I have decided to start sharing covers released in 2026 as I find them instead of compiling a year-end list like I did for 2025.
First up is Seventh Day Slumber’s heavy rendition of the Elevation Worship song “Praise.”
alternative metal
Five Songs I’m Obsessed With [6/29 – 7/5]
Female-Fronted Friday: 13 Spiders
When: 2021
Where: Knoxville, TN.
Genre: Hard rock/Alt-metal
FFO: Flyleaf (early), 3 Pill Morning, 10 Years
13 Spiders was originally founded in 2021 by Alicia Hurst. She was the bassist and planned to put together an all-female act, but that didn’t work out. In order to keep the band alive, Alicia opened the door to any musician who was interested. She managed to find a bassist, guitarist, and drummer, yet the position of vocalist was a difficult one to fill. As the author of the lyrics and the vocal melodies, Alicia was pushed to the forefront of 13 Spiders.
13 Spiders’ current lineup consists of Alicia (vox), Mike (bass), Andrew (guitar), and Scott (drums). Real life has intervened and stalled the release of new music, but the band does have songs in the studio just waiting for their producer to get in with Alicia to lay down the vocal tracks! The most recent single is “You,” which dropped in late 2024. They do have an upcoming track entitled “Scarred Innocence.” The song was written as a voice for child victims of sexual abuse and is based on a real-life case that occurred locally to them.
Make sure you follow 13 Spiders on all their socials, as well as your streaming service of choice, so you don’t miss any news or the studio release of “Scarred Innocence” (they have been performing it live).
“You”
“Scarred Innocence” [Live]
Jeffrey Nothing: 202SICK U.S. Tour
Former Mushroomhead vocalist Jeffrey Nothing is taking his solo performance on the road. Jeffrey has been in several projects over the years, but as “Jeffrey Nothing” has only released two albums, 2011’s The New Psychodalia and this year’s upcoming 202SICK.
The 202SICK U.S. tour features special guests Dizasterpiece or October Noir. Tickets are on sale now at nothing-mart.com! VIP passes are available for select shows.
- 7/25 – Houston, TX – BFE Rock Club*+
- 7/28 – Jackson, MS – Hal & Mal’s (Red Room)*
- 7/29 – New Orleans, LA – Southport Music Hall*
- 7/30 – Destin, FL – Club LA*
- 8/1 – Winter Park, FL – Conduit*
- 8/2 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum*
- 8/5 – Spartanburg, SC – Ground Zero^
- 8/6 – Richmond, VA – Ember Music Hall^
- 8/7 – Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz^
- 8/8 – Harrisburg, PA – Capital City Music Hall^
- 8/9 – Rochester, NY – Photo City Music Hall^
- 8/12 – West Chicago, IL – WC Social Club^
- 8/13 – Iowa City, IA – Wildwood^
- 8/14 to 8/16 – Kansas City, MO – Appearing at Crypticon Horror Convention#
- 8/18 – Omaha, NE – Reverb Lounge^
- 8/19 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon^
- 8/20 – Cadillac, MI – The Venue Event Center^
- 8/21 – Cleveland, OH – The Foundry^
- 8/22 – Baltimore, MD – Zen West^
- 8/23 – Bensalem, PA – Broken Goblet Brewing^
- 8/25 – Providence, RI – Alchemy^
- 8/26 – Manchester, NH – Bungalow Bar & Grill^
+ w/DieHumane
* w/October Noir
^ w/Dizasterpiece
# Jeffrey Nothing only
Five Songs I’m Obsessed With [6/22 – 6/28]
Female-Fronted Friday: Anaria
When: 2011
Where: New England
Genre: Rock/Symphonic Metal
FFO: Nightwish, Edge of Paradise, Within Temptation
Having existed in some form or fashion since 2011, Anaria currently consists of vocalist Jessica Mercy, guitarists Sergio Salvucci and Dan Spinney, bassist Matt Frotten, and drummer Johnathan Jena. The band is genre-defying, but the most prevalent elements in their music are symphonic metal, modern rock, and cinematic scoring, with a sprinkling of pop.
Anaria has released five full-length albums – Ancestors (2014), Seasons of the Mind, Vol. 1: Inception (2015), Exile (2020), Holding Cell (2024), and Between Loving and Dying (2026). Their latest single, “From the Dark,” hit streaming platforms back in March. All of their audio, video, and photo production is done in-house, as Sergio and Jessica have built their own production company. Jessica also doubles as a freelance singer/songwriter.
To learn more about Anaria, or to simply keep up with their various goings-on, follow them on all the usual socials/streaming services!
“From the Dark”
“Chasing Shadows”
“Awaken”
“Wings of a Butterfly” (HIM cover)
10 Years Shares Summer 2026 Tour Dates
Tickets & VIP: 10yearsmusic.com
- 7/17 – North Versailles, PA – Sunny Days Arena at The Venue
- 7/18 – Jeffersontown, KY – Jeffersontown Amphitheater
- 7/21 – Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
- 7/22 – Lakewood, OH – Mercury Music Lounge
- 7/24 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop
- 7/25 – Harrison, OH – The Blue Note
- 7/28 – Memphis, TN – Minglewood Hall
- 7/30 – Waynesboro, VA – The Foundry
- 7/31 – Johnson City, TN – Capone’s
- 8/1 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
- 8/2 – Baltimore, MD – Nevermore Hall
Nonpoint: The Even More…Outta Control Tour 2026
Nu metal veterans Nonpoint have shared the dates for The Even More…Outta Control Tour. This summer stint boasts support from their peers in Spineshank and Hed P.E. Soil will also be appearing on select shows. Tickets and VIP are available at nonpoint.com!
- 7/23 – Menahga, MN – Mid Summer Music Fest 2026
- 7/25 – Davenport, IA – Capitol Theatre
- 7/26 – Minneapolis, MN – Cabooze
- 7/28 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
- 7/29 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue
- 7/31 – Wyandotte, MI – District 142*
- 8/1 – Lansing, MI – Rock Lansing 2026*
- 8/2 – Lakewood, OH – The Winchester*
- 8/4 – Stroudsburg, PA – Sherman Theater*
- 8/6 – Hampton, NH – Wally’s*
- 8/7 – Albany, NY – Empire Live*
- 8/8 – Waynesboro, VA – The Foundry
- 8/9 – Harrison, OH – The Blue Note
- 8/11 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall
- 8/12 – Sauget, IL – Pop’s Nightclub & Concert Venue
- 8/14 – Ringle, WI – Q and Z Expo Center
- 8/15 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club
- 8/16 – Kansas City, MO – RecordBar
- 8/18 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
- 8/20 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
- 8/21 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
- 8/22 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
- 8/23 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
- 8/25 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post
- 8/26 – San Jose, CA – The Ritz
- 8/28 – Pomona, CA – The Glass House
- 8/29 – Las Vegas, NV – 24 Oxford
- 8/30 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater
- 9/1 – Lubbock, TX – Jake’s Sports Cafe
- 9/3 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live
- 9/4 – Dallas, TX – Trees
* w/Soil
3 Years Hollow + Shallow Side: The Shallow & Hollow Tour 2026
3 Years Hollow and Shallow Side, two hard rock bands, are teaming up this summer for The Shallow & Hollow Tour, which boasts support from Trackside. The 11-date run kicks off July 8th in Toledo, Ohio, and wraps up August 2nd in Dayton, Ohio. Tickets and VIP are on sale now at 3yearshollow.com and shallowside.net!
- 7/8 – Toledo, OH – Frankie’s
- 7/9 – Lansing, MI – Mac’s Bar
- 7/10 – Portage, IN – Shenanigans Live
- 7/11 – Moline, IL – Rascal’s
- 7/12 – Rockford, IL – Whiskey’s Roadhouse
- 7/28 – Park Hills, MO – Park Hills Underground
- 7/29 – Covington, KY – Madison Live!
- 7/30 – Evansville, IN – Ray Leo’s at Lamasco
- 7/31 – Glasgow, KY – AJ’s Place
- 8/1 – Knoxville, TN – Open Chord
- 8/2 – Dayton, OH – Hidden Gem Music Hall
Buckcherry + Black Stone Cherry: The Wild Cherry Tour 2026
This summer, sleaze rockers Buckcherry are teaming up with Southern rockers Black Stone Cherry for The Wild Cherry Tour. Featuring special guest Tyler Bryant, this 9-date run starts August 16th in Pelham, Tennessee. Tickets are on sale at buckcherry.com and blackstonecherry.com! (Buckcherry is also offering VIP experiences.)
- 8/16 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns
- 8/18 – Huntington, WV – The Loud
- 8/19 – Waynesboro, VA – The Foundry
- 8/25 – Fort Myers, FL – The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon
- 8/26 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Landing
- 8/27 – Destin, FL – Club LA
- 8/31 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theatre
- 9/1 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
- 9/3 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
