Austrian symphonic metallers EDENBRIDGE will release their twelfth studio album, "Set The Dark On Fire", on January 16, 2026 through Steamhammer/SPV as a CD digipak, 2LP gatefold and digitally. The official music video for the LP's second single, "Where The Wild Things Are", can be seen below.

"Where The Wild Things Are" conveys an Irish/Celtic atmosphere in its melodies and instrumentation. The song's content addresses the earth as a living being, manifested in the primal feminine power of the character Aleen.

EDENBRIDGE singer Sabine Edelsbacher comments: "Aleen embodies a true connection with the elements and thus with the natural power of the earth. Routine is not her thing. She lives a seductive vitality that is unparalleled. May more and more people recognize and express this power within themselves."

With "Set The Dark On Fire", EDENBRIDGE explores new soundscapes without abandoning their tried-and-tested trademarks. This is primarily due to a significantly heavier basic sound, which harmonizes perfectly with the lyrical and visual direction of the Austrian quintet featuring Edelsbacher and composer/guitarist/keyboardist Arne "Lanvall" Stockhammer.

The songs are characterized by harmonic and structural diversity. Powerful riffs and expansive guitar solos meet opulent, symphonic orchestral arrangements and unusual string instruments rarely used in metal, such as the dulcimer, swarmandal, monochord, and electric sitar. Edelsbacher's warm, distinctive timbre lends the compositions a high level of recognition.

The opener "The Ghostship Diaries" captivates with its multi-layered chorus and a heavy, doomy finale. The ballad "Bonded By The Light" unfolds cinematic grandeur and would also shine as the title track for a certain British secret agent. "Lighthouse", including the intro "Divine Dawn Reveal", exudes a flair, while the pounding mid-tempo track "Our Place Among The Stars" surprises with a gospel-like finale. The album's centerpiece is the 13-minute, four-part long track "Spark Of The Everflame", which impressively summarizes the entire spectrum of the EDENBRIDGE sound.

The debut single, "Cosmic Embrace", captivates with its enormous hit count and skillfully ramps up the tempo in its orchestral middle section. The accompanying video, which can be seen below, captivates with impressive imagery: The labyrinth symbolizes the path to inner contemplation. The energy gathered thereby culminates in blazing fire — a metaphor for transformation and the uplifting connection with solar energy. Image and sound merge into an emotional wave that deeply touches the listener/viewer.

"Set The Dark On Fire" track listing:

01. The Ghostship Diaries
02. Cosmic Embrace
03. Where The Wild Things Are
04. Tears Of The Prophets
05. Our Place Among The Stars
06. Set The Dark On Fire
07. Bonded By The Light
08. Divine Dawn Reveal
09. Lighthouse
10. Spark Of The Everflame - Let Time Begin
- Spark Of The Everflame - The Winding Road To Evermore
- Spark Of The Everflame - Per Aspera Ad Astra
- Spark Of The Everflame - Where It Ends, Is Where It Starts

New York hardcore legends AGNOSTIC FRONT have just released their new album, "Echoes In Eternity", via Reigning Phoenix Music. The official music video for the LP's third single, "Sunday Matinee"can be seen below.

AGNOSTIC FRONT frontman Roger Miret comments: "In this song, we celebrate the gathering of friends, families and the joyous times when we all looked forward to our Sunday Matinee. Specifically, the days gone of the 'classic' CBGB Sunday lineups, where we made lifelong bonds with show attendees and all the visiting hardcore/punk bands! Basically, true social media at its finest!"

The raucous assault that is the album's opener, "Way of War", sees AGNOSTIC FRONT unleashing a relentless storm of driving rhythms and aggressive vocal chants calling out the injustice and widespread harm of conflict. "You Say" is a short sharp anthem against disingenuity. "Matter Of Life & Death" is a fiery onslaught with punchy rhythms, riffs and vocal hooks. AGNOSTIC FRONT put their pedal to the metal in "Tears For Everyone". Racing ahead with unceasing speed, it's fueled with a heavy power.

Challenging the increasing distance between love and hatred, "Divided" cries out against fascism. Lace up and trek down for "Sunday Matinee", an upbeat and catchy track that embraces the energy between the band and its crowd in a live setting. "I Can't Win" spirals through a cycle of self-doubt, doom and gloom before rising up out of the shadows into the light. Calling all to "Turn Up The Volume" against incessant tyrants, AGNOSTIC FRONT provide yet another compelling riff-led track in their sonic arsenal.

Marching drums explode into high-speed aggression in "Art Of Silence" in a fury lasting less than a minute. Continuing with dominant percussion, "Shots Fired" provides a dark rhythmic display with discordant touches. A destructive barrage is contained within "Hell To Pay", while "Evolution Of Madness" is a ruthless exploration into chaos. Rumbling bass of "Skip The Trial" emphasizes the sinister tone of this intense track. Abrasive guitars ignite the turbulent regiment of "Obey", before the deafening bombardment of "Open My Eyes" draws "Echoes In Eternity" to a close.

Miret previously said: "I'm excited for our new release, 'Echoes In Eternity'.

"We have always taken risks, never followed the pack and are really proud of how the album turned out. The songs feel fresh, and the lyrics are current and personal. It's an attestment to our longevity, dedication, and leading the forefront in our genre. What we do in life now echoes in eternity, and it shows! The songs viciously hit hard and the sound is HUGE compliments of our producer Mike Dijan and an electrifying mix by Zeuss at Planet Z!! You will enjoy cranking the volume up on this beast!"

"Echoes In Eternity" track listing:

01. Way Of War
02. You Say
03. Matter Of Life & Death
04. Tears For Everyone
05. Divided
06. Sunday Matinee
07. I Can't Win
08. Turn Up The Volume
09. Art Of Silence
10. Shots Fired
11. Hell To Pay
12. Evolution Of Madness
13. Skip The Trial
14. Obey
15. Eyes Open Wide

Back in July 2024, Miret was asked by Prescription Punk Rock if it gets harder for AGNOSTIC FRONT to write new music after having done it for so long. Roger said: "First of all, we have to — we like the songs, we have to like the songs a lot, we have to love the songs, and we have to believe in them. And if we believe in them, we have to then trust that the people will love them and enjoy them too. But there's always the critics, there's always somebody waiting for you to mess up or do something or wanna just bring you down. But they have no one idea how hard it is to write songs when you're under that microscope. Unfortunately, when you get to a certain level of a band — we're going on our 14th album, whatever, spanning a career of 42 years— it's a long career. And most people love it, but there's always that critic, and you can never change their mind, whatever. But I'm here for the people that wanna accept and enjoy our show. We just wanna come to your place, have a great time. We wanna play, make new friends, meet new people and do what we love. And that's who I'm there for, playing for, that's who I write songs for."

Regarding the lyrical themes he covers in AGNOSTIC FRONT's songs, Roger said: "We've always been socially political. We don't really talk about world politics. We'll touch on it here and there, but that's a touchy subject. Everybody's got a really strong opinion about stuff. And some of it's valid, some of it's not what you think… I try to work on day-to-day stuff that happens around me, socially stuff. And I write about real stuff — my experience; it doesn't mean [it will be the same as] your experience."

He continued: "It was interesting. When I was writing my book, I was telling these stories, and I had Amy from NAUSEA, who is the mother of my child. And I respect the mother of my child — I have a lot of respect — I said, 'Hey. I'm writing this book. These are these stories. I want you to read them because it's about you too. So I don't wanna say anything that would upset you.' And the funniest thing of the whole conversation was when she says, 'You know, it's funny. We have two different visions of the same story.' And I never thought about it. I remember what I wanna remember, she remembers what she wants to remember. We were both living the same story, but it's what you take of it. I could witness something and I could write something about it and you witnessed the same thing and you write something different about it. But it's the same thing; it's just how we perceive it in our minds. And it's interesting 'cause with that thought in mind, I'm, like, these are my stories. If you want to listen to my stories, you can. If you don't agree with them, well, this is my experience."

In September 2021, Miret revealed that his cancer was in remission.

After Miret was diagnosed with cancer in early 2021, a long road of tests and diagnoses led to a complex initial surgery and lengthy hospital stay. Even though the original surgery was complicated, the results were extremely positive.

Born in Cuba, Miret fled with his family to the U.S. to escape the Castro regime. He joined AGNOSTIC FRONT in 1983, and the seminal New York hardcore group released classics like "United Blood", "Victim In Pain" and "Cause For Alarm" over the next several years.

In 2017, Miret released a memoir, "My Riot: Agnostic Front, Grit, Guts, And Glory", which documented his struggles to adapt to life in the U.S. after his family fled the Castro regime. According to the Phoenix New Times, the book delved into many facets of Miret's life: the grinding poverty of his childhood; living as a teenager squatter; becoming deeply enmeshed in downtown New York’s hardcore scene; and later turning to drug-running to support his family.

In addition to fronting AGNOSTIC FRONT, Miret has also played with ROGER MIRET AND THE DISASTERS and is a member of THE ALLIGATORS.

For the past several years, Roger has resided in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Press photo courtesy of Reigning Phoenix Music

A new MEGADETH song, "I Don't Care", will make its online debut on Friday, November 14. A teaser for the song's accompanying music video is available below.

"I Don't Care" is the second single from MEGADETH's upcoming self-titled album, due on January 23, 2026. The follow-up to 2022's "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!" will be released via MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft imprint on Frontiers Label Group's new BLKIIBLK label.

"Megadeth" track listing:

01. Tipping Point
02. I Don't Care
03. Hey, God?!
04. Let There Be Shred
05. Puppet Parade
06. Another Bad Day
07. Made To Kill
08. Obey The Call
09. I Am War
10. The Last Note
11. Ride The Lightning (METALLICA song; bonus track)

MEGADETH played its latest single, "Tipping Point", live for the first time on October 14 at Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, The Netherlands during the band's European tour as the support act for DISTURBED. In a short interview with the Instagram account of MEGADETH's mascot Vic Rattlehead, Mustaine stated: "I was a little nervous about playing it because we hadn't played it live yet. And I always get a little nervous whenever we play a song for the first time. But it went off without a hitch and the fans really liked it."

Mustaine continued: "I thought we were going to save it until we got to England [a week later], but we were so excited because of the fans, their approval of the song and how many people are really responding in a positive way for 'Tipping Point'. So we just couldn't wait anymore."

Prior to launching into "Tipping Point" at the Amsterdam show, Mustaine told the crowd: "So, we have a new record coming out. And we have a new single that's out right now. And we're gonna play that song the first time ever right now."

The sonically explosive and lyrically unflinching "Tipping Point" kicks off with a thunderous guitar solo before Dave's iconic voice hauntingly kicks in. In the desolate but hopeful accompanying video, directed by Leonardo Liberti, Dave is locked up in a prison being tortured in extreme fashion, while the band performs in the same lock-up. In the end Dave perseveres evil and walks away into a new day.

"We all have different 'tipping points' and they may vary from day to day," Mustaine previously said about the track. "I think we’re all being pushed to the edge right now, and it's easy to lean into that feeling. But it's important not to let things get you down."

On August 14, MEGADETH announced that its upcoming LP will be the band's last. The Mustaine-led outfit will also embark on a farewell tour in 2026.

In a press release announcing MEGADETH's final album and farewell tour, Mustaine thanked fans for their commitment and love while celebrating the band's impact on the music world.

"There's so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional," Mustaine said. "Most of them don't get to go out on their own terms on top, and that's where I'm at in my life right now. I have traveled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them."

He continued. "We can't wait for you to hear this album and see us on tour. If there was ever a perfect time for us to put out a new album, it's now. If there was ever a perfect time to tour the world, it's now. This is also a perfect time for us to tell you that it's our last studio album. We've made a lot of friends over the years and I hope to see all of you on our global farewell tour.

"Don't be mad, don't be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years. We have done something together that's truly wonderful and will probably never happen again. We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it's played, and we changed the world. The bands I played in have influenced the world. I love you all for it. Thank you for everything."

For its final album, MEGADETH once again worked with Chris Rakestraw, a producer, mixer and engineer who previously worked on MEGADETH's last two LPs, the aforementioned "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" and 2016's "Dystopia".

Guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari joined MEGADETH two years ago. He stepped in as the replacement for Brazilian-born guitarist Kiko Loureiro, who announced in September 2023 that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland. It was later revealed that the now-38-year-old Finnish musician would continue to play guitar for MEGADETH for the foreseeable future, with Loureiro seemingly having no plans to return.

Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

Released in September 2022, MEGADETH's latest album, "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!", sold 48,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marked MEGADETH's eighth top 10-charting album.

MEGADETH's previous top 10 entries on the Billboard 200 were "Countdown To Extinction" (No. 2, 1992),"Youthanasia" (No. 4, 1994),"Cryptic Writings" (No. 10, 1997),"United Abominations" (No. 8, 2007),"Endgame" (No. 9, 2009),"Super Collider" (No. 6, 2013) and "Dystopia" (No. 3, 2016).

Led by the growled vocals and razor-wire riffing of Mustaine, MEGADETH are one of the "Big Four" thrash titans. Shortly after being kicked out of METALLICA in 1983, Mustaine met bassist David Ellefson, and the pair bonded quickly, forming the core of MEGADETH. Drummer Gar Samuelson and guitarist Chris Poland later joined, and MEGADETH released their underground-hit debut "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!" in 1985. Its follow-up, "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?", solidified the band's status with sprawling yet tightly wound songs like the uneasy opener "Wake Up Dead" and the fiery title track.

"So Far, So Good... So What!", released in 1988, featured a new lineup as well as a thrashy cover of the SEX PISTOLS' "Anarchy In The U.K." and the anti-PMRC broadside "Hook In Mouth". In 1990 they released "Rust In Peace", with Nick Menza on drums and technical wizard Marty Friedman on guitar; songs such as "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" and "Hangar 18" blended pummeling riffs and suspicion-fueled lyrics with a stadium-rock ambition that matched the era's metal-embracing tendencies.

"Countdown To Extinction", released in 1992, and "Youthanasia", released in 1994, continued the band's dominance of metal and emergence in rock's mainstream, with the latter album's "À Tout Le Monde" being a rare thrash ballad. After a brief breakup in the early 2000s, MEGADETH returned as a de facto Mustaine solo project with 2004's "The System Has Failed". Ellefson rejoined in 2010 prior to the album "Th1rt3en" and remained in the MEGADETH lineup until 2021, when he was fired.

In addition to Mustaine and Mäntysaari, MEGADETH's current lineup includes drummer Dirk Verbeuren and bassist James LoMenzo.

KISS's "Alive!" turns 50 in 2025 — a golden jubilee for the iconic live album that catapulted the band and revolutionized live albums for the music industry from end-of-career obscurity into career-defining mainstream success. Often revered as one of the greatest live albums ever by countless music journalists, "Alive!" is celebrated with a Super Deluxe 180-gram 8-LP + Blu-ray Audio boxset showcasing 120 total tracks amplified with 88 unreleased tracks. LPs 1 and 2 feature the original album newly remastered by Bernie Grundman from the original 1975 stereo analog master tapes. LPs 3 through 6 showcase two full-length concerts from the 1975 "Dressed To Kill" tour — RKO Orpheum Theatre in Davenport, Iowa on July 20, Second Show and Wildwood Convention Hall in Wildwood, New Jersey on July 23 — newly mixed by legendary producer and engineer Eddie Kramer from the original multi-track analog tapes as KISS performed in 1975, with no overdubs. Bonus tracks on LP 7 and 8 include five rehearsal tracks at the Davenport gig including an impromptu jam and an additional six songs from Cleveland Music Hall, Cleveland, Ohio on June 21, 1975, all newly mixed by Eddie Kramer from the original multi-tracks. The Blu-ray Audio disc features "Alive!" newly mixed by Eddie Kramer from the original album multi-track analog tapes in Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround along with the newly remastered stereo in 192kHz 24-bit and 96kHz 24-bit PCM stereo set to a brand-new visualizer featuring a treasure trove of unreleased live photos.

The Super Deluxe explodes further with an extensive array of bonus kollectibles including:

* 100-page hardcover book with extensive liner notes by Ken Sharp featuring new interviews from Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and many notable "Alive!"-era KISS team members plus tons of unreleased photos and rare imagery.

* "Alive!" 1975 press kit featuring

- Press Release
- Four Black & White Glossy Photos 7.5"x10"
- Marketing Slick Sheet
- "Alive!" Tour Program
- "Alive!" Back Cover Fan Banner Poster
- Album Cover Lenticular
- T-shirt Iron-on
- Four Live Color Glossy Photos
- Peter Criss Drum Head Litho
- Wildwood Concert Poster 20"x28"
- Cleveland Concert Mini-Poster 10"x17"
- Cobo Arena Concert Main Floor Ticket Stub
- Wildwood Concert Ticket Stub
- Cleveland Concert Ticket Stub
- Cobo Arena Concert Backstage Pass
- New Year's Eve – Nassau Backstage Pass
- Four Double-Sided Coasters
- Four Guitar Picks
- Bumper Sticker 8"x2.5"
- "Alive!" Die-Cut Double-Sided Mobile
- Gotham Rock City News Volume 4 Newspaper – Track-by-Track interview with Eddie Kramer of nearly all tracks appearing on the collection

"Alive!" (Remastered)

LP One - Side A:

01. Deuce
02. Strutter
03. Got To Choose
04. Hotter Than Hell
05. Firehouse

LP One - Side B:

01. Nothin' To Lose
02. C'mon And Love Me
03. Parasite
04. She

LP Two - Side C:

01. Watchin' You
02. 100,000 Years
03. Black Diamond

LP Two - Side D:

01. Rock Bottom
02. Cold Gin
03. Rock And Roll All Nite
04. Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll

Live In Davenport, Iowa – RKO Orpheum Theatre – July 20, 1975 – Second Show*

LP Three - Side E:

01. Deuce
02. Strutter
03. Got To Choose
04. Hotter Than Hell

LP Three - Side F:

01. Firehouse
02. She
03. Ace Frehley Guitar Solo
04. Nothin' To Lose

LP Four - Side G:

01. C'mon And Love Me
02. 100,000 Years
03. Peter Criss Drum Solo / 100,000 Years

LP Four - Side H:

01. Black Diamond
02. Cold Gin
03. Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll

Live In Wildwood, New Jersey – Wildwood Convention Hall – July 23, 1975*

LP Five - Side I:

01. Deuce
02. Strutter
03. Got To Choose
04. Hotter Than Hell
05. Firehouse

LP Five - Side J:

01. She
02. Ace Frehley Guitar Solo
03. Nothin' To Lose
04. C'mon And Love Me

LP Six - Side K:

01. 100,000 Years
02. Peter Criss Drum Solo / 100,000 Years
03. Parasite

LP Six – Side L:

01. Black Diamond
02. Cold Gin
03. Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll

Bonus Live

Rehearsals – Live In Davenport, Iowa – RKO Orpheum Theatre - July 20, 1975*

LP Seven - Side M:

01. KISS Jam
02. Room Service
03. Strange Ways
04. Rock Bottom
05. Watchin' You

Live In Cleveland, Ohio – Cleveland Music Hall – June 21, 1975*

LP Seven - Side N:

01. She
02. Ace Frehley Guitar Solo
03. Nothin' To Lose

LP Eight - Side O:

01. C'mon And Love Me
02. 100,000 Years
03. Peter Criss Drum Solo / 100,000 Years

Blu-ray Audio – Alive!

Disc Five:

[Dolby Atmos* / Dolby True HD 5.1* / 192kHz 24-bit & 96kHz 24-bit PCM Stereo]

01. Deuce
02. Strutter
03. Got To Choose
04. Hotter Than Hell
05. Firehouse
06. Nothin' To Lose
07. C'mon And Love Me
08. Parasite
09. She
10. Watchin' You
11. 100,000 Years
12. Black Diamond
13. Rock Bottom
14. Cold Gin
15. Rock And Roll All Nite
16. Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll

* Previously unreleased

For more information, visit shopkissonline.com.

Last year, Eddie told Guitar World magazine about his work on the original "Alive!" album: "The thing with KISS was we knew we had to get everything down on tape no matter what it took. It was hard because they were always jumping around, and we had to do a bunch of work on the album after the fact, but that's how it was. The band may deny it, but the fact remains that on 'Alive!', we had to fix a bunch of stuff."

Asked if anyone in the band had a say in those fixes, Eddie said: "They did. And the album came out bloody great because the guys in KISS were very particular about how it should sound and be mixed. We worked tirelessly for weeks to make 'Alive!' sound amazing. So, while it's not totally 'live,' it's a great creation of the live sound of KISS from that time. There were just bits we had to fix for obvious reasons, like the guys being on stage in six-inch boots, bombs going off and rockets and flames shooting to God knows where. [Laughs] It takes a lot of work to keep in time and tune while jumping up and down. They can do it now, but in those days, not so much."

In June 2025, Stanley told Justin Richmond of the "Broken Record" podcast about KISS's first live album: "'Kiss Alive!' really captured the essence of the live experience. Now, that couldn't have happened without us going in the studio and enhancing it and surrounding you with people… Live albums were boring for four hours. You didn't even know they were live until the end of the song where you heard some clapping. But for KISS, we wanted an album that immersed you, immersion in the experience, which means being surrounded by people, which means bombs going off that are deafening, which means fixing any mistakes or a broken string. Snobs or purists may have looked down their nose at that idea, but the truth is that album is still considered, if not the greatest, one of the greatest, and in a lot of circles greatest live album ever. Not because everything was live, but because it captured the live experience."

KISS played its two final shows ever in December 2023 at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

The last show, held on December 2, 2023, streamed live on pay-per-view.

KISS launched its farewell trek in January 2019 but was forced to put it on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"End Of The Road" was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City. The trek was announced in September 2018 following a KISS performance of the band's classic song "Detroit Rock City" on "America's Got Talent".

Early last year, KISS sold its entire music catalog, likeness and brand name to Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment. A biopic, an avatar show, and a KISS-themed experience are already in the works, with Simmons and Stanley playing key roles in the development of all these projects, working closely with Pophouse.

KISS legend Gene Simmons knows what it's like to live like a rock star. In the latest episode of the Men's Health video series Gym & Fridge, the 76-year-old music legend takes us into his home, opening up about his favorite foods, why he never drinks alcohol, his workout philosophy, his secret to longevity and more.

Select quotes from the episode of Men's Health's "Gym & Fridge" featuring Gene Simmons are below, and the full video is available at this location.

On what's in his fridge:

Simmons: "Nothing that you see in here — the salads — describes my taste buds. The wifey puts all that stuff in, 'cause my druthers: hot fudge sundae, a good backrub, and shut the f* up. I don't really care if it's pasta or shmasta, or foie gras and anything with a French name…I really don't care. I love cake. Cookies, chocolates, cake. It's about as much fun as I can have with my pants on."

On what his diet is like on tour:

Simmons: "When in the middle of a tour, it doesn't matter. I'd eat cheesecake every day because I'm wearing 40 pounds of armor, seven-inch platform heels — each one of the dragon boots probably weighed, I don't know, eight to 10 pounds, a leg, a foot. You don't have to do anything. Within two hours, you will be exhausted. The amount of calories burned on stage…you know, it's like a heavy workout. And so I could eat anything. Strangely, I wouldn't be that hungry, after you exert that pressure, but I'd crave sweets. So, in the morning, big egg white, maybe a little steak, toast, coffee. And then nothing until about three, four o'clock in the afternoon — a little pasta for some carbs, and then hit the stage. And then coming off the stage, cake. I woudln't even have to eat it, I'd just rub it all over myself."

On what his diet is like now:

Simmons: "I have to watch it. You know, my girlish figure and everything. And the older you get — I'm 76 now and do I look good, shit. The problem is your metabolism; it slows down like a tick tock of an old clock. So, at 76 I can't have as much as I like.

On why he doesn't drink alcohol:

Simmons: "I don't drink. I never have… The rock world is filled with losers, idiots. Actually, I think it goes back to my mother. She was a survivor of Nazi Germany's concentration camps at 14 years of age, and I never wanted to break her heart. I'm her only child, so this idea that you could be a loser, not be able to earn a living, and destroy yourself. I mean, she'd give her life to prevent anybody from hurting me, but it's okay for me to hurt myself? It's like crazy. No."

On his workout philosophy:

Simmons: "As I mentioned, I'm 76. Just walk. And you don't have to do miles and miles. There's the 10,000 steps they tell you about. We're all genetically different. Just try to stand more than you sit the whole day. That's all you'll need."

On whether he has any back pain from decades of performing in crazy shows:

Simmons: "Genetics is a really unfair thing. I've never had surgery, any back problems, I've never had a massage in my life. I don't get aches and pains. I know people don't believe anything I say, but I don't give a…."

On the deal with his iconic tongue:

Simmons: "I was in seventh grade. I remember it was Stella, and it might have been Irene. I don't use their last names — they're probably grandmothers by now, or dead. And I was always the tallest one in the class, so they turned around in the middle, 'Do the crazy thing they could do.' And I thought it was, sort of, making a funny face. So I'd stick my tongue out, like if there was a little food. They would both make sounds like turkeys that are about to go to the chopping block and have their heads chopped off. And then, of course, I'd get in trouble."

On the secret to his longevity:

Simmons: "The secret of long healthy life really has to do with taking the long-range point of view. I've never been really gung-ho about doctors, except for the fact that I am the doctor of love. They call me Dr. Love 'cause I've got the cure you're thinking of… But [my wife] Shannon is wise. I'm an idiot compared to her. The entire family is healthy, like nothing you've ever seen, because she insists on getting yearly head-to-toe MRIs… The biggest problem with your dental care, your health care, your anything, is waiting too long. You've got to check yourself. Go to the doctors. Too much is better than not. When you're watching this, pick up a phone, make an appointment, and keep doing it every year. You can never start too early, and it can never be too late."

Dutch progressive metal pioneers TEXTURES return with "At The Edge Of Winter", the second single from their forthcoming album "Genotype", set for release on January 23, 2026 via Kscope. Featuring Charlotte Wessels (ex-DELAIN),the new single blends atmospheric synths, intricate sound design, and polyrhythmic grooves with massive riffs and soaring vocal lines. The modern, bombastic mix is accompanied by a new video directed by TEXTURES bassist Remko Tielemans with the lyrics exploring introspection, looking within, and understanding the roots of emotion.

When TEXTURES announced their disbandment in 2018, it marked the end of an era for progressive metal. Their absence was felt across the world — by fans, by peers, and by a scene they helped define. Now, six years later, the Dutch innovators return with "Genotype" — a monumental resurgence to the forefront of modern progressive music and a powerful reaffirmation of everything that made them a force in the first place.

Serving as the conceptual counterpart to 2016's acclaimed "Phenotype", "Genotype" is not a continuation but a rebirth. For nearly a decade, fans speculated about its existence, but what arrives now is not a relic of unfinished ideas — it's something entirely new, written from scratch and self-produced. "Genotype" distils the essence of TEXTURES' DNA into eight new songs, mixed by Forrester Savell (KARNIVOOL, DEAD LETTER CIRCUS). Lyrically, the album speaks to the unheard - introverts, outsiders, and those navigating internal worlds that often go unseen, standing as an ode to authenticity and resilience.

"Genotype" track listing:

01. Void (3:49)
02. At The Edge Of Winter (6:42)
03. Measuring The Heavens (6:51)
04. Nautical Dusk (5:35)
05. Vanishing Twin (5:49)
06. Closer To The Unknown (4:08)
07. A Seat For The Like-Minded (5:01)
08. Walls Of The Soul (7:52)

TEXTURES have built a passionate global following over this time. In India, they rose to headline festivals and perform for thousands of devoted fans. In Europe, they became a staple at major events such as Hellfest, Wacken Open Air, Graspop Metal Meeting and Brutal Assault. Their electrifying performances cemented their reputation as one of progressive metal's most unmissable live acts — and now, they are set to reclaim that stage on the upcoming European tour supporting JINJER that runs from January through March 2026.

TEXTURES is:

Daniël De Jongh - Vocals
Bart Hennephof - Guitars
Joe Tal - Guitars
Remko Tielemans - Bass
Uri Dijk - Keyboards
Stef Broks - Drums

Photo credit: Jeroen Aarts Photography

In what has become an annual holiday tradition, VENAMORIS, the darkly romantic duo featuring legendary extreme metal drummer Dave Lombardo (SLAYER, FANTÔMAS, TESTAMENT, MR. BUNGLE, MISFITS, DEAD CROSS) and his wife Paula, as returned with a new standalone single for the festive season: "Dreaming Of You".

"What began as a one-time spark has become an annual ritual," Paula notes. "'Dreaming Of You' drifts in as our fourth unexpected holiday song — a wintry dreamscape about longing, connection, and the ghosts that live inside a melody."

The married couple released their Ipecac Recordings debut, "To Cross Or To Burn", earlier this year. The 10-song collection features the singles "In The Shadows", "Truth", "Spiderweb" and a stirring cover of SCORPIONS' "Animal Magnetism" with guest guitar player Gary Holt (SLAYER, EXODUS). Kerrang! dubbed the album "beguiling," Treble Zine noted its roots in "dark jazz" and "exotica," while Ghost Cult said the album captures "the spirit of… noir classic 'Blue Velvet'."

"Dreaming Of You" is the second post-"To Cross Or To Burn" single, with the duo releasing "Contrapasso", a song they described as "the story of an antagonist's eventual ruin" in May.

The indefatigable Dave Lombardo's bona fides as a world-class drummer are well-known. While he drafted the blueprint that would define thrash metal drumming during his time with SLAYER, he's also applied his finesse to solo percussion (2023's "Rites Of Percussion"),hip-hop and classical music, as well as boundary-pushing recordings and performances with everyone from John Zorn's ensembles to punk icons MISFITS and MR. BUNGLE.

Canadian-born Paula Lombardo began her musical career at 18 as a backing singer for Las Vegas icon Wayne Newton, performing multiple shows in the demanding Vegas circuit before relocating to Nashville to pursue her own path as a songwriter. A dynamic musical force, she combines impressive vocal prowess, a deftness on piano and synthesizers with a natural instinct for crafting alluring lyrics, melodies and arrangements.

The couple, who record together as VENAMORIS, have released two full-length albums: "To Cross Or To Burn" (2025) and "Drown In Emotion" (2023),as well as two annual holiday singles.

Photo credit: Hannah Verbeuren