Southern Rockers Chris Horses & The Slow Smoke Announce New Album; First Single Out Now

Italian country/southern rock band Chris Horses & The Slow Smoke will release their highly anticipated new album Nowhere Bound this coming September via Devil’s Fork Records. The first single, “White Flag”, is out now and available on all streaming platforms: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/chrishorsesandtheslowsmoke/white-flag

Chris Horses comments on the single:
“Feels like I have been here before, just like I had to come back for more”.

More info will be unveiled soon!

Strong roots, a free heart, and eyes set on the horizon: Chris Horses & The Slow Smoke are the voice of those who seek truth in the dust of the roads—among worn-out dreams and beers shared under starry skies. Born from the meeting of four musicians united by their passion for Americana, Country Rock, and Southern Rock, the band blends evocative atmospheres with a genuine spirit, heir to the great American musical tradition.

The project takes shape around Cristian Secco, known as Chris Horses—a singer and guitarist from Veneto whose honest, straightforward songwriting tells stories that smell of wood, dust, and melancholy. By his side stand three solid, inspired musicians: Gianluca Zanibellato on guitar, a true sound architect who shifts from gritty riffs to bluesy phrasing; Andrea Vanacore, a bassist with a deep, steady groove, and Federico Patarnello, a drummer with an essential yet driving style, holding everything together with both elegance and strength.

In 2024, they released their first record, Sad Songs & Dark Beer, under the independent label Devil’s Fork Records. The album is both a musical and storytelling journey, blending intimate, heartfelt songs with southern-flavored electric rides—all written by Chris Horses. The influences are clear but never imitative: from Neil Young to The Allman Brothers, through Jason Isbell, Blackberry Smoke, and Willie Nelson, Chris Horses & The Slow Smoke absorb and reinterpret these sounds, crafting something personal, vivid, and authentic.

With a repertoire that comes alive both on record and—most of all—on stage, the band stands out for its ability to create a warm, engaging atmosphere at every performance. The stage is their natural habitat: between instrumental jams, acoustic ballads, and explosive moments, each concert turns into a shared story.

During the past few months, the Slow Smoke recorded their new album that will come out in 2026 via Devil’s Fork Records: “Nowhere Bound”. 9 brand-new songs about love, heartbreak and everyday life recorded between the “True Colours Studio” in Padova (Italy) with the precious help of the studio engineer Francesco “Franz” Fabiano and “The Kitchen Sink” in Santa Fe (New Mexico, USA), where the mastering process has been finalized by Jono Manson (Blues Traveler, Warren Haynes).

Chris Horses & The Slow Smoke are a band that knows where they’re going, because they know exactly where they come from. And as their songsflowlike a slow river through small-town stories, American dreams, and inner escapes, all that’s left to do is let yourself be carried away by the slow smoke and the rough, soulful voice of their musical world.

REXORIA release new single “Heart of Sorrow” featuring Johnny Gioeli (Axel Rudi Pell / Hardline)

Swedish royal metal band REXORIA release their new single “Heart Of Sorrow”.
The track features Johnny Gioeli (Axel Rudi Pell / Hardline), uniting two distinctive metal voices in a collaboration aimed squarely at fans of melodic metal.
 
“Heart of Sorrow” is a grand, emotionally charged power ballad that fuses strong melodic hooks with heavy guitars, driven by a commanding vocal performance at its core. The interplay between Frida‘s and Johnny Gioeli‘s voices creates a striking dynamic: Gioeli‘s raw, raspy delivery brings grit and weight, while Frida‘s clear and emotive vocals soar above, adding depth, intensity, and power.
The single is accompanied by a cinematic music video, centered on visual storytelling and a strong aesthetic direction that reflects the band‘s evolving image and artistic vision.
 
With “Heart of Sorrow”, REXORIA and Johnny Gioeli deliver a power ballad that leaves a lasting impression — emotional, dramatic, and impossible to ignore.
 
“Heart of Sorrow” is taken from the upcoming album Fallen Dimension, out May 8, 2026 via Black Lodge Records.
 
Watch “Heart of Sorrow” HERE:
https://youtu.be/bTGtPf3f4Sw
 
And previous Single “Break the Wave” HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZQ7Y3Sq5DE

More info on REXORIA

This is Royal Metal.

REXORIA delivers massive choruses, clear stories and a sound that stands above trends — modern yet timeless, epic yet deeply human. Built on presence and conviction, the band invites listeners into an empire shaped by melody and power.

REXORIA writes songs with massive choruses, clear stories and a sound that feels both modern and timeless. Epic, yet always driven by a burning, soaring heart.

Formed in 2016 in Småland, Sweden, REXORIA quickly evolved into something distinct within the metal landscape, embarking on their first European tour only months after releasing their first EP.
Unbound by traditional genre definitions, the band blends heavy metal, power metal, symphonic, cinematic and electronic influences into a unified sound, driven by Frida Ohlin’s distinctive voice – powerful, raspy and deeply emotional.
The name says it all: REX meaning king, and ORIA meaning golden – marking the birth of Royal Metal.

With their upcoming fourth studio album Fallen Dimension, following the success of Imperial Dawn, both released through Black Lodge / Sound Pollution, REXORIA takes its most focused and confident step to date.
Mixed and mastered by Jonas Kjellgren (Sabaton, Bloodbound, Raubtier, Dynazty), Fallen Dimension presents 11 powerful songs that fully define REXORIA’s evolved sound.

A key element of the album is its two exclusive duets, featuring Mike Andersson of Tungsten and Johnny Gioeli of Axel Rudi Pell / Hardline.
The duet with Mike Andersson adds depth and weight to a powerful heavy metal song written in a time of war, while the collaboration with Johnny Gioeli brings raw honesty and emotion to a powerful, heartfelt rock ballad.

The album moves through a wide emotional and thematic range: from societal criticism and war-driven narratives to emotional power ballads and uplifting, hook-driven anthems.
Each song serves as its own chronicle, telling stories of ordinary people rising from below and pushing back against higher powers, across eras spanning from the 17th century to the present day.

REXORIA is a proven live force, with over 120 performances across Europe.
The band has shared stages and toured with acts such as Battle Beast, Bloodbound, Dynazty, Sirenia, Semblant and Thobbe Englund (Sabaton), and has played at major festivals including Sweden Rock Festival and Malmöfestivalen in 2024.

With over 3 million streams on Spotify and nearly 500,000 YouTube views, REXORIA stands ready for the next step.

Royal Metal is fully formed – with momentum, purpose and a clear artistic vision.

Welcome to the empire of REXORIA.

Baltimore Black Metallers, NIXIL, Premiere “I Am Not Here”

Baltimore Black Metallers, Nixil, have partnered with Invisible Oranges for the premiere of “I Am Not Here,” the second single from the forthcoming split release with Black/Death quartet, Drouth, titled Toward Dead Temples.

Just click and go below!

invisibleoranges.com/nixil-are-more-present-than-ever-on-i-am-not-here-track-premiere

It makes sense why ‘I Am Not Here’ is so mangled and gnarly;

evolution is rarely pretty.”

– Invisible Oranges

On Toward Dead Temples, we are gifted with 17 minutes of new Nixil across three tracks, followed by 11 minutes of new Drouth split between two tracks. All are worthy of your attention.”

– Toilet ov Hell

The bands have each released a statement concerning their respective contributions to Toward Dead Temples, as follows:

Nixil: “Our contributions to Toward Dead Temples explore the spiritual depth of death and isolation. Through the use of imagery representative of the crumbling edifice of christo-fascism, we strive to push toward the eradication of the oppressor in all its manifestations. Sonically, this album marks a point of transition for us, beginning a deep dive into darker waters on a quest for stranger, more unsettling discordance. We are thrilled to be joining forces with our friends in Drouth to present this anthem of defiance against the crushing weight of impending dictatorship – until all tyrants and their temples fall.”

Drouth: “Originally recorded during The Teeth of Time sessions in late 2023, ‘Cathartes Aura’ and ‘The Outer Church’ stand on their own by representing both the past and future of Drouth. We are proud to share this release with our friends in Nixil and join them in spreading sonic misery throughout the West Coast this May.”

FFO: Enslaved, Ludicra, Blut Aus Nord, Altar of Plagues, Dawn, Black Curse, Ulcerate, Spectral Wound, Weakling, Sacramentum, Schammasch, Watain, The Ruins of Beverast

Nixil and Drouth will embark on the Toward Dead Temples West Coast Tour 2026 in May. Tour dates are as follows:

May 7: Seattle, WA – Neumos (Northwest Terror Fest)

May 8: Eugene, OR – John Henry’s

May 9: Redding, CA – The Dip

May 10: Sacramento, CA – Cafe Colonial

May 12: Los Angeles, CA – The Moroccan Lounge

May 13: San Diego, CA – Tower Bar

May 14: Palmdale, CA – Transplants Brewing

May 15: Santa Rosa, CA – Arlene Francis Center

May 16: Eureka, CA – Savage Henry Comedy Club

May 17: Portland, OR – The High Water Mark

SEVENDUST Announce EU + UK Headliner Tour 2026!

Renowned as one of the most powerful live bands in modern metal, GRAMMY® Award–nominated metal icons SEVENDUST are preparing to hit the road in support of their 15th studio album, ONE, arriving May 1, 2026, via Napalm Records.

Comprised of Lajon Witherspoon (vocals), Clint Lowery (guitar), John Connolly (guitar), Vince Hornsby (bass), and Morgan Rose (drums), their European and UK headline tour kicks off November 25th in Hamburg, Germany, and runs through December 15th in London. General ticket on sale starts on Wednesday, April 15th, at 11am CEST. For all upcoming tour dates, ticket information, and VIP packages, visit: https://sevendust.com/pages/tour
 

SEVENDUST 2026 Europe & UK Tour Dates

November 25th – Hamburg, GER
November 26th – Cologne, GER
November 27th – Munich, GER
November 29th – Tilburg, NL
November 30th – Paris, FRA
December 2nd – Norwich, UK
December 3rd – Wolverhampton, UK
December 6th – Newcastle, UK
December 7th – Glasgow, SCO
December 8th – Belfast, N.I.
December 9th – Dublin, IRE
December 11th – Bristol, UK
December 12th – Southampton, UK
December 13th – Nottingham, UK
December 14th – Manchester, UK
December 15th – London, UK

Since forming in 1994, SEVENDUST have become a cornerstone of modern metal, known for their explosive live performances, chart-topping releases, and unwavering commitment to authenticity. With their new album, ONE, the band continues to honor their roots while embracing growth—proving that their creative fire is as fierce and focused as ever. Building on their unmistakable sound while continuing to evolve, ONE proves why SEVENDUST remain a vital force nearly three decades into their career.
 
The album’s first single, “Is This The Real You,” was released in January to both fan and critical acclaim. The video—directed by Paul Ribera—has amassed over 1.3 million views in less than six weeks, signaling strong anticipation for the band’s next chapter.

For over three decades, SEVENDUST have made countless fans feel a part of something special. The group’s community isn’t passive. Members of the “7D Army” make a very active commitment to being part of this family—as evinced by sold-out shows worldwide and innumerable tattoos of the band’s logo and lyrics. Since 1994, the iconic Atlanta quintet have quietly built a legacy without parallel, encompassing sales of nearly eight million albums, a GRAMMY® Award nomination for “Best Metal Performance,” three Top 15 entries on the Billboard 200, hundreds of millions of streams, and the fierce loyalty of millions of listeners in every corner of the globe. Along the way, they’ve shined as an outlier equally comfortable on tracks with either members of Deftones, Creed, and Periphery or Xzibit and Daughtry. V13 spotlighted it with a cover story, Consequence hailed the music as “hard-hitting,” and Guitar World marveled at how, “more than 25 years after releasing their gold-selling self-titled debut, SEVENDUST’s music still has plenty of bite.” Speaking to their longevity, they notably notched their biggest radio success to date with “Everything” in 2024, netting a career-high entry on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. However, the guys really delivered for their diehard base with 2026’s ONE [Napalm Records]. SEVENDUST’s 15th full-length LP forges ten simultaneously lean and gut-punching tracks out of gargantuan riffs, seismic grooves, and signature soul-stirring hooks. Rallying together around a common goal as bandmates and brothers, Lajon Witherspoon [vocals], Clint Lowery [lead guitar, backing vocals], John Connolly [rhythm guitar, backing vocals], Vince Hornsby [bass], and Morgan Rose [drums] have crafted a body of work that both day-one devotees and new fans alike can hold onto forever.

Progressive Post-Metal Outfit, Loneshore, To Release Nothing Left to Deconstruct on Willowtip

Rio de Janeiro (BR) – Progressive Post-Metal outfit, Loneshore, have joined the Willowtip roster and will release their second full-length album, Nothing Left to Deconstruct, on June 19.

Following the well received 2018 debut album, From Presence to Silence, the new record for Willowtip retains the core elements of memorable melodies, unconventional song structures and post-metal atmospheric soundscapes, yet pushes the songwriting and arrangements to a whole new level.

The first single,”Parhelion,” is available at: youtu.be/SbmAT90kjiY

Nothing Left to Deconstruct will be available on CD, double-LP gatefold vinyl, and digital formats.

Pre-order:

loneshore.bandcamp.com/album/nothing-left-to-deconstruct

www.willowtip.com

FFO: The Ocean, Katatonia, Daylight Dies.

Track Listing:

1. Self Oscillations

2. Straylight

3. To Stride the Black Earth

4. Birth of a Mountain

5. Of Lost Waters

6. Parhelion

7. With Nothing We Part 

Credits:

Music by Loneshore.

Lyrics by Luiz Felipe Netto.

Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Luiz Felipe Netto.

Mastered by Magnus Lindberg.

Additional Guitar Engineering by Zach Wish.

Artwork by David Preissel.

Band Photos by Vitor Coutinho.

35mm film Developing/Scanning by Pedro Barone (Gelatina Lab/RJ).

Layout by Moornebheym.