Photo Credit: A Killer's Confession

A Killer’s Confession have returned with 'Roses,' a dark and defiant new single from the band’s forthcoming sixth studio album, Victim 3, due 13th November via MNRK Heavy. The song arrives today alongside an official music video directed and produced by Dusten Boles.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/1FmyFWHzyxEr

Pre-order Victim 3 here: https://ffm.mnrkheavy.com/victim3

Led by vocalist Waylon Reavis, 'Roses' turns feelings of disappointment, neglect and unfulfilled expectations into a statement about abandoning the need for outside approval. Rather than waiting for recognition that may never come, the track embraces the freedom of knowing your own reasons for the choices you make - even when no one else acknowledges them.

Reavis explains: “'Roses' was written from a point of view of where everything that you have done was in vain. We’ve all been to that point of feeling unappreciated, but I feel like roses is a statement of it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you and only you know why you did it. In the end, never look for a pat on the back, because you’ll never get the acknowledgment that you’re seeking. There will be no roses on my grave.”

'Roses' follows the recent release of A Killer’s Confession’s haunting, stripped-back interpretation of The Weeknd’s 'Blinding Lights.' The unexpected cover showcased a different side of the band, dialing down the heaviness to put Reavis’ voice and the song’s underlying melancholy front and centre.

The road to Victim 3 will also unfold onstage this fall as A Killer’s Confession embark on the “Everything Comes Full Circle Tour.” Joined by Dizasterpiece and Dead Things, the North American headline run kicks off 4th November and notably finds the band celebrating the release of Victim 3 from the road.

Fronted by former Mushroomhead vocalist Waylon Reavis, A Killer’s Confession turn the darkest corners of the human psyche into a collision of crushing riffs, sinister atmosphere, infectious melodies and punishing grooves. Since forming in 2016, the band has generated tens of millions of streams with songs including 'Numb'” and 'Angel On The Outside,' while collaborating with artists such as Brian “Head” Welch of Korn, Chad Gray of Mudvayne, Aaron Nordstrom of Gemini Syndrome and Reavis’ former Mushroomhead bandmate JMANN.

On their sixth full-length album, Victim 3 [MNRK Heavy], A Killer’s Confession bring their ambitious three-record narrative to its conclusion. Following Victim 1 and Victim 2, the new album finds its central character, a vigilante serial killer who targeted some of society’s worst offenders, finally facing the consequences of his actions on death row. What may have begun with a warped sense of justice has given way to something far more sinister, bringing the trilogy’s themes of morality, vengeance and accountability full circle.

 Created around the core of Reavis, Evan McKeever and Dusty Boles during sessions in Nashville and Denver, Victim 3 expands both the sound and storytelling of its predecessors. From the dark electronic textures and haunting melodies of 'Roses' to the violent grooves of 'Meat Hook,' the unhinged aggression of 'The One' and the final resignation of 'Worth Saving,' the album follows its protagonist the last stages of his descent and toward an ending from which there is no redemption.

For Reavis, the Victim trilogy has grown into something much larger than a series of records. “This is an art project of storytelling and madness,” he says. “It’s a collection of stories from different individuals in separate time periods with their own agendas. For me, it’s a big passion project. It’s closer to my heart than anything I’ve ever done. I’ve done great things in my career, but nothing compares to this. It gave me purpose. It gave me youth. It gave me fire. It gave me a universe.”

A Killer's Confession online:
Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

Tracklist:

1. The One
2. Meat Hook
3. Roses
4. Sick Condition
5. Blinding Lights
6. Sinners
7. Guillotine
8. Undertow
9. Never Alone
10. Pull Me Under
11. Worth Saving

Photo Credit : Chantik Photography

Norwegian pop/folk outfit Kalandra are now releasing the second new single 'Lost in the Dark', which is taken from the much anticipated third studio album The Other Side. The new album is set for 13th November via By Norse Music.

Watch 'Lost in the Dark' Here: https://youtu.be/QCQDw8GzxlM
Stream here: https://bfan.link/kalandra-dark
Pre-order here: https://bynorsestore.com/en/bnm-pre-orders

The song finds its origin in Kalandra’s early days as 'Lost in the Dark' was written and composed by Helen Morrisson, a dear university friend of the band, who is based on the Isle of Man. Those particularly invested in Kalandra lore may already know that Helen was once part of Kalandra herself, contributing as a songwriter, backing vocalist and pianist.

Katrine explains: "Timelines change, and life inevitably takes us down different paths, but the friendship and the deep love for music that reaches the soul has always remained. We are therefore incredibly honoured to bring 'Lost in the Dark' back to the surface and give this song a new life.

"The song is about self-discovery, and the sometimes relentless search for who we are and
where we belong. Yet the journey can be paradoxical: in searching so deeply for ourselves,
we can sometimes end up feeling more lost than found"

On the album, the band explores the mysterious imagery of the subconscious where memories, fears, and imagination quietly intertwine. Thematically following a series of vivid and recurring dreams over the past few years. Katrine, together with bandmate Jogeir Daae Mæland, began exploring the world of dream analysis. Keeping a notebook by the bed, they started writing down fragments of dreams the moment they woke. Those scattered images, emotions, and subconscious narratives, became the foundation for a new collection of songs.

Kalandra have recently announced their biggest headliner tour in Europe to date, with special guest singer-songwriter Finnegan Tui from New Zealand. The 2027 tour starts on 26th February in Cologne (DE) and ends 27th March in Amsterdam (NL). A full list of confirmed dates can be found below.

Tickets are on sale HERE

Kalandra Norway
26.11.2026 Folken, Stavanger 
27.11.2026 KICK, Kristiansand
04.12.2026 Kulturhuset, Bergen
05.11.2026 Sinus, Bodø
11.12.2026 SALT, Oslo
12.12.2026 HAVET, Trondheim

Kalandra 2027 EU/UK tour w/ Finnegan Tui
26.02.2027 Gebaeude 9, Cologne
27.02.2027 Backstage, Munich
28.02.2027 Im Wizemann Club, Stuttgart
02.03.2027 Trinity, Bristol
03.03.2027 Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
04.03.2027 Slay, Glasgow
05.03.2027 Manchester Academy 2, Manchester
06.03.2027 Islington Assembly Hall, London
07.03.2027 Botanique, Belgium
09.03.2027 Moritzbastei, Leipzig
10.03.2027 Szene Wien, Vienna
11.03.2027 A38, Budapest
12.03.2027 Hype Park, Krakow
13.03.2027 Niebo, Warsaw
14.03.2027 FRANNZ Club, Berlin
16.03.2027 Kollektivet Livet, Stockholm
18.03.2027 Monument, Gothenburg 
19.03.2027 Hotel Cecil, Copenhagen
20.03.2027 Logo, Hamburg
21.03.2027 Rock Café, Czech Republic
23.03.2027 Dynamo, Zurich
24.03.2027 Legend Club, Milano
25.03.2027 Rayonne, Lyon
26.03.2027 Machine du Moulin Rouge, Paris
27.03.2027 Paradiso, Amsterdam

The dream world has inspired many great works of art over the centuries. The phantasmagorical terrain inhabited by Lewis Carroll, Salvador Dali and David Lynch is where we now find Scandinavian alt-prog-folk artisans Kalandra, whose elegant blend of Nordic pop savvy and dark atmospheric rock has been a developing sensation for 15 years. Formed while the core members were studying at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, their remarkably assured 2020 debut album The Line - over 54 million streams and counting - was followed by 2022's immersive video game soundtrack Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands. In 2024, their captivatingly majestic A Frame Of Mind album powerfully affirmed Kalandra's ascendancy - as did their sold-out headline show at Oslo's 1300-capacity Rockefeller venue earlier this year. Their proven genius for weaving ethereal melodies into raw and eerie musical landscapes makes them a perfect fit for a concept album about dreaming, as we are presented with on The Other Side. 

Determining the theme before writing began, the band started 'dream journalling': jotting down their nocturnal visions and working them into songs. "It's been very helpful to write down my dreams," affirms singer Katrine. "It definitely affected how I wrote lyrics. I would love to do this again, have some sort of loose concept, it brings the record together."

"Knowing the theme was dreaming was helpful to me musically too," adds guitarist Florian. "We could have these dreamy effects in there. I feel most of the songs have nightmarish or dreamy parts, one way or another. There are still a lot of different themes here though, there's folklore, current events, introspective stuff, life and death... Everything can fit into dreams lyrically speaking, it's just life, it's all-encompassing." 

Kalandra have long since settled into their own versatile musical identity, embracing effective contrasts between shimmering joy and aching melancholy, sounding atavistically ancient but stylishly contemporary, otherworldly but firmly rooted in woodland soil. Kalandra's open-minded, open-hearted signature sound may take in several reference points, but it remains impervious to easy categorisation. Freely cited inspirations on The Other Side's heavy guitar quotient include Alice In Chains and Bring Me The Horizon, while neoclassical legends Dead Can Dance, Norwegian electro-alt-rockers Pyke and Oslo 'doomgaze' unit Leonov also made their mark on Kalandra's creative psyche. Even so, this is a band that will always obey their own singular muse:

"To me it's about trying to write something I haven't heard before," says Florian. "That's not to say it hasn't been done! But if I haven't heard it before, then it piques my interest."

Line-up:
Katrine Ødegård Stenbekk - Vocals
Jogeir Daae Mæland - Guitar, Keyboard
Florian Bernhard Döderlein Winter - Guitar
Oskar Johnsen Rydh - Drums

Follow Kalandra
https://www.kalandra.no
https://www.facebook.com/Kalandramusic
https://www.instagram.com/kalandramusic

Track-list:
1. In the Shadows
2. Animal 
3. Lost in the Dark
4. Let Me Be Open
5. Chasing Dreams
6. A Ship Has Left the Shore
7. Beauty & the Beast
8. Descend the Stars
9. The Other Side
10. Melanchoholic

Photo Credit: Brocarde 

Paranormal expert and haunting singer Brocarde unveils a video for 'Blank Pages', the latest single taken from her debut album, Good Attendance At Sunday School, released earlier this year. 'Blank Pages' showcases a more delicate and personal side of the experimental artist, whilst retaining her trademark dark undertone.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/_RKCOhFe4H4

Pre-order Good Attendence At Sunday School here: https://brocardemerch.com/products/good-attendance-aot-sunday-school-vinyl

Brocarde, who has experienced numerous paranormal encounters throughout her career, was filming 'Blank Pages', the final music video from her album Good Attendance at Sunday School, when she heard a child laughing before witnessing a mysterious young figure moving through the historic cemetery.

“I’ve experienced paranormal activity many times, so I’m not someone who is easily spooked by a strange noise, a shadow in the corner of my eye or the feeling that I’m being watched,” says Brocarde. “But what happened while I was filming my latest music video at Landoll’s Mohican Castle in Ohio genuinely stopped me in my tracks.”

Brocarde had chosen Landoll’s Mohican Castle as her base while attending Inkcarceration Festival, drawn to the property because of its rich paranormal history. During her stay, she became particularly fascinated by the Heyd Cemetery, an atmospheric burial ground tucked beneath the trees on the castle grounds.

The cemetery is associated with some of the earliest settlers in the area and is surrounded by stories of tragedy, conflict and restless spirits. Among the most well-known spirits associated with the property are Sarah Carnagey and her daughter, Samantha, who both died from typhoid fever in 1857. Their graves have become a focal point for visitors, with toys, coins, trinkets and other offerings left around them.

Brocarde chose the cemetery and nearby Heyd Cabin as locations for 'Blank Pages', a deeply personal song about endings, change and new beginnings. “I decided that the cemetery would be the perfect location to film 'Blank Pages', the final music video from my album Good Attendance at Sunday School,” she says. “The song is one of my most stripped-back and personal, so I wanted the location to feel authentic and atmospheric rather than simply looking like a film set.”

Arriving before dawn, Brocarde began filming in the cemetery while the grounds were still quiet. She found herself repeatedly drawn back towards Sarah and Samantha’s grave before moving inside Heyd Cabin to continue filming.

“I would walk away to film another shot, then somehow end up back there again,” she recalls. “There was no dramatic activity, but I could feel a presence around that particular area of the cemetery. It was one of those sensations that is difficult to explain unless you have experienced it yourself.”

Inside the cabin, Brocarde continued filming with a direct view of the grave through the window. She says the atmosphere intensified as she became immersed in the music. Then the music stopped, leaving the cabin in complete silence.

“And I heard a child laughing,” says Brocarde. “It was a little girl’s giggle, and I immediately turned towards the window.”

What she saw next was the moment that transformed the filming experience. “What I saw next is something I will never forget,” she says. “There was a small figure moving through the cemetery. It appeared to be a young girl wearing a long, flowing dress. Her back was towards me, so I couldn’t see her face, but I could clearly see her moving through the graveyard, almost skipping between the graves.”

As a paranormal expert who has experienced unexplained activity many times, Brocarde says the encounter felt immediately different from a frightening experience. “Having experienced paranormal encounters before, I didn’t immediately assume that I was looking at something threatening. In fact, the feeling was quite the opposite,” she says. “The little girl didn’t feel frightening. She felt peaceful. There was something almost angelic about her.”

Brocarde says the child’s presence felt almost like that of a guardian angel. “There was something almost angelic about the figure,” she recalls. “It felt like I had a guardian angel watching over me momentarily.”

The encounter is perhaps unsurprising given Brocarde’s increasingly deep connection with the paranormal world. Her work has taken her from some of America’s most famous haunted locations to major horror and entertainment brands, where she has combined her musical career with her fascination with the supernatural.

In the United States, Brocarde has been scouted to work with Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights and has investigated some of America’s most notorious haunted locations. Her paranormal adventures have included working with the Lizzie Borden House, where she has explored the infamous murder mysteries surrounding the property, as well as visiting some of America’s most haunted hotels to conduct ghost hunts.

Brocarde is the creator of an enchanting world where dark, haunting aesthetics meet passion-fuelled lyrics and design. Brocarde is a dynamic storyteller who marries both music and fashion in an orchestral explosion, designed to make the ears and eyes bleed. A onewoman horror story, if centuries aligned, Brocarde could almost be the secret lovechild of Edgar Allan Poe and Sylvia Plath.

Brocarde arrived on the music scene in 2019 presenting her debut single 'Last Supper'. She was hailed as “One to Watch” by Planet Rock Magazine, and secured airplay on Kerrang!, Planet Rock and BBC Introducing.

Since then, Brocarde has gone on to gain the praise of some of rock music’s biggest stars, with Whitesnake’s David Coverdale hailing her as an “electrifying, creative new artist” and describing her as “powerful stuff!” Brocarde’s follow-up single, 'Love Me ’Til I’m Beautiful', featured drums by Korn’s Ray Luzier described her writing as a dynamic, theatrical adventure and hailed her as a future star.

Brocarde recently experienced life outside of our dimension, when she found herself being introduced to the spirit world. One dark, stormy night when she was struggling to sleep Brocarde was visited by Edwardo, the ghost of a Victorian soldier. Edwardo wooed Brocarde, and after a short whirlwind romance the couple tied the knot on Halloween 2022.

This lead to appearances on ITV’s This Morning, Say Yes To The Dress and a regular paranormal column in The Daily Star. Following their divorce six months later, she made an appearance on First Dates on Channel 4.

Her paranormal work has also taken her to major music festivals. Brocarde has collaborated with Inkcarceration Festival, as well as appearing in the worlds of Download Festival and Wacken, bringing her distinctive blend of music, gothic performance and paranormal storytelling to some of the biggest names in rock and metal.

Brocarde online:
https://brocarde.com
https://www.instagram.com/brocarde
https://www.tiktok.com/@brocarde
YouTube.com/@thebrocardeshow

Track list:

01 Identity Theft
02 Feed My Soul ft. Ray Luzier
03 Last Supper
04 Haunted    
05 F*ck You Anthem    
06 Pandora's Box    
07 Seven Sins ft. Ray Luzier    
08 F.E.M.I.N.I.S.T    
09 Blank Pages

German metalcore heavyweights Accvsed return with their new single 'Rapture', pushing their sound into darker, more progressive and unsettling territory. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/JMwLzGqYHFg

With 'Rapture', Accvsed refuse to stand still. Darker, sharper and more immersive, the single takes the raw emotional foundation of their previous material and drags it into a hypnotic new abyss. It is the sound of panic becoming temptation, escape becoming dependency and a band pushing its identity into its next uncompromising chapter.

Formed in Wiesbaden in 2021, Accvsed have rapidly grown from a promising underground act into one of Germany's most exciting new names in modern heavy music. Their 2023 debut EP House of Doubt, led by breakout single 'Currents', earned the band attention far beyond their local scene and opened the door to support shows and festival appearances across Germany and neighboring countries.

Their rise accelerated with the release of their debut album Dealers of Doom via Arising Empire in August 2025. Even before the record arrived, its preceding singles had generated more than 2.3 million streams and propelled Accvsed beyond 160,000 monthly Spotify listeners. Extensive live activity followed, including festival appearances and touring across Germany and beyond, further establishing the band's reputation as a rapidly emerging presence in European metalcore.

Accvsed live: 
01.10.2026 I Flex I Vienna, Austria
03.10.2026 I Backstage I München, Germany
04.10.2026 I Im Wizemann I Stuttgart, Germany
06.10.2026 I Rock Café I Praha 1, Czech Republic
07.10.2026 I WERK2 - Halle D I Leipzig, Germany
08.10.2026 I Frannz Club I Berlin, Germany
09.10.2026 I Uebel & Gefährlich I Hamburg, Germany
10.10.2026 I Club Volta I Köln, Germany
13.10.2026 I Schlachthof Wiesbaden I Wiesbaden, Germany
15.10.2026 I The Black Heart I London, United Kingdom

Accvsed online:
https://www.instagram.com/accvsed.band

German heavy music force Half Me unleash 'King', the final single taken from their highly anticipated new album Dogma, set for release on 23rd October 2026 via Arising Empire. With the album drawing closer, 'King' delivers one last devastating glimpse into its uncompromising world, pushing the band’s sound into some of its most brutal and confrontational territory yet.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/6gvjHuhtkYo

Hitting with the force of a wrecking ball, 'King' is a relentless hardcore assault built on crushing riffs, suffocating intensity and a constant sense of impending collapse. Rather than offering an easy release, the track keeps tightening its grip, turning aggression, desperation and inner conflict into an eruption of controlled chaos.

Since emerging from Hamburg’s heavy scene, Half Me have established themselves as one of Germany’s most exciting modern heavy acts. Their debut album SOMA introduced an ambitious collision of metalcore, hardcore, nu-metal and electronic experimentation, earning the band international attention and taking their music far beyond their home country. Through millions of streams, powerful live performances and tours alongside internationally established acts, Half Me have continued to build a reputation for combining uncompromising heaviness with a distinct, forward-thinking identity.

With previous singles already revealing the scope and intensity of their next chapter, 'King' brings the road to Dogma to its most punishing point yet. Brutal, claustrophobic and impossible to shake, the track captures the darkness at the heart of the record while showcasing Half Me at their most direct and merciless.

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, DE
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

Los Angeles-based THE DARK.FM have today released their new single ‘Thai Angel’, out now on all platforms via Arising Empire.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/F3y9ya-DX6Q

Blending modern metal with 80s-inspired guitars, beat-driven verses and a huge, hook-heavy chorus, ‘Thai Angel’ captures the atmosphere of a late-night after-hours spot in Los Angeles.

Speaking of the new single, vocalist Craig Johns Jr. shares:  “'Thai Angel' was the name of an (alleged) after-hours in Koreatown that I would frequent after getting off work at the nightclub around the corner. It was very much a “if you know, you know” type spot. The door was locked, it was hot, crowded, and the DJ was loud as hell."

‘Thai Angel’ is released as part of a three-track bundle, with ‘prometheus.exe’ opening the release and ‘epoch.exe’ closing it out. The three tracks combine in the official music video accompanying the release, creating one continuous visual and musical journey that takes listeners through the immersive world of THE DARK.FM
​
THE DARK.FM occupy a space that has been begging to be occupied within heavy music. A bridge between sounds, communities and cultures that has been ready and waiting for someone to build it. What started as a collaboration between vocalist Craig Johns Jr. and guitarist Alan Ashby that transcended music quickly became about appreciating not just moments in time, but how worlds are built. From flicking through old PlayStation magazines to grasp the visuals that defined the beginning of the Millennium to scouring Rick Owens collections and pondering which daring pieces best represented their intent, the pair quickly found that the strands connecting their passions for music, fashion, and film were deeply intertwined. Throw in childhoods spent being obsessed with The Matrix as much as Slipknot, Korn and Limp Bizkit, as well as a shared appreciation for the universe created within Cyberpunk 2077, and the foundations for something truly exploratory were in place.

The first pieces of those exploratory pursuits resulted in 2025’s The Dark EP, a frenzied blend of rampant beats, guttural breakdowns and uncanny croons, its tracks racking up over 3 million streams, as well as festival appearances at Vans Warped Tour and Sick New World.
​
THE DARK.FM online:
https://www.instagram.com/thedark.fm

Japanese metalcore frontrunners Sable Hills return with their powerful new single 'Homura', featuring an electrifying guest appearance from Fuki of Unlucky Morpheus. The release also marks the start of the pre-order for the band’s new album Homura, set for release on 13th November via Arising Empire.

Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/sablehills

Blending the fire of classic metalcore with melodic death metal intensity and a distinctly Japanese atmosphere, the title track marks another bold step forward for a band that continues to carve out its own identity on the international heavy music scene.

'Homura' arrives at another defining moment in Sable Hills’ remarkable rise. In 2022, the band became the first Japanese act in history to win the grand prize at the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle, a milestone that led to their signing with German label Arising Empire and the international release of their third album Odyssey in 2024. Their momentum accelerated further in 2025 when 'Namu' became a global viral success, surpassing 3 million Spotify streams and 5.4 million YouTube views, while related live clips generated more than 30 million views across Instagram and TikTok.

Sable Hills online:
https://www.instagram.com/sablehills

Photo credit: Jiawei Zhang

Post-metal heavyweights The Ocean today reveal their newest single 'Milk of My Dreams', featuring Thorsten Quaeschning of the legendary Tangerine Dream.

Stream here: https://youtu.be/FgBsVDqgJi4

The single is another glimpse of The Ocean's forthcoming Solaris record, to be released 25th September (Pelagic Records). 

Pre-order here: https://orcd.co/theocean-solaris

'Milk of My Dreams' is the second half of the 20-minute closing piece of The Ocean’s new and 12th studio album Solaris, inspired by Andrei Tarkovsky’s film of the same name. Entirely electronic, dark, hypnotic and danceable, it leads the Berlin-based heavy music collective into unfamiliar terrain, trading weight for pulse without losing any of its intensity. It closes the album’s 70-minute monolith on an unexpected note: alien yet coherent, disorienting yet strangely inevitable.

While most of the instrumental foundations of Solaris were written during the pandemic, 'Milk of My Dreams' is a much more recent piece, composed last year as the band began recording vocals for the album. New vocalist Enrico Tiberi wrote much of the track as a series of variations on musical themes introduced in the preceding song, 'Ultima Esperanza'.

Rearranged by Robin Staps and shaped by significant contributions from synth pioneer and Tangerine Dream bandleader Thorsten Quaeschning, the track became a distinctly collaborative and experimental undertaking - and may well mark the beginning of a broader creative relationship with Quaeschning.

The band first met Quaeschning while tracking drums at Berlin’s legendary Hansa Studios, where David Bowie recorded 'Heroes'. They later spent a week at Quaeschning’s studio in Berlin-Rudow, working not only on 'Milk of My Dreams' but on the electronic dimension of the album as a whole.

The band comment: “Working with Thorsten has been an incredibly inspiring experience and with all of us being huge Tangerine Dream fans, a great honour of course. His knowledge of electronic music, synthesizers and sound design is extraordinary, and at the same time he’s an immensely talented and curious musician. His studio feels like a synthesizer museum — everything is connected, switched on and ready to play. What’s particularly remarkable is his ability to take a sound you can only describe in words and translate it almost instantly into something you can actually hear.”

Thorsten Quaeschning says about his collaboration with The Ocean:

“It was a real pleasure to work on the new album by The Ocean Collective. At the same time, it was an interesting challenge for me, because I had to adjust some of my usual working methods and leave the safe harbour of familiar procedures. From my own musical microcosm, The Ocean Collective’s music moves through a wide range of shifting time signatures, which meant that most hardware step sequencers no longer worked in the conventional way. Of course, I could have programmed and recorded individual sections of two, three or sometimes eight bars, but I decided to play many of the sequences by hand. This made it possible to react more quickly to the time signature changes, while also giving the sequences a more organic feel through dynamics, touch and subtle timing differences. I’m very happy to be part of this album and I’m looking forward to seeing where this new collaboration may lead.”

Solaris is an album that tells a story of cosmic escapism: a journey on that ship, which is essentially a celestial rescue boat escaping from a metaphorically sinking Mother Earth. The rescue boat can be imagined as a historic naval vessel, and the lyrics and episodes of the album  make reference to the real-life explorers of the past who set out to discover (back then) unknown continents and uncharted territories: Da Gama, Magellan, Sir Frances Drake, as well as the Polar explorers Amundsen, Scott, Rasmussen etc.

The Solaris album artwork is a collaborative effort by German artist Phillip Janta (Metallica, Queens Of the Stone Age, Envy) whose distinctive, highly detailed line work is instantly recognisable, and Norwegian artist Martin Kvamme who is the graphic designer behind most of Mike Patton's numerous projects. The deluxe version of the album will be accompanied by a hardcover, fabric-wrapped book with copper hot foil print, printed inner sleeves, a 32 pages book, seven art prints by Phillip Janta as well as a customised, retro-futuristic star constellation finder.

Solaris will be released via Pelagic Records on 25th September.

The Ocean Line-up:

Robin Staps – guitar, vocals
Mattias Hägerstrand - bass
Jordi Farré – drums, percussion
Enrico Tiberi – vocals, keys
Lane Shi – vocals
Emmanuel Jessua – guitar
Marco Gennaro – guitar

In addition, the following musicians performed on this record:

Thorsten Quaeschning – keys
Orestis Zafiriou – keys
Simen Eifring – trombone
Jiawei Zhang – vibraphone

The Ocean online:
Label Website
Instagram
Facebook
Bandcamp
Spotify
YouTube

Track list:

1. 52°30'11" N, 13°26’12“ E
2. Departure Song
3. Light Pollution
4. Simulacra
5. Belligerence
6. Ultima Esperanza
7. Milk Of My Dreams
8. 51°28'30" S, 73°6'11" W

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.

Today, the band offers another taste of what’s to come on the new record - 'GRAVITY' - which follows the release of 'NEVERAFTER' and its accompanying music video, directed by Anberlin drummer Nathan Young, and Jacob Moniz. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/6ULC4vtxNDw

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

Vocalist Matty Mullins adds “GRAVITY is about coming to terms with the fact that our time here is limited and choosing to live in a way that leaves nothing unsaid and nothing undone. It wrestles with the weight of mortality, but ultimately finds peace in letting go of fear and embracing the people, moments, and purpose that matter most.”

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