Essex punks The Meffs have revealed their newest single 'God Complex' ft. Donots, another glimpse of their second album Business, coming 11th September via FLG. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/bZ0ygWcGv4g
Stream the single here: https://ffm.to/themeffs-godcomplex
Pre-order Business here: https://ffm.bio/businessalbum

The band comment: "Who are you when nobody's watching? We all know someone who portrays the perfect life, ready to one-up you at any chance, but it's a scary place behind the mask. Featuring special guest Ingo from German punk rock band, DONOTS, and with a huge earworm of a riff, this is The Meffs' biggest genre-crossover to date. Taken from Business out on FLG in September. Produced by SiKth guitarist, Dan Weller."

Despite a whirlwind 2025, which included supports with The Sex Pistols, The Undertones, selling out headline shows across the UK and Europe, Glastonbury, 2000trees, and Download Festival, Lily (guitar and vocals) and Lewis (drums) somehow managed to find the time to write and record 11 tracks of their most politically charged, hard-hitting music to date.

With producer Dan Weller at the helm, Business is a modern punk classic. Fan favourites like 'So Modern' (Keep Up)' are captured with all the energy and scuzziness from the band's live show, and title track 'Business' goes hard, taking taking aim at the challenges found within today's music industry.

There is no shortage of fast paced moments; 'Love To Lose' is the ideal hype song, while 'Fight' crams minutes of energy into one thirty second burst. Other highlights include 'Disorder (Wake Up)' - a commentary on the world as we know it; or 'Like Gravity', a journey of self-deprecation. On Business, The Meffs prove they are not a band to be pigeonholed. 

Since exploding onto the UK scene, The Meffs have built up a reputation as purveyors of frantic punk rock and an absolute must-see live sensation. A hugely impressive DIY outfit, they have already supported Alice Cooper, Kings of Leon at BST Hyde Park, Bearded Theory, Beautiful Days festival, and The Damned. The duo are also Music Venue Trust patrons and longtime supporters of grassroots venues - and are currently supporting Stiff Little Fingers across the UK.

Business will only see the band deliver their values to an ever-increasing circle - an unashamedly powerful record, political and astute, and begging to be played loud.

The Meffs are:
Lily Hopkins (vocals/guitar)
Lewis Copsey (drums/backing vocals)

Watch The Meffs live:

21/08/2026    Parkenfestivalen    Bodø    Norway
22/08/2026    Pstereo Festival    Trondheim    Norway

30/08/2026    All Points East    London    UK (supporting Twenty One Pilots)

05/09/2026    The Foundry Burn It Down    Torquay    GB

03/10/2026    North East Calling    Northumbria University    Newcastle upon Tyne    GB
10/10/2026    Cretin Hop Festival    La Boissière-de-Montaigu    FR

16/10/2026    Live Music Hall    Köln    DE (supporting Levellers)
17/10/2026    Muziekgieterij    Masstricht     NL (supporting Levellers)
18/10/2026    The Depot    Leuven    NL (supporting Levellers)
20/10/2026    The Picturedome     Holmfirth    UK (supporting Levellers)
22/10/2026    Mandela Hall    Belfast    UK (supporting Levellers)
23/10/2026    Vicar Street    Dublin    IE (supporting Levellers)
24/10/2026    Barrowland Ballroom    Glasgow    UK (supporting Levellers)
29/10/2026    York Barbican    York    UK (supporting Levellers)
30/10/2026    Venue    Llandudno    UK (supporting Levellers)
06/11/2026    Substage    Karlsruhe    DE (supporting Itchy)
07/11/2026    Sputnikhalle    Münster    DE (supporting Itchy)
08/11/2026    M.A.U.    Rostock    DE 
10/11/2026    TOWER Musikclub    Bremen    DE
11/11/2026    The Pump    Kiel    DE
12/11/2026    Kleine Freiheit    Osnabrück    DE
13/11/2026    Capitol Hannover    Hannover    DE (supporting Itchy)
14/11/2026    Beatpol    Dresden    DE (supporting Itchy)
19/11/2026    Rock City    Nottingham    UK (supporting Levellers)
20/11/2026    The Prospect Building    Bristol    UK (supporting Levellers)
21/11/2026    Eventim Apollo    London    UK(supporting Levellers)
12/12/2026    The Adrian Flux Waterfront    Norwich    UK (supporting Sham 69)

The Meffs online:
https://www.facebook.com/Themeffsuk
https://www.instagram.com/themeffsuk

Tracklist:

1. Dreamin'
2. What A Nightmare
3. Where Did It All Go Wrong?
4. Business
5. Law
6. Fight
7. Disorder (Wake Up)
8. Love To Lose
9. So Modern (Keep Up)
10. God Complex
11. Like Gravity 

Photo Credit: Levi Price

Slothrust are pleased to present 'Dystopian Cemetery' and 'Twisted Paradise,' two brand new singles from the acclaimed LA-based alt-rock veterans, that examine queer romance and sleep paralysis. The singles are taken from new album What They Grow In The Garden, out 18th September via Equal Vision / Rude Records.

Watch the 'Dystopian Cemetery' lyric video here: https://youtu.be/hHMCqUaAtpM

Watch the 'Twisted Paradise' visualiser here: https://youtu.be/j5SQ0RnZBGk

Pre-save What They Grow In The Garden here: slothrust.lnk.to/WhatTheyGrowintheGarden

Pre-order What They Grow In The Garden here: https://www.ruderecords.com/collections/what-they-grow-in-the-garden

“Do not forget the delights that are possible within your own mind,” Leah Wellbaum of Slothrust says of 'Dystopian Cemetery,' a song featuring a collaboration with noted producer/keyboardist Willy Beaman. “Tap back into the freedom mindset you felt as a child and follow what charms you. Pull on the threads of curiosity and let them lead you to the magic of your consciousness.” 

Of 'Twisted Paradise,' Wellbaum adds, “I have always been incredibly impacted by my dreams — I have experienced profound healing from my dreams, as well as incredibly disturbing mental states that linger for days. This song examines the beauty and the horror of the subconscious mind when it is let off its leash at night when we go to sleep” .

Produced by Slothrust and Jordan Witzigreuter (The Ready Set), What They Grow In The Garden, the band’s forthcoming Equal Vision Records debut, is the result of a band pushing itself to the absolute limit: the riffs hit harder, the hooks are catchier, the stylistic shifts even more unexpected. Billed as “dystopian theatre rock,” the album’s 12 tracks make good on that promise — a band once compared to Nirvana now sounds more like a grungier Queen, or the best album Muse never made. 

Lyrically, the album is also an examination of the hive mind that explores what it means to be human and live in a system designed to exploit our perceived weaknesses by means of capitalism. The band wanted to explore old archetypal places like “the garden” and “the lake” through an allegorical and surrealist lens that encourages listeners to look inward for their big truths instead of at their phones. "We really want people to take away a message from this album of self-liberation amidst the flickers of seemingly inescapable dread," Leah Wellbaum and Will Gorin of Slothrust said. "Despite the permeating blue light of the external world, it is still possible to find your freedom and identify your core truths if you go within." 

Gravitating toward demos that spoke to a more universal dissatisfaction, Wellbaum kept in mind their musical peers suffering in a collapsing industry; they thought of the screen-addiction epidemic; they thought of life under late capitalism and overconsumption. All of these, of course, are connected: it keeps us numbed. “We're getting further and further away from tactile, organic humanity,” Wellbaum says, and urges listeners to access the agency they have within these systems. A backlash against digital dependency, the songs on What They Grow In The Garden detail the impossibility of truly outrunning complicity, but they make some leeway into stepping away from the cold blue light of phone screens. 

Every Slothrust album is more ambitious than the last, from their lo-fi beginnings on 2012’s Feels Your Pain to the polished rock on 2021’s Parallel Timeline, produced by longtime Garbage engineer Billy Bush. While the band has changed a lot over the years, they’ve never lost their capacity for surprise. What They Grow In The Garden may be Slothrust’s first album as a duo, but it’s their biggest and wildest record to date. 

Slothrust online:
Official | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

What They Grow In The Garden track list:

1 - Dissolve The Delusion
2 - Burn The Deck
3 - Smile
4 - Ring The Bell
5 - Twisted Paradise
6 - Hearst Castle
7 - 00101001
8 - What A Night
9 - Absolute Power
10 - Keep Us Thirsty
11 - The Lake
12 - Dystopian Cemetery

Photo Credit: Sabrina Joy 

New York-based death metal corpse grinders UNDEATH have announced a UK headline tour. The news follows their signing to Relapse Records who will release their highly anticipated 4th studio full-length.

The headline tour, which also includes dates in Italy and Germany, follows their extensive run supporting Suffocation throughout Europe.

UK Dates:

4 Nov - Milton Keynes, Craufurd Arms
5 Nov - London, Downstairs at The Dome
7 Nov  - Leeds, Boom
8 Nov - Glasgow, Slay
10 Nov - Liverpool, Quarry
11 Nov - Birmingham, Flapper
12 Nov - Southampton, The Joiners
 
UNDEATH recently finished recording their to-be-announced, new full-length album with Colin Marston (Krallice, Gorguts, Defeated Sanity, Origin & more) @ Menegroth / The Thousand Caves studio in Pennsylvania.
 
UNDEATH frontman Alexander Sason commented: “It’s time to unveil the next chapter for UNDEATH: We’re honored to announce that we’ve signed to Relapse Records. Relapse is a label every member of this band has admired and respected since we were young metalheads obsessing over Necrophagist and Dying Fetus, and for our band to now be a part of that amazing history (and such a badass roster full of bands we love) feels like a dream actualized.
 
"Our fourth album is recorded and in the chamber. We’ll have more details on that a little later, but for now just know that our fastest, darkest and most straight up evil record to date is on the way, and Relapse putting it out just feels right.”
 
UNDEATH rose to infamy since forming in Rochester, New York, in 2018. From the gory, wild-eyed splatter of the band's embryonic period (Demo '19 and Sentient Autolysis) to the fervent fan and press acclaim of debut Lesions of a Different Kind (2020), the Billboard Chart-topping successor It's Time...To Rise from the Grave (2022) & most recently More Insane (2024).
 
Previous album It's Time... To Rise from the Grave caught a wave of acclaim on TheNeedleDrop's YouTube channel, earned Best New Music from Pitchfork, and, most impressively, rocketed to the top of Decibel Magazine's Top 40 Albums of 2022, along with a coveted cover feature.
 
The Rochesterians' mastery of the extremely extreme is no mean feat. They've logged over 250 shows to date (sharing the stage with Exodus, The Black Dahlia Murder, Suffocation, et al.), played festivals in the U.S. (Decibel Metal & Beer Fest, Milwaukee Metalfest), Denmark (Copenhell), the Netherlands (Into the Grave), the U.K. (Download, Damnation), and Beam even has a Dunable Guitars signature model, the 'Skeletonizer.'

UNDEATH online:
https://undeathmetal.com/
https://www.instagram.com/undeathNY/
https://www.facebook.com/undeathNY/
https://undeath.bandcamp.com/

Photo Credit: Frank Guerra

Colorado's genre-defying Dreadnought have announced the pre-order for their forthcoming album Wars of Spirit // Wards of Light, due 11th September via Vesperian. Alongside the announcement, the band have unveiled a second glimpse of the record with new single 'Colors Of Our Broken Hearts'.

Stream the single and/or pre-order the album here: https://tr.ee/vesperian_dreadnought

With Wars of Spirit // Wards of Light, Dreadnought enter the most clearly defined and boldly reinvented chapter of their career to date. Continuing to bend and re-code the boundaries of heavy music, the album moves between chaos, purity and power, weaving synthesizers and electronic elements into a songwriting approach that feels more direct and immediate than ever, while retaining the expansive, otherworldly character that has always made the Colorado band so difficult to categorise. Described by Dreadnought as "World Building Metal Etherea," the record is a fitting evolution of a sound that has never sat comfortably within a single genre.

Where previous releases unfolded across vast and demanding terrain, Wars of Spirit // Wards of Light finds Dreadnought at their most focused, sharper and more immediate yet no less ambitious or singular. Progressive metal, folk, electronics and atmospheric exploration converge across an album that moves between stillness and upheaval, grief and transcendence, tracing an inner conflict that feels simultaneously cosmic and deeply personal.

The album was mixed by Julius Mauranen of Oranssi Pazuzu and mastered by Jaakko Viitalähde, while its visual world comes courtesy of Eisner Award-winning artist Christian Ward. His psychedelic, neon-charged artwork provides a fitting visual counterpart to an album that refuses easy definition.

Still impossible to define. Still impossible to ignore.

Check out previous single 'The Archive' here. 

Discography:
Lifewoven (2013)
Bridging Realms (2015)
A Wake in Sacred Waves (2017)
Emergence (2019)
The Endless (2022) 

Dreadnought are:
Jordan Clancy: Drums, Percussion
Kevin Handlon: Bass Guitar
Kelly Schilling: Vocals, Guitars, Keys, Synth
Ryan Sims: Vocals, Guitars

Dreadnought online:
 www.dreadnoughtdenver.com   
www.instagram.com/dreadnoughtdenver  
www.facebook.com/dreadnoughtband 
www.dreadnoughtdenver.bandcamp.com  

Vesperian online:
www.vesperian.world
www.instagram.com/vesperian.world/

Tracklist 

1. Tiamat's Gate
2. The Archive
3. Colors Of Our Broken Hearts
4. Serpents Of The Moon
5. Aeonwar
6. The Twilight Protectorate

German hardcore powerhouse HALF ME return with their crushing new single 'Psalm', offering another dark and unsettling glimpse into their upcoming album DOGMA, due for release on 23rd October 2026 via Arising Empire.

With the album’s pre-order already underway and its release drawing ever closer, 'Psalm' reveals a slower, more brooding side of HALF ME while losing none of the weight and intensity at the core of their sound.

Watch 'Psalm' here: https://youtu.be/_avFeVaHWyc
Pre-order DOGMA here: https://arisingempire.com/halfme

Trading outright chaos for cold introspection, 'Psalm' is driven by sparse grooves, sombre melodies and raw vocals that gradually pull the listener deeper into its oppressive atmosphere. Rather than relying on sheer force, the track builds its impact through restraint and tension, allowing every groove and vocal line to carry a sense of unease. It is a colder and more deliberate approach that broadens HALF ME’s sonic palette without abandoning the crushing heaviness that defines the band.

Lyrically, 'Psalm' confronts obedience, denial and faith built on fragile foundations. Images of golden gospels and paper prayers expose the emptiness behind systems of belief that demand submission without question, while the recurring “Will we ever learn?” becomes increasingly haunting as the track unfolds. The result is a song that turns HALF ME’s aggression inward, replacing immediate chaos with a lingering sense of dread and sharpening the thematic edge of their songwriting in the process.

That sense of disillusionment connects directly to the wider concept behind DOGMA. The album reflects on a society willingly taking part in its own collapse, exploring how fear, division and manufactured dilemmas keep people occupied with survival while discouraging them from questioning the systems around them. Truth and lies dissolve into blurred lines, creating a state in which obedience becomes normalized and people unknowingly participate in their own downfall.

Rather than pretending to offer solutions, DOGMA begins from the unsettling assumption that the damage may already be irreversible. The record instead asks listeners to look closer, challenge what is presented as absolute truth and expose the structures that thrive on fear and obedience. HALF ME’s upcoming crusades extend that same idea, not as a call to arms, but as an invitation to look behind the dogma.

Within that world, 'Psalm' stands out through its controlled intensity. Crushing metallic hardcore remains at its foundation, but the song gives atmosphere, dynamics and emotional weight more room to breathe. Its restrained approach makes the moments of heaviness hit even harder and demonstrates how HALF ME continue to push their sound beyond straightforward aggression.

Since emerging from Germany’s heavy music scene, HALF ME have established themselves as one of the country’s most exciting modern hardcore acts. Following their debut album SOMA, millions of streams and extensive touring across Europe, the band have built a reputation for combining uncompromising heaviness with a willingness to push beyond the conventions of the genre.

With 23rd October moving closer, 'Psalm' adds another piece to the increasingly bleak world of DOGMA. Haunting, heavy and deliberately restrained, the single shows a different side of HALF ME and offers another indication of the range and intensity that awaits on the new record.

HALF ME - European Crusade 2026
27.11.2026 | Dynamo | Eindhoven, NL
28.11.2026 | Musikzentrum | Hannover, DE
29.11.2026 I Die Stadtmitte I Karlsruhe, DE
30.11.2026 | Das Bett | Frankfurt am Main, DE
01.12.2026 | Naumanns I Leipzig, DE
02.12.2026 | Weberknecht I Vienna, AT
03.12.2026 | Mechanik I Warsaw, PL
05.12.2026 | Subzero I Prague, CZ
06.12.2026 | Kent Club I Hamburg, DE
08.12.2026 | Backstage By The Mill I Paris, FR
09.12.2026 | Downstairs At The Dome I London, UK
10.12.2026 | Key Club I Leeds, UK
11.12.2026 | Rebellion I Manchester, UK
12.12.2026 | O2 Institute3 I Manchester, UK
13.12.2026 I Gebäude 9 I Cologne, DE
15.12.2026 I Schüür I Luzern, CH
16.12.2026 I Hansa 39 I Munich, DE
17.12.2026 I Skaters Palace Cafe I Münster, DE
18.12.2026 I Mikropol I Berlin, DE
19.12.2026 I Z-Bau I Nürnberg, DE
20.12.2026 I Tower I Bremen, DE

HALF ME online:
https://www.instagram.com/halfme.band
https://www.tiktok.com/@half_me
https://www.facebook.com/halfmeband

Inkcarceration Tattoo + Music Festival - a recent 2x Pollstar Global Festival Of the Year nominee - has announced dates for the 2027 event. Following a massive, sold-out 2026 event with 90,000 music fans, Inkcarceration will return to the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio the weekend of 16-18 July 2027.
 
The Inkcarceration subscriber presale begins Friday, 21 August at 12pm ET with sign ups available at the festival website. 3-Day GA and VIP passes, plus camping and parking, go on sale to the public Monday 24 August at 12 PM ET. Jampack hotel packages available NOW here.
 
Fans can secure their spot for as little as $1 down, with flexible layaway options available. Service fees on all pass purchases include a charity fee for the DWP Foundation, which gives back to local and national charities throughout the year.
 
In 2026, Inkcarceration hosted another unforgettable year with a sold-out crowd of 90,000 music fans and 65 bands on three stages including Disturbed, Bad Omens and Limp Bizkit, as well as Papa Roach, Cypress Hill, Hollywood Undead, Gojira, The Used, Sleeping with Sirens, A Day To Remember, Motionless In White, Ice Nine Kills and many more.
 
Beyond the music, other unique elements of Inkcarceration Tattoo + Music Festival included 100 tattoo artists and tattoo competitions, as well as the Blood Prison haunted attraction and tours of the prison made famous in the movie The Shawshank Redemption.
 
The 2026 edition of Inkcarceration Tattoo + Music Festival received widespread media acclaim, including:
 
“Organizers have transformed the prison grounds into a venue for one of the most extreme music and art gatherings in all of North America.” — VICE
 
“One of the more unique rock and metal festivals taking place across the U.S., Inkcarceration fully embodies counterculture, bringing noteworthy names in tattooing to the same place you can get a tour of a haunted prison.” — Loudwire
 
"In a world that often feels increasingly divided, Inkcarceration offered a welcome reminder that beneath the distortion, blast beats, and breakdowns lies one of music's most welcoming communities."  — Metal Injection
 
“Every year attending Inkcarceration…feels like a family reunion.” — Mansfield News Journal
 
Inkcarceration is co-produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America, and Reinkcarceration LLC, a partnership that formed with the original founders of INK in 2021.

For more information on Inkcarceration, please visit:
 
Website: https://inkcarceration.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Inkcarcerationfestival
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inkcarfestival
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkcarcerationfestival/

Danny Wimmer Presents has announced the full music lineup for the 14th year of Aftershock, on 1-4th October at the scenic Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA, USA.

Festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents has announced the daily music schedule for the 14th year of Aftershock, 1-4 October 2026, at the scenic Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA.

My Chemical Romance, TOOL, Limp Bizkit and Pierce The Veil will headline the West Coast's Largest Rock, Punk & Metal Festival, featuring 140+ artists--the largest Aftershock lineup yet - along with the addition of a 5th stage to the expanded festival site.
 
The 2026 Aftershock mobile app has launched for iPhone and Android here, and gives fans the option to create personalised itineraries.
 
The full music schedule for Aftershock 2026 is as follows (subject to change) and can also be found online here.

Festival gates open at 11:00 AM daily.

Some of the special appearances and reunions at Aftershock 2026 will include:
 
My Chemical Romance: Celebrating 20 years of The Black Parade
Wu-Tang Clan: Performance from the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees as part of their Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber tour
Circa Survive: West Coast Reunion show (no shows since 2021)
The Story So Far: Hometown show
Dance Gavin Dance: Hometown show and exclusive Bay Area performance
Cavalera: Exclusive West Coast performance of their iconic Sepultura album Roots - live for the first time in nearly a decade
Wolfmother: 20th Anniversary Tour
Chad Gray, the voice of Mudvayne and Hellyeah: “30 Years of Madness” solo performance performing the hits of both Mudvayne and Hellyeah
DRAIN: Home area show
Thursday: Celebrating anniversaries of three albums: 25 years of Full Collapse, 20 years of A City By the Light Divided, and 15 years of No Devolución
From First To Last: Reunion and rare performance
Kylesa: Reunion and first West Coast show since 2015
Municipal Waste: 25th Anniversary set
Oleander: Hometown reunion show (no shows since 2018)
Spite: Hometown show
Drowning Pool: Sinner 25th Anniversary performance
The Union Underground: First California show in 24 years
Drop Dead, Gorgeous: Reunion show
Ünloco: Reunion Show
Red: Celebrating 20 years of End of Silence
Austin Carlile: The original voice of Of Mice & Men

“This year’s Aftershock marks a bold new chapter for the festival. We’ve brought together metal, punk, emo, and nu-metal to create a lineup that’s raw, youthful, and unapologetic,” says Danny Wimmer of DWP. “With TOOL anchoring the weekend and Pierce The Veil making their headlining debut, we’re breaking boundaries and redefining what Aftershock can be. And after years of fan requests, we’re finally introducing camping — giving fans the chance to fully immerse themselves in the weekend. This is a new era for Aftershock, and Sacramento is about to feel it.”

In addition to music, Aftershock also offers various fan-favourite onsite experiences that elevate the festival weekend, including: 
 
Tremors Dive Bar: Cold, Dark & Loud. A proper dive bar with air conditioning, strong drinks, and music all day.
 
Cantina del Diablo (New for 2026): An open-air cantina featuring Mexican street fare, tequila and mezcal cocktails, cold cerveza, and refreshing beverages. Built for shared plates, strong pours, and good trouble under the trees. Hosted by Jose “Metal Ambassador” Mangin.
 
Aftershock x Jungle Bird Tiki Bar: A tropical reset in the middle of the madness. Back together with Sacramento's favorite The Jungle Bird, this air-conditioned hideaway serves curated tiki cocktails in an island-inspired backdrop.
 
Overtime Sports Bar (New for 2026): Just steps away from the newly added stage, The Point. This shaded spot will be tuned into the biggest regional and national games all weekend.

Aftershock 4-Day and Single Day General Admission, VIP, and Capital Club passes are on sale now, starting at $1 down using layaway.

Capital Club perks include access to a private, elevated mainstage viewing platform, an exclusive air-conditioned lounge with comfortable seating, all-inclusive drinks, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, a dedicated merch stand, Wi-Fi, fast-track entry, air-conditioned restrooms and more.

For the first time ever, Aftershock will offer official RV and Car + Tent camping at nearby Cal Expo for a fully immersive weekend experience. Festival re-entry is included with camping passes, and shuttle passes are available for purchase. In addition, campers will also get access to the Aftershock Wednesday Night Camping Pre-Party hosted by Rock & Brews, featuring a happy hour with complimentary beer and well drinks, free mini golf and batting cages, plus food and drink specials available throughout the weekend. All camping details can be found here. 

And new for 2026, the Coast to Coast Pass offers entry to both Aftershock in Sacramento and Welcome To Rockville in Daytona Beach, May 7-10, 2026. Find more details here.

Fans can book official Aftershock hotel and admission packages, which allow festival re-entry each day and additional perks via Jampack. Hotel packages start as low as $10 down.

Weekend and daily Park & Ride passes to and from Cal Expo are also available for purchase as an add-on option for the most convenient way to get to the festival grounds, as there is no onsite parking at Aftershock. Each Park & Ride Shuttle Pass includes free parking for a vehicle at Cal Expo and a nonstop shuttle to and from the festival site. 
 
All details on festival passes, including Jampack hotel packages, camping and parking passes can be found here.

The DWP Foundation will continue its charitable efforts in 2026, with nonprofit partners to be announced at a later date. 

Aftershock is teaming up with an incredible lineup of partners, bringing even more energy to Sacramento. DWP gives thanks to Beatbox Beverages, Coors Light, Firestone Walker Brewing, Jack Daniel's, Red Bull, Sun Cruiser, and Topo Chico. Stay tuned for more to explore from the festival partners.

Aftershock 2026 community partners include: Visit Sacramento, County of Sacramento, City of Sacramento and Cal Expo. 

Aftershock is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America.

In 2025, Aftershock welcomed 164,000+ fans from all 50 states and more than 30 countries, generating an estimated $39 million in local economic impact. 
 
Discovery Park is conveniently located near downtown Sacramento at 1600 Garden Highway, where the American and Sacramento Rivers meet.

For more information on Aftershock, visit:

Website: https://aftershockfestival.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AftershockFestival
Twitter: https://x.com/AFTERSHOCKSAC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aftershockfestival
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aftershockfestival
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aftershocksac
Hashtag: #aftershock #aftershockfestival

Photo Credit: Jacob Moinz

Alternative rock outfit Anberlin have announced CURRENCY, the band's highly anticipated ninth studio album and the first full-length release to feature Matty Mullins as lead vocalist. Marking the beginning of a bold new chapter, CURRENCY builds on the momentum of 2024's Vega, where Mullins made his recording debut on two tracks, and signals a renewed creative energy for a band that has continually evolved throughout their nearly 25-year career. Produced by the band alongside Kellen McGregor (Memphis May Fire), the eleven-track album embraces both Anberlin's storied past and an exciting future, proving that growth and reinvention can coexist without sacrificing the band's unmistakable identity.

To coincide with the album announcement, the band have released their first single from the new record 'NEVERAFTER' and accompanying music video, directed by Anberlin drummer Nathan Young, and Jacob Moniz.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/lGZr-AO4Swc

Pre-order CURRENCY here: https://anberlin.lnk.to/CURRENCY

On the new record, vocalist Matty Mullins shares “The overall theme of CURRENCY is what happens after everything you built your identity on falls apart. It’s a journey through heartbreak, loss, addiction, shame, and the lies we tell ourselves. Instead of staying in the wreckage, it’s about finding the strength to face the truth, let go of what was killing you, and become someone new. I believe that healing doesn’t begin when the pain ends, it begins when you finally stop running from it.”

Rather than looking back with hesitation, CURRENCY finds Anberlin moving forward with confidence. Drawing from a collection of previously unfinished songs while giving Mullins the space to leave his own creative mark, the album balances soaring rock anthems with deeply reflective moments, exploring themes of perseverance, vulnerability, and hope. Featuring standout tracks including 'Neverafter,' 'Highstakes,' and the emotionally resonant 'Trenches' featuring Switchfoot, CURRENCY reaffirms Anberlin's commitment to creating music that connects through honesty and resilience. More than simply the next album in the band's catalogue, CURRENCY is a statement of renewal—one that celebrates where Anberlin has been while embracing everything that lies ahead.

Anberlin will hit the road with longtime friends and alternative rock mainstays Switchfoot for an extensive run of tour dates later this year. The tour brings together two of the genre's most enduring and influential bands, giving fans the opportunity to experience Anberlin's next chapter live while celebrating a catalogue that has resonated for nearly 25 years. As the band ushers in a new era with CURRENCY, the upcoming shows promise a dynamic set that blends beloved fan favourites with the powerful new material, underscoring the renewed energy and excitement driving Anberlin forward.

Anberlin are:
Matty Mullins (Vocals),
Christian McAlhaney (Guitar & Vocals)
Joseph Milligan (Guitar)
Deon Rexroat (Bass)
Nathan Young (Drums).

Anberlin online:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify

CURRENCY track listing:

1. NEVERAFTER
2. GRAVITY
3. HIGHSTAKES
4. GHOST
5. MEDICATE
6. TRENCHES ft. Switchfoot
7. AFTERMATH
8. RELAPSE
9. DISPLACE
10. LIES
11. ASHES

Photo Credit: V. Valadez

Louisiana deathgrind powerhouse, BRAT, have released their retaliatory new track, 'Trophy Hunting', which vocalist Liz Selfish says centres around reactive abuse. “Trophy Hunting is a classic tale of older men seeking a trophy wife that they can control," explains Selfish. "The video showcases the brutal aftermath of a young wife who has had enough”.

Stream the video for 'Trophy Hunting', directed by John Coglan, here: https://youtu.be/dL-4K_GyVLo

BRAT will release their new LP, Manslayer, on 25th September via Prosthetic Records. 

Pre-order/save BRAT's Manslayer here: https://brat.ffm.to/manslayer

BRAT's eagerly awaited second album was tracked at Chicago's Bricktop Recording, produced, engineered, and mixed by Weekend Nachos' Andy Nelson, and mastered by Brad Boatright (Deadguy, Pig Destroyer, Lathe of Heaven) with maximum weight and minimum mercy. 

The follow-up to BRAT's 2024 debut, Social Grace, Manslayer features 17 tracks of primitive death metal, garrotting thrash, and swamp-drenched hardcore for devotees of the darkest reaches of the underground. 

BRAT will tour the UK in October and November: 

Dates:

28.10 Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach
29.10 Manchester Star & Garter
30.10 Glasgow Room 2
01.11 Birmingham The Flapper
03.11 Bristol The Crofters Rights
04.11 London The Black Heart

The band comment: “We’re so excited to be back in the UK eating beans on toast and knocking heads.”

Ironically for such a violently heavy band as BRAT, a lyrical influence that helped shaped Manslayer was country music. More specifically, BRAT vocalist Liz Selfish gleaned inspiration from its songs about women’s revenge, in which they took their power back and left the lifeless bodies of the men who wronged them in their wake. Take 'Earl' by The Chicks, 'Before He Cheats' by Carrie Underwood, 'Gunpowder & Lead' by Miranda Lambert. They were metal as hell without even trying to be.

Shock-inducing album artwork by Wes Benscoter (Mortician, Slayer), hammers home Manslayer's macabre motif. 

"There’s not a lot of those tropes in death metal," Selfish says by way of contrast, "which I think primarily is because there’s not a lot of women in that space. I thought that was a really cool perspective and I really liked the storytelling aspect of it." In extreme music, it’s far too often been the other way around, where women end up as the corpses, not the ones holding the knives. This seed of an idea was the ideal means for BRAT to add extra dimensions to its sound, which coincided with Liz stepping up to write lyrics for the first time after guitarist and co-founder Brenner Moate had taken the reins on the group's debut.

"It’s quite new territory for me, and it wasn’t necessarily an intentional thing initially,” Liz says. “I wrote the first song for the album, and I just loved writing, and I was like, ‘I really love doing this, and I want to do more, so I ended up writing the whole album. Brenner’s main focus is writing music – he wants to write riffs - so he wasn't too torn up about not writing the lyrics. It was a nice passing of the torch."

Above all, Manslayer represents a scaling up of ambition, sound, and vision for BRAT. The concepts are bigger, the music more widescreen, and it is all bound to translate into absolute mayhem live. As such, BRAT has been announced as one of the spotlight acts at Louisville's Louder than Life Festival on 17th September, where the band will share the stage with Pantera, Danzig, Mastodon, and more and as part of Chicago's Riot Fest on 18th September, alongside Iggy Pop, Pixies, and Sex Pistols. For a full listing of upcoming BRAT tour dates, click here.

“We’re evolving the bimboviolence and the campiness by making it all a little bit darker with this album, and a bit more overtly violent,” says Liz. “I think that will probably reflect in our stage show and our imagery as well, keeping it fun, not a total 180, but definitely progressing into something darker with it.”

BRAT are:
Liz Selfish (vocals)
Brenner Moate (guitars)
Eoghan Mccarthy
Dustin Eagan (drums)
Ian Hennessey (bass)

Find BRAT online:

BratBand.com 
Apple Music 
Bandcamp
Facebook
Instagram
Spotify
TikTok
YouTube
X 

Manslayer tracklisting:
1. Intro
2. Aileen Wuornos
3. Speculum Bleed
4. Bone Spurs
5. Botch Tox
6. Media Slop
7. Trophy Hunting
8. Asking For Hell
9. Heretic Burning
10. Interlude
11. Manslayer (Hell Hath No Fury)
12. Bloody Mary
13. Femicidal Vengeance
14. Spit On His Grave
15. Ways To Kill Your Husband
16. Blistered Tongues
17. Outro