Wage War’s Landfall has arrived. Released digitally October 9 through Fearless Records, the Florida band’s sixth album delivers 13 tracks across approximately 43 minutes. The complete project is now listed on Apple Music. The album follows this spring’s It Calls Me By Name EP, with both projects recorded back-to-back. Guitarist and vocalist Cody Quistad handled production, making this a particularly hands-on chapter for the band. Listeners who followed the title track and “Go

New Orleans heavy-metal giants DOWN have released the official video for “The Myth,” the opening track from their long-awaited studio album, Volume V. The record arrives November 20, 2026, through Nuclear Blast Records and marks DOWN’s first full-length album since 2007’s Down III: Over the Under. The current lineup features Philip H. Anselmo, Pepper Keenan, Kirk Windstein, Jimmy Bower and Pat Bruders. “The Myth” follows the album’s first single, “Blood Oath,” and immediately

Ice Nine Kills Announces ‘A Very Vicious Christmas’ EP With Terrifier’s Art the Clown Ice Nine Kills is dragging Christmas into the slaughterhouse. The theatrical metalcore heavyweights have announced “A Very Vicious Christmas,” an eight-track holiday EP arriving November 9, 2026, through Fearless Records. The project was recorded in connection with Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights attraction, “Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse,” starring Terrifier villain

Mudvayne and HELLYEAH frontman Chad Gray has canceled two dates on his “30 Years Of Madnesss” solo tour after reporting vocal trouble and illness. The affected shows are Monday, October 5, at House of Blues San Diego and Tuesday, October 6, at The Observatory OC in Santa Ana, California. Gray announced the cancellations Sunday, October 4, saying he has been dealing with “deep vocal issues” and became sick around his Aftershock appearance. Gray said he needs time to rest and p

New Orleans rock veterans Zebra have a new chapter ready to roll. Zebra V arrives November 13, 2026, through Flatiron Recordings, marking the band’s first album of new material in 23 years. The project reunites the original lineup with producer Jack Douglas. For Gulf Coast fans, this return carries a hometown connection. Formed in New Orleans in 1975, Zebra still features Randy Jackson, Felix Hanemann and Guy Gelso. Their rise took them from Louisiana clubs to the Long Island

A new week means NEW ROCK on The Sound 228. We’re always digging for what’s next, from established heavy hitters to rising bands that deserve a bigger spotlight. This week, six new songs officially hit The Sound 228 rotation. 🎸 NEW THIS WEEK Backhand Blue – “Preaching to the Choir”Backhand Blue kicks off this week’s additions with “Preaching to the Choir,” bringing another fresh name into The Sound 228 rotation. PRESIDENT – “Sleepwalker”PRESIDENT continues to make noise with

Metallica officially entered the Sphere era Thursday night, launching the band’s Life Burns Faster residency in Las Vegas with a career-spanning performance built around the venue’s enormous wraparound screen. The October 1 opening show featured 15 full Metallica songs plus a Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo instrumental duet. The band began with the rapid-fire attack of “Battery” before moving through more than four decades of material—including “Creeping Death,” “The Shorte

Dead Poet Society have released their third full-length album, Monarch, today, October 2, through Spinefarm Records. The 12-song project builds on the Southern California band’s combination of distorted guitars, elastic bass, electronic production and soaring hooks—but refuses to remain inside a single rock-radio lane. Across its 41-minute runtime, Monarch moves between heavy alternative rock, dark electronic grooves, punk energy and atmospheric melodies. Apple Music confirms

Sacramento rock veterans OLEANDER are entering a new chapter. The band has officially signed with SBG Records, adding another milestone to a career that has stretched across decades and produced some of the most recognizable songs from the late-’90s and early-2000s alternative rock era. The announcement comes just ahead of OLEANDER’s appearance at Aftershock Festival, bringing the Sacramento natives back into the spotlight in their hometown market at one of the biggest rock f

Twenty years after Steve Gleason delivered the blocked punt that became a symbol of New Orleans’ comeback, the Saints legend is telling a new story through music. Gleason has announced REBIRTH, a 12-song cycle created with an extensive cast of New Orleans musicians. The project began its episodic rollout October 1 through Ineffable Joy Records, an independent New Orleans label founded by Gleason, Stephen Rehage and Jim Salters. Its first two songs are available now. “Soul Is

Blind Channel have unleashed “Into the Void,” a new collaboration featuring Of Mice & Men vocalist and bassist Aaron Pauley. Released October 1, the track is the fourth and final advance single from Blind Channel’s sixth studio album, Painstream, arriving October 30 through Century Media Records. Spotify credits the recording to Blind Channel, Pauley and Of Mice & Men. “Into the Void” pushes Blind Channel’s modern-metal attack into darker territory while exploring a much bigg

Chuck Varga, a founding member of GWAR and the artist behind the band’s legendary Sexecutioner character, has died at age 68 following a public battle with cancer. GWAR bassist and vocalist Casey Orr, better known onstage as Beefcake the Mighty, announced Varga’s death on September 25. Orr said Varga died peacefully while his wife, Bambi, held his hand. “He was one of a kind,” Orr wrote, remembering Varga as an artist, performer, scholar and gentleman. Varga Helped Build GWAR

Cold have announced two significant lineup changes affecting the alternative-metal veterans during their current UK and European tour. The band revealed on September 24 that drummer Tony Kruszka was recently hospitalized with a stomach condition. Kruszka is undergoing medical testing as doctors work to determine what is causing the problem. The health issue prevented Kruszka from joining Cold for the band’s current overseas run with (hed)p.e. El Drumwrench has temporarily ste

Earshot have been forced to cancel the remainder of their current tour with Heartsick after a member unexpectedly left the band in the middle of the run. The active-rock veterans announced the news in a statement shared September 23. Although Earshot did not identify the departing musician, the band confirmed that the sudden exit left it unable to continue performing with its current lineup. Earshot attempted to locate a temporary replacement, but the band was unable to find

Bullet For My Valentine Announce New Album Social Apocalypse Featuring Will Ramos and Chrissy Costanza Bullet For My Valentine are officially entering a new era. The Welsh metalcore giants have announced their next studio album, Social Apocalypse, arriving March 19, 2027, through Spinefarm Records. Alongside the announcement, the band released the album’s title track and an official music video, giving fans their first taste of what is coming. “Social Apocalypse” carries the

Wendy’s just gave “sad meal” an entirely new meaning. The fast-food chain has officially released a six-song emo and pop-punk EP titled Songs to Listen to in a Wendy’s Parking Lot. Released in partnership with Rise Records, the project features recognizable voices from several bands familiar to The Sound 228 audience. Instead of treating the release like a throwaway commercial, Wendy’s recruited established musicians and producer Matt Squire, whose credits include Panic! At T

Rose Tattoo frontman Gary “Angry” Anderson has died at 79. His family and band announced the news today, September 23, confirming that he died September 21 surrounded by loved ones in Australia. Anderson had suffered cardiac arrest during Rose Tattoo’s European farewell tour in August. Photo Credit: Kim Carns/The Rockpit Anderson led Rose Tattoo for roughly 50 years, and the Australian hard-rock pioneers influenced bands including Guns N’ Roses. Sources: Rose Tattoo’s officia

Alien Ant Farm is turning up the pressure with its new single, “Gaslighter,” a hard-hitting track centered on manipulation, emotional control and the toxic mind games that can leave someone questioning their own reality. Watch the video here. Videohttps://youtu.be/ECsXTo_jvoo?is=SrsfEacI2b76eDCA Released September 22 through Judge & Jury Records, the fast-moving song clocks in at just over two and a half minutes and finds the Southern California rock veterans delivering anoth

One of heavy metal’s most influential festivals is officially returning. Sharon Osbourne has confirmed that Ozzfest will make its long-awaited comeback in 2027, beginning with an event at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, followed by plans to bring the festival back to the United States. The Birmingham edition is expected to take place across two days at Villa Park—the same stadium where Ozzy Osbourne delivered his emotional final performance during the historic “Back to the

Hinder rolled into Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi and once again proved why they have remained a force in rock music for more than two decades. Delivering a hit-filled performance packed with energy, storytelling, and fan interaction, the band showed that a Hinder concert is much more than a show. It’s an experience. The band’s connection to the Mississippi Gulf Coast runs deep. Hinder first performed in Biloxi in 2005 at Point Cadet for CPR’s Rocks the Point, just two days