Spiritwalker
14/D2 Rain
15/D3 Moya
16/D4 She Sells Sanctuary

London Alt-Rockers Wildernesses Bloom With “Maintenance” From Debut ‘Growth’

Music

Eric Alper

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Mar 1, 2026

0

London Alt-Rockers Wildernesses Bloom With “Maintenance” From Debut ‘Growth’

London based alt-rock quartet Wildernesses announce debut album ‘Growth,’ out now via Floodlit Recordings, and share new single “Maintenance.” Rooted in modern folk storytelling and shaped by lived experience, the band move between shoegaze glow, post-rock scale and intimate songwriting. “Maintenance” shimmers with tension, circling routine, survival and the rituals that keep a fractured world steady.

“‘Maintenance’ lives in the small, repetitive habits of day-to-day life – the odd things you do to feel okay,” says vocalist Phillip Morris. “Lyrically it’s tongue-in-cheek and self-aware and that unease bled into the artwork and video with these collage masks and ‘eyeless’ faces mirroring the song’s warped perspective.” The track glows with atmosphere and restraint, carrying emotional weight without losing lift.

The video, shot by Joey Aitchison at the Cooperage on Brick Lane, places the band behind oversized collage masks crafted by Morris from cut and layered photographs of their own faces. Identity dissolves into texture. Performance becomes sculpture. It is a bold visual statement that mirrors the song’s warped interior lens.

‘Growth’ spans nine tracks, recorded at No Studio in Manchester with producer Joe Clayton. Seven songs carry lyrics, two unfold instrumentally, tracing insomnia, inheritance and hidden histories. Formed by Morris, Ryan Browne, Mark Portnoi and Sam Howe, Wildernesses channel Hull riverside grit, East London streets and West Sussex roots into expansive, emotionally charged alt-rock. This is a debut that lands with scale.

To mark the release of ‘Growth,’ Wildernesses tour throughout March:
Jan 31 – London @ Folklore
Feb 8 – London, Celestial Diadem Weekender @ 229
Mar 18 – Hull @ Divehu5
Mar 19 – Leeds @ Opporto
Mar 20 – Nottingham @ JT Soar
Mar 21 – Manchester @ Old Pint Pot
Mar 22 – Birmingham @ Dead Wax
Mar 24 – Bristol @ Exchange
Mar 25 – Cardiff @ Fuel
Mar 26 – Brighton @ Rossi
Mar 27 – London @ Folklore

London Garage Punk Trio Hot Face Unleash “Bumble Been” From ‘Automated Response’

Music

Eric Alper

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Mar 1, 2026

0

London Garage Punk Trio Hot Face Unleash “Bumble Been” From ‘Automated Response’

London garage punk trio Hot Face fire out new single “Bumble Been,” lifted from debut album ‘Automated Response,’ out now via Speedy Wunderground. The record was captured live in one take at Abbey Road Studios in front of an audience. Three takes. One day. Straight to tape. Twenty five minutes of voltage pressed into wax.

“Bumble Been is a 70 second blast of straight up garage rock delivered to the main line. Half rebel outcry, half call for the plight of the bumble bee – a short lived assault that doesn’t stop stinging until it does,” says guitarist and vocalist James Bates. The track rips through its micro runtime with teeth bared and amps wide open.

‘Automated Response’ began after a chaotic midnight headline show at Left of The Dial in Rotterdam, when producer Dan Carey reconnected with the band to cut a full album. Days later, a late night call led them into Studio Three at Abbey Road. Carey produced and mixed, manipulating the band’s sonic mayhem live alongside them. What happened in that room is what you hear.

“‘Automated Response’ was put together with the live show in mind,” Bates says. “We wanted it to be a powerful jab to the cranium – a sonic freight train that leaves you spinning long after it’s passed.” The album moves on energy and impact. A raucous ode to live music, committed to tape, eye to eye with the crowd.