“Into Oblivion” finds LAMB OF GOD embracing their position as modern metal veterans, beholden to no one, with nothing left to prove. The 10-song collection references the band’s roots, doubles down on their signature groove, and expands their approach, resulting in an album that feels both deliberate and untethered.

News of “Into Oblivion”‘s March arrival is accompanied by the debut of its title track, “Into Oblivion”, alongside a video directed by Tom Flynn and Mike Watts. Aggressive and as unforgiving as ever, the song pairs the band’s musical ferocity with psychologically charged lyrics.

“For me, the album is about having the space to breathe creatively and not feeling like we have to keep up with any trend or expectation,” LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton shares. “It feels nice to be untethered from any agenda beyond rallying around the notion of, ‘Let’s just make music that we think is cool,’ which is really where it all started”.

LAMB OF GOD vocalist Randy Blythe doesn’t mince words on why the band decided to name the album “Into Oblivion”, saying candidly: “Because that’s where we’re heading. In general, the album is about the ongoing and rapid breakdown of the social contract, particularly here in America. Things are acceptable now that would’ve horrified people just 20 years ago”.

In the months leading up to today’s announcement, the metal veterans released a pair of blistering singles that offered listeners a taste of the album’s range. “Sepsis”, the band’s first new song since 2022, paid homage to the early ’90s Richmond underground that shaped LAMB OF GOD’s formative years. Consequence, in their “Heavy Song Of The Week” feature, noted the track’s fresh approach, saying “Morton’s riffs are bruising at this slower pace,” and adding that Blythe bellows “like a heavy metal Nick Cave.” “Parasocial Christ” followed, evoking classic LAMB OF GOD with a three-minute onslaught that Revolver dubbed an “anti-tech thrasher.”

Produced and mixed by longtime studio collaborator Josh Wilbur, “Into Oblivion” was recorded across multiple locations tied closely to the band’s identity. Drums were tracked in Richmond, Virginia, with guitars and bass recorded at Morton’s home studio. Blythe recorded his vocals at the legendary Total Access studio in Redondo Beach, California, the birthplace of seminal punk records by BLACK FLAG, HÜSKER DÜ and DESCENDENTS.

Album pre-orders, including multiple limited-edition vinyl variants and signed copies, are available now. An unannounced first pressing of the album was quietly posted on the band’s web site earlier this week, and sold out immediately.

“Into Oblivion” track listing:

01. Into Oblivion
02. Parasocial Christ
03. Sepsis
04. The Killing Floor
05. El Vacío
06. St. Catherine’s Wheel
07. Blunt Force Blues
08. Bully
09. A Thousand Years
10. Devise/Destroy

Το άρθρο LAMB OF GOD: ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM (“INTO OBLIVION”) εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

“We made this record in eight to ten days,” says THE BLACK CROWES singer Chris Robinson. “Bringing the high and inspiration from ‘Happiness Bastards’ into this album, it was a natural progression. We experimented more, we wrote on instinct and how we were feeling in the moment. [THE BLACK CROWES guitarist] Rich [Robinson] brought a spontaneity to the record that I can’t describe, but it’s the best shit he’s ever done.”

Rich adds: “This album feels transformative to us. Going back to our roots, we felt that spark in the studio and how we work together. Lighting a fire that hits harder, more jagged but is still true to our musical essence”.

“A Pound Of Feathers” represents a confident creative step forward, blending the gritty attitude of the band’s early work with new ideas and punchy, driving rhythmic elements. Recorded in Nashville alongside Grammy-winning producer Jay Joyce, the album was shaped with sharp artistic vision and a strong sense of musical connection, capturing a fearless band sounding inspired, focused and very much at the top of its game.

Rooted in their long-standing tradition of heartfelt songwriting, powerful musicianship and pure rock ’n’ roll attitude, the album — written entirely by the brothers — flows naturally between the light, fragile grace of “A Pound Of Feathers” and the crushing reality of “a pound of lead.” Across its 11 tracks, the record is charged with emotional contrast, striking a balance between vulnerability and weight, and delivering a sense of raw honesty throughout.

“A Pound Of Feathers” track listing:

01. Profane Prophecy
02. Cruel Streak
03. Pharmacy Chronicles
04. Do The Parasite!
05. High And Lonesome
06. Queen Of The B-Sides
07. It’s Like That
08. Blood Red Regrets
09. You Call This A Good Time
10. Eros Blues
11. Doomsday Doggerel

Το άρθρο THE BLACK CROWES: NEW STUDIO ALBUM ANNOUNCED εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

“This one really surprised me,” Rossi explains. “I’m always in and out of the studio, rehearsing and messing with ideas, but earlier this year something just clicked. Before I realised it, we had something that felt genuinely exciting.”

He adds: “If you liked my solo albums up to now… honestly, I don’t know what you’ll think of this, because it’s quite a shift. But I’m really into it. It’s louder, the guitars are front and centre, and the songs have something special about them”.

The two new tracks – “Something In The Air (Stormy Weather)” and “Go Man Go” – are taken from Rossi’s forthcoming album “The Accidental”, set for release on January 30 via earMUSIC. The record features fellow Status Quo members John “Rhino” Edwards on bass and Leon Cave on drums, with Amy Smith contributing backing vocals.

The Accidental will be available on black vinyl, crystal-clear vinyl, CD and digital platforms, with pre-orders already open. Full tracklist follows below.

Tracklist

1. Much Better
2. Go Man Go
3. Push Comes To Shove
4. Back On Our Home Ground
5. Dead Of Night
6. Going Home
7. Bye My Love
8. Something In The Air (Stormy Weather)
9. Picture Perfect
10. November Again
11. Things Will Get Better
12. Oh So Good
13. Beautiful World
14. Time To Remember

Το άρθρο FRANCIS ROSSI: RETURNS WITH TWO NEW TRACKS εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

Where, how and under which circumstances was Laptop founded? Give us a short biography of Laptop.

Laptop started in New York City in the late ’90s, when I realized I could be an entire band with just an IBM ThinkPad and a mix of self-awareness and self-deprecation. I’d just come out of my previous band, Sammy, and wanted to make something weirder, funnier, and more direct about how detached modern life felt. The songs were like little social studies with drum machines. We made three albums, then I sort of retired from music — turned to filmmaking — and raised my son and daughter. Twenty years later, he’s in the band, and she, six years younger, sings on a few tracks. So, it all loops back, like a perfect glitch in the software.

Why did you choose the name “Laptop” for this project?

Because it sounded ridiculous and faux-futuristic in 1998, then wonderfully pathetic as time went on — and now just weirdly perfect, threading the needle through all of it. Laptop is a sort of instrument, a hated object, a loved object, and a drug addiction, all in one word. I literally spend all day on it – for better or worse. What could be a better band name?

How does it feel to bring Laptop back after so many years with the new singles “Weirder,” “Additional Animals,” and “I Don’t Know”?

It feels “pretty pretty good” as Larry David would say. Laptop was always about technology and alienation, so coming back in the age of TikTok feels like stepping into my own prophecy. The world finally caught up to the paranoia. The new recordings are a fun mix of old synthy Laptop, new organic world-music Laptop, with the same humor and new topical explorations in the lyrics.

The song “I Don’t Know” was written years ago with your son when he was only four. What made you decide that now was the right time to release it?

Because now he’s nineteen and can actually perform it with me without getting distracted by Thomas the Tank Engine. This particular song was always funny to me — a kid refusing to answer test questions because he’s already onto way bigger ideas. It fits the theme of the new album: confusion as a form of wisdom and how do we fight this authoritative nonsense? But there are even bigger ideas running through it too — like, what the hell is going on with this planet right now? We need some serious help.

“I Don’t Know” follows “Weirder” and “Additional Animals,” both with big reactions online. What connects these songs musically and thematically?

Simply, these songs are all about these bizarre times we’re living in. “Weirder” was about an alien landing and not understanding or liking what he’s seeing here. “Additional Animals” was about consumption — just throwing our arms up like, what can we do? And “I Don’t Know” is a kid bucking authority in these semi-fascist times. Musically, they share the same DNA: electronics meeting guitars meeting world-weary sarcasm. It feels like a very now record.

How would you define the music style of Laptop?

Emotional detachment but with actual feeling and jokes. Post-Bowie, pre-therapy. Basically, a mix of electro-pop, indie rock, and dark comedy.

Which were your favorite artists/bands while growing up? What do you listen to now?

When I was young, I loved artists who mixed comedy, intelligence and melody — Bowie, Lou Reed, Modern Lovers, Roxy Music, The Kinks. Now I’m checking out younger bands who accidentally sound like these past heroes: Yard Act, Shame, Fontaines D.C. History repeats, and I’m realizing, that’s not always a bad thing.

Where do your lyrics refer to?

They used to be about relationships falling apart. Now they’re about the world falling apart — but always giggling your way through it.

Laptop has always had a satirical side. Do you think irony still works in pop music today?

I hope so. It’s all I know how to do honestly, and I can’t help myself. Too much of what I see out there takes itself too seriously. I think artists need to lighten up and get more complicated at the same time. And maybe listeners will meet them halfway.

How has working with your son Charlie changed your creative process compared to your earlier albums?

Charlie brings a wild, hallucinogenic quality to the songs — they’re literally more dreamlike, more kid-like. He pulls me out of writing revenge songs about the past. I’ve always thought about generational patterns and dual identities (old Laptop songs like “Generation Pattern,” “The New You,” and “Want In?”), and now that’s actually happening. It’s fun and strange collaborating with both your past and your future at the same time.

The upcoming album “On This Planet” arrives in 2026. What can fans expect from it?

Big choruses, strange topical stories, and definitely, no auto-tune on the truth. It’s an album about living now — on this increasingly bizarre planet — and trying to find connection amid the noise.

Your London headliner show is coming up soon. What can people expect from Laptop live in 2025?

Energy, humor, and a few breakdowns — musical and psychological. The new band is big and powerful: two guitars, dual keyboards, sax, some fake drums, some real drums. It’s like a Talking Heads film scored by aliens who loved glam rock.

Looking back at your early Island Records days, what’s changed most about how you approach music now?

Back then we made albums and wondered if the world would listen. Now we make songs and wonder if the algorithm will. I can’t tell which is worse — or better.

How do you feel about the current wave of ’90s and 2000s nostalgia in pop culture? Does it influence your new work in any way?

In the ’90s, we were obsessed with the ’70s — punk, new wave, hard rock — so it makes sense. Now I’m from the generation people are nostalgic about, which is both hilarious and surreal. There’s even a book coming out next year about Sammy and Laptop by Jeff Gomez — what the hell? So yeah, it’s fun to be the older voice in a conversation that’s come back around. And luckily Charlie is along for the ride, with the newer voice.

What do you hope listeners feel when they hear “Weirder”, “Additional Animals” and “I Don’t Know” for the first time?

A mix of laughter and recognition. I hope they laugh, then cry, then dance — just to stave off the fear and confusion of living “On This Planet.”

Many artists today write with social media in mind. Do you ever think about how your songs will resonate online, or do you try to ignore that?

I try not to think about it but it creeps in. I will say this – as a filmmaker I don’t mind how visual music’s become. I always thought each Laptop song was like a little movie. Now I can literally make a movie every few days about these cinematic songs. It’s exhausting but kind of perfect.

If you had the chance to collaborate with a famous musician, whom would you choose? And why?

Maybe Tom Waits. A. He’s still alive (many of my heroes aren’t). B. He taught me how to tell cinematic stories in songs. C. He’s funny as hell. In case you couldn’t tell, I like funny.

After everything Laptop has been through, what keeps you motivated to keep writing, recording, and performing?

I’ve always loved the Ponce de León “Fountain of Youth” story — hence the old Laptop song “Fountain of Youth.” Rebooting Laptop has been that for me. And I get to do it with my son Charlie and a bunch of inspiring twenty-something London musicians. And honestly, I think I’m improving with age. This new album is the best thing I’ve done (isn’t it?).

Describe Laptop with three adjectives!

Deadpan. Cinematic.  Ridiculous.

Please send your special message to our readers!

The world might be weird and disturbing for a while — and might even get worse — but we can still share some groovy, funny, mind-bending music together. I think “On This Planet” might actually make you feel better. Or at least help you laugh through the pain.

Το άρθρο LAPTOP – WEIRDER AND WEIRDER (interview) εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

SABATON are back in full force with “Legends”, a fittingly titled album that fuses powerful rock with gripping historical tales for listeners of all ages. Set for release on October 17 via Better Noise Music, this eleventh studio album finds the band — Joakim Brodén (vocals), Pär Sundström (bass), Chris Rörland (guitar), Thobbe Englund (guitar), and Hannes Van Dahl (drums) — diving deep into the lives of some of history’s most iconic figures. From Jeanne D’Arc and Napoleon Bonaparte to Julius Caesar and master swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, Legends pays homage to the world’s greats.

To mark the big announcement, SABATON are treating fans with not just one, but two brand-new tracks from the album — “The Duelist” and “Lightning At The Gates” — both available now (July 25) on all digital platforms. You can also check out the official lyric videos below.

Legends will be released in a variety of physical formats and collector’s editions: standard CD, 2CD digibook, 2CD earbook (both featuring a special Storyteller Edition), and no fewer than 11 unique vinyl versions — each tied to a specific legendary figure with distinct artwork and color. Additionally, fans can grab limited-edition vinyl variants and a deluxe box set, which includes an exclusive vinyl color, the 2CD earbook, and a colored cassette.

Among the 11 vinyl editions are the “Hannibal Edition” and the “Miyamoto Musashi Edition”, inspired by today’s new singles “Lightning At The Gates” and “The Duelist”, respectively.

“Legends” is more than just an album — it’s a powerful rock odyssey that defies time and geography. With soaring melodies, thunderous riffs, rousing choirs, and epic choruses, SABATON push their sound further than ever before, diving deep into the lives of history’s most fearless and mysterious figures. These tracks aren’t simply songs — they’re anthems forged in the fire of warriors, rulers, tacticians, and revolutionaries.

For the first time in the band’s history, every member of SABATON contributed to the songwriting, bringing a new creative fire to their already massive sound. This is SABATON like you’ve never heard them — raw, unstoppable, and united. “Legends” takes listeners on a globe-spanning ride through the stories of war, power, and unshakable determination.

“We can finally announce that our 11th studio album, ‘Legends’, is coming out on October 17th!” says SABATON bassist Pär Sundström. “11 tracks that cover 11 iconic legendary stories. This time we look further back in history than we have been the past few years, going to times that I think are very exciting. As someone who’s always been into the history of the Middle Ages, knights and the legends of old, it felt incredible to finally bring those stories into the SABATON universe.”

“Music collectors will be happy to hear that you are now able to pre-order our ‘Legends’ album in all formats imaginable, including digital, CD, vinyl and a cassette tape that will be featured in a box set,” says SABATON singer Joakim Brodén. “Apart from the usual suspects, there are multiple cool editions available, and we have a bunch of cool vinyls, each corresponding to a legend”.

Sundström continues: “We’re all about telling stories through our songs, so we thought, why not do the same with our vinyls? Instead of just making them a cool color, we wanted them to actually tell a story too. That’s why we decided to name them after the legendary figures featured on the album. It just felt like the perfect way to make them more special. We hope all the physical music collectors out there love the concept! We took the idea from the community and tweaked it ourselves!”.

“Legends” track listing:

01. Templars
02. Hordes Of Khan
03. A Tiger Among Dragons
04. Crossing The Rubicon
05. I, Emperor
06. Maid Of Steel
07. Impaler
08. Lightning At The Gates
09. The Duelist
10. The Cycle Of Songs
11. Till Seger

Το άρθρο SABATON: 11th STUDIO ALBUM ANNOUNCED (“LEGENDS”) εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.