I had the fun of chatting with the Cleveland metal band After the Apocalypse! We discussed band history, influences, guilty pleasures, and, oddly enough, chicken nuggets and… Jeffrey Dahmer? Check it out!!!
Follow After the Apocalypse:
heavy metal
Five Songs I’m Obsessed With [6/29 – 7/5]
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
Killswitch Engage Announces Summer 2026 Dates With Machine Head, Iron Reagan, and Havok
Tickets: killswitchengage.com
- 6/3 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit
- 6/5 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore Minneapolis
- 6/6 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club
- 6/7 – South Bend, IN – Four Winds Field
- 6/9 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
- 6/11 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
- 6/12 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner
- 6/13 – Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Center
- 6/14 – Washington, DC – Vans Warped Tour 2026*
- 6/16 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
- 6/17 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
- 6/19 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
- 6/20 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
- 6/21 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
- 6/23 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel Entertainment Center
- 6/24 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee
- 6/25 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
- 6/27 – San Francisco, CA – Warfield
* Festival; KSE and Machine Head only
Kittie: Legacy of Fire Tour 2026
Kittie is celebrating 30 years with a string of June dates. The Legacy of Fire Tour features special guests Kingdom of Giants and Gore. Tickets and VIP are still available at kittie.net!
- 6/6 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant*
- 6/8 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre*
- 6/9 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot*
- 6/11 – Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
- 6/12 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
- 6/13 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater
- 6/15 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theatre
- 6/16 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
- 6/18 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl
- 6/19 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
- 6/20 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
- 6/21 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
- 6/23 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
- 6/24 – Worcester, MA – Palladium
- 6/26 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
- 6/27 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield
* No Kingdom of Giants
Seven Year Witch Offers a New Take on Blue Oyster Cult’s Classic Hit [Video]
South Carolina-based rockers Seven Year Witch have released their version of Blue Oyster Cult’s 1981 hit “Burnin’ For You.” Check it out below!
All That Remains Announces Spring 2026 Dates
Metal band All That Remains has shared spring dates with Born of Osiris and Dead Eyes. The tour kicks off April 29th in Albany, New York. Tickets and VIP are available at allthatremainsonline.com!
- 4/29 – Albany, NY – Empire Live
- 4/30 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
- 5/1 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony
- 5/2 – Baltimore, MD – Nevermore Hall
- 5/4 – Greensboro, NC – The Pyrle
- 5/5 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Heaven)
- 5/7 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville 2026
- 5/8 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
- 5/9 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room
- 5/11 – St. Louis, MO – The Sovereign
- 5/12 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
- 5/14 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Big Room
- 5/15 – Cadillac, MI – The Venue Event Center
- 5/16 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival 2026
- 5/17 – Wyandotte, MI – District 142
- 5/19 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop
- 5/21 – Harrisburg, PA – Capital City Music Hall
- 5/22 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
- 5/23 – Worcester, MA – Palladium
Female-Fronted Friday: Solar
When: Formed in 2003
Where: Rockford, IL
Genre: Hard rock/Metal
FFO: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Warlock, Judas Priest, Megadeth
Solar is a four-piece rock band that consists of lead vocalist Stephanie, guitarist/vocalist Brad, bassist Larry, and Donovan the drummer. They have graced stages all across the U.S. with their seamless blend of heavy and melodic, and have released four full-length records: First Light (2006), Radiance (2021), Oracle (2022), and Frantically Calm (2025).
You can check out a few of my favorite Solar tracks below. Make sure you follow their socials for the latest music, news, and live show announcements.
“Rise”
“Frantically Calm”
“Glow”
“Mr. Stitches”
“I Don’t Owe You Anything”
Clutch: Suffer No Evil U.S. Tour 2026
Clutch is kicking off their Suffer No Evil U.S. Tour in one week! With special guests Corrosion of Conformity and JD Pinkus, this spring run will open with a show at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville. Tickets are still available at clutchmerch.com!
- 4/9 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
- 4/11 – Worcester, MA – Palladium
- 4/12 – Rochester, NY – Kodak Center Theater
- 4/14 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory
- 4/15 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall
- 4/17 – Kansas City, MO – VooDoo Lounge at Harrah’s
- 4/18 – Sioux City, IA – Anthem at Hard Rock Sioux City
- 4/19 – Sioux Falls, SD – The District
- 4/21 – Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theater
- 4/23 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall
- 4/24 – Reno, NV – Cargo Concert Hall
- 4/25 – Las Vegas, NV – Sick New World Festival 2026*
- 4/27 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
- 4/28 – Midland, TX – Midland County Horseshoe Arena
- 4/29 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theatre
- 5/1 – Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Music Hall
- 5/2 – Chattanooga, TN – The Signal
- 5/3 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
* Clutch and Corrosion of Conformity only
The Ex-Faces: Former Members of Mushroomhead Announce 2026 Tour
After collaborating in various other projects throughout the years since their time with Mushroomhead, several ex-members have decided to go on tour. “The Ex-Faces” consists of J. Mann, Waylon Reavis, Gravy, Lil’ Dan, Richard “Stitch” Thomas, Mr. Murdernickel, and on select dates, Pig Benis. This mishmash of masked misfits will be performing songs from their days with MRH.
With four dates this spring and many more over the summer, this coast-to-coast trek boasts special guests Saints of Solomon and Deep Within. You can grab tickets and a VIP experience at theexfaces.com!
* Pig Benis appearing
April 2026
- 4/16 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop*
- 4/17 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop*
- 4/18 – Columbus, OH – The King of Clubs*
- 4/19 – Columbus, OH – The King of Clubs*
July 2026
- 7/2 – Virginia Beach, VA – Scandals Live
- 7/3 – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
- 7/4 – Spartanburg, SC – Ground Zero
- 7/5 – Wilmington, NC – Reggie’s 42nd Street Tavern
- 7/8 – Knoxville, TN – Open Chord
- 7/9 – Harrison, OH – The Blue Note
- 7/10 – Lakewood, OH – Mercury Music Lounge*
- 7/11 – Lakewood, OH – Mercury Music Lounge*
- 7/12 – Fort Wayne, IN – Piere’s
- 7/14 – Pittsburgh, PA – Crafthouse Stage & Grill
- 7/15 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom
- 7/16 – Reading, PA – Reverb
- 7/17 – Millersville, PA – Phantom Power
- 7/18 – Frenchtown, NJ – Artie’s Bar & Grill
- 7/19 – Newark, DE – Halftime Sports Bar and Music Venue
- 7/21 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Hall
- 7/23 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
- 7/24 – Dallas, TX – Trees
- 7/25 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live
- 7/26 – Tulsa, OK – The Shrine
- 7/28 – Glendale, AZ – The 44 Sports Grill & Nightlife
- 7/30 – West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go
- 7/31 – Reno, NV – Club Underground
August 2026
- 8/1 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post
- 8/2 – Garden Grove, CA – Garden AMP
- 8/4 – Denver, CO – Federal Theatre
- 8/5 – Colorado Springs, CO – Sunshine Studios Live
- 8/7 – McHenry, IL – The Vixen*
- 8/8 – New Berlin, IL – Danenberger Family Vineyards*
- 8/9 – Cadillac, MI – The Venue*
- 8/11 – Hobart, IN – The Hobart Art Theater*
- 8/12 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall*
- 8/13 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi*
- 8/14 – Oakwood, IL – Exit 210 Saloon*
- 8/15 – Battle Creek, MI – Michigan Metal Fest 2026*
Mostly Music 