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Metallica and Red Cross Celebrate 1,000+ Blood Donations on M72 Tour

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Metallica and its foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), are thrilled to announce more than 1,000 blood donations have been collected to date as part of a lifesaving partnership with the American Red Cross. 

Just over one month ago, a series of Red Cross x Metallica blood drives kicked off in select locations along the current U.S. leg of the M72 World Tour. Since then, members of the Metallica family have turned out to blood drives in full force, ready to roll up their sleeves and help patients counting on critical care this spring. This week marked the 1,000th donation collected, with several blood drives still on the books into June. Each blood donation can help save more than one life. 

“The Red Cross appreciates the impact this partnership has made in the lives of people in trauma situations, and those facing cancer and chronic conditions, like sickle cell disease,” said Darren Irby, executive director of national partnerships for the Red Cross. “Not only are donors who give regularly coming to give at these blood drives, but we are welcoming many new donors who have never given before – a true sign of how Metallica and All Within My Hands are inspiring people to give back across the country.”

All Within My Hands takes advantage of opportunities on the road to contribute to each community the tour visits. Several Red Cross x Metallica blood drives remain, including stops in Houston TX, Santa Clara CA, and Denver CO. 

As a thank you, all who come to give at this special series of blood drives will get a limited-edition Red Cross x Metallica T-shirt, while supplies last. For more information and to book a blood donation appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Metallica

Formed in 1981 by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich and including guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo, Metallica has become one of the most influential and successful rock bands in history, selling nearly 125 million albums worldwide and generating more than 17 billion streams while playing to millions of fans on all seven continents—more than 1.3 million of whom belong to the band’s fiercely loyal and consistently growing Fifth Member fan club. Metallica’s catalog of multi-platinum studio albums includes Kill ’Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, …And Justice for All, Metallica (commonly referred to as The Black Album), Load, ReLoad, St. Anger, Death Magnetic, Hardwired…To Self-Destruct, and most recently, the Grammy-winning 72 Seasons, released April 14, 2023, on the band’s own Blackened Recordings label. Metallica’s awards and accolades include nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, multiple MTV Video Music Awards, a 2009 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Sweden’s Polar Music Prize. In 2017, Metallica established its own charitable foundation, All Within My Hands, to give back to communities that have supported the band. To date, All Within My Hands’ collective efforts have raised nearly $20 Million since inception, including $11.4 million in grants to workforce education, $7.4 million to fight hunger globally, and $5.2 million donated to critical local services around the world.

In 2017, Metallica established their foundation, All Within My Hands, to give back to communities that have supported the band. Since its inception, All Within My Hands’ collective efforts have raised more than $20 million. The foundation has provided $11.4 million in grants for workforce education, $7.4 million to fight hunger globally, and $5.2 million donated to critical local services worldwide.

Ozwin Games Library: Best Games to Win

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By Mitch Rice

It is not only the Oz Win bonuses that attract the attention of players from Australia. Most gambling fans come to the site because of the high chances of making money. The Ozwin Casino hosts games with a high RTP, mainly presented by the giants of the world iGaming – RTG. The brand’s set includes 500 top entertainments and their number is regularly replenished with developments of such well-known companies as Play’N GO, Betsoft, Playson, etc. We invite you to set off into the ocean of entertainment of the site under the sails of our experts.

Variability of Ozwin Casino Games

The gambling site Ozwin operates legally in Australia because it has an official license from the Netherlands Antilles. That is why thousands of Australians, ready to risk their money for big wins, regularly come here. The brand’s library includes the most popular game categories, from classic emulators to innovative pokies with combined bonuses.

Online Pokies: Risk Less, Get More

Our experts have personally seen that online pokies are some of the fastest games with a chance of getting an impressive profit. The fact is that these devices have a dynamic atmosphere of the game with rounds of 1-3 seconds. At the same time, the betting range varies from a few cents to 50 or even 100 dollars per spin. With the right approach, sufficient bankroll, and well-developed tactics, Ozwin casino pokies will become a good source of additional income. The fact is that even 1 dollar in the form of a bet will easily bring you a multiplier from x2 to x100 or even x1,000. You need to be lucky and have a budget for at least 20 spins at this rate.

Moreover to the variability of pokies online, they will surprise you with a wide range of themes. Most games are based on books, films, comics, and cartoons. Others will delight you with popular themes today, including the Australian outback, gold mining, sports, or music. They have high percentages of return, which increases the chance of getting a fairly large profit in the following popular pokies:

Online PokiesRTP
Thai Emerald96,25%
Bubble Bubble 396%
Frog Fortunes96%
Witchy Wins96%
Wild Hog Luau96,25%

Ozwin Table Games: Place Bets on Winning Games

Our experts will immediately clarify that the classic Oz casino online games are designed for the more experienced half of gambling enthusiasts. You must clearly understand the rules and remember the card combinations to play them successfully. But the essence of the popularity of table and card games is the high RTP because some varieties of baccarat and blackjack have 98-99%. But to make a profit in these games, chaotic play will not work. We advise you to initially check the following betting strategies:

  • Martingale
  • Zigzag
  • D’Alembert
  • One Line
  • Fibonacci, etc.

The analysts of our project checked the brand library and found several interesting classic games. We would advise you to start your acquaintance with such devices as Caribbean Hold’em Poker, Suit Em Up Blackjack, and European Roulette. For beginners, we recommend going through all the stages of learning the rules of table games and testing them in a free demo mode.

Video Poker: Fast Money in a Card Game

Video poker from Oz Win casino will bring no less joy and winnings. The fact is that this type of game is equipped with much faster rounds because here, you get money for collecting card combinations according to the rules of five-card poker. The game has no opponents, and you don’t need to beat the dealer’s card combination. But you have the function of holding good cards and a double move in the round to collect a combination.

To understand what to expect regarding odds, look at the payout table in each game. Play the following types of video poker:

  • Double Double Bonus Poker
  • Jacks or Better
  • Aces & Eights

Oz Win Casino Specialty Games

The most important advice from our professionals is not to get hung up on a certain type of game. This online casino has a unique variety of games hidden in the Specialty Games section. It includes the following entertainment:

  • Banana Jones
  • Fish Catch
  • Keno

This means you can try your luck at dice, collect bananas, or catch a fish. This approach will help you take a break from the usual entertainment and earn good earnings in the brand’s special games.

Crash Games: Fasten Your Seat Belts and Take Off!

The gradual filling of the Crash Games section allows the administration to attract the attention of connoisseurs of non-standard entertainment. Currently, there is only one game in this category: Galaxy Blast from RTG. However, with it, you will begin your journey into the world of instant earnings, where the player’s only task is to exit the game on time. The essence is in the rocket flight and the increase in the bet multiplier. Click cashout and immediately receive payments. What could be simpler?

Ozwin Games Experts’ Opinions

Considering our monitoring of the Ozwincasino gaming room, we are 100% sure that any Australian will find the site interesting. For fans of reel devices, there are all types of games, from classics to progressive games and innovative pokies with many bonus features. Connoisseurs of intellectual entertainment will have no problem placing bets in top versions of roulette, poker, video poker, and other classic games. The only rule is reaching 21 years of age in Australia.

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

Wunderhorse Release Urgent New Single “The Rope” After Sold-Out UK Tour

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Wunderhorse are proud to share new single “The Rope”, along with a visualizer video, following a sold-out UK tour, which culminated in a triumphant stop at London’s Alexandra Palace.

“The Rope” came together weeks before Wunderhorse embarked on their biggest headline shows to date last month. Conceived and recorded in a flash at London’s RAK Studios with producer Loren Humphrey, the track mirrors the ethos of spontaneity and urgency present throughout recent album Midas.

Recorded at Minnesota’s Pachyderm Studio (birthplace of Nirvana’s In Utero & PJ Harvey’s Rid Of Me) with producer Craig Silvey (The Rolling Stones, The National, Florence + the Machine), August’s album Midas follows the band’s acclaimed 2022 debut, Cub, and sees the band striding confidently into their role as one of British guitar music’s most exciting outfits.

Adopting an organic, unpolished recording process, Midas is a collection which captures the visceral atmosphere of Wunderhorse’s lauded live performances. “When we first went into the studio to make this record, the only thing we were sure about is how we wanted it to sound: very imperfect, very live, very raw,” frontman Jacob Slater explains. “We wanted it to sound like your face is pressed up against the amplifiers, like you’ve been locked inside the bass drum.”

Crematory Unleashes Heavy Visualizer for “Banished Forever” From New Album ‘Destination’

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German dark metal veterans Crematory have shared a new video clip for their heavy track “Banished Forever”, which comes from their latest studio album “Destination”

“Banished Forever” is our singer Felix’s favorite song from the new album and one of the harder tracks on the Destination album, with some light progressive influences for us,” Crematory drummer and mastermind Markus Jullich comments. “As a thank-you to the fans for their incredible support in helping us reach #8 in the Top 10 of the German album charts, we would like to sincerely thank you with this Visualizer video clip, because you’ve made our lifelong dream come true. Many heartfelt thanks!”

“Destination” was released on May 2, 2025 via ROAR, and is available on CD, colored 2-LP Vinyl (incl. 4 bonus-Tracks), 3-CD Earbook (feat. the regular album, 4-track bonus CD, album on instrumental versions + a 48-page booklet), an exclusive 18-CD bundle (new album, exclusive remix album + all 16 previous albums) and in digital formats.

Alcatrazz Reopens “Island In The Sun” With 2025 Re-Recording on BraveWords

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BraveWords Records releases the re-record of “Island In The Sun (Re-Opened 2025)” by Alcatrazz. The single is available today on all digital services.

Gary Shea, Alcatrazz bassist and founding member, “I have played Island In The Sun many times since it’s inception. So much sometimes I hear it in my sleep. Giles Lavery nails the vocal right up there with other past performances. Well done and looking forward to new music on BraveWords Records.”

Alcatrazz lead singer Giles Lavery, “I do seem to have a thing for placing a target on my head… re-record a classic song originally sung by a legendary vocalist… yeah right!, no big deal! (!!!) Jimmy Waldo wrote the main theme to this while still a member of New England in 1981… the first single from Alcatrazz back in 1983….and here is Alcatrazz 2025 presenting a new version just in time for the Alcatraz Prison reopening?… Back to the island we go! Stranger things have happened!”

Alcatrazz, formed in 1983 in Los Angeles, has been as well known for the legendary players and singers who have passed throughout the bands ranks as much as they have for their music.

Formed originally by the trio of Jimmy Waldo, Gary Shea (both fresh from late 70’s hitmakers New England and the short lived band Warrior featuring a pre-KISS Vinnie Vincent) along with vocalist Graham Bonnet (himself with impressive credentials having been a then recent member of Rainbow and the Michael Schenker Group) the band set about completing the line up with drummer Jan Uvena (formerly of Alice Cooper) and a then very young Yngwie Malmsteen, a guitarist who had quickly made a name for himself upon arriving in the USA in the early 80s. The band issued their now classic debut No Parole From Rock N Roll album (1983) which was met with universal critical acclaim. Yngwie was soon to depart in favor of Steve Vai just in time for the bands second album, Disturbing The Peace (1985).

The bands mission has always been a not necessarily stable lineup, but of an evolving union of established performers all forming a “supergroup” of sorts, one with perhaps more guitar fire-power than many, but definitely also with the songs to back it up.

Alcatrazz hit the road in Europe later this year with Girlschool.

GIRLSCHOOL + ALCATRAZZ

11/14 Sweden, Sala, Rockland
11/15 Sweden, Stockholm, Rock At Sea Cruise
11/18 Finland, Turku, Nirvana + Daze Dolls
11/19 Finland, Helsinki, On The Rocks
11/20 Finland, Tampere, Tavara-asema
11/21 Finland, Nakkila, Verstas
11/22 Finland, Kouvola, House Of Rock

GIRLSCHOOL + ALCATRAZZ + DAVID REECE’s BANGALORE CHOIR
11/25 Belgium, Kortjik, DVG Club
11/27 Germany, Kassel, Goldgrube
11/28 Germany, Passau, Zauberberg
11/29 Austria, Steyr, Kulturverein Roda
12/02 Czechia, Olomouc, Bounty Rock Cafe
12/05 Germany, Selb, Rockclub Nordbayern
12/06 Germany, Morlenbach/Weiher, Live Music Hall
12/07 Germany, Dortmund, Musiktheater Piano

Amazon Music Livestreams Vans Warped Tour’s 30th Anniversary Celebration

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Amazon Music announces its livestream of renowned touring rock festival Vans Warped Tour. Broadcast globally at the sold-out iteration in Washington, D.C.’s on the festival grounds at RFK Campus, the livestream will celebrate 30 years of Vans Warped Tour’s vibrant music, culture and community. Sponsored by Lenovo and Intel, fans can tune into Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15.

Amazon Music’s livestream will bring Vans Warped Tour’s spirit of punk, alternative and rock directly to fans, with electrifying performances spanning genres and generations alike, including Bowling For Soup, Hawthorne Heights, Mayday Parade, mgk, and Sublime. Recognized as one of the most successful and longest-running festivals of its kind, Vans Warped Tour makes its long-awaited return in partnership with Insomniac, the world’s leading music festival and live events experience creator, to revive the magic for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

The Vans Warped Tour livestream will be hosted by musician and media personality Lilith Czar (aka Juliet Simms) and Amazon Music’s Andy Harms. The hosts will chat with some of the iconic festival’s hottest artists from the exclusive Amazon Music backstage set to preview the exciting performances fans can expect to see throughout the weekend, as well as content filmed by a field reporter in the crowd at the festival. Fans can listen to the REDISCOVER vans warped tour, the official Vans Warped Tour playlist, which features music from this year’s festival, as well as commentary from artists, Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, and more.

Recently, Amazon launched the “Festival Shop,” a comprehensive one-stop destination showcasing an unrivaled selection of music festival essentials. Customers can effortlessly browse thousands of items-from exclusive Amazon Music artist merch collections to trending festival fashion, essentials, beauty products, and more. Select artist merch items are also available through the Amazon Music app, with Prime members benefiting from fast and free shipping-getting festival gear delivered right to their door with time to spare before the show. Check it out here.

Corey Feldman Celebrates 50 Years With Beatles-Inspired Single “Characters”

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Corey Feldman, the actor and musician who has entertained generations through unforgettable roles in The Goonies, Stand By Me, The Lost Boys, and with Billboard-charting songs like “Go 4 It” featuring Snoop Dogg and “U R Free” from The My Truth soundtrack, is marking a major milestone-50 years in entertainment-with the surprise release of a brand-new single titled “Characters.”

The song, set for release on June 22, 2025, is Feldman’s first new music in over a year and is deeply inspired by his lifelong love of The Beatles. Early listeners have described the track as a heartfelt tribute, capturing a sound and spirit that echoes the legendary band’s influence.

“Characters” looks back on Feldman’s extraordinary five-decade career through a psychedelic rock lens, blending nostalgic themes with modern production. The song explores the idea that we all play different roles in our lives and in the lives of those we love-mirroring the many distinct characters Feldman has brought to life since first appearing on screen at just four years old in 1975.

Featuring a full 8-piece live orchestra, the single also marks a technological milestone as Feldman’s first release in Dolby Atmos. Created in partnership with Sugar Studios in Hollywood, the Dolby Atmos version will offer an immersive 3D audio experience, available within weeks of the standard stereo release.

The track was co-written and produced with longtime collaborator Gregg Sartiano, with Feldman performing drums, keyboards, vocals, and orchestral arrangements. Sartiano contributed the remaining instrumentation, background vocals, and conducting duties. The stereo version will be available across all major digital platforms, with additional formats to follow.

A music video is also in the works, promising a groundbreaking concept inspired by some of Feldman’s most iconic characters. The project will feature visual work by rising artist and designer Chris Carneal of EveryDayLand, blending creative storytelling with forward-thinking technology.

The release of “Characters” follows a landmark year for Feldman, who is also celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Goonies and a run of four new films released over the past six months-including the critically acclaimed The Birthday and Sour Party, which was recognized at the Cannes Film Festival.

On the music side, Feldman continues to produce new work through his label CiFi Records, including projects with emerging talent like powerhouse vocalist Adrien Skye. With more new music on the horizon-and potential plans for a world tour-“Characters” marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in Feldman’s evolving career.

Trax Records Celebrates 40 Years With Genre-Defining House Compilation and Vinyl Drops

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Trax Records turns 40: the global house revolution continues with an anniversary compilation that celebrates its iconoclastic spirit and fearless leader that will be released on June 20th.

Launched by Larry Sherman from a modest vinyl pressing plant on Chicago’s industrial west side in 1985, Trax was never part of the industry machine. It emerged organically, rooted in rebellion, community, and the do-it-yourself ethos. The label’s bold, unapologetic, and experimental sound defined a generation and continues to evolve over four decades. Screamin’ Rachael, one of the first women in electronic music to perform and lead, remains at the helm, championing Trax’s spirit of independence and innovation.

Rachael’s journey into house music began with her punk roots and close ties to Chicago’s underground scene. Her early experiences near Frankie Knuckles’ Warehouse and her pioneering vocal work on what Rolling Stone later called the first vocal house track marked the start of a genre-defining career. Along the way, she helped bring Chicago’s sound to new cities, introducing house music to the New York Club Kid scene, collaborating with Afrika Bambaataa to help establish Hip House, and working with DJ luminaries like Larry Levan and DJ Keoki.

To commemorate its 40th anniversary, Trax presents Trax Records: The 40th Anniversary Collection-a bold, multi-format release that captures the essence of the label’s past, present, and future. Curated by artist and provocateur Jorge, the collection will roll out digitally and in limited-edition vinyl drops beginning June 20. The compilation serves as a masterclass in house music’s evolution, pairing foundational artists like Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, Phuture, Ron Hardy, Armando, and Paul Johnson with boundary-pushing producers including Jorge, Hiroko Yamamura, and Analog 87. From iconic anthems like “Move Your Body” and “Your Love” to genre-blending remixes and experimental deep cuts, the compilation underscores Trax’s role as originator and innovator.

What has always set Trax apart is its refusal to compromise. The label gave DJs top billing long before the superstar DJ era and championed Hip House before the mainstream caught on. Under Screamin’ Rachael’s guidance, Trax continues to prioritize artistry over algorithms-relying not on hype or follower counts, but on heart, history, and the pulse of the underground.

“We don’t follow the formula of looking at follower counts. We care about music. That’s why Trax still means something,” says Rachael.

Each drop in the series will feature carefully curated tracks, pressed by Desslab in limited vinyl runs of just 150 copies each, accompanied by bespoke artwork.

These records are not just collectibles but artifacts of an ongoing cultural movement. To mark the release, Trax will host an in-store celebration on June 20 at Reckless Records (33 S Wabash, Chicago), featuring performances by Joe Smooth, Ron Carroll, and Screamin’ Rachael, alongside new-generation artists LaZara and Chillsesh. Jorge will also take to the decks with a special DJ set that charts Trax’s sonic evolution from warehouse roots to global acclaim.

In addition to the compilation, Trax has released Rising Again (TRX2620), a limited-edition vinyl project that complements the anniversary celebration by spotlighting intergenerational collaboration and sonic experimentation. Produced by Pi Rho and limited to just 500 copies, the release features Screamin’ Rachael, Joe Smooth, Jacques x Gregory, Spada, Kushgad, and DJ ThadX. It fuses vintage production techniques with innovative tech, such as brainwave-generated soundscapes, while donating all proceeds to SocialWorks, the nonprofit founded by Chance the Rapper. While the main anniversary compilation defines the legacy, Rising Again amplifies its cultural resonance, bringing together music, tech, and philanthropy in true Trax fashion.

The 40th anniversary also introduces Trax’s first official fashion line, created in collaboration with Chicago designer Mario Maldonado. Distributed through Desslab, Juno, HHV, and deejay.de, the line blends classic Trax iconography with a contemporary edge, channeling the label’s history into a wearable statement. “We’re not a bottle-service brand. We came from basements and bedrooms-and that’s where the revolution started,” Rachael reflects.

Today, Screamin’ Rachael continues to evolve Trax Records through touring, mentorship, and community engagement, particularly with emerging artists and youth in Chicago and Nashville. Her work in arts advocacy and LGBTQ media further highlights the label’s ongoing commitment to championing voices from the margins. “Trax has always been about raw creativity,” she says. “This label is my life-and I’m not done.”

Forty years on, Trax Records remains as vital, vibrant, and visionary as ever-still breaking boundaries, still amplifying voices, and still jackin’.

TRACKLIST:
Jacques x Gregory feat. Screamin’ Rachael – I’ll Take You There (Full Journey Mix)
Willie Wonka – What Is House
Frankie Knuckles – Your Love
Marshall Jefferson – Move Your Body
Stylophonic – Jack It Up
Armando – Love In Heart
Mark Row, Jame Starck feat. Carol Jiani – Free Your Mind
Paul Johnson – Follow This Beat
Screamin’ Rachael – Rising (Lea Rognoni Remix)
F*** Charley Pleasure Zone – House Nation
Yuri Suzuki – DATA MANIA
D Beat – Pump It (Lea Rognoni Remix)
Sir Nesis- Freaks (So Called Friend Remix)
Frankie Bones – Beat Me Up
Joey Beltram – The Start It Up
Ricky Dillard – As Always (Full Vocal Version)
Marshall Jefferson – Ride The Rhythm (Remix)
Owen E – Shift
Analog 87 – rOOmclaSSic
Jorge, Carmelo Carone – Jack the Acid Kid (Hiroko Yamamura & Eric Elvambuena Remix)
Phuture – Spank Spank (Original Mix)
Screamin’ Rachael – Gina (XXX) [Someone from Lithuania with a Friend Named Jorge Remix]
Jared – Fly So High (Roger Sanchez Tilt Mix)
Hercules – 7 Ways to Jack
Ron Carroll – 1993 the Bargin Enterprize
Luca Gerlin – Battery (Kkles Mix)
Jesse Velez – Girls Out On The Floor (Dub)
Camilo Do Santos – 1984
Samurai Sam – House of Japanese
David Chong – There Is No Place
Frankie Knuckles – Your Love (You Got The Love Remix)
Seph Martin – Rainy Nights
Larry Sherman – Colors
Miss Autumn Leaves – No Turning Back
Late Nite ‘DUB’ Addict – The ‘F’ Word
Carlos Nilmmns feat. Genoveva – Fade Out (Original Mix)
Ron Hardy – Liquid Love (Chicago Mix)
Screamin’ Rachael – Sensation (Zewmob Radio Edit)
Chris Jones – Strong2 (Dance Mix)
Screamin’ Rachael – My Main Man

Belgian Garage-Rock Rebels SONS Unleash Euphoric New Era With ‘Hallo,’ Out September 26

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Belgian powerhouse, SONS today announce their new album Hallo – out September 26 via [PIAS] Recordings. With the follow up to Sweet Boy, the four-piece enter a new era, one in which their explosive garage-rock gives way to songs that now also shine and sparkle. Hallo is the sound of youth unleashed. “Hello, we are SONS!”

SONS still relentlessly beat their instruments but what sets Hallo apart from previous releases is a certain joie de vivre that has crept in. By looking deeper into themselves, they have discovered that not every message needs to be accompanied by a fist on the table. A tap on the shoulder and a telling glance can sometimes be more effective.

The talisman for this fresh, musical, but still sharp and powerful sound: producer David McCracken. Also known for shaping the sexy groove of dEUS classic The Architect, the British producer has an impressive resume having worked with Stone Roses’ frontman Ian Brown, A$AP Rocky, Beyonce and Depeche Mode amongst others. McCracken loved the band’s new demos and made several trips to the band’s hometown of Melsele to help whip the songs into shape. The band then decamped to London to record the album.

SONS utilized the skills and knowledge McCracken brought to the fore as can be heard on the infectiously danceable first single “Do My Thing”, which amassed over 300 radio plays in Belgium, climbed to the top 5 of leading radio Studio Brussels listeners chart De Afrekening and got support in The Netherlands, Germany, France and Eastern Europe.

Working with McCracken proved to be a perfect match for SONS. “He took us completely out of our comfort zone,” says singer/guitarist Robin Borghgraef. “His way of working was very straightforward, and he constantly asked us – and certainly me as a singer – the question, ‘What do you want to say?’ That approach made us start thinking more deeply about what we wanted for this record. And, unlike previous albums, the lyrics on ‘Hello’ received much more attention. More than once, the lyric served as the foundation of a song, whereas before we took a different approach: make up riffs, figure out a song and add lyrics. This new approach added depth to the album.”

As for the subject matter on Hallo, SONS continues to find inspiration in everyday life and in the way we allow ourselves to be held hostage to hustle and bustle of things. Furious title track “Hello” is about the constant accessibility and love/hate relationship with social media, where everyone follows each other blindly. “This song set the tone for the sound of the whole album”, Robin explains, “So here we say ‘Hello’ to everyone who knows us or doesn’t know us yet. Welcome to our latest record.”

Singer-Songwriter Ali McGuirk Announces New Album ‘Watertop,’ Out September 12

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Acclaimed singer-songwriter Ali McGuirk  has announced that her highly-anticipated third album, Watertop will be released September 12th on Signature Sounds. Watertop is available for pre-save and pre-order here (and vinyl via Bandcamp).Her first release since the 2022 album Til It’s Gone, Watertop elevates McGuirk’s signature soulful and smoldering sound to new heights—this time, the production is richer, and the message is unflinching. McGuirk recently realized how much her voice as an artist has evolved while writing and arranging the new album. “I’m actually delivering a message, not necessarily processing my feelings, but delivering my thoughts on the matter. That felt like a different role to embody as a songwriter.” 

Today, McGuirk shares the album’s second single, “More Than Enough.” Joined by Dwight Ritscher and Nicole Nelson of Dwight & Nicole, the track is a tender song about the highs of finding your person. Grounded by the creative use of an organ and D’Vibes keys, the song’s percussion literally shimmers. Listen HERE.

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment that led to the freedom in McGuirk’s songwriting on Watertop. Perhaps it was when she began treating social activism—and her care for others—as a spiritual practice. This transformation gave Watertop its raison d’etre, which comes at you quickly with the opening track, “Love Goes First.” 

On Watertop, McGuirk takes a magnifying glass to the complexities of human and societal value, unraveling the meanings of care, empathy, love, and even greed. Sonically, she leans into creating experimental soundscapes filled with her soulful, smoldering sound and aims right for the heart with her songwriting. Altogether, the songs are a microscopic look at our societal values. McGuirk shies away from nothing, exploring the meaning of things like God, empathy, love, and greed.  

Blending classic soul power with a folk songwriter lyricism, New England’s Ali McGuirk has the rare ability to silence a room with just a few words of a song. With a voice that is raw and sultry and a style rooted in improvisation, her sets are a hypnotic and intimate journey. More new music is expected from Ali in 2025.

On her 2022 Signature Sounds debut ’Til It’s Gone, McGuirk delivered a sublime set of songs that pairs her trademark soul sound with rootsy turns and raw rock ‘n’ roll detours. The album landed on the Boston Globe’s Top 50 Albums list for 2022. Consequence of Sound raved, “‘All Back’ feels like it could exist somewhere outside of space and time– it could be on a record in the background of a party in a 1970s bungalow, or it could be on your Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. Either way, it’s a great listen.”

McGuirk co-produced ‘Til It’s Gone with Jonah Tolchin (a star singer-songwriter in his own right) and a set of session legends: Little Feat guitarist/mandolinist Fred Tackett, organist Larry Goldings (James Taylor, Norah Jones), singer Valerie Pinkston (Ray Charles, Luther Vandross), percussionist Lenny Castro (Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder). They provided the astounding chops, but the true magic of the album comes from McGuirk’s singular voice as both singer and songwriter. The nine tracks run from intimate introspection to wider meditations on oppression and justice, from tough r&b and tender soul to big rock guitar and twangy folk. And McGuirk’s voice – bold, buttery, spellbinding – carries each song to the next til they’re gone.

McGuirk currently divides her time between touring North America and Europe and crafting new compositions in her lakeside Vermont cottage . She has performed spellbinding sets at Boston Calling, Merlefest, Americanafest, and NPR’s Mountain Stage

Watertop Tracklist:

  1. Love Goes First
  2. Graveyard
  3. More Than Enough (Ft. Dwight & Nicole)
  4. Where Does All The $ Come From?
  5. Exorcist
  6. When I See You
  7. Wedding Song
  8. Call It What You Want

Ali McGuirk Tour Dates:

JUN 6 FRI        Lizard Lounge  Cambridge, MA

JUN 7 SAT       Radio Bean   Burlington, VT

JUN 14 SAT     Timber House  Kings County, NY

JUN 19 THU    Groove  New York, NY

JUN 20 FRI      Green River Festival 2025   Greenfield, MA

JUN 21 SAT     The Parlour   Providence, RI

JUL 16 WED    Middlebury Festival On The Green   Middlebury, VT

SEP 6 SAT       Henryfest 2025   Walnut Hill, ME