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Ozomatli Ignite a Working-Class Anthem With Powerful New Single “Red Line”

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 26, 2025

Ozomatli Ignite a Working-Class Anthem With Powerful New Single “Red Line”

Triple GRAMMY-winning genre-defying band Ozomatli has released their powerful new single “Red Line,” a rallying cry for America’s working class. The song gives voice to those navigating life without privilege or protection, blending the band’s signature mix of Latin, hip-hop, funk, and global rhythms into a vibrant anthem of solidarity and resilience.

“This track is a statement of solidarity,” says founding member Raul Pacheco. “We’re singing for everyone trying to make a life in a system built to hold them back.” The single arrives amid nationwide conversations around immigration and inequality, capturing the humanity behind the headlines through Ozomatli’s trademark fusion of activism and celebration.

Earlier this spring, the band performed “Red Line” atop a flatbed truck in downtown Los Angeles during the No Kings protest, standing shoulder to shoulder with immigrant and worker rights movements. Now, they continue that mission with the 30 Revolutions Tour, marking three decades of music, movement, and community. Saxophonist and vocalist Ulises Bella shares, “Through all the chaos in the world, one thing stays true: Ozomatli brings the vibes that bring people together.”

Founded in 1995 in Los Angeles’ grassroots labor scene, Ozomatli’s six original members—Asdru Sierra, Raul Pacheco, Ulises Bella, Wil-Dog Abers, Jiro Yamaguchi, and Justin Poree—have built a legacy defined by unity and rhythm. With three GRAMMY Awards, honors as U.S. State Department cultural ambassadors, and performances on The Today Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Austin City Limits, the band continues to uplift communities through music and advocacy.

John McLaughlin and The 4th Dimension Shine on ‘Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2022’ with “Here Come the Jiis”

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 26, 2025

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John McLaughlin and The 4th Dimension Shine on ‘Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2022’ with “Here Come the Jiis”

The second single and video from Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2022 are out now on earMUSIC.

John McLaughlin and his acclaimed band The 4th Dimension deliver another masterful performance with “Here Come the Jiis,” the latest single from Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2022. Recorded live on July 25, 2022, at the legendary Auditorium Stravinski with special guest pianist and vocalist Jany McPherson, this new release captures McLaughlin’s extraordinary chemistry and energy on stage.

Dedicated to mandolin greats Srinivas and V. Selvaganesh from McLaughlin’s Shakti project, “Here Come the Jiis” is a tribute to musical respect and unity. “I think the practice of addressing your fellow musicians with a noble prefix is a great thing to do. I call all the people in the band ‘sir’ or ‘ji,’” says McLaughlin. The song bursts with rhythm, groove, and gratitude, a living testament to the spiritual connection that defines his music.

McLaughlin’s relationship with the Montreux Jazz Festival spans over five decades, and Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2022 celebrates that remarkable legacy. Available as Blu-ray+2CD Digipak, 2LP Gatefold, and Digital Download, the full release allows listeners to experience the concert’s emotion and intensity from anywhere. “I received mail and messages from so many people saying how much they loved the concert,” McLaughlin shares. “It’s one that I can never forget.”

A pioneer of jazz fusion, McLaughlin transformed modern music through his work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti, Santana, and his collaborations with Al Di Meola and Paco de Lucia. Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2022 continues that journey, uniting world, jazz, and blues influences in a performance of pure inspiration.

cktrl Finds Peace and Power in Soulful New Single “balance”

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 26, 2025

0

cktrl Finds Peace and Power in Soulful New Single “balance”

British multi-instrumentalist and producer Bradley Miller, known as cktrl, has released his stunning new single “balance.” Following his acclaimed EP yield, the South London artist returns with a track that glows with soulful depth and musical precision. Layering warm horns, delicate strings, and intricate rhythms, “balance” feels meditative and immersive, guiding listeners into a space of reflection and renewal.

“Taking the time to truly notice has given me tools for growth,” cktrl shares. “Our spirit is light, and without it we’re just in the dark. There’s a beauty in nuances in life, especially when you look at how we’re shaped by our experiences. I want to keep healing through my music and I hope others find the same solace in it too.”

With “balance,” cktrl continues his journey of merging sound and spirit, drawing from jazz, classical, ambient, and R&B traditions to create something entirely his own. The song stands as a moment of clarity and calm, shaped by his mastery of tone and texture.

A self-taught producer and classically trained clarinetist of Jamaican and Montserratian heritage, cktrl continues to redefine contemporary sound. His work explores love, identity, and emotional honesty through an unmistakably personal and culturally rooted lens, solidifying his place as one of music’s most introspective and visionary artists.

Amon Amarth Unleash Viking Fury With Epic New Single “We Rule The Waves”

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 26, 2025

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Amon Amarth Unleash Viking Fury With Epic New Single “We Rule The Waves”

Sweden’s Viking metal legends Amon Amarth have released their thunderous new single “We Rule The Waves” along with an epic video. The track marks the band’s first new music in years, surging forward with galloping riffs, towering melodies, and the fierce energy that defines their sound. Produced by Grammy-nominated Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Arch Enemy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Katatonia), it stands as a monumental return — a sonic voyage built from salt, steel, and spirit.

The video for “We Rule The Waves” was filmed in Riga, Latvia, continuing Amon Amarth’s ongoing collaboration with director Pavel Trebukhin of Tre Film, who previously helmed the band’s videos for “The Great Heathen Army,” “Heidrun,” and “Saxons & Vikings.”

In their statement, the band describes “We Rule The Waves” as a celebration of unity, courage, and purpose. “It is our tribute to the spirit of freedom, brotherhood, and the will to conquer — not just lands, but your own limitations. It’s about standing tall with your clan, facing the storm head-on, and carving your mark into the world like a Viking longship through blackened seas.”

With “We Rule The Waves,” Amon Amarth continues to forge their legacy as modern keepers of Norse myth and might, blending storytelling, power, and melody into a battle cry that calls fans to raise their horns high once more.

Anchen Ji Shines With Heartfelt New Pop Single “Safe Space”

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 26, 2025

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Anchen Ji Shines With Heartfelt New Pop Single “Safe Space”

Anchen Ji returns with her first release of the year, a bright and heartfelt single titled “Safe Space.” The track blends shimmering pop sounds with her warm, expressive voice, creating a melody that feels both joyful and deeply sincere. Every lyric and rhythm reflects her ability to turn emotion into sound that feels alive and human.

Anchen Ji is a scientist developing new medicines, a devoted mother, and an artist who found her musical path later in life. After studying through Berklee College of Music’s online program, she began using songwriting as a way to share her story and connect with others through honesty and feeling.

Working with Berklee collaborators Chengcheng (Troy) Tang and Tyller Bolton, Anchen created “Safe Space” to express the desire for closeness even when life moves people apart. The lyrics, filled with cosmic imagery like “planets apart” and “orbit around,” show how love continues to exist in memory and imagination.

“Safe Space” feels warm and hopeful, offering comfort in its melody and rhythm. It is a song about connection that carries both light and emotion, capturing Anchen Ji’s gift for making music that feels intimate, uplifting, and beautifully true.

Biohazard Return in Full Force With Hardcore Firestorm ‘Divided We Fall’

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 26, 2025

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Biohazard Return in Full Force With Hardcore Firestorm ‘Divided We Fall’

Brooklyn hardcore legends Biohazard have released their first studio album in over a decade, ‘Divided We Fall,’ out now via BLKIIBLK. Reuniting the original lineup, the record delivers a blistering statement of unity in chaos. To mark its release, the band has dropped a new single, “F**k the System,” alongside an explosive music video.

“‘F**k the System’ is BIOHAZARD calling it like it is,” says Billy Graziadei (vocals/guitar). “The powers that be have us at odds and beefin’ with each other while they sit back and cash in. It’s all divide and control – while they keep us divided by politics, class, race, all of it, and have us out here fighting each other, they’re pulling the strings. ‘F**k the System’ is our war cry about the state of the world with no sugarcoated bullshit.”

Produced, mixed, and mastered by Matt Hyde (Slayer, Hatebreed, Deftones), ‘Divided We Fall’ captures Biohazard at their most raw, relentless, and unifying. The album blends the band’s signature mix of hardcore, metal, and streetwise groove with sharpened focus and fury, solidifying why Biohazard remains one of the most influential forces in heavy music.

“We are really excited to finally have the classic BIOHAZARD lineup back together in the studio,” adds guitarist Bobby Hambel. “This album has been a long time coming, and it’s straight from our hearts – we can’t wait for everybody to hear it and to hit the stage with these songs live.”

Tour Dates:

10/28: Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
10/29: Worcester, MA @ Palladium
10/31: Allentown, PA @ Archer Music Hall
11/1: Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
11/3: New Haven, CT @ Toad’s

UNWELL Channel Emotion and Power on Explosive New Album ‘Allegoria’

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 26, 2025

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UNWELL Channel Emotion and Power on Explosive New Album ‘Allegoria’

Rising Detroit pop-punk force UNWELL has announced the release of their highly anticipated album ‘Allegoria,’ arriving November 7 via Pure Noise Records. Blending alt-rock, pop-punk, and high-energy hardcore, the band delivers a record that bursts with emotional intensity and cinematic storytelling. ‘Allegoria’ marks a bold new chapter for the four-piece, pushing beyond genre lines into something rich, raw, and unforgettable.

“Allegoria is a world of symbols,” says vocalist Matt Copley. “A collection of stories where each song stands as its own parable. We wanted this album to feel like stepping into a medieval tapestry woven with modern wounds: love, loss, power, addiction, and the search for redemption. Every track is its own relic, dressed in vintage tones and ancient language, but carrying emotions that are still bleeding today. It’s not just an album—it’s a living anthology.”

To coincide with the announcement, UNWELL has shared the record’s opening track and first single, “Miracle.” Accompanied by an electrifying video, the song sets the tone for what’s to come—an exploration of vulnerability and connection wrapped in powerful hooks and soaring instrumentation.

“‘Miracle’ is about the quiet desperation of wanting to be loved,” Copley explains. “It’s a plea for closeness—for someone to stay just a little longer, not because they have to, but because they want to. It’s vulnerable, cold in places, but wrapped in warmth too. At its core, it’s about how being wanted can feel like a miracle all on its own.”

‘Allegoria’ Track Listing:

Miracle
Airless
Plague
Trip The Wire
Conqueror
Throne of Velvet Roses
Craven
Magna Carta
Torture
Armor

Henry J. Star Explores Healing and Identity on Dreamlike Debut Album ‘The Soft Apocalypse’

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 26, 2025

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Henry J. Star Explores Healing and Identity on Dreamlike Debut Album ‘The Soft Apocalypse’

Henry J. Star is the sound of self-discovery in motion. The debut project from Knoxville-born musician, producer, and songwriter Devin Badgett, it weaves together strands of Japanese adventure games, ambient textures, and Southern storytelling into a world entirely his own. Each note of his music feels like a step closer to understanding identity, emotion, and belonging — a sonic journal of transformation.

Today, Henry J. Star announces his debut LP, ‘The Soft Apocalypse,’ out October 17 via Acrophase Records. Alongside the announcement comes “Greenway,” the album’s first single — a dreamy, heart-on-sleeve coming-of-age anthem written as an offering to Badgett’s younger self. The song pulses with emotional urgency and melodic grace, capturing that rare blend of nostalgia and hope that defines the project’s spirit.

“Greenway” carries deep personal weight. “It’s about grief,” Badgett shares. “I was mourning the past and my inner child while trying to reconcile my imagined future with the current reality at hand. This song was, in many ways, the final piece of the puzzle.” Written, produced, and performed largely by Badgett in bedrooms and basements across Tennessee, ‘The Soft Apocalypse’ unfolds as a cinematic exploration of memory and healing — shaped by his experiences with family, race, and solitude.

Rooted in the imagination that once drew him into fantasy worlds like The NeverEnding Story, Badgett’s work channels escapism into empathy. ‘The Soft Apocalypse’ is more than a debut — it’s a homecoming. “Greenway” stands as its first glimpse: an emotionally charged, deeply human introduction to Henry J. Star’s vast inner landscape, where sound becomes a form of self-acceptance.

Bad Self Portraits Bare Soul and Sound on Fearless New Album ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 26, 2025

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Bad Self Portraits Bare Soul and Sound on Fearless New Album ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’

Bad Self Portraits announce the release of their bold new album ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell,’ a record that trades irony for intensity and detachment for emotional clarity. The Calgary-based band — featuring Ingrid Howell, Cole Kempcke, Connor Paintin, and Jesse White — has crafted a project that feels both intimate and unflinching. From the opening moments of “Pensive,” listeners are drawn into a sound that is confessional, deliberate, and entirely arresting.

Lead singer and songwriter Ingrid Howell writes with fearless precision, cutting to the heart of vulnerability and transformation. Her lyrics anchor a band that knows exactly how to build tension and when to let go, creating a dynamic musical landscape that oscillates between catharsis and quiet reflection. ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’ captures the weight of self-reckoning and renewal without ever losing its melodic power.

At its core, the album explores Howell’s relationship with her religious upbringing and the complex intersections between love, pain, and personal identity. Tracks like “All Bark No Bite” embody this tension perfectly — lush, layered, and lyrically bracing. It’s a record that demands presence and rewards deep listening, confronting the spaces where belief and doubt blur into something raw and real.

In a move that mirrors their commitment to intentional artistry, Bad Self Portraits are releasing the album through Buy Before You Stream, an initiative encouraging fans to purchase vinyl before digital release. The choice underscores the band’s belief in music as a tactile, personal experience. ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’ isn’t made for playlists — it’s made for full attention, quiet rooms, and a turntable spinning something that feels like truth.

Willdabeast & Friends Spark Sonic Alchemy on Soulful New Single “It Goes”

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 26, 2025

0

Willdabeast & Friends Spark Sonic Alchemy on Soulful New Single “It Goes”

Grand Alliance Music proudly presents “It Goes,” the first single from Willdabeast & Friends. The track unites Washington’s electronic duo Willdabeast — producer Will Glazier and live trombone/flute master Dan de Lisle — with California producer kae low. It’s not just a release, it’s a moment of chemistry, a meeting of musical minds that ignites something rare and powerful.

Though Willdabeast and kae low first met on June 27, 2025, their connection began months before through late-night sessions and shared creative vision. “It Goes” captures that bond, blending shimmering brass, textured bass, and intricate sound design into a hypnotic wall of rhythm and emotion. Every note feels alive, evolving and interlocking in ways that celebrate spontaneity and trust.

Hidden within the song is a touch of family magic: a voice memo of Glazier’s son Wesley saying, “What did you say?” that loops playfully throughout. That tiny, human spark turns into the song’s beating heart — a reminder that collaboration, like family, thrives on curiosity and connection.

For kae low, “It Goes” follows their acclaimed debut EP on Grand Alliance Music. For Willdabeast, it marks another step in a decade-long journey across stages and studios from Gravitas to Muti Music to Super Best Records. Now, with their label Grand Alliance Music, Willdabeast & Friends becomes a celebration of growth, community, and the endless joy of sound.