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Alt Pop Punk Artist MICO Returns with “Ever After” Featuring eaJ Ahead of Massive Internet Hometown Hero World Tour

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MICO is back with the release of his new song “Ever After” featuring eaJ today. Known for pairing confessional songwriting with sharp, genre-blending melodies, the Filipino-Canadian artist continues to carve out his own lane in alt-pop punk.

Written during the sessions for his 2024 EP Internet hometown hero, “Ever After” didn’t fit the story or sonic space of that project but was too undeniable to leave behind. “It’s one of the catchiest songs I think I’ve ever written,” says MICO. “We finished all the lyrics in about 40 minutes, and I’m excited to finally have it out in the world after so long.”

The track finds MICO leaning into playful analogies, comparing a broken relationship to the plot of a bad rom-com – a nod to his own failed relationships and his love of “hate-watching” corny movies while in them. “It’s kind of an anti-love anthem about accepting that things should’ve ended a while ago, and breaking the news to someone that’s refusing to accept it,” he explains.

“Ever After” follows the release of his deluxe album Internet hometown hero (+DLC) in May and comes ahead of MICO’s massive Internet hometown hero World Tour this fall, spanning 50+ shows (more than half of which are already SOLD OUT) across North America, Europe, and the UK.

Static X Announce ‘Wisconsin Death Trip 25th Anniversary Corrosive Edition’ Out December 12 Celebrating Legacy of “Push It”

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With the band recently celebrating the Gold and soon to be Platinum certification for their single “Push It,” metal icons Static-X are releasing a 25th anniversary edition of their legendary debut Wisconsin Death Trip. Released in 1999, the album introduced the world to the iconic lineup of Wayne Static, Koichi Fukuda, Tony Campos and Ken Jay.

Spawning unforgettable hits as “Push It,” ” I’m With Stupid” and “Bled For Days,” the album found its way into pop culture through music videos, multiple video games and inclusion on various movie soundtracks. Years after its release, the album still find new audiences with Metal Hammer declaring the album one of the “Top 20 best metal albums of 1999” in 2021.

The anniversary edition – Wisconsin Death Trip (25th Anniversary Corrosive Edition) – is the ultimate death trip, containing 2 handmade, orange and black eclipse vinyl with remastered versions of the original album audio, presented in a comprehensive box set, filled with bonus tracks and never seen artwork available worldwide on December 12. The band reunited with the original producer Ulrich Wild as well as original photographer Exum to deliver a whole new experience for the album. The album has been remastered by Wild, and a second disc of demos, alternate versions and rare tracks are included making the album total runtime over an hour and eleven minutes. Exum unearthed hundreds of never-before-seen photos from the shoot and the band have used them to completely redesign the packaging.

Sombr Debuts at #1 on Spotify Global Debut Albums Chart with ‘I Barely Know Her’ as Tour Upgrades Sell Out Instantly

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 sombr has debuted at the top of Spotify’s Global Debut Albums chart with his highly anticipated album I Barely Know Her, released via Warner Records on August 22. Continuing his momentous rise, the 10-track debut features Billboard Hot 100 hits “back to friends,” “undressed” and “12 to 12,” each continuing to climb the charts including Top 40 Radio, Global and U.S. Spotify Charts, the UK Official Singles Chart, as well as Alternative Radio where he peaked at #1 faster than any new artist of the last decade, also taking the #1 spot at Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs following Billie Eilish’s year long run.

Due to unprecedented demand, sombr announced last week upgraded venues for the majority of the North American tour dates. Tickets went on sale the following day, and all 119,000 new tickets sold out almost instantly. The upgrades include two nights at New York City’s Rooftop at Pier 17 and two nights at Los Angeles’ Shrine Expo Hall, in addition to previously sold out dates at The Fonda in LA and NY’s Brooklyn Steel.

I Barely Know Her was written entirely by sombr and co-produced by the 20-year-old artist alongside esteemed, legendary producer Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, The Replacements), and follows news of him making his award show debut at the MTV Video Music Awards, performing live from New York on September 7, where he is nominated for Best New Artist, Best Alternative for “back to friends,” and Song of Summer for “12 to 12.” MTV also announced sombr as their Global PUSH Artist for the month of September.

A New York City-native raised on the Lower East Side, sombr-born Shane Boose-started making music in his bedroom while studying classical music as a student at the prestigious public school, LaGuardia High School. His breakout hit “Caroline” (2022) took the internet by storm, and he has since released a series of EPs and singles, climbing to over 400 million monthly streams across platforms. Now based in Los Angeles, sombr continues to explore young romance and heartbreak through his music-all of which is self-written and co-produced by the artist himself, and released via Warner Records.

NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES
September 21-Sing Out Loud Festival 2025-Saint Augustine, FL
September 22-Firefly Distillery-Charleston, SC – SOLD OUT*
September 24-Nashville Municipal Auditorium-Nashville, TN – SOLD OUT*
September 26-Andrew J. Brady Music Center-Cincinnati, OH – SOLD OUT*
September 28-Masonic Temple Theatre-Detroit, MI – SOLD OUT*
September 29-Eagles Ballroom-Milwaukee, WI – SOLD OUT*
September 30-Palace Theatre-St. Paul, MN – SOLD OUT*
October 2-Radius-Chicago, IL – SOLD OUT*
October 3-Newport Music Hall-Columbus, OH – SOLD OUT*
October 5-Peterson Events Center-Pittsburgh, PA – SOLD OUT*
October 6-Phoenix Concert Theatre-Toronto, ON – SOLD OUT
October 8-Leader Bank Pavillion-Boston, MA – SOLD OUT*
October 9-The Rooftop at Pier 17-New York, NY – SOLD OUT*
October 10-The Rooftop at Pier 17-New York, NY – SOLD OUT*
October 12-The Met Philadelphia-Philadelphia, PA – SOLD OUT*
October 13-The Anthem-Washington, D.C. – SOLD OUT*
October 15-Tabernacle-Atlanta, GA – SOLD OUT*
October 17-Credit Union of Texas Event Center-Allen, TX – SOLD OUT*
October 18-Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater-Austin, TX – SOLD OUT
October 20-Mission Ballroom-Denver, CO – SOLD OUT*
October 21-The Complex-Salt Lake City, UT – SOLD OUT
October 24-Wamu Theater-Seattle, WA – SOLD OUT*
October 25-Theater of the Clouds, Moda Center-Portland, OR – SOLD OUT*
October 27-Bill Graham Civic Auditorium-San Francisco, CA – SOLD OUT*
October 28-Shrine Expo Hall-Los Angeles, CA – SOLD OUT*
October 29-Shrine Expo Hall-Los Angeles, CA – SOLD OUT*
October 31-The Van Buren-Phoenix, AZ – SOLD OUT
November 1-Fox Theater Pomona-Pomona, CA – SOLD OUT
November 2-The Fonda Theatre-Los Angeles, CA – SOLD OUT
November 5-Brooklyn Steel-New York, NY – SOLD OUT
November 6-Brooklyn Steel-New York, NY – SOLD OUT
*UPGRADED VENUE

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
December 2-Auckland Town Hall-Auckland, NZ – SOLD OUT
December 4-Festival Hall Melbourne-Melbourne, VIC – SOLD OUT
December 6-Spilt Milk Festival-Ballarat, VIC
December 7-Spilt Milk Festival-Perth, WA
December 9-Hordern Pavilion-Sydney, NSW – SOLD OUT
December 11-Fortitude Music Hall-Brisbane, QLD – SOLD OUT
December 13-Spilt Milk Festival-Canberra, ACT
|December 14-Spilt Milk Festival-Gold Coast, QLD

2026 UK/EU TOUR DATES
February 10-Annexet-Stockholm, Sweden – SOLD OUT
February 11-KB Hallen-Copenhagen, Denmark – SOLD OUT
February 13-Inselpark Arena-Hamburg, Germany – SOLD OUT
February 15-Stodola-Warsaw, Poland – SOLD OUT
February 16-Forum Karlin-Prague, Czech Republic -SOLD OUT
February 18-Gasometer-Vienna, Austria – SOLD OUT
February 19-Tonhalle-Munich, Germany – SOLD OUT
February 20-Halle 622-Zurich, Switzerland – SOLD OUT
February 22-Alcatraz-Milan, Italy – SOLD OUT
February 24-Riviera-Madrid, Spain – SOLD OUT
February 25-Razzmatazz-Barcelona, Spain -SOLD OUT
February 27-Salle Pleyel-Paris, France – SOLD OUT
March 2-AFAS Live-Amsterdam, Netherlands – SOLD OUT
March 4-Columbiahalle-Berlin, Germany – SOLD OUT
March 5-Palladium-Cologne, Germany – SOLD OUT
March 6-AB-Brussels, Belgium – SOLD OUT
March 8-O2 Academy Brixton-London, UK – SOLD OUT
March 12-Academy-Manchester, UK – SOLD OUT
March 13-O2 Academy-Birmingham, UK – SOLD OUT
March 15-O2 Academy-Glasgow, UK – SOLD OUT
March 16-3Arena-Dublin, Ireland – SOLD OUT

Global Underground Announces ‘GU48 Guy J – Córdoba’ Out November 7 Featuring Club and Downtempo Mixes Plus Exclusive Vinyl

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Global Underground are renowned for releasing the greatest mixes from the very best electronic artists in the world. Recent editions by Danny TenagliaANNA, and Joseph Capriati have taken the electronic music world by storm. On November 7th, Global Underground bring you the incredible #GU48 Guy J – Córdoba.

Loved throughout the world and nothing short of a legend in Argentina, Guy J is at a real peak in his career, constantly on tour, headlining clubs and major global festivals consistently, Guy J has built a reputation as one of the most innovative and respected artists in electronic music today.

This is why Guy J and Global Underground are a perfect match, both at the top of their game and redefining dance music as we know it in 2025. There has been a huge resurgence in dancefloor and festival atmosphere this summer as millions worldwide put away their phones, dance and become one massive swathe of Joy. And Guy J has been a leading force in this. Ask almost anyone who saw one of his sets this summer, and they will tell you it was their standout set of the year.

If you see Guy J on tour, you will understand why. A unique DJ – the perfect balance between performer and producer, his sets transcend music, becoming a spiritual event, his thousands of loyal followers treating him like a deity. In fact, for the photoshoot for #GU48 Guy J – Córdoba, he stopped traffic as so many people recognised him and came for selfies and autographs. No wonder Córdoba is such a special city for Guy J.

#GU48 Guy J – Córdoba features two distinct mixes, one enthralling club mix and one sublime downtempo mix, showcasing the diversity of Guy J as an exceptional artist. For the first time, the Collector’s Edition will now include a bonus 12″ marbled vinyl with a totally exclusive Guy J single. This will be an extremely limited run, and the only place you can get this track on vinyl.

Boz Scaggs Announces First Album in Seven Years ‘Detour’ Out October 17 with New Single “I’ll Be Long Gone”

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Sometimes, an unexpected detour leads you right where you belong. For legendary vocalist and guitarist Boz Scaggs, that journey has resulted in Detour, a captivating and deeply personal exploration of the Great American Songbook, and his first new studio album in seven years. Set for release on October 17th via Concord Records, Detour finds the Grammy-winner interpreting timeless standards with tender insight and profound emotional sophistication. Today, Scaggs shares the album’s first single: a beautiful, newly arranged version of “I’ll Be Long Gone,” a fan-favorite track from his seminal 1969 self-titled debut.

The new album began not with a grand plan, but with the simple joy of making music. “I had no intention of making a record when I started singing these songs,” Scaggs confesses. “It was all very casual at first, just an opportunity to explore a style of music I’ve always liked, to get together with a friend and play for the sheer joy of it.”

That friend is pianist Seth Asarnow, and their informal sessions together became the heart of Detour. What started as a series of personal demos for Scaggs to expand his vocal stylings soon revealed something magical. The performances and arrangements were undeniable, demanding to be shared with the world. The result is a masterclass in interpretation, an eclectic mix of the familiar and the obscure that tips its hat to Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald as gracefully as it does to Irma Thomas and Lonnie Johnson. It is an elegant reimagining of old favorites and new discoveries, delivered with both reverence and a fresh perspective.

On Detour, Scaggs puts his essential instrument on full display. “If I look at myself as a musician over the years, I’d have to consider my primary instrument to be my voice,” he says. That voice has only gained nuance and depth, evident from the gentle tone of the album opener, Allen Toussaint’s “It’s Raining,” to a serene version of “The Very Thought Of You” that feels both timeless and contemporary. The project even led him to revisit “I’ll Be Long Gone” at the suggestion of pianist Seth Asarnow. “I get a lot of requests for it,” Scaggs explains, “he put together this beautiful arrangement… it ended up falling in perfectly with everything else we did for this album.”

It’s a fitting inclusion for a project born from an unexpected turn. On Detour, Boz Scaggs proves that the most rewarding journeys are often the ones we never planned to take.

Detour Tracklisting:

1. It’s Raining

2. Angel Eyes

3. Once I Loved

4. The Very Thought of You

5. I’ll Be Long Gone

6. Detour Ahead

7. I Could Have Told You

8. The Meaning of the Blues

9. Tomorrow Night

10. Too Late Now

11. We’ll Be Together Again

Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids Announces New Solo Album ‘The Salton Sea’ Out November 14 with Lead Single and Video “The Salton Sea”

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Matt Pryor (The Get Up Kids) today announced his new solo album The Salton Sea will be released on November 14th, 2025, via Nightshoes Syndicate.

The self-produced, 10-track LP, featuring mixing and additional production by Peter Katis (The National, Interpol), sees Pryor explore an expansive, full-band sound reminiscent of The Afghan Whigs and Bob Mould’s Sugar-specifically the band’s 1992 LP Copper Blue-with dreamy guitars, big drums, and shimmering production. The album’s lead single and title-track, a yearning anthem, is the perfect entry point and is out now alongside a video directed by Josh Berwanger (The Anniversary). “Three years ago I was in the darkest place of my life and this song really reflects that time. I was lost, alone, and felt forgotten-I just wanted to disappear,” Pryor explains. “I started writing stories about that time in my life, and those stories became songs, and those songs became The Salton Sea.”

It should be noted that the chosen title for his seventh album is not one that was picked arbitrarily. After spending six months in a downward spiral in what he sarcastically refers to as the penultimate moments of his “drinking career,” Pryor finally hit rock bottom. A casual habit that became a full-on addiction had officially come to a head, and in the blurry moments when 2022 became 2023, Pryor found himself with a choice that so many people before him have been forced to reckon with: Keep going on this path and face certain tragedy, or, clean up, get sober, and stay on the right side of the dirt.

Thankfully, Pryor decided on the latter, and the beautiful composite left on the shoreline for all of us to enjoy is the album now known as The Salton Sea. For those unfamiliar, The Salton Sea in Southern California is what’s known as a “terminal” lake-meaning that new water never flows into it, and its salinity increases incrementally due to evaporation and pollution. The once high-spirited desert oasis-a tourist attraction for celebrities and the upper crust in the 1950s and 60s-is now a bona fide wasteland. It’s not difficult to imagine that, while in the throes of addiction, Pryor felt exactly like this: a shadow of his younger self.

“The story that these songs tell is about that time in my life,” notes Pryor. “Autumn rolling into spring because the winter was a blackout. How the good times were great until one day they weren’t. How I lost myself and hurt people that I care about. How I got help that didn’t stick and how I lost faith in the help that did. That I came out on the other side of the whole ordeal only to realize I am still a work in progress, that we all are.”

The songs of The Salton Sea are timeless and captivating, like hearing a stranger share their journey through hell and back. As a listener, you’re left wondering what these moments are all about-how will they unfold? This is undoubtedly due to the fact that along with sobriety, Pryor found solace in writing for the sake of writing, a practice that he keeps up with daily-usually before dawn. If there’s a silver lining to all of this, one can glean the life-saving grace of having creative outlets to calm the devil that sits on your shoulder.

Father Son Duo RIX Jano and Luther Rix Announce Debut Album ‘Legacy Vol 1’ with First Single “Blow Wind Blow” Out Now

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Jano Rix, best known as one-third of Grammy Award-nominated trio The Wood Brothers, and his father, veteran drummer Luther Rix, whose career includes work with Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue, Leonard Cohen, and Ten Wheel Drive among numerous others, have joined forces on record for the first time. Simply calling themselves RIX, the father/son duo will release their debut album, Legacy, Vol. 1, a collaboration more than 12 years in the making, on November 7 via RPF Records/Royal Potato Family. The collection’s first single, “Blow Wind Blow,” a rendition of the classic Huey “Piano” Smith song, adapted from the arrangement recorded by Dr. John on his 1972 recording, Gumbo, is out now.

This album celebrates the legacy, the shared feel, groove, songs and love of music that he passed down to me,” says Jano. “We have everything from songs my dad wrote in the ‘70s, to songs we wrote together, to songs he passed down to me when I was little that I played on my Fisher Price record player like ‘Blow Wind Blow.’ It’s just the two of us, singin’ and playin’ everything. There’s a certain feel we share. We’re excited to capture that and finally share it on record.”

RIX initially began recording in Nashville at Southern Ground Studios, shortly after it reopened under Zac Brown’s ownership. From there, sessions unfolded slowly and organically. Whenever touring and gigging schedules aligned, the two would meet to track another song, add a vocal, or capture a live performance. This approach resulted in an album that is both loose and deeply locked-in, reflecting their easy musical rapport.

Legacy, Vol. 1 features a mix of Luther’s vintage compositions—some dating back to the ’70s, like the instrumental “Strangely Blue,” written during his time in Ten Wheel Drive—alongside inspired covers. Highlights include first single “Blow Wind Blow,” a Dr. John classic that traces back to Jano’s childhood listening to his dad’s copy of Gumbo, and “All Kinds,” a deep cut penned by singer-songwriter Dan Wilson, which Jano discovered during his years playing with the Gabe Dixon Band.

Throughout, the duo’s feel and organic compatibility are front-and-center, whether on the humid funk ballad “Lovin’ You Is Easy” or the melancholic island groove of “I Ain’t Dancin’.” Another standout, “Down And Nylon,” is a stripped-down live performance captured at Brooklyn’s since shuttered Southpaw club with the duo slimmed down to just drums and keys. Across five-and-a-half minutes, the track sways from a rollicking New Orleans-style stomp to Band-like country funk. “Oop,” a peppy three-minute soul-funk instrumental, saunters along amidst a stack of keyboards and piano that dart and race around the bedrock of Luther’s percussion. “Sci-Fi Finale” wraps the proceedings with dubbed-out drumming and an ominous piano counterpoint, welcoming the weird as the record spins to a close.

Between them, Jano and Luther bring decades of musical experience. Luther’s career has taken him from work with rock ‘n’ roll legends such as Dylan and Cohen to symphonies, Broadway pits, and Schoolhouse Rock! sessions. Jano’s multi-instrumental work has been central to The Wood Brothers’ acclaimed Americana sound, while he has produced records for artists such as Seth Walker, Steve Poltz, Oliver Wood, Upstate, and Chris Kasper. Yet Legacy, Vol. 1 is their most personal statement, made not to chase trends or charts but to capture their shared love of music, document a unique family bond, and embrace the spirit of their shared groove.

From the first note, we realized we feel time and groove in nearly the exact same way,” says Jano. “I never have to think about how we’ll connect—it just happens. That’s rare, and it comes from a lifetime of hearing him play, sitting behind his drums at gigs, and sharing the same musical language. This was about honoring what we share.”

“I always enjoyed playing with Jano, and I think he enjoyed playing with me,” concludes Luther, laughing. “We always played well together, so it was natural to want to record it and put it out for people to hear.”

RIX – Legacy, Vol. 1​
​Track Listing

1. Blow Wind Blow
2. I Ain’t Dancin’
3. Down And Nylon (Live at Southpaw)
4. All Kinds
5. Lovin’ You Is Easy
6. Melodica
7. Oop
8. Lazy Love
9. Strangely Blue
10. Folk Song
11. Sci-Fi Finale​

Legacy, Vol. 1 is out November 7 on 180-gram vinyl and digital formats. Pre-order / Pre-save available here.

Riot Fest 20th Anniversary Returns to Metro with Naked Raygun Alkaline Trio and Screeching Weasel in Three Historic Nights

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In three consecutive nights, Riot Fest returns to the club where it all started. With three of the most important bands to the festival’s history – Naked Raygun, Alkaline Trio, and Screeching Weasel.

Riot Mike chose Metro for the 20th anniversary shows because of the long history between him and Joe Shanahan, who Mike considers one of his biggest mentors. There would be no better way to cap off Riot Fest’s 20th anniversary than with a Naked Raygun show at the Metro, because Joe and Mike’s love for the band is matched by few others. Their joint history criss-crosses the years before the fest moved outdoors, when it was staged in Chicago clubs, and each man has been involved with the band in myriad ways over the years.

Naked Raygun will perform a limited smattering of songs proving their truly legendary status. “We will be playing a short set of limited songs. It will be a curated compendium of scant canticles, a smattering of sing-alongs, a fleeting few of your favorite feats……about as long as Jeff’s attention span. Seriously – go pee before we go on stage or you’ll miss the whole thing,” teased drummer Eric Spicer.

While Screeching Weasel are joined by The Effigies on Friday, 9/19 (Riot Fest reunited Screeching Weasel in 2009, and The Effigies played the first year). Militarie Gun will support Alkaline Trio (who played the 5th fest) on Saturday, 9/20. Capping off the festival Sunday, 9/21, Naked Raygun and Marky Ramone and Buzzcocks will perform. This will be an extremely rare appearance of Naked Raygun, the first in 6 years.

The band are also launching a Dark Matter Coffee collaboration (available at the festival and stores) and plans are underway to re-issue all their albums on remastered color vinyl via Touch & Go Records on October 24th.
They are currently working on a book, tentatively titled I Remember: The Story of Naked Raygun (A Chicago Punk Rock Tale) on PM Press in 2027.

Naked Raygun were an extraordinary staple in the Chicago music scene – beginning in the early 80’s and continuing until their quiet demise in the early 90’s. Their music showed the world that punk rockers could play and be really good at it. Founded in Chicago in 1980, by Marco Pezzati, Jeff Pezzati and Santiago Durango, Naked Raygun released six albums during their eleven year career that would change the sound of punk rock indefinitely. The band is widely recognized as being one of the most influential punk bands of the 80’s.

Their anthemic style incorporated politics in a uniquely accessible way, melding pop and hardcore into one cohesive sound, that would later be dubbed, “The Chicago Sound”.

Dave Grohl, of Nirvana and Foo Fighters, has frequently discussed seeing Naked Raygun as his first concert in 1982 (when he was 13) at Chicago’s Cubby Bear. During their October 17, 2014, show at the Cubby Bear, Jeff Pezatti joined the band for a Naked Raygun cover. Naked Raygun themselves later opened for Foo Fighters on select dates during the Sonic Highways World Tour.

Industrial Metal Duo Black Satellite Drop “Kill For You” Video Ahead of New Album ‘Aftermath’ Out September 5

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Black Satellite have released a music video for their new track “Kill For You”, which comes from their self-released second full-length album AFTERMATH, due tomorrow, September 5.

Coming off their 2025 U.S. tour as support for Marilyn Manson, NYC-based Black Satellite artfully fuse industrial and metal influences to create a sound that’s dark, edgy, and distinctly their own.

“The song explores the lengths someone will go to for those they love, and at what point that starts to border on obsession,” says Larissa Vale about “Kill For You.” “I like to conquer my fears in my music videos. ‘Kill For You’ was no exception, and in this case it was a bit more literal. The last thing I’d ever want to do is let a tarantula crawl all over my face…so I thought why not just do it?!”

AFTERMATH was self-produced along with Kane Churko (Papa Roach, In This Moment), and with mixes by veteran producer Ben Grosse (Marilyn Manson, Breaking Benjamin, Filter).

“The album explores a lot of darker themes,” says Vale about the new music. “Each song is a snapshot into various personal experiences in my life and my mindset at the time. There’s definitely a good mix of sonic components on the record ranging from heavier songs to more melodic ones as well.”

AFTERMATH is the follow-up to the band’s debut album ENDLESS, hailed by Alternative Press as one of their “12 Bands You Need To Know.” AP cited “provocative sound and captivating alt-rock essence,” while Billboard described the title track noted that “The sound of ‘Endless’ s absolutely huge…Syrupy vocal hooks abound, drizzled over whole mountain ranges of studio-shined guitar tapestries.” The video for the title track has spawned over 196k views on their official YouTube page.

Since their debut, BLACK SATELLITE has toured with the likes of the aforementioned Marilyn Manson, John 5, Nita Strauss, Drowning Pool, Wednesday 13, Cradle of Filth, and Devil Driver. They’ve also made appearances at Metal In The Mountains Fest and Blue Ridge Rock Fest.

Grammy and Oscar Winner Tiara Thomas Returns with “A Hug”

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Tiara Thomas, the Grammy and Oscar-winning singer-songwriter, returns with “A Hug,” a raw, emotionally charged R&B track that captures the duality of her artistry. Known for co-writing modern classics like H.E.R.’s “Damage” and “Intimidated,” Tiara continues carving out her own lane with music that is equal parts vulnerable and unapologetically bold.

“A Hug” blends smooth, soulful vocals with sharp, rhythmic flows as Tiara pivots seamlessly between singing and rapping, showcasing the full scope of her talent. A moody counterpoint to the sweetness of her previous single “Kiss Me,” the track channels anger, vulnerability, and emotional exhaustion, offering a darker glimpse into the rollercoaster of feelings that will shape her upcoming album.

“This song came from a real place of frustration,” Tiara says. “It’s about when you’re tired of love being complicated, when all you really want is something as simple as a hug, but the emotions underneath are messy, raw, and sometimes petty. I wanted that duality to come through in both the lyrics and delivery.”

Following her 2023 single “Hit You Right Back” featuring Tone Stith and 2024’s lighthearted “Kiss Me,” “A Hug” signals a striking new chapter in Tiara’s evolution, one where honesty and emotional complexity take center stage.