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Corners Of Sanctuary Unleash Sleigh Shattering New Single And Ask The Question: “What If Christmas Was Every Day?”

Eric Alper
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Corners Of Sanctuary Unleash Sleigh Shattering New Single And Ask The Question: “What If Christmas Was Every Day?”

Corners of Sanctuary return with a sleigh-shattering dose of Holiday Metal, delivering a brand-new original track that asks a question every metalhead has secretly wondered: What If Christmas Was Every Day? Blending hard-hitting riffs, driving rhythms, and the band’s signature 80s-infused edge, this festive powerhouse brings holiday spirit and heavy metal energy crashing together in a way only Corners of Sanctuary can.

The new single continues the band’s long-running Merry Metal Xmas legacy, a tradition that has become a beloved part of their catalog since 2012. Written around the idea of living the joy of the season all year long, the song leans into the magic, warmth, and connection of Christmas without the commercial noise. It’s feel-good metal wrapped in distortion, melody, and holiday fire.

COS founder and guitarist Mick Michaels explains that the yearly tradition started purely for fun and grew into something fans now eagerly anticipate. The band’s holiday releases have become a marker of the season, uniting listeners through riffs, nostalgia, and a shared love for loud guitars under twinkling lights.

“What If Christmas Was Every Day?” is now available on all major streaming platforms through SODEH Records, with the Merry Metal Xmas XII CDs offered exclusively on the band’s official website via Sonic Velocity Records. An audio-visualizer video for the new single is currently streaming on YouTube, bringing the track’s storytelling and spirit to life.

With their fifteenth anniversary landing in 2026, Corners of Sanctuary are gearing up for a milestone year filled with a biography release, album reissues, fresh music, and more metal celebrations. Hailing from Philadelphia, COS continue to build their reputation with powerful songwriting, explosive performances, and an unmistakable heavy-metal identity that resonates from the local scene to global stages.

Primus, Chelsea Wolfe, and Cult Of Luna & Julie Christmas Headline ArcTanGent Festival 2026

Eric Alper
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Primus, Chelsea Wolfe, and Cult Of Luna & Julie Christmas Headline ArcTanGent Festival 2026

The much-loved and award winning ArcTanGent Festival returns this next Summer 2026 and can now reveal all three days main stage headliner acts, as well as a host of other amazing artists for the festival which runs 19-22nd August 2026.

Starting off the main stage headliners announcement are the legendary experimental rock band Primus, playing their first ever show at the festival and the first shows in the UK since 2017. Performing songs from their vast collection of much loved and much lauded back catalogue, this will be one of THE sets not just of next summers event, but from all ArcTanGent Festival history.

Next up we have main stage headliner, the utterly stunning and beguiling American singer songwriter Chelsea Wolfe. With last years massively acclaimed album ‘She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She’ helping her achieve her first BBC 6Music Playlist additions, this will be an unmissable show. She was actually announced as our headliner back in 2020, but with the global outbreak of COVID, it was an event and a headline set that never happened.

The final main stage headliner for 2026 is Cult Of Luna & Julie Christmas, who will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of their incredible album ‘Mariner’ by playing it in full. This phenomenal album was released back in April 2016, AND this ArcTanGent show is a 2026 UK exclusive, their only UK show for the whole year.

From Johannes of Cult Of Luna – “In 2016, we celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Somewhere Along the Highway. At the time, it already felt like a lifetime had passed since we recorded it. That same year, we released Mariner with Julie Christmas and somehow, ten more years have gone by in what feels like an instant. I was about to make a clever analogy about the speed of light and the passage of time to connect it all to the themes of the album, but it’s too early in the morning for that kind of thinking. It probably just comes down to the fact I’m getting older faster. What I’m really trying to say is simple: I take every chance I get to be on stage with Julie. As a band, we spent a lot of time considering what it would mean to revisit these songs again. Making this album was a risk, we didn’t know what the creative process would look like with someone who wasn’t part of our world at the time. Julie is now a dear friend, and we’re grateful to ArcTanGent Festival for giving us the opportunity to return to this material together. So with a mix of excitement and a fair bit of fear, we’re preparing to bring these songs back to life next summer.”

From Julie Christmas – “This will be an experience, not a performance. Blood, sweat, and tears… light, love, and sound so loud I might shatter. Cult of Luna changed the way I think about making music forever. The ArcTanGent Festival is run by some of the most hardworking, brave and passionate people I’ve met. I’m terrified; I feel the electricity already. So grateful to be allowed to be part of something bigger than I could ever do alone. Don’t miss this.”

If these weren’t enough for todays announcement, joining them include the festivals Wednesday headliners, UK math rock band Sikth,  legendary UK grind-core band Napalm Death, Oakland California metal band High On Fire, UK heavy metal band Conjurer as well as the wonderful Cellist and composer, Jo Quail who is playing with the crossbones ensemble, as a UK exclusive.

Speaking of the new additions to the ArcTanGent Festival, organiser James Scarlett says – “The stars really have aligned for this set of ArcTanGent headliners – and it’s safe to say all three have been firmly at the top of our wish lists for a very, very long time. Primus at ArcTanGent is well overdue, Chelsea Wolfe can finally make that headliner appearance following the booking, announcement and then cancellation from back in 2020 due to Covid, and ‘Mariner’ by Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas is 100% one of the greatest albums of all time (and celebrating it’s 10th anniversary next year!). To have them all headline ATG in the same year is literally unbelievable – and we’re extremely proud to present a festival line up truly unlike anything else you’ll find on the planet.”

These incredible acts and artists add to an already stacked, already announced line up that includes the likes of Igorrr, Pertubator, Chat Pile, Alcest, Oathbreaker, Agent Fresco, TTNG, Svalbard, Heck, Alpha Male Tea Party and many more

A full list of bands announced today for ArcTanGent Festival 2026
Primus (Friday Headliner) / Chelsea Wolfe (Thursday Headliner) / Cult Of Luna & Julie Christmas performing Mariner (Saturday Headliner) / Napalm Death / SikTh* (Wednesday Headliner) / High On Fire / Conjurer / Jo Quail & The Crossbones Ensemble

FULL LINE-UP SO FAR (New additions in bold)
Primus (Friday Headliner) / Chelsea Wolfe (Thursday Headliner) / Cult Of Luna & Julie Christmas performing Mariner (Saturday Headliner) / Igorrr / Napalm Death / SikTh* (Wednesday Headliner) / Perturbator / Chat Pile / High On Fire / Alcest / Oathbreaker / Agent Fresco / Conjurer / TTNG / Svalbard* / BRUIT ≤ / Amplifier (Silent Disco Live Set) / Heck / Alpha Male Tea Party* / Humanfly / Jo Quail & The Crossbones Ensemble / Psychonaut / Lost In Kiev* / Overhead, The Albatross* / Michael Cera Palin / Darkher / Shearling / Town Portal / Barrens / Blessings / Bucket / Chalk Hands* / DIMSCÛA* / Erotic Secrets of Pompeii / Giant Walker* / The Grey* / HAAL / KLÄMP / Meatdripper / No Violet / Sans Froid* / Swamp Coffin* / Tanzana / Zatokrev / Sara Zozaya
*= Wednesday only

Ticket Link for ArcTanGent 2026 is – HERE

Michael Monroe Keeps It Real And Rocks Hard With New Single “Disconnected”

Eric Alper
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Michael Monroe Keeps It Real And Rocks Hard With New Single “Disconnected”

Michael Monroe just unleashed his second irresistibly anthemic single, “Disconnected,” and it is a total blast of pure rock and roll energy. This track is a fiery preview of his forthcoming new studio album, ‘Outerstellar’, which is set to drop on February 20th via Silver Lining Music. Monroe clearly feels passionate about the song’s subject, focusing on the crucial, life giving space that live music provides for people to truly connect in the moment. He sees the live show as a vital place where the real magic happens, something that no digital device can ever replace.

Monroe comments, “Technology was supposed to bring people closer together, when, in fact, people are more disconnected than ever. They’re looking at their phones and their computers and downloading stuff. And, you know, the Internet can’t take away the experience of being at a live show. You’re on stage, and you communicate with the audience who are there, in that moment. That’s where the magic really happens, and absolutely no program or device or computer can reproduce that!”

Monroe’s upcoming album, ‘Outerstellar’, promises to be a spectacular experience that goes far beyond just a collection of great songs. It is described as a sweet smelling, leathery, glitter shimmered, sweat soaked mix of raunch and punch, delivered through one of the best voices in rock and roll. The harmonies and vibes roll effortlessly, bringing to mind lounging in leather pants and silk scarves with a confident, carefree attitude that embodies the pure joy of playing real rock and roll. You already heard the recently released first single, “Rockin’ Horse,” which serves as a defiant blast against critics and judges and is accompanied by one of the craziest Michael Monroe videos to date. Michael simply says, “I am who I am, and I’m not going to edit myself for your benefit.” This record promises an instant, exhilarating escape from worries and fears, with everything from loud crashing guitars and harmonicas to gorgeous acoustic moments that will make you sing, dance, shiver, and shake.

Riley Green Celebrates Duck Season With Sold Out Duckman Jam, Donating $100,000 To Conservation

Eric Alper
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Riley Green Celebrates Duck Season With Sold Out Duckman Jam, Donating $100,000 To Conservation

Waterfowl hunter and country music superstar Riley Green put his money where his mouth was Nov. 22, raising $100,000 for waterfowl habitat in The Natural State at the second annual Duckman Jam concert, held at Simmons Bank Arena.

The concert featured Green, who has taken on the mantle of country music’s “duckman,” as well as special guests Jamey Johnson, Drake White and Lauren Watkins.

At the sold-out concert with 9,800 in attendance, Green presented Ducks Unlimited a $100,000 donation through a percentage of ticket sales, combined with contributions from the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation and Green’s foundation, the Buford Bonde Charitable Fund.

“Riley Green is an absolute rocket ship in country music right now, and it’s incredible to see his passion for waterfowling and his commitment to conservation,” said Tom Jernigan Jr., DU senior vice president of corporate relations. “Duckman Jam was an amazing success, and we’re grateful that Riley chose DU to help deliver his conservation goals alongside our partners at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.”

Green, the Academy of Country Music’s New Male Artist of the Year in 2019 and an avid hunter and outdoorsman, hosted the concert to celebrate duck season and contribute to the conservation of waterfowl habitat in Arkansas.

“Ducks Unlimited and AGFC are great partners who do so much work for waterfowl, not just in Arkansas, but around the world,” Green said. “I’m always happy to support wetland conservation whenever I can.”

The AGFC assisted with organizing the concert and, through the nonprofit Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, contributed to the financial commitment to DU.

Melanie Baker Signs To Tambourhinoceros And Shares Optimistic Single ‘Sad Clown’

Eric Alper
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Melanie Baker Signs To Tambourhinoceros And Shares Optimistic Single ‘Sad Clown’

The Newcastle based indie specialist Melanie Baker has officially signed to Tambourhinoceros and is celebrating the news by sharing her brand new single, ‘Sad Clown’, which is out today. This track marks her first release since her acclaimed debut EP, ‘Burnout Baby’, and provides the first exciting reveal from the newcomer’s debut album set to land in 2026. Baker’s credentials as a raw, evocative lyricist and a crafter of catchy earworm choruses are candidly showcased through her emotional work throughs of love, depression, and exhaustion. In ‘Sad Clown’, the musician serves up an early dramedy manifesto for her forthcoming new material, constructing engaging pop out of melancholy and offering a much more optimistic tone.

Baker’s phenomenal live prowess is certainly developing at an impressive rate, fresh from supporting groups like The Wytches and Maximo Park in recent times, as well as playing a Mercury Prize Fringe showcase gig in Newcastle. She is primed to build on early praise from influential outlets like The Line Of Best Fit, Dork Magazine, Rough Trade, and La Blogotheque. Additionally, she has received extensive radio support from BBC Introducing on BBC Radio 1 and from Shakk in the North East, alongside airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music, where she participated in an in studio interview with Steve Lamacq.

Speaking ahead of the release, Baker provided deep insight into the track and her creative process: “I wrote this song because I felt like I was becoming a caricature of myself. I was constantly trying to be a better version of myself and ironically lost myself in the process. I don’t want to hide behind complicated metaphors and flowery words. I want to say exactly how I feel. It’s the only way I know how to work through my shit, it’s the only way I can understand myself and keep moving forward. I am a sad clown. I write songs about being depressed and make bad dad jokes in between. I like making people laugh AND cry. I like being an emotional rollercoaster. It makes me feel human, and whole. I used to think I had to choose what kind of person I should be and then I realised I can show up exactly as I am.”

Boston’s Sabrina Kennedy Casts A Spell With New Single ‘Witch Of The West’ And Explores Misconceptions

Eric Alper
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Boston’s Sabrina Kennedy Casts A Spell With New Single ‘Witch Of The West’ And Explores Misconceptions

The vibrant singer Sabrina Kennedy has released her new single ‘Witch Of The West’ on all streaming platforms today, November 26. The powerful track, which is also available to purchase on 7” vinyl, is a rock anthem reminiscent of the likes of Hole and Garbage. The song reflects on her Boston roots while charting her move to London’s Portobello Road and the reputation of a witch she gained for reading tarot at Chiltern Firehouse parties. The song was cowritten and produced by the Grammy winning producer and Killing Joke bassist Youth, who connected with Kennedy after he championed her 2023 single ‘Magic & Mayhem’ on the producer panel radio show Jukebox Judgement and discovered their shared interest in the mystic and supernatural.

Regarding ‘Witch Of The West,’ Sabrina Kennedy shared the specific inspiration, saying, “‘Witch Of The West’ is a satirical and mystical fantasy around people’s perceptions of me. I lived on Portobello Road and read tarot at parties and got a reputation for having ‘powers’. A footballer I’d met broke his leg and asked if I hexed him. Then a certain singer didn’t like her boyfriend talking to me. She messaged him: “stay away from that witch of the West” (West London) – so I had my title. But really it’s about being misunderstood, other people’s misconceptions, and staying true to yourself.” The 7” vinyl also features an exclusive B Side, which is an acoustic version of her 2019 debut single ‘Hold Tight,’ a tumultuous song about dealing with the trauma of her father’s death, now delivered as a powerful emotive performance.

The new single follows her first UK tour in 2025, which included intimate headline shows and instores at locations like London’s Rough Trade West, Manchester’s Vinyl Resting Place, and RPM Music in Newcastle. Kennedy, who recently relocated from London to Newcastle, grew up on the US East Coast with adoptive Irish Italian parents, embracing the role of outsider after many visits to nearby Salem during her childhood. Her unique sound, which blends dark R&B laced pop with punchy punk rock, has been featured on the soundtracks of Love Island and Made In Chelsea, and she has been championed by publications like Kerrang and Wonderland. Her life as a modern day witch has also been captured in the multi award winning short film Sabrina Kennedy Witch, Reborn, directed by Maria Shevtsova.

Chart Topper Tenille Arts Signs Album Deal With ONErpm And Teases Single “Don’t Ruin Flowers”

Eric Alper
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Chart Topper Tenille Arts Signs Album Deal With ONErpm And Teases Single “Don’t Ruin Flowers”

The highly successful country artist Tenille Arts has officially inked an album deal with ONErpm via her management company, Dreamcatcher Artists. The first single from this new partnership, “Don’t Ruin Flowers,” is slated as a major priority for the collaboration. Arts, who recently completed a world tour opening for Luke Bryan and Walker Hayes and her own headline tour backed by AEG in the UK, has been consistently writing new material for this exciting next project. The full length album announcement is planned for summer 2026.

Dreamcatcher CEO Powell Hedley expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “Emmanuel Zunz and his Team at ONErpm have been passionate about Tenille for several years. They stepped up in a profound manner—clearly showing that they understand what it takes to make a meaningful impact for Tenille on a global scale. We are committed to ensuring we have the tools and team necessary so that our artists’ dreams are met. We are grateful to our investors, our team and ONErpm for making this exciting moment possible. Onward and Upward!”

Arts wrote the moving single “Don’t Ruin Flowers” with Ryan Kohn and Lydia Sutherland, with Kohn also handling the track’s production. The official music video for the single is set for release early in December. Arts holds a significant place in history as her single “Somebody Like That” is still the only No. 1 country song written, produced, and performed by all females. She brings forward a double platinum record, two gold records, and has amassed nearly one billion global streams, positioning her strongly for this next chapter.

Bluegrass Legends The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys Honor A Mentor With Touching Single “Let ’em Know I’m From Virginia”

Eric Alper
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0
Bluegrass Legends The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys Honor A Mentor With Touching Single “Let ’em Know I’m From Virginia”

The award winning bluegrass group The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys have released their latest single, “Let ’em Know I’m From Virginia,” featuring Tommy Brown, available today on all major streaming platforms via Sound Biscuit Records. This powerful track, written by Glenn Alford and Jerry Newberry, is a heartfelt tribute to the life and enduring legacy of James Frederick Quesenberry—known simply as “Fred” to those who loved him. Fred was a longtime supporter, travel companion, and chosen family to the band’s frontman, C J Lewandowski.

For C.J. Lewandowski, this song hits particularly close to home. Fred entered C.J.’s life after the loss of Fred’s wife and quickly became a constant presence: a mentor, confidant, and father figure. A longtime bluegrass fan, Fred traveled often with the band, ran their merch table, and became part of their family in every sense. By 2013, Fred and C.J. were living together in Sevierville, Tennessee, side by side in work and in life. When Fred’s health began to decline, C.J. was there to care for him, encouraging him to rest, stay close to home with his beloved dogs, and find peace surrounded by the music and people he loved most. Fred passed away in 2024, just a day before his 82nd birthday, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, faith, and quiet strength that continues to inspire the band. The song’s emotional weight and authenticity are heightened by the vocals of Tommy Brown, father of the band’s banjo player Jereme Brown, and founder of the group Tommy Brown and the County Line Grass in 1991. For The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, “Let ’em Know I’m From Virginia” is much more than a song; it is a profound tribute to the people who shape us, the places that define us, and the love that never truly fades.

Hardcore Chaos Blares Out Of Astoria: Beta Voids Unleash Their Debut EP’s ‘Scrape It Off’

Eric Alper
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Hardcore Chaos Blares Out Of Astoria: Beta Voids Unleash Their Debut EP’s ‘Scrape It Off’

Astoria, Oregon’s Beta Voids are currently busy making noise that truly does not care what you think, locating themselves somewhere between the flailing limbs of early LA hardcore and the sax stabbed chaos of no wave. Their debut EP, ‘Scrape It Off’, sounds like a busted tape deck loaded with Redd Kross riffs, Contortions paranoia, and enough caffeine to keep a circle pit going until dawn. It is the kind of record that smells faintly of beer, hairspray, and old xerox ink, creating a perfect relic of a scene that never really died, it just relocated to a damp coastal basement. The album is full of chaotic, adrenaline soaked punk that nods to Redd Kross, Black Flag, and James Chance, while spinning out into its own dangerous orbit.

Across ‘Scrape It Off’, Mandy Grant and Carrie Beveridge front the storm with twin voiced intensity, a volley of shrieks, sneers, and sly melodic hooks that recall Poly Styrene and Penelope Houston with the voltage cranked dangerously high. Every track is its own small riot, a sweaty mix of jagged guitars, sax chaos, and drums that sound like they were recorded in the back of a van doing eighty down a hill. ‘Baby’s In Detox’ is a wild, two minute collision of screeching sax and tangled guitar, presenting a panic attack with rhythm and a smirk, where the dual vocals trade off like a fight breaking out in stereo. ‘M O T H E R’ swings harder into straight ahead rock, with a grimy Iggy and the Stooges pulse and a bassline that sounds like it is trying to escape the mix. It sits somewhere between Vancouver’s Subhumans and The Sonics, a nasty middle ground of sneer and stomp, while ‘Brain Malfunction’ packs the furious chops of Angry Samoans and the twitchy swing of The Minutemen, like a gear shifting punk car chase scored by caffeine and bad decisions.

MACHINE HEAD Announce Massive 2026 European “An Evening With” Tour

Eric Alper
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0
MACHINE HEAD Announce Massive 2026 European “An Evening With” Tour

Bay Area icons MACHINE HEAD return to Europe in April/May 2026 with a blistering run of An Evening With headline shows, unleashing three unrelenting hours of molten metal, raging pits, and life-affirming sing-alongs. Fresh from levelling Bloodstock Open Air in August 2025 and continuing to support the release of their colossal new album UNATØNED, the band will storm across the continent with no support, just pure, undiluted MACHINE HEAD all evening.

The UK leg takes in Glasgow, Manchester, Wolverhampton and London. Tickets go on sale Thursday 27th November at 9am local time from Live Nation and the band’s official website.

EUROPE & UK – AN EVENING WITH MACHINE HEAD 2026

APRIL 2026

11th – Copenhagen, DK

13th – Hamburg, DE

15th – Warsaw, PL

17th – Zwickau, DE

18th – Berlin, DE

19th – Vienna, AT

20th – Munich, DE

22nd – Milan, IT

23rd – Marseille, FR

24th – Toulouse, FR

25th – Pamplona, ES

27th – Madrid, ES

28th – Lisbon, PT

29th – Malaga, ES

30th – Barcelona, ES

MAY 2026

2nd – Paris, FR

3rd – Strasbourg, FR

4th – Saarbrücken, DE

6th – Ludwigsburg, DE

7th – Wiesbaden, DE

8th – Cologne, DE

9th – Fribourg, CH

11th – Tilburg, NL

12th – Brussels, BE

14th – Glasgow, UK

15th – Manchester, UK

16th – Wolverhampton, UK

17th – London, UK

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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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