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Rick Wakeman Joins Nuclear Messiah For Blistering Single “Dice And Thunder”

Eric Alper
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Rick Wakeman Joins Nuclear Messiah For Blistering Single “Dice And Thunder”

Rick Wakeman ventures into his heaviest territory yet on “Dice And Thunder,” the latest single from all-star metal and prog aggregation Nuclear Messiah. The track sees Wakeman joining forces with Megadeth maestro Chris Poland, Steve Di Giorgio of Testament, Rainbow frontman Ronnie Romero, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, and Fred Aching of Dead Groove, Kings of Thrash, and BulletBoys for three minutes of blistering, seething mayhem. A sonic detonation that could crack the sky, “Dice and Thunder” is a driving skull-splitter with Poland’s screaming guitar to the fore, while Wakeman’s keys give as good as they get, igniting the carnage with a portentous overture and embedding themselves so deep inside the performance that his organ leads the track to its fade.

A thunderous all-star concept set, the full Nuclear Messiah album is called ‘Black Flame’ and arrives April 24. Arthur Brown starred on Nuclear Messiah’s first single, a cover of Lucifer’s Friend’s classic “Ride The Sky” before Christmas, and the new year opened with the incendiary title track “Black Flame” itself. Like that track, “Dice and Thunder” is a Chris Poland original, and for anyone schooled in the art of Megadeth’s most combustible albums, you can already guess what that means. The heart of Nuclear Messiah, Poland’s melodic fluidity, experimental phrasing, and sheer command of tone have inspired generations. From Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’ to his work in OHM and Damn the Machine, Poland’s guitar sound remains one of the most distinctive in modern music.

Brian Perera, Cleopatra’s founder and the album’s executive producer, explains: “Chris isn’t just a guitarist, he’s a spirit of sound. Nuclear Messiah was built around his brilliance and brought to life by an army of legends who share his passion and precision.” Poland isn’t the only Megadeth alumnus in sight, either. Elsewhere on the album, we hear from Marty Friedman, David Ellefson, Shawn Drover, Glen Drover on guitar and Chris Adler on drums, alongside 30 more metal and prog legends, truly the greatest and heaviest ensemble ever gathered for one single project. Wakeman has recorded with some of the greatest legends in rock history including David Bowie, Lou Reed, Cat Stevens, Al Stewart, Elton John, and both Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, but his latest excursion might well be the heaviest record he has ever performed on.

Sophia Tice Explores Toxic Relationships On Art Pop Single “Way Out”

Eric Alper
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Sophia Tice Explores Toxic Relationships On Art Pop Single “Way Out”

Rising singer-songwriter Sophia Tice captivates audiences with her unique vocal tone and intimate songwriting on her latest single “WAY OUT,” represented by Decent Music PR. A compelling foray into art pop and indie pop, the track marks an exciting evolution in Tice’s ever-expanding musical journey. Written from the perspective of a friend escaping a toxic relationship, “WAY OUT” is a raw and emotional exploration of chaos, fear, empowerment, and reflection. The track’s production, crafted in collaboration with producer Jackson Lowe, blends live instrumentation, including striking piano lines, with textured indie pop elements, resulting in a sound that feels both polished and immediate, capturing the intensity of its narrative.

The song was conceived with a visual story in mind, and its accompanying music video brings the song’s themes vividly to life, translating the emotional push and pull of staying versus leaving into cinematic imagery. Tice explains, “I wanted to explore what it feels like to be caught in that internal battle. This song is a little darker, a little louder, and a bit more experimental than what I’ve released before, and I’m thrilled to dive further into the indie pop world with this new direction.” “WAY OUT” draws inspiration from artists such as Lorde, Billie Eilish, The 1975, Remi Wolf, and The Japanese House, while still showcasing Tice’s signature blend of vulnerability and sonic creativity.

Sophia Tice is a multi-genre singer-songwriter whose music spans pop, R&B, indie rock, and folk. Known for her emotive vocals and deeply personal songwriting, Tice continues to push creative boundaries, blending live instrumentation with experimental production to craft songs that resonate both sonically and emotionally. While her previous work has spanned multiple genres, “WAY OUT” represents an exciting step forward, a bold experiment in mood, storytelling, and production that signals her artistic growth and willingness to take risks.

Steven Blush Explores Rock And Hip-Hop Fusion In ‘When Rock Met Hip-Hop’

Eric Alper
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Steven Blush Explores Rock And Hip-Hop Fusion In ‘When Rock Met Hip-Hop’

Steven Blush examines one of the most important events in modern music with ‘When Rock Met Hip-Hop: How Run-DMC, Aerosmith, Anthrax, The Beastie Boys, and More Crossed Cultural and Musical Boundaries,’ available February 5. The book chronicles the late 80s cross-collision of rock and hip-hop, exploring landmark moments like the Aerosmith and Run-DMC collaboration, the Beastie Boys’ ‘Paul’s Boutique,’ the Public Enemy and Anthrax partnership, and the groundbreaking production work of Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons. De La Soul and Third Bass also figure prominently, alongside the 318 hip-hop records that sampled Billy Squier’s “The Big Beat,” exemplifying how sampling evolved into an art form while influencing all other forms of popular music.

One of the themes Blush explores is the way the fusion of rap and rock gave hope to a sense of interracial harmony during a culturally divided era. In keeping with ‘When Rock Met Disco’ and ‘When Rock Met Reggae,’ this title relates the musical cross-collision and cultural fallout that changed music for the better, and remains an influence through today. The book documents how these collaborations broke down barriers and created new possibilities for artists across genres, reshaping the sonic landscape and proving that creative partnerships could transcend traditional boundaries.

Peter Gabriel Releases “Put The Bucket Down” From Forthcoming Album ‘o\i’ With Artwork By Tomás Saraceno

Eric Alper
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Peter Gabriel Releases “Put The Bucket Down” From Forthcoming Album ‘o\i’ With Artwork By Tomás Saraceno

Peter Gabriel releases “Put the Bucket Down,” the second track from his forthcoming album ‘o\i.’ Written and produced by Gabriel, the first version to be heard is the Bright-Side Mix by Mark “Spike” Stent. With its shuffle groove and infectiously catchy hook and chorus, the track conjures dream-like imagery of mind reading, thought reading and thought writing, all of which are possible through the brain/computer interface. The character singing is getting very confused as they navigate the blurred lines between their own consciousness and external influence.

Gabriel explains the concept: “As a side project, I am working on a show with the brain as the central core and there are a number of songs, some on ‘i/o’ and some on ‘o\i’ that will be part of that. This is one of those and it’s a point in the narrative where we can both read and write thoughts and the person singing is not sure whether he has his own thoughts or not. Is he inside his own mind or inside someone else’s? The ‘bucket’ is all the crap that goes around our head all the time, so it is putting the bucket down to find your way forward.”

Gabriel continues about the musical construction: “I started building rhythmic elements around, what I call, a lop-sided loop, and got quite excited. When we had the band play it, it really came to life so that feels good for me. The band and me working away is the bulk of the song, but when we were in the orchestral sessions, I asked John Metcalfe to come up with a part, it was scribbled out on the day in the studio, which is ridiculously simple, but it serves the song nicely. We’re also blessed with horn players. I was very lucky on the last record to play with Paolo Fresu and then Josh Shpack on the tour and they’ve both done a version of the instrumental melody on this too.”

This month’s art comes from Tomás Saraceno and three different types of spiders: Cyrtophora citricola, Nephila senegalensis and Holocnemus pluchei. The work is called Cosmic Spider/Web. Gabriel shares his delight: “I’m delighted this month that we have an artwork created by Tomás Saraceno and 12 spiders who are credited with authorship on this. He’s a really interesting artist and his Aerocene project was the first thing that I came across. This work, integrating with nature and co-creating with spiders is fascinating. I think it’s a beautiful thing and somehow there seems to be a connection with webs and nature and the brain, so for me, it fits right in. In this case, Tomás heard the music and chose this image as something that he thought was appropriate.” Seeing spiders not as threats, but as oracles, architects, even guardians underpin Arachnophilia, the project-community founded by Tomás Saraceno. Tchad Blake’s Dark-Side Mix of “Put the Bucket Down” will be released later in the month, on the new moon.

Cream’s ‘Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6 2005’ Reissued For 20th Anniversary

Eric Alper
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Cream’s ‘Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6 2005’ Reissued For 20th Anniversary

The legendary 2005 reunion performances by Cream at Royal Albert Hall receive a 20th anniversary reissue celebrating one of rock’s most significant comebacks. Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton ended a 37-year hiatus to deliver four nights of explosive performances in London, proving their chemistry remained intact despite the decades apart. The reissue captures the peak moments from those May concerts, preserving the energy and musicianship that made these shows unforgettable. Available now on blue and green splatter triple vinyl and blue and orange double CD, the collection showcases why Cream’s influence on rock music endures.

‘Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6 2005’ Tracklisting:

  1. I’m So Glad
  2. Spoonful
  3. Outside Woman Blues
  4. Pressed Rat and Warthog
  5. Sleepy Time Time
  6. N.S.U.
  7. Badge
  8. Politician
  9. Sweet Wine
  10. Rollin’ and Tumblin’
  11. Stormy Monday
  12. Deserted Cities of the Heart
  13. Born Under a Bad Sign
  14. We’re Going Wrong
  15. Crossroads
  16. White Room
  17. Toad
  18. Sunshine of Your Love
  19. Sleepy Time Time (Alternate)

Toronto’s Double Eyelid Shares Darkwave Tribute Cover Of David Bowie’s “No Control”

Eric Alper
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Toronto’s Double Eyelid Shares Darkwave Tribute Cover Of David Bowie’s “No Control”

Marking just over a decade since David Bowie’s passing, Toronto’s Double Eyelid shares a tribute cover of “No Control.” Originally found on Bowie’s ‘Outside’ album, his 1995 return to working with Brian Eno, the song is reimagined for today’s goth and darkwave listeners. During this period, Bowie departed from previous works as he embraced the industrial sound of the ’90s, and later toured with Nine Inch Nails. The 2026 version of this classic deep cut blends a tense, low-end groove with a warm, layered sound that hints at Depeche Mode in the early ’90s, paired with an impassioned vocal performance.

Double Eyelid’s central member Ian Revell explains the background of the song: “I started listening to Bowie around 1993, and his work spoke to me so deeply that I dove head-first into everything he released, and found he had so many different sides. It was difficult to reconcile the bleakness of the Berlin trilogy with the warm and sunny vibes of the Bowie that was out in the world making ‘Black Tie White Noise.’ When ‘Outside’ came out a couple of years later, I was thrilled he was working with Eno again, and over the moon to see him play live with Nine Inch Nails. ‘Outside’ is still a challenging album, but it has aged remarkably well. “No Control” is a layered song that says a lot without revealing anything; covering it was entering into an enigma. It’s personal, it’s global, it’s all deranged, indeed!”

Double Eyelid is a songwriting-focused goth and darkwave art rock project with singer Ian Revell as its central and consistent member. Debuting in 2012 with the underground hit “Dead is Better,” the widely acclaimed first album ‘Seven Years’ was released in 2014, followed by the 2016 remix album ‘Broken Mirror’ featuring contributions from Psyche, Leæther Strip, nTTx, and Double Echo. In the years since, the project has made numerous live appearances, including goth and industrial festivals Mechanismus, Absolution, and Morecambe’s Bats in the Attic, alongside acts like Light Asylum, Empathy Test, Priest, and Cold in Berlin.

Single releases between 2020 and 2023 featured production work from Live Evil Productions and Adoration Destroyed’s Erik Gustafson. 2025 finally saw the release of a new long-form work, an ambitious retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Tell-Tale Heart.’ Double Eyelid is currently in studio-focused mode, and more releases are expected soon.

Honeymoon Suite Named Record Store Day Canada Ambassadors For 2026 With Exclusive Vinyl Release

Eric Alper
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Honeymoon Suite Named Record Store Day Canada Ambassadors For 2026 With Exclusive Vinyl Release

Record Store Day Canada has named legendary Canadian rockers Honeymoon Suite as the official Record Store Day Canada Ambassadors for 2026. To celebrate their role as Ambassadors, the band will release a special, Record Store Day exclusive version of their hit-packed compilation ‘The Singles,’ issued on Limited Edition Translucent Red Vinyl and only available at independent record stores across Canada. This exclusive collector’s item features some of the biggest songs in Canadian rock history, including “New Girl Now,” “Burning In Love,” “Wave Babies,” “Stay In The Light,” “Feel It Again,” and “What Does It Take” from the ‘One Crazy Summer’ soundtrack. It also includes the band’s hard-hitting contribution to the ‘Lethal Weapon’ soundtrack.

Lead guitarist and songwriter Derry Grehan shares his enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to be the Record Store Day Canada Ambassadors for 2026. To me, vinyl isn’t just a format; it’s how I fell in love with music in the first place. There’s a magic to holding the jacket, reading the liner notes, and dropping the needle that you just can’t replicate. We’ve always been a band that lives for the fans and the music, so getting to champion independent record stores, the place where that magic still lives, is a huge honor us.”

Ryan Kerr from Record Store Day Canada expresses equal excitement: “We are so excited to have Canadian music legends Honeymoon Suite representing us as RSDC Ambassadors in 2026. With an arsenal of great music under their belts, ‘The Singles’ album is hotly anticipated by fans coast to coast. Honeymoon Suite’s catalogue represents some of the greatest and most memorable music in Canadian history, so we are proud to be working with them to bring that music to fans through our country’s incredible independent record stores.” Noble Musa of Microforum Vinyl adds, “Pressing ‘The Singles’ title for the Record Store Day Canada 2026 Canadian Ambassadors Honeymoon Suite is so meaningful to us! Seeing this record grace stores nationwide and giving fans the opportunity to hear timeless hits in an analog format is why we do what we do.”

Formed in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Honeymoon Suite has been a driving force in Canadian rock for over four decades. With over a million units sold worldwide, their music is woven into the fabric of the country’s rock history. From their self-titled debut to the multi-platinum ‘The Big Prize’ and ‘Racing After Midnight,’ the band delivered an undeniable string of radio anthems that defined an era.

‘The Singles’ Tracklist

A1. New Girl Now

A2. Burning In Love

A3. Stay In The Light

A4. Wave Babies

A5. Feel It Again

A6. What Does It Take

B1. Bad Attitude

B2. Lethal Weapon

B3. Love Changes Everything

B4. Lookin’ Out For Number One

B5. Still Lovin’ You

B6. Long Way

Belfast Trio Broncos Release Blistering Post-Hardcore Single “Hold Me” Ahead Of Headline Slot

Eric Alper
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0
Belfast Trio Broncos Release Blistering Post-Hardcore Single “Hold Me” Ahead Of Headline Slot

Belfast trio Broncos release “Hold Me,” a visceral slice of melodic post-hardcore that finds the band fully embracing their penchant for sing-along, fist-in-the-air melodies and neck-snapping, speaker-shredding riffs in equal measure. The track follows a highly successful run of singles in 2024 and 2025 which earned premieres on RTE2XM and BBC Introducing, plus features in Hot Press, Chordblossom, Genuine Irish, First Contact Music, Pure M Zine, Ragged Cast, Admire Collide, IMRO, Rock N Load, UberRock and Daily Earworm. The band’s reputation as a must-see live act was cemented following a much talked about set in a packed Ulster Sports Club as part of Output 2025.

Lyrically the song is an ode to being vulnerable, being open with the ones we truly love and trust, and letting them into the most intimate recesses of ourselves. The dual vocals of Shane and Cameron add light and shade to the track, while subtle synths and spiraling delays add depth. After a short, chimed intro, Michael’s gunshot snare drum acts as a starter pistol and from there the track doesn’t let up. Drums drive the track forward, alternating between a thunderous kick and snare pattern and tom rolls around the kit. These are mirrored by Cameron’s snaking guitar runs while Shane’s bass keeps the track grounded.

A short pre-chorus makes full use of the dual vocals as both sing “old habits, die hard/old habits, leave scars,” in a part that begs to be sung back by a sweaty crowd. A tempo change in the chorus delivers a neck-snapping and sing-along moment in equal measure. As we hit the middle of the track, Michael’s drums provide a Dave Grohl-esque moment as an avalanche of toms and cymbals back Shane’s celestial vocals, “align the stars for kicks.” A brief respite allows us to catch our breath before the band hammer the track home.

The track is released ahead of Broncos’ headline slot at Old Crows Promotions Sweet Sweet Noise all dayer on February 7th, a 14 and over event that features 9 of the best Belfast has to offer. Formed as various other projects dissolved or never properly formed for Michael on drums and Cameron on guitar and backing vocals, it wasn’t until Shane on vocals and bass joined that Broncos finally took its shape. They heralded their arrival with “Erode,” their anthemic post-hardcore debut single in September 2024. Follow-ups “Lights Out” and “Lover” cemented the band as an essential voice that drew from their inspirations but provided a contemporary and fresh take on post-hardcore. Recalling the reckless intensity of At The Drive-In and the anthemic sound of Alexisonfire, “Hold Me” is the sound of a band fully stepping into themselves.

Big Special Announce Spring North American Tour Supporting Lambrini Girls And Share “Sluglife”

Eric Alper
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Big Special Announce Spring North American Tour Supporting Lambrini Girls And Share “Sluglife”

Birmingham duo Big Special return to North America this spring supporting Lambrini Girls on a run from April 21 in Atlanta through May 5 in Lawrence, Kansas. The tour brings the acclaimed UK outfit back across the continent following their biggest headlining UK tour, which kicks off February 13 and includes four sold-out shows. Vocalist Joe Hicklin shares his excitement: “we’re absolutely buzzing to be joining the mighty Lambrini Girls on their spring tour across the continent. Tonnes of new cities for us, so come say howdy or whatever you say out there.”

Big Special recently released “SLUGLIFE” via SO Recordings, opening 2026 with a track that captures their signature blend of dark humor and raw honesty. Hicklin describes the song as being about “living low to the ground and going slow. Feeling guilt for needing a bit of time to pull yourself up by your boot straps. It’s about working through the self hate that can come through hard times.” The single follows October’s “PLAINTIVE NATIVE” and November’s “DRAGGED UP A HILL (and thrown down the other side),” maintaining the momentum from their Sleaford Mods collaboration on “The Good Life,” which featured Game Of Thrones and Star Wars actress Gwendoline Christie in a captivating one-shot video.

Built on a lifelong friendship, Big Special ground their music in honesty and a clear sense of purpose. Their connection remains central as their sound continues to grow, reflecting the balance of ambition and emotional truth that defines their work. Critics have praised their approach, with NME calling it “a heady dose of heart and reality,” The Line Of Best Fit noting “a record that’s more complex, more human, and more interesting than anyone could have expected,” and DORK declaring their work “a real piece of art; sheer brilliance from start to finish.”

Tour Dates:

02/13 – Norwich, UK @ Waterfront

02/14 – Nottingham, UK @ Rescue Rooms [SOLD OUT]

02/15 – Newcastle, UK @ Digital

02/18 – Leeds, UK @ University Stylus

02/19 – Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 Warehouse [SOLD OUT]

02/20 – Manchester, UK @ New Century Hall [SOLD OUT]

02/21 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institute [SOLD OUT]

02/24 – Bristol, UK @ Electric Bristol

02/25 – Southampton, UK @ The 1865

02/27 – London, UK @ Roundhouse

03/06 – Dublin, UK @ The Workman’s Club [SOLD OUT]

03/07 – Belfast, UK @ Ulster Sports Club [SOLD OUT]

04/21 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse

04/22 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel

04/24 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw [SOLD OUT]

04/26 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club [SOLD OUT]

04/27 – Montreal, PQ @ Theatre Beanfield

04/28 – Toronto, ON @ The Concert Hall

04/30 – Chicago, IL @ Metro [SOLD OUT]

05/01 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre

05/02 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue

05/04 – St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall

05/05 – Lawrence, KS @ The Granada

05/21 – Derbyshire, UK @ Bearded Theory Festival

06/20 – Glasgow, UK @ TRSMT Festival

08/14 – Hampshire, UK @ Boomtown Festival

Staci Gruber Releases Nashville Recorded Single “This Time Around” Produced By Erik Halbig

Eric Alper
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0
Staci Gruber Releases Nashville Recorded Single “This Time Around” Produced By Erik Halbig

Boston singer-songwriter Staci Gruber releases “This Time Around,” a rock meets Americana single recorded in Nashville with producer Erik Halbig. The track brings together Halbig’s production expertise, honed through work with Ty Herndon and Jamie O’Neal, with the songwriting partnership of Gruber and Michael Orland of American Idol fame. The result is an infectious honky-tonk anthem that captures the raw emotion of love’s hardest lessons. Gruber describes the song as “really a story of love that pulled too hard, truth that came too late, and a heart that finally listened when it mattered most.”

Gruber’s journey from singing privately in her closet to finding her voice through an elementary school solo of “12 Days of Christmas” reflects the transformative power she now channels into her music. Her summers at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts deepened her artistic foundation. She made history as the first person to transition from classical voice to jazz studies in the five-year dual-degree program at Tufts University and New England Conservatory of Music. Her influences span Anne Murray, Barbra Streisand, Karen Carpenter, k.d. lang, Billie Eilish, Pink, Nancy Wilson, and John Coltrane, creating her own distinctive musical melting pot.

Beyond music, Gruber serves as a Harvard Medical School professor and pioneering neuroscientist at McLean Hospital, where her groundbreaking cannabis research generates real-world data influencing clinical trials. She has performed with Dan Aykroyd and the Blues Brothers, written an anthem for Billie Jean King, and appeared at major events with collaborator Michael Orland. Her dual careers demonstrate how connection works across different fields, whether through songwriting or scientific exploration.

Gruber’s music creates space for listeners to process their own experiences while connecting with someone else’s story. She believes music allows people to understand different perspectives, offering empathy in its truest sense. “This Time Around” embodies that philosophy, turning personal heartbreak into something relatable and cathartic. The track reminds us that through shared emotional experiences, no one has to feel truly alone.

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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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