German outfit BRUECKEN have unleashed their latest single “Questions We Raise” alongside a new music video to preview the upcoming album ‘Years That Answer’. Arriving February 27, 2026 via Moment of Collapse Records, this third full-length album marks a significant expansion of the band’s post-metal and post-hardcore foundations. The track incorporates subtle synthetic elements that provide striking color against a backdrop of urgent and heavy instrumentation. Inspired by the prose of Zora Neale Hurston, the lyrical themes confront global crises and the search for hope during periods of war and authoritarianism. The result is a sonic experience that feels incredibly vital and honest. This music provides a concrete emotional outlet for the tensions of the modern world.
Pop Rock Force LØLØ Returns With “007” And Announces Sophomore Album ‘God Forbid A Girl Spits Out Her Feelings’
Toronto native LØLØ has officially announced her second full-length album ‘god forbid a girl spits out her feelings’ which arrives April 17 via Fearless Records. The reveal comes alongside her fierce new single “007” written with Brian Dales and Taylor Acorn. This 13-track LP expands on her signature alt-rock sound by blending pop precision with heavy grit and cinematic edges. Collaborations with Andrew Goldstein and DCF highlight the high-speed energy found throughout the record. It is a bold document of messy human emotions and internal downward spirals that commands attention from the very first note.
The new single “007” provides a concrete preview of the album’s confessional candor and punchy guitar work. LØLØ describes this body of work as a diary ripped straight from the pages of her journal to chronicle every intrusive thought. The track list includes pre-released favorites like “the devil wears converse” and “american zombie” alongside new titles such as “lobotomy & u” and “delusional darling.” This record moves away from her previous robotic themes to embrace the raw vulnerability of being human. Her guitar-driven arrangements and commanding vocals establish a sharp new chapter for the ascendant star.
TRACK LISTING:
- god forbid a girl spits out her feelings!
- me with no shirt on
- dumbest girl in the world
- hung up on u
- delusional darling
- the punisher
- 007
- the devil wears converse
- stuff like that
- whiskey & coke
- american zombie
- boy who doesn’t want to
- lobotomy & u
Fox Stevenson Embarks On “U.S. Headline Tour” To Support His Hit Album ‘Sunk Cost Fallacy’
Electronic artist Fox Stevenson has announced a massive headlining tour across the United States beginning January 21, 2026. This run follows the monumental success of his sophomore album ‘Sunk Cost Fallacy’ which arrived in June 2025. The record debuted at the top of the Bandcamp charts and has already achieved over 10 million streams globally. These upcoming performances lean into a dual-performance experience that combines the energy of a rock show with the atmosphere of a club. This format highlights the diverse talents of an artist who refuses to stay within a single genre.
11 Songs That Are Basically Poetry
We’ve all had that moment where a song ends and you’re left sitting in the silence, processing a line that hit like a heavyweight punch.The best artists play with meter, bake metaphors into every verse, and use language that demands we pay attention.
If you’re like me and love a song that requires a little “decoding,” here are 11 tracks where the lyrics could easily live in a leather-bound anthology.
Bob Dylan – It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
This is a masterclass in surrealism. Bob Dylan stacks rhyme upon rhyme with a frantic, rhythmic precision that feels more like a beat poem than a standard folk song, capturing a deep sense of disillusionment through dense, politically charged imagery.
Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah
Before it became a radio staple, this was a sacred and profane manifesto. Leonard Cohen’s use of biblical allegory to explain the complexities of a broken human relationship is the definition of “high art” meeting the pop world.
Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now
Joni Mitchell has a way of making simple observations feel like profound universal truths. By using “clouds,” “love,” and “life” as shifting perspectives, she crafts a poignant reflection on life’s illusions that is as delicate as any Romantic-era poem.
Loreena McKennitt – The Highwayman
Loreena McKennitt takes a classic narrative poem and breathes atmospheric life into it. The vivid, historical imagery of the “ghostly galleon” and the “ribbon of moonlight” creates a romantic tragedy that feels both cinematic and ancient.
Phoebe Bridgers – Savior Complex
Phoebe Bridgers is a modern master of the “indirect.” Her lyrics are steeped in raw vulnerability, using the metaphor of “bad dreams” to explore the heavy, symbiotic nature of trying to save someone who might not want to be saved.
Hozier – Would That I
This writing feels like it was unearthed from a mossy forest. Hozier uses fire and timber as a complex analogy for how new love consumes the ghosts of the past, delivered with a rhythmic phrasing that perfectly mimics the flickering of a flame.
Noah Kahan – Animal
Noah Kahan excels at using the “setting” of the human body to mirror internal states. He explores the primal, instinctual parts of the psyche with raw honesty, using a “folk-indie” grit to describe the struggle between our civilized selves and our natural impulses.
Lord Huron – The Yawning Grave
This track is all about atmosphere. Writing from the perspective of the earth itself, Lord Huron uses personification to warn of the inevitable, creating a chillingly beautiful piece of gothic storytelling that feels like a warning from the soil.
Coldplay – Viva la Vida
It’s rare for a stadium anthem to be so steeped in historical metaphor. By adopting the persona of a deposed king, Chris Martin and the band use rich imagery and references to “pillars of salt” to explore the fragility of power and the weight of a fallen legacy.
The Waterboys – The Lake Isle of Innisfree
By setting a famous W.B. Yeats poem to music, the band bridges the gap between old-world longing and modern folk. The emphasis on sensory descriptions—the “bee-loud glade” and “lapping water”—captures a timeless, poetic yearning for peace.
Taylor Swift – The Best Day
While often known for her storytelling, this track is a perfect example of “simple-yet-profound” imagery. Taylor Swift captures the specific, tactile memories of childhood—pumpkin patches and paint sets—to paint an impressionistic and heartfelt portrait of family love.
Electronic Pop Artist Googly Eyes Unveils “Bruises On The Peach” With Tove Lo And Flume
googly eyes announces her new EP ‘paint me like one of your fav american girls’ set for release on March 13th, 2026 through Pretty Swede, Neon Gold, and Virgin, alongside today’s release of “Bruises on the Peach” and its accompanying video. Written with Tove Lo and Flume and coproduced with Flume, the hazy, emotionally charged track blends warped electronic textures, intimate pop melodies, and soft-focus vulnerability, floating between bruised romance and euphoric release while pairing glossy synths with a raw, diaristic edge. googly eyes says, “Bruises on the Peach is about vulnerability. To be known and loved deeply means sharing all your fears, insecurities, and pain points with someone. It’s a fragile ecosystem – you’re giving someone the blueprint to either wound you beyond repair or soothe your deepest hurts. That takes immense trust. It’s what makes love so precious to me and this song is my way of speaking to that.” The rising electronic pop auteur ended 2025 with her track “Jesus and John Wayne,” a collaboration performed with Joy Oladokun and August Ponthier, earning a spot on NPR’s 125 songs of 2025.
You can pre-save it here.
In September 2023, Tove Lo and Flume posted an artist development open call on Instagram, and after reviewing thousands of demos, googly eyes emerged as the dream artist for the opportunity. Nearly two years later, their collaboration bears fruit on previously released tracks “I Don’t Go Out” and “Made Of” ahead of the full forthcoming collaborative EP. googly eyes delivers glitchy, technicolor, poetic songs entirely written, recorded, and produced on her own to this point, best illustrated on her 2024 debut ‘Starlet’ EP and its breakout singles “Mid-Leap,” “Internet Star,” and “Waste of Conversation.” Pretty Swede Records, an independent label founded in 2022 by Tove Lo, signed googly eyes in collaboration with Neon Gold, known for a star-studded history of debut releases from Tove’s own ‘Truth Serum’ EP in 2014 featuring “Habits” to iconic early releases from Charli XCX, MARINA & The Diamonds, Christine and the Queens, and Ellie Goulding. About “I Don’t Go Out,” googly eyes adds, “It’s a pretty surreal moment releasing a song I made with Tove Lo and Flume – especially since it’s my first time opening my world to collaborators. I Don’t Go Out is lovestruck, tender, and for anyone who’s happiest to be in bed by 9pm with their person.”
Hail The Sun Announce North American Tour
California quintet Hail The Sun have confirmed a massive headlining run across North America for the spring of 2026. This tour follows the arrival of their seventh full-length album ‘cut. turn. fade. back.’ which deals with the cyclical nature of life and death. The band includes vocalist Donovan Melero alongside Shane Gann, Aric Garcia, John Stirrat, and Allen Casillas. They have enlisted Foxy Shazam as primary support for the duration of the trip which begins this April in San Diego. The technical proficiency on display throughout this new collection of songs confirms their standing as leaders in the post-hardcore scene.
The production team of Pete Adams, Johnny Kosich, and Zakk Cervini helped shape the expansive sound found on tracks like “There’s No Place In Heaven For Fakes” and “Insensitive Tempo”. These songs probe the nature of existence and demand self-reflection from the listener. The album opens with the sharp lilt of “The Drooling Class” and concludes with the chaotic intensity of “War Crimes”. Each track functions as a concrete piece of a larger narrative regarding humanitarian crises and personal growth. It is a triumphant and heavy record that refuses to flinch at difficult topics.
Donovan Melero notes that the band aims to encourage critical thinking through their songwriting. After fifteen years of performing together the group continues to reshape their identity while maintaining a fervent commitment to their art. This upcoming tour includes stops at iconic venues such as The Wiltern in Los Angeles and Irving Plaza in New York City. The setlist will highlight the new material alongside the intricate musicianship that has defined the band since their formation in Chico. This run of dates represents a major milestone for the group as they carry their message to a growing audience.
TOUR DATES:
APRIL
- 02 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
- 03 – Fresno, CA – Tioga Sequoia Brewery
- 04 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
- 05 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater
- 07 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
- 08 – Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock
- 09 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
- 10 – Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Music Hall
- 12 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
- 13 – Jacksonville, FL – Five
- 14 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
- 16 – Richmond, VA – The Canal Club
- 17 – Allentown, PA – Archer Music Hall
- 18 – Norwalk, CT – District Music Hall
- 19 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works
- 20 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
- 22 – Cleveland, OH – Globe Iron
- 23 – Grand Rapids, MI – Elevation
- 24 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
- 25 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
- 26 – Detroit, MI – The Crofoot
- 28 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
- 29 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
MAY
- 01 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
- 02 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
- 03 – Reno, NV – The Alpine
- 04 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
- 06 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
- 07 – Bakersfield, CA – The Nile Theater
Brighton Quartet Ladylike Join Heist Or Hit And Share “Rome (In Progress)” From Their Debut EP
Brighton quartet ladylike have officially joined the roster at Heist or Hit and released their new single “Rome (in progress)” from the debut EP ‘It’s A Pleasure Of Mine, to Know You’re Fine’. This collection of songs arrived via the cult label and showcases a sound rooted in both rural authenticity and brutalist architectural structures. The band consists of Georgia Butler, Spencer Withey, James Ely, and Archie Sagers. They recorded these tracks with producer Ali Chant to capture a specific atmospheric tension.
The new single “Rome (in progress)” utilizes minimal lyrics to reimagine common English idioms such as many hands make for light work. According to the band, the song is about building a livelihood or community and how that isn’t as smooth sailing as you may think, but it’s still the ideal place for you. This track successfully bridges the gap between traditional folk and expansive post-rock. The arrangements are sturdy and honest. It is a thrilling introduction to a group that understands the power of a quiet build.
The band formed after a meeting at End of the Road and developed their sound in a university recital room. This history contributes to the functional and raw textures found throughout the EP. Their music moves through themes of renewal and growth with a subtle euphoria. Previous performances at Green Man and The Great Escape have solidified their reputation for delivering textural builds. They remain committed to exploring the poetry within the mundane aspects of modern life.
The group continues their momentum with a busy schedule of performances across the UK and Europe. Following their recent appearance at The Lexington, they join The Orielles for a string of dates in Coventry, Norwich, and Cambridge. Spring dates include stops at the Green Door Store in Brighton and the George Tavern in London. These shows offer a direct look at the chemistry between the four members.
LIVE DATES:
JANUARY 2026
- Wed 28th – Coventry – The Tin Music & Arts
- Thurs 29th – Norwich – Norwich Arts Centre
- Fri 30th – Cambridge – The Portland Arms
MARCH 2026
- Fri 20th – Brighton – Green Door Store
- Sat 21st – London – George Tavern
- Thurs 26th – Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club
- Fri 27th – Glasgow – 1990
- Sat 28th – Manchester – Mood Swings @ YES Basement
APRIL 2026
- Sat 11th – Bristol – Outer Town Festival
- Fri 15th – Brighton – The Great Escape
- Thurs 14th – Paris, France – Supersonic Block Party
High Water Festival Earns Pollstar Award Nomination Ahead Of Alabama Shakes And Caamp Headlining 2026 Edition
High Water Festival prepares to welcome fans back to North Charleston’s Riverfront Park on April 18–19, bringing together a stacked lineup led by Alabama Shakes and Caamp. The festival also features My Morning Jacket, Sheryl Crow, Lake Street Dive, Maren Morris, and more. With 20 artists performing across two stages and no overlapping set times, the festival remains a favorite for fans seeking both discovery and depth in a relaxed, waterfront setting.
All artists set to perform at High Water 2026 include headliners Alabama Shakes and Caamp alongside My Morning Jacket, Sheryl Crow, Lake Street Dive, Jesse Welles, Maren Morris, Peach Pit, Watchhouse, Bruce Hornsby and The Noisemakers, Jensen McRae, Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners, Arcy Drive, Chance Peña, Trousdale, Penny & Sparrow, The Runarounds, hey, nothing, Winyah, and Alice Phoebe Lou. Presented as a celebration of music, food, and libations, High Water Festival has earned national recognition for pairing world-class live performances with standout culinary programming, local and regional food partners, craft beer, cocktails, and a distinctly Southern sense of place.
The Pollstar Awards are the live entertainment industry’s only peer-voted honors, recognizing excellence across tours, venues, festivals, and executives worldwide. Nominees are selected by Pollstar’s nominating committee, composed of agents, promoters, managers, venue representatives, and touring professionals. Winners are determined through a combination of subscriber voting, industry data, and ticket sales. In the Music Festival of The Year (Global; under 30K attendance) category, they are “Recognizing the most artistically and commercially successful festival of the year, providing the most rewarding experience for fans and artists.”
High Water Festival joins a select group of standout festivals, including Ohana Festival, Hinterland Festival, Treefort Music Fest, Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival, and Two Step Inn. The 37th Annual Pollstar Awards will take place on April 15th at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles as part of Pollstar Live!, the world’s largest gathering of concert industry professionals. Voting opens to Pollstar subscribers on January 16th and runs through February 6th at 5 pm PT. With the 2026 edition of High Water Festival just around the corner, the Pollstar nomination serves as a timely recognition of the event’s vision, execution, and growing influence within the live music landscape.
Swedish Prog Metal Act SOEN Share Orchestral Single “Indifferent” From ‘Reliance’ Album Out Now
SOEN has unveiled “Indifferent,” their fourth single from the studio album ‘Reliance,’ released this Friday, January 16 via Silver Lining Music. The beautifully orchestrated modern lament on the loss of love rides resolutely on the power of strings, piano, and Joel Ekelof’s voice, carried by the Atlantis string quartet. According to vocalist and frontman Joel Ekelof, “‘Indifferent’ is about reliance turning into absence. The quiet shock of realizing that the person you lean on is no longer there emotionally.” Founding member and drummer Martin Lopez adds, “Carried by the fantastic Atlantis string quartet, the song lets tension and restraint speak louder than anger. Connection carries risk, but it’s worth the attempt.” The video presents a female dancer transformed into a character drawn from the ‘Reliance’ album artwork, her makeup and costume echoing the theme as she fuses elegance with visceral expressions of sorrow and pain in harmony with the music. With ‘Reliance,’ their seventh studio album, the Swedish progressive metal powerhouse spearheaded by Joel Ekelof on vocals and Martin Lopez on drums continue to find incredible new pathways into the spatial areas between light and dark, loud and calm, heavy and soothing. With Lars Enok Åhlund on keyboards and guitar, Cody Lee Ford on guitar, and Stefan Stenberg on bass standing shoulder to shoulder with Ekelof and Lopez, the lush continual evolution of SOEN’s sound soars. The first single “Primal” is a provoking, barrel-chested roar detailing the existential fight between the human spirit and our current world, the second single “Mercenary” channels the weight of inherited violence and the personal cost of conviction with unflinching clarity, and the recently released third single “Discordia” takes the listener on a musical exploration, juxtaposing lush somber moments with crushing waves of relentless propulsion.
SOEN is gearing up for a packed 2026, having announced a 16-date headline tour across Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, and unveiled a strong run of summer festival appearances. Following their acclaimed recent tours, the band brings their trademark blend of power, precision, and emotion to stages around the world.
2026 Shows:
29 January / 2 February – 70000 Tons Of Metal
20 February – Nalen, Stockholm (Sweden)
21 February – Folkets Park, Huskvarna (Sweden)
22 February – Mejeriet, Lund (Sweden)
23 February – Pumpehuset, Copenhagen (Denmark)
24 February – Sentrum Scene, Oslo (Norway)
25 February – Biljardkompaniet, Kristianstad (Sweden)
26 February – Gothenburg Film Studios, Gothenburg (Sweden)
27 February – Frimis, Orebro (Sweden)
28 February – Havet, Trondheim (Norway)
1 March – Kulturens Hus, Luleå (Sweden)
3 March – Lutakko, Jyväskylä (Finland)
4 March – Tampereen Tavara-asema, Tampere (Finland)
5 March – Logomo, Turku (Finland)
6 March – Tapahtumakeskus Tullisali, Oulu (Finland)
7 March – Rytmikorjaamo, Seinäjoki (Finland)
8 March – Vanha Ylioppilastalo, Helsinki (Finland)
May – Andernach Metal Days (Germany)
5 June – Metalfest Open Air, Okres Plzeň-město (Czech Republic)
13 June – MammothFest, Thessaloníki (Greece)
1-4 July – Rockharz Festival, Ballenstedt (Germany)
4 July – Ilovaari Festival, Joensuu (Finland)
7 August – Alcatraz Festival, Kortrijk (Belgium)
14 August – Motocultor Festival, Carhaix-Plouguer (France)
12-15 August – Summer Breeze Open Air, Dinkelsbuhl (Germany)
28-30 August – Posada Rock Festival, Câmpulung Muscel (Romania)
Luke Bryan And Bourgeois Guitars Unveil Limited Edition Models Featuring Walnut From Flint Rock Farms
Bourgeois Guitars has released a pair of Luke Bryan Model guitars, created in collaboration with five-time Entertainer of the Year country music star Luke Bryan. Inspired by a harvest of walnut trees from Luke’s Tennessee farm, the series represents more than a decade of shared vision between Bryan and Bourgeois founder Dana Bourgeois. More than a decade ago, Bryan asked Dana whether black walnut was a suitable tonewood for acoustic guitars. Dana’s response, “Heck yeah,” set the partnership in motion. Bryan invited Bourgeois to his farm, where the two walked his property on a tree-tagging expedition. Bourgeois later selected choice boards at a sawmill where Luke’s logs were processed. After ten years of curing in Bourgeois’ workshop, the time was finally right to transform lumber into guitars.
The Luke Bryan Signature Limited Edition is a collaboration between Bourgeois Guitars and Luke, who provided black walnut from his Tennessee farm for the back and sides of the Limited Edition. Only thirty guitars will be crafted from Flint Rock Farms Black Walnut, each individually numbered and personally signed by Luke. Handcrafted in Lewiston, Maine, the Luke Bryan Signature Limited Edition is a short-scale Slope Shouldered Dreadnought built with select Flint Rock Farms Black Walnut and paired with a torrefied Maine Adirondack spruce top, a tonewood combination reflecting the spirit of the collaboration. The result offers a punchy, sparkling midrange for which walnut is renowned. The fretboard and headstock pay tribute to Luke’s longtime hunting pastime with a custom antler inlay pattern, and the headstock is appointed with the Flint Rock Farms logo. Bourgeois’s distinctive sunburst finish completes the aesthetic, bringing the story full circle from farm to workshop.
To bring their collaboration to many more players, Luke and Bourgeois also introduced a companion model designed to retail at a significantly lower price point. The Luke Bryan Touchstone Edition is inspired directly by the Lewiston-built Limited Edition, echoing the aesthetics and narrative of the original. Side by side, the two models are closely matched in appearance. From the ridge above Luke Bryan’s Tennessee farm to the benches of the Bourgeois workshop, the collaboration between Luke and Dana represents a rare convergence of place, story, and craft. Together, the Limited Edition and Touchstone Edition offer two expressions of the same artistic vision, one bespoke and rooted in farm-to-workshop craftsmanship, the other designed to carry that legacy to a broader community of musicians and collectors. The Luke Bryan Signature Limited Edition is available through select Bourgeois Authorized Dealers worldwide and Bryan’s website.