It’s been a little while since we last heard from .SYS Machine, when they slipped ‘Graceful Isolation’ out in the wake of the pandemic lockdowns. One reason for this is that Dave McAnally has been busy withindustrial side-project Derision Cult – but with ‘Doubtless’, .SYS Machine presage the arrival of a new album, Parts Unknown due out in April.
While the dark electronic pop of .SYS Machine is sonically more accessible than Derision Cult McAnally’s lyrics have a tendency to draw on the experience of living through our trying times, and ‘Doubtless’ is no exception, exploring as it does the challenge of ‘maintaining sanity in an increasingly turbulent and chaotic world’.
The vocal melody and McAnally’s drawling intonation bring something of a country feel, which is quite a contrast to the metronomic pulsating disco beat and the synths, which are airy and even hint at a sense of optimism. There are strong hints of Violator-era Depeche mode woven into the fabric of the song, particularly in the chorus, and it balances broodiness with a certain buoyancy. The way the elements interlace is intriguing, and far from obvious – meaning this is a grower rather than an instant grab.
As their highly anticipated fifth album DAGGER rears into view, IST IST have shared its final pre-emptive single ‘Obligations’.
With its pulsating bassline, driving beats, and synth throbs, ‘Obligations’ is the enlivening new track from Manchester’s finest. Embodying the metamorphosis of IST IST as they gear-up for the next stage in their evolution, this latest cut is fittingly all about transformation and sacrifices that can come with it.
As vocalist Adam Houghton says:
“With ‘Obligations’, I wanted to capture the feeling of being bound to someone who represents both your salvation and your undoing. It’s about how love can feel like duty — something you can’t walk away from even when it hurts. I wanted to explore memory as something that both comforts and strangles, showing how the past can shape who we become. By the end, the narrator isn’t whole anymore, but they’ve accepted that pain and change are part of survival. It’s about transformation through loss — the quiet resilience of being altered by love.”
The new single arrives with a thought provoking official video featuring artist and longtime friend of the band Oliver Marson. Tuning into the track’s integral lyric “What is left is a different version of me”, we find Marson portraying an alternate version of the IST IST frontman.
Watch the video here:
Following a short stretch of European and UK shows this Autumn, IST IST will be hitting the road again in April this year, with upcoming shows in Norwich, Exeter, Oxford, Newcastle, Sheffield, Nottingham, Bristol, Brighton, PLUS recently added dates in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London. These shows will pave the way towards their biggest hometown show to date, at Manchester’s Albert Hall in May. All dates are listed below, with all tickets on sale now.
In addition, IST IST are delighted to confirm a short series of intimate in-store/out-store shows as they launch their new album DAGGER. Catch them at these dates and venues:
IST IST – 2026 UK & IRELAND TOUR DATES
UK IN-STORE ALBUM LAUNCH SHOWS
Leeds – Headroom House – 07.02.26
Bury – The Met – 08.02.26
Edinburgh – The Caves – 09.02.26
Nottingham – Rough Trade – 10.02.26
London – Rough Trade East – 11.02.26
EUROPEAN SHOWS
Antwerp – Kafka Oudaan – 11.03.26
Cologne – Luxor – 12.03.26
Amsterdam – Paradiso – 14.03.26
Frankfurt – Das Bett – 15.03.26
Zurich – Werk 21 – 16.03.26
Milan – Santeria Toscana 31 – 17.03.26
Budapest – Durer Kert – 19.03.26
Bratislava – Pink Whale – 20.03.26
Krakow – Klub Zascianek – 22.03.26
Warsaw – Hydrozadka – 23.03.26
Berlin – Hole 44 – 24.03.26
Esbjerg – Tobakken – 26.03.26
Oslo – Parkteatret – 27.03.26
Stockholm – Kollektivet – 29.03.26
Hamburg – Logo – 31.03.26
UK HEADLINE SHOWS
Norwich – Waterfront – 09.04.26
London – The Garage – 10.04.26
Exeter – Phoenix – 11.04.26
Oxford – O2 Academy 2 – 12.04.26
Newcastle – The Grove – 16.04.26
Glasgow – Oran Mor – 17.04.26
Sheffield – Network – 18.04.26
Nottingham – Rescue Rooms – 23.04.26
Bristol – Thekla – 24.04.26
Brighton – Quarters – 25.04.26
Dublin – The grand Social – 28.04.26
Belfast – Ulster Sports Club – 29.04.26
Manchester – Albert Hall – 01.05.26
(w/ Support from DESPERATE JOURNALIST + THE YOUTH PLAY)
Artisans of a sound that is at once massive and delicate, French prog-rock collective HamaSaari return this January with their long-awaited new album, Pictures, set to be released on January 23rd via Klonosphere.
Just recently, the band have unveiled a new video for the haunting track ‘Frames’, featuring guest vocals from Christelle Ratri, offering a first glimpse into the record’s thematic heart.
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Rooted in modern progressive rock and drawing inspiration from the likes of Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, and Karnivool, HamaSaari craft music that is rich in atmosphere, emotional depth, and cinematic movement. Born from the ashes of their former project Shuffle, the band embraced a more serene and melancholic identity, allowing their sound to unfold like a stormy ritual, dark clouds, falling rain, and slowly emerging light.
Their 2023 debut album Ineffable introduced this balance with striking clarity: delicate yet powerful compositions flowing through shifting shades of darkness and color, built on organic interplay between polyrhythmic bass and drums, reverb-soaked guitars, and a clear, expressive vocal presence.
Now, nearly three years later, Pictures picks up where that journey left off and expands it into a fully realized conceptual statement. The album explores images, paintings, and dimensions, what we choose to frame, conceal, or confront. Inspired by myths, ancient civilizations, dreams, reality, and fiction, Pictures reflects on belief systems, fears, desires, and the fundamental questions that shape the human experience.
The newly released video for ‘Frames’ (feat. Christelle Ratri) embodies this vision beautifully, pairing HamaSaari’s cinematic progression with an added layer of emotional intimacy and vulnerability.
Following the release of Pictures, HamaSaari will take the album to the stage with an extensive European tour throughout spring and summer 2026. The tour will see the band bringing their captivating, emotionally charged live show to clubs and festivals across France, Germany, Spain, and the UK, culminating in major festival appearances later in the year.
HamaSaari – Pictures EU Tour 2026 (selected dates):
• March 12 – Le Mans (FR) – Le Bar’ouf • March 19 – Lyon (FR) – Rock ’n Eat • March 21 – Stuttgart (DE) – Club Zentral • March 22 – Munich (DE) – Substanz • March 24 – Kronach (DE) – Kulturclub Kronach • March 27 – Kleve (DE) – Radhaus • April 10 – Perpignan (FR) – L’Anthropo • April 11 – Zaragoza (ES) – Sala Creedence • April 12 – Badalona (ES) – Estraperlo – Club del Ritme • April 17 – Murcia (ES) – Sala Revólver • April 18 – Málaga (ES) – ZZ Pub • April 21 – Coslada (ES) – The RockLab • April 22 – Ponferrada (ES) – Sala La Vaca • April 24 – Tolosa (ES) – Bonberenea
Festival appearances:
• July 4 – Woodbunge Festival (DE) • July 18 – Prog For Peart – Abingdon (UK) • July 25 – Rhine Entertainment Festival – Xanten (DE)
Legendary Italian experimental trio Zu recently announced their return with Ferrum Sidereum (produced by Marc Urselli), a big and bold double album arriving on House of Mythology on the 9th January.
The music combines the complexity of progressive rock, the grit of industrial music, the precision of metal, the spirit and energy of punk, and the freedom of jazz. The result is a sonic journey that is as cerebral as it is visceral, defying easy categorisation while remaining unmistakably Zu.
Today they share the new single and video for ‘Kether’ – about which the band comments,
“Kether is the crown, the halo, the nimbus, the corona. Since it has been symbolically attacked, we symbolically take it back.The golden crown became the sign of kings, but it is a much older and deeper symbol, and it is at anyone’s reach to reactivate the crown.”
Progressive rock quartet Dhärä return today with their expansive new single ‘A PLACE IN TIME, (the entities, divided)’, offering the next glimpse into their forthcoming full-length album Elemental Four, arriving January 11, 2026.
Known for their immersive instrumental storytelling and dynamic compositions, Dhärä continue to push beyond strict genre boundaries on ‘A PLACE IN TIME, (the entities, divided).’ The track unfolds with patience and atmosphere before erupting into driving rhythms, soaring guitar interplay, and a powerful sense of momentum—highlighting the band’s signature balance between precision, emotion, and scale.
The band shares: “This is the opening of our concept album Elemental Four. ‘A PLACE IN TIME, (the entities, divided)’ introduces many themes that are heard throughout the album. This album is also a concert movie that features five ballerinas who perform modern lyrical dance to the music. Elemental Four is a journey of four entities whose world is shaken by a meteor which threatens their existence. They are separated by a great earthquake, and the only path to saving the planet and themselves is to unify and summon The Conduit, whose power can hopefully vanquish the threat.”
Watch the video for ‘The conduit, A PLACE IN TIME’ here:
Projekt Records artist Lowsunday emerges with their first record comprised of all-new material since 1999, bridging three decades of distinct sonic legacy. The Low Sunday Ghost Machine – White EP delves into emotional isolation, this music laced with a counterbalance of escapism, dreamlike sounds, drones and feedback, with carefully-placed classic song structures with melodic hooks. This is the first of a two-EP series being released via Projekt.
Based in Pittsburgh, Lowsunday is now a duo made up of Shane Sahene (vocals, guitar, synth, bass, drums) and Bobby Spell (bass, guitar, drums), this EP serving as both a reflection and a resurgence. The band also presents their new video for ‘Love Language’.
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Blurring the lines between post-punk, shoegaze, dreampop, and darkwave since 1994, Lowsunday brings something new to the music scene, treading sonic waters with screeching guitars and layer upon layer of arsenic-laced melodies, crowned with bittersweet and emotive vocals. From quiet intensity to sweeping sonic landscapes, Lowsunday makes a welcome return with their retro-futurist daydream.
The White EP demonstrates a connection to the band’s history while showcasing a natural expansion that builds upon guitar-driven atmospheres, synth textures, emotive vocals and stripped down drum beats. A confident return to form that explores darker yet more expansive sonic territory, at times, they push atmospheres to the limits of noise and, at more delicate moments, into a dream pop air of deeper melancholia.
Sahene and Spell distill years of sonic exploration and inspiration into this release. Lyrically and sonically, these songs use classic post-punk rhythms and atmospheric layers to express simple, fundamental emotion.
This five-track EP arrives on the trail of the extended 30th anniversary remaster of their debut album Low Sunday Ghost Machine a 2-CD feast recorded at the height of their ascent. The original nine tracks are complemented by a second disc with seven unreleased tracks, remixes and reinterpretations. Projekt also released the 25th anniversary remaster of their sophomore album Elesgiem in 2024.
You’re being watched… Los Angeles rockers CRYMWAV have unleashed new single ‘Speak No Evil’ ft. Roman Jugg (The Damned), and it’s accompanied by a video directed by Joe Cardamone, formerly of The Icarus Line.
‘Speak No Evil’ is about creeping fascism, big tech, and the sense that you’re always being watched, so watch what you say… The mood is dark, but the music and message hit hard, stamped with CRYMWAV’s signature twist on the classic rock sound. New drummer Pat Muzingo (Junkyard) kicks things off with a Jerry Nolan–esque drum intro, while a gothic piano/harpsichord break courtesy of former Damned guitarist/keyboardist Roman Jugg injects the haunting spirit of Phantasmagoria.
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Formed in Los Angeles in 2022 from the ashes of glam rockers Smash Fashion, CRYMWAV (pronounced Crimewave) is the brainchild of lead singer/songwriter Roger Deering. With roots in the American hardcore scene of the 1980s and influences spanning punk, post-punk, goth, NWOBHM, Thin Lizzy, UFO, and The Ruts, Deering recalls how the project first sparked, “I was staying in London about four years ago when a songwriting spree hit me. I wanted to channel the spirit of bands from that area—Hawkwind, The Clash, Killing Joke, Motörhead. I came back to LA with a fistful of songs, and CRYMWAV was born.”
That vision led to CRYMWAV’s self-released 2023 six-song EP 24/7, which drew rave reviews. Now, Speak No Evil—alongside the acclaimed earlier singles Contagious and Sense of Adventure, offers a glimpse of the band’s forthcoming full-length album, due spring 2026.
Finnish industrial band, THE FAIR ATTEMPTS welcomes the coming year with a haunting new single, ‘Anniversary of Our Destruction’. Diverging from their usual bombastic fusion of industrial rock and metal, THE FAIR ATTEMPTS founder, Timo Haakana along his wife & lyricist, Starwing step boldly into the realm of gothic dance music, drenched in deep emotion.
’Anniversary Of Our Destruction’ has a very personal story attached to it. As founding member, Timo Haakana explains, “One year, our wedding anniversary was a lovely, romantic day with a twist. So many things broke that day. Together, we laughed about the destruction the day left behind, and thus, that special day became the ‘Anniversary of Our Destruction’”.
The song was also inspired by Timo’s personal trials and the struggle that we all often walk through. Amid disease and hardship, The Fair Attempts found beauty and elegance in how we’ve always held our dignity even during our darkest hours.
The message of ‘Anniversary Of Destruction’ is this; We live through our ruin and walk this path collectively – all of us. It’s dark times. As Timo states, “If I could share a New Year’s message and piece of inspiration in the fashion of The Fair Attempts, it would be this song.”
Puerto Rican trio Ender announces their upcoming EP, Ender II: In Silent Throne, scheduled for 20 February 2026 via Praetorian Records. As the first preview from the EP, the San Juan group is now streaming “The Obelisk,” a track that deviates from their progressive doom foundation by embracing a sharper, tech-death-leaning intensity. Exploring themes of sorrow, defiance, and personal struggle, the EP represents not only their growth as musicians but also their commitment to pushing the boundaries of progressive doom and giving back to the metal scene that continues to inspire them.
Of the track, Ender states: “‘The Obelisk’ is a song about the collapse of faith, confronting what happens when something once sacred becomes corrupted. It reflects the tension between devotion and disillusionment, a theme that runs through the core of our forthcoming EP, In Silent Throne. Musically, it captures who Ender is at this moment: heavy, emotional, and unafraid to explore darkness through sound. This track marks the first step into the atmosphere and intensity that define the new era of the band.”
SLAUGHTERDAY unleash a video single of the crushing title track from their forthcoming new album Dread Emperor. The sixth full-length of the East Frisian death metal veterans has been scheduled for release on February, Friday the 13th, 2026.
SLAUGHTERDAY comment: “The title track, ‘Dread Emperor’, represents quintessential Slaughterday”, guitarist Jens Finger points out. “It takes you on an unrelenting journey through old school death metal, from slow, crushing doom to blistering aggression, which is crowned by soaring melodic solos.”
Bernd Reiners adds: “The song’s lyrics portray the ‘Dread Emperor’ as the ultimate embodiment of fear itself, a timeless force that rules through terror and despair”, the frontman writes. "With a world consumed by oppression, hopelessness, and submission, this track channels darkness and chaos to mirror the raw power of fear unleashed, making it both a sonic and thematic assault.”
Aural Aggravation 