Weekly Music News 30.10.26
"Skid Row" introduced Justin Sargent as their new lead singer on October 29, following an extensive search and months of rehearsals together. Sargent comes from musical theatre, with Broadway roles in "Rock Of Ages" and "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark". To mark the announcement, the band released a video for their cover of "Won’t Get Fooled Again" by "The Who", with the single arriving on streaming services on October 30. The band are also preparing to return to the stage in 2027.
"Crownshift" announced their second album, "The Shadows We Buried", due January 29, 2027 via Nuclear Blast, and unveiled the single and video "In The Dead Of Night". The nine-track album follows their self-titled 2024 debut. Guitarist Daniel Freyberg, vocalist Tommy Tuovinen and drummer Heikki Saari are now joined by bassist Kevin Apostol, who replaced Jukka Koskinen. The new material continues the band's blend of melodic death metal with modern and progressive influences.
"Enter Shikari" surprised fans with "Lightyears", a new single following "Higher Ground" and their album "Lose Your Self", released in April. Rou Reynolds said the track grew out of digitising old family videos, reconnecting him with people who are no longer here and the child he once was. It explores memory, loss and the possibility of treating ourselves with greater compassion. The release comes ahead of the band's UK and European tour in November.
"Dynazty" signed with Napalm Records and announced "Dark Arts", their tenth studio album, due March 5, 2027. The first single, "The Mission", arrived with a video and explores the determination to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles. The album features 12 tracks divided into two acts, "Descent" and "Ascent". The band worked on it while touring behind "Game Of Faces", and will join "Accept" on their 50th anniversary tour later this year.
"The Chats" announced "Half Cut", their third album, due March 5, 2027, and released the first single, "Off It", with a video directed by Matt Weston. The follow-up to 2022's "Get Fucked" was recorded at Maple Sound Studio in Los Angeles with Jay Whalley of "Frenzal Rhomb". Eamon Sandwith describes it as a fun rock and roll record that is a little more open than their previous work. The Australian punk trio will embark on a 17-date club tour across Australia in November and December.
"Saxon" released "Medusa" on October 27, the second single from "Gods Of Thunder", due January 22, 2027 via Silver Lining Music. The track draws on Medusa from Greek mythology, whose gaze turns people to stone. Biff Byford produced the album, with Andy Sneap handling the mix. It follows 2024's "Hell, Fire And Damnation", and the band also announced additional European dates in March 2027 alongside the video. "Armored Saint" will join the UK and Ireland tour as special guests.
Lita Ford released the single and video "Dracula" on October 27, her first release through Frontiers Music Srl. Gary Hoey produced the track and played guitar alongside her, with Bobby Rock on drums and Max Norman handling the mix. Ford describes it as a story of seduction and control that drains a person of their strength.
"The Flaming Lips" announced "The Teardrop Throbs", due January 22, 2027 via Third Man Records, and unveiled the first single, "God Will Control The Werewolves". It is their 17th studio album and their first collection of new material since 2020's "American Head". The band produced the 13-track album alongside Taylor Johnson, Dave Fridmann and Scott Booker. They also announced a series of shows in the United States and London, with two nights in each city and different setlists.
Peter Gabriel released "Who Are We Talking To?" on October 26, another track from his album "o\i", due November 27 via Real World. Gabriel wrote and produced the track, with Mike Elizondo's Dark-Side Mix unveiled first. He says the track aims to encourage collective action and social change in response to problems that reach beyond national borders. The release is accompanied by "Bloques", a work by Spanish artist Juan Genovés.
Steven Wilson released "A Basket Of Bees" on October 26, the third track unveiled from his ninth studio album, "Requiem For A Village", due November 6 via Fiction Records. The video forms part of "The Village Hall Sessions", in which Wilson, Randy McStine and Russell Holzman perform the tracks in a period-style studio setting, filmed by Miles Skarin. Wilson will also join Al Murray for an evening of conversation at London's Bush Hall on November 10, followed by an album signing.
Eddie Vedder and Stephen Wilson Jr. released an official live video of their joint performance of "Hunger Strike" by "Temple Of The Dog". Filmed at September's Ohana Festival in Dana Point, California, it captures Vedder joining Wilson Jr. as a guest during his set. This is newly released footage of an earlier performance. On the original track, featured on the band's only album in 1991, Vedder shared lead vocals with Chris Cornell.
Bryan Adams released "Lake Ontario", a new single from "How’s It Goin’", due November 6 via BAD Records. The track responds to attempts to rename Lake Ontario, using its story to explore political distractions and the things that endure as leaders and regimes come and go. Adams describes the album as a musical love letter to Canada, its people, landscapes and stories. He says the track is for people on both shores who believe the current madness will pass, while Lake Ontario will remain Lake Ontario.
"Kiss" announced the documentary "Kiss: End Of The Road", which will premiere during a streaming event on the band's website on November 19. Directed by DJ Viola, it follows the farewell tour that began in 2019 and ended at New York's Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2023. Alongside the arena spectacle, it reveals the work behind the scenes and the relationships, challenges and emotions leading up to the final show. An official trailer accompanied the announcement.
Bruce Dickinson announced his 2027 European and UK solo tour, "PsychoGod". The itinerary includes shows and festivals in June and July, followed by another leg in November and December with "Evergrey" as special guests. Tickets go on sale on October 30. The shows are expected to combine new material with favourites from across his solo career, ahead of the next album following 2024's "The Mandrake Project".
The final performance by Ozzy Osbourne and "Black Sabbath" is getting a special release featuring a concert film and live album. "Back To The Beginning", out December 11, 2026, documents the historic farewell concert held in Birmingham on July 5, 2025, just 17 days before Ozzy's death. The release will feature the final performances by Ozzy and the original "Black Sabbath" line-up, and will be available on Blu-ray, in 4K, on vinyl, CD and digitally. The film will also include footage of performances by "Metallica", "Guns N' Roses", "Tool", "Slayer" and other artists, alongside bonus material and behind-the-scenes footage.
"Queens Of The Stone Age" released "Perfecth", their ninth studio album, on October 30 via Matador. Following 2023's "In Times New Roman...", the album features nine tracks, including "Insignificant Other", "Easy Street" and "Where The Goth Girls At?". The band also announced a US leg of their 2027 tour with "Pixies" and "Wheelchair Sports Camp", with tickets going on sale on October 29.
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music
"Nickelback" released "Everything Under The Sun", their 11th studio album and their first through Virgin Music Group, on October 30. The follow-up to 2022's "Get Rollin’" features 12 tracks. Songs already unveiled include "Rattle The Cage", featuring John 5 on guitar, "Make Me Love You" and "Leave Me Behind". The band announced a 2027 world tour in support of the album, with "Don Broco" as special guests.
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music
"Haywire" attempted to shoot a music video at a pop-up show in New York's Times Square on October 28, but police shut it down after just a song and a half. The Boston hardcore band shared the location on social media about an hour beforehand, drawing hundreds of people. They managed to perform "Flex Your Head" and begin "Haywire" before officers entered the crowd, stopped the music and took equipment, including drumsticks and amplifiers. The incident came shortly after the release of their second album, "I Don’t Wanna Say Goodbye". A representative for the band told Stereogum that no arrests were made.
Neil Young filed a $10 million lawsuit against a Donald Trump fundraising committee, alleging that it used "Rockin’ In The Free World" without permission at an Ohio campaign event on October 12. The complaint says the use went ahead despite Young's explicit objections and a previous 2020 settlement that, he alleges, prohibited the use of his music without permission. His lawyers stress that the track, featured on 1989's "Freedom", criticises the gap between promises of freedom and the realities of poverty and neglect. The lawsuit was filed in Virginia against the committee itself, rather than Trump personally.
YUNGBLUD will be the focus of the photography exhibition "YUNGBLUD: IDOLS", running at London's Union Pacific gallery from November 20 to 22, with free admission. Created by his photographer and creative director Tom Pallant, the exhibition traces the journey of "IDOLS" from writing and recording to live performances, and includes many previously unseen images. After its Sydney debut earlier this year, it arrives in the UK with a look at the moments surrounding the stage too: the exhaustion, the chaos and the dedication to music. An album playback will take place on opening night, followed by a Q&A with Pallant the next day.
"U2" will play an intimate concert in central London on November 3 in partnership with the BBC, in front of a small audience of fans. The set will combine songs from across their career with material from "Carnaval De Luz", due November 13. The concert will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Two later in November, and will also air on Jo Whiley’s BBC Radio 2 show and BBC Sounds on November 30, alongside interviews with the band. Ticket holders will be told the venue on the day of the show.
"Metallica" will be the focus of "The Art Of Metallica", an exhibition at San Francisco’s Haight Street Art Center from November 5, 2026 to January 10, 2027. It will feature the original paintings used for the covers of "Ride The Lightning" and "Master Of Puppets", concert posters, flyers and fan art from around the world. Alongside works by Pushead and the evolution of the band’s logo, visitors can see a mosaic portrait made entirely from Dunlop guitar picks by John Arena. An interactive area will also feature Stern’s "Metallica Remastered" pinball machine.
Rolling Stone published its list of the 200 greatest rock songs of the 21st century so far. "Maps" by "Yeah Yeah Yeahs" takes the top spot, followed by "Seven Nation Army" by "The White Stripes" and "Mr. Brightside" by "The Killers". The list stretches the boundaries of rock to include pop and hip-hop alongside metal selections such as "Chop Suey!" by "System Of A Down" at No. 37, "Disciple" by "Slayer" at No. 40 and "Bleed" by "Meshuggah" at No. 149. The choices offer plenty to debate about what counts as rock and which songs have defined the era.
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