Greek symphonic extreme metal force W.E.B. is set to immortalize their legendary stage presence with the release of ‘Darkness Alive’, their first-ever official live album. Recorded during a high-stakes hometown performance in Athens on September 22, 2024—a night they shared with black metal titans Dark Funeral—the record captures the quartet at their most visceral and “unhinged.” Vocalist and guitarist Sakis Prekas notes that the evening marked a pivotal moment of transition for the band, fueled by an electric energy that demanded to be documented. From the soaring, epic finale of “Dragona” to the “thunderous marriage” of genres in “Into Hell Fire We Burn,” ‘Darkness Alive’ serves as both a definitive live document and a powerful testament to the band’s enduring connection with their audience.
The announcement comes alongside the release of the live single and video for “Dark Web,” a fan-favorite onslaught originally featured on their 2021 LP ‘Colosseum’. A scathing critique of the abuse of power, the track highlights the band’s ability to fuse melodic death metal intensity with modern symphonic grandeur. Set for a digital and physical release on February 20, 2026, via Metal Blade Records and Sleaszy Rider, the album features nine tracks hand-selected for their proven ability to command a crowd. As W.E.B. begins composing their next full-length studio effort, ‘Darkness Alive’ stands as a bloodthirsty reminder of why they remain one of the most formidable names in the international extreme metal scene.
The Grateful Dead officially begin their 2026 archival journey by revealing the first two installments of the highly anticipated ‘Dave’s Picks’ subscription series. Opening the year is ‘Dave’s Picks Volume 57’, which captures the band during a high-energy winter run at the Uptown Theatre in Chicago on February 1, 1978. This performance finds the group in peak form as they balance the tight precision of their late seventies sound with the expansive improvisational spirit found on tracks like “Estimated Prophet” and “The Other One”. Fans of this era can also look forward to bonus material from the previous night to complete the story of this historic Chicago stand.
The second release of the year takes listeners back to the legendary jazz-influenced era of 1973 with ‘Dave’s Picks Volume 58’. This volume presents the complete December 18 performance from Curtis Hixon Hall in Tampa, featuring a massive second set anchored by a “Dark Star” into “Eyes of the World” sequence. Subscribers will also receive an exclusive bonus disc containing rare highlights from the band’s first-ever appearance at The Omni in Atlanta. With limited editions of 25,000 copies shipping throughout the year, these releases ensure that the 2026 series remains an essential deep dive into the most fertile chapters of the Grateful Dead live legacy.
‘Dave’s Picks 2026’ Release Schedule:
Jan 30 – Dave’s Picks Volume 57: Uptown Theatre, Chicago, IL (2/1/78)
German metalcore pioneers Caliban continue their relentless evolution with the digital release of ‘Back From Hell (Deluxe Edition)’ on Century Media Records. This expanded collection features the high-energy new single “Anthem” alongside a massive live video for “Dear Suffering” featuring guest vocals from Andreas Bjulver of Cabal. The band recorded these intense performances during a hometown show in Cologne to give fans an authentic look at the current lineup which now includes the melodic vocal range and songwriting skills of bassist Iain Duncan.
The deluxe package offers a comprehensive journey through the band’s aggressive sound with nineteen tracks including covers of “Shout” and “You Only Live Once”. Founding members Andreas Dörner and Marc Görtz express deep gratitude to their dedicated community for supporting the group through over two decades of genre-defining music. This release arrives just as the quintet prepares to bring back their signature Darkness Over X-Mas tour for a string of end-of-year performances across Germany with special guests Doomcrusher and Strength.
‘Back From Hell (Deluxe Edition)’ Tracklist:
Resurgence (Intro)
Guilt Trip (feat. Mental Cruelty)
I Was A Happy Kid Once
Back From Hell (feat. The Browning)
Insomnia
Dear Suffering (feat. Joe Bad of Fit For An Autopsy)
Alte Seele
Overdrive
Infection
Glass Cage
Solace In Suffer
Till Death Do Us Part
Echoes
Anthem
Shout
You Only Live Once
Dear Suffering (feat. Andreas Bjulver of Cabal Live in Cologne 2025)
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 NospĹ«n 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.
Tour Dates:
Feb 12 – Covington, KY – Madison Live
Feb 13 – Lakewood, OH – The Roxy
Feb 14 – Detroit, MI – The Shelter
Feb 15 – Chicago, IL – WC Social Club
Feb 17 – Saint Paul, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Feb 18 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
Feb 19 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
Feb 20 – Wichita, KS – WAVE
Feb 24 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theatre
Feb 25 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater
Feb 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom
Feb 27 – Fresno, CA – Fulton 55
Feb 28 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post
Mar 01 – San Jose, CA – The Ritz
Mar 03 – Portland, OR – Star Theater
Mar 04 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Mar 05 – Richland, WA – Ray’s Golden Lion
Mar 06 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
Mar 07 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
Mar 09 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
Mar 12 – St. Louis, MO – Red Flag
Mar 13 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Hall
Mar 14 – Columbus, OH – The King Of Clubs
Mar 15 – Harrisburg, PA – Capital City Music Hall