SWOMP

New Jersey hard rock band Black Rose Rebellion released its debut album, Hail The Rebel Queen, on May 29 through Pavement Entertainment. The band blends modern hard rock with metal influences and is fronted by vocalist Bri. Lead guitarist Dave "The RockDoc" Rosenfeld co-founded the group with Bri (The Rebel Queen) in June 2022 after the pair were introduced by a mutual friend while both were consi...

A few months after chatting with Yukon Blonde's Brandon Wolfe Scott , following the release of their latest album Friendship & Rock ‘n’ Roll, SWOMP caught up with the entire band following their set at Meadows Music Festival in Fergus, Ontario on Saturday, May 30, 2026 for a fun interview. Follow the band at https://www.yukonblonde.com/ .

Canadian grunge-gaze duo Softcult opened the main stage at Meadows Music Festival on Saturday, marking a hometown-adjacent performance just down the road from their native Kitchener. Mercedes Arn-Horn and Phoenix Arn-Horn spoke with SWOMP backstage following their set, reflecting on their debut full-length album When a Flower Doesn’t Grow and the band’s continued evolution since its release earlie...

Celebrating 20 years of anything in an era of shrinking attention spans feels worth applauding. For the Joel Plaskett Emergency, it is an opportunity to lean in. With their brand new single, "Fill in the Blanks," the band delivers their first new music since 2021's Twenty Years Gone: Joel Plaskett Emergency Revisits Down at the Khyber. SWOMP caught up with Plaskett to discuss the track ahead of th...

Canadian country artist Dallas Smith closed out the opening day of Meadows Music Festival 2026 in Fergus, Ontario on Friday, May 29. An hour before Smith and his band took the main stage, SWOMP sat with him backstage for an interview. During his set, Smith was constantly engaging with the crowd, handing out picks to young fans who were sitting on their parents shoulders, many attending their very...

Brett Emmons is stepping into more personal territory with Cabin Fever, the new album from his solo project John Shambles. Released April 30, the album sees the The Glorious Sons frontman move away from the band’s arena-ready rock sound in favour of something looser and more stripped down, blending folk, garage rock and lo-fi alternative influences. Songs like “Fool In The Woods,” “Landmines,” “Tr...

A new documentary chronicling one of the most influential bands in Filipino music has hit theatres across North America . “Eraserheads: Combo on the Run,” directed by Filipino-American filmmaker Maria Diane Ventura, opened April 24, offering an intimate look at the rise, breakup and reunion of the Eraserheads, a band often described as the “Beatles of the Philippines.” The 102-minute film blends c...

Wage War hit Sick New World with a sharpened edge, arriving in Las Vegas fresh off the release of its new EP It Calls Me By Name. SWOMP spoke with the Florida metalcore band ahead of its evening set, where the focus was firmly on the newly released material and the tour set to launch. The five-track EP leans heavily into the band’s roots, both geographically and sonically, drawing inspiration from...

Chained Saint wasted no time making an impression at Sick New World, opening the Spiral Stage with an early 11:35 a.m. set. The teen metal band brought sharp energy from the outset, quickly sparking a circle pit as early-arriving fans packed in. SWOMP spoke with the band backstage following the set, as the group continues to build momentum well beyond its South Florida roots. Formed in 2022, Chain...

After guitarist Marcos Curiel shared on social media that a new P.O.D. album was being recorded in Philadelphia, SWOMP got the scoop from the band in an interview following their blistering Sick New World set in Las Vegas, Nevada. On top of finishing a new album, P.O.D. is staying busy throughout 2026 with several festival spots and shows across the United States and Europe. Follow the band at htt...

The Dark. FM brought its brooding, electronic-heavy sound to Sick New World, continuing its steady rise with a set in Las Vegas. SWOMP spoke with vocalist Craig Johns after the performance, where the focus turned to the band’s latest single “[zippermouth]” and its new remix collaboration with industrial producer Smash Stereo. The reworked track pushes the band further into darker territory, layeri...

Snot packed in fans at Sick New World, delivering a tight, high-energy set as the band continues its return to the stage. SWOMP caught up with guitarist Mikey Doling and bassist John Fahnestock after the show, where the conversation quickly turned to the legacy of original frontman Lynn Strait, who died in a 1998 car accident. That history still drives the band — but so does what’s next. Snot has...

Following Filter's Green Stage performance at Sick New World in Las Vegas, SWOMP spoke with frontman Richard Patrick about the band’s current run and recent collaborations. Among them is Patrick’s guest appearance on “Blue Sky Mystery,” a recent single from Canadian rock band Finger Eleven, marking the first time the artists have worked together. “Working with Scott, James, Rick, Sean and Steve co...

Bloodywood continued its rapid ascent on the global metal scene with a high-energy performance on the Diablo Stage at Sick New World. The Indian band’s set at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds showcased its blend of nu metal, metalcore and melodic hard rock, combined with traditional Indian folk elements — a fusion that has helped set the group apart on festival lineups. Following the performance, SW...

Violent Vira kicked off her 'Our Lady of Sorrows Tour' at Sick New World in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The Boise, Idaho rock/metal singer-songwriter will travel across the U.S. on the tour, which wraps up in Cincinnati on May 21, 2026. They are also set to go on tour alongside Halestorm in support of BABYMETAL this September. The tour will stop in Canada when they play the RBC Amphithe...

Canadian country artist Chad Brownlee released his new single 'Legendary' on April 24, marking what he describes as a shift toward a bigger, more high-impact sound. The track, released via The Orchard, blends Brownlee’s country roots with a rock-driven edge and draws on his past as a professional hockey player. The song is positioned as an arena-ready anthem, capturing the intensity and pressure o...

Arkells have released their new album Between Us today, marking the latest chapter for the nine-time Juno Award-winning group as they prepare for an extensive run of live shows across Canada and beyond. The album, released April 17 through Universal Music Canada and Virgin Music Group, was produced and recorded in Los Angeles with Grammy Award-winning producer John Congleton, known for his work wi...

As country and metal continue their long flirtation, Devil’s Cut are staking a louder, rowdier claim with their debut album Roadkill. The Louisville band’s first full-length record arrives April 24 via MNRK Heavy, blending metalcore’s weight with country storytelling and imagery. The album’s lead single, “Drink With The Devil,” dropped recently alongside a music video, offering an early look at th...

Canadian electro-rock duo ROMES say their rapid rise on social media is translating into sold-out rooms across Europe, as they prepare to bring that momentum back home for an April 19 show at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. “So many people are telling us after the shows that they stumbled across one of our videos on social media and immediately bought a ticket,” stated drummer Nicolas Bitove. “We...

Tyler Joe Miller says his latest single, “Under the Influence,” hits close to home, tapping into the emotional back-and-forth that comes with trying to move on from a past relationship. In an interview with SWOMP, the JUNO Award-nominated country artist described the song as a deeply relatable reflection on the internal struggle between progress and relapse. “‘Under the Influence’ is a song about...

Canadian pop singer-songwriter Olivia Penalva is back with a new single that blends romance with introspection, offering listeners a layered take on personal growth. “Distance Makes A Love Story,” released Feb. 13, continues Penalva’s signature approach to emotionally driven, cinematic pop while expanding her sound into new territory. The track follows the themes of her album Spiderwebs, using a r...

Multi-platinum rock band Collective Soul will bring its 30-plus-year catalogue to Windsor later this month, with a show set for March 27 at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor. SWOMP spoke with bassist Will Turpin ahead of the performance, as the band continues touring into 2026 following a busy anniversary run.  Known for hits including “Shine,” “December” and “The World I Know,” the Atlanta group h...

Folk-pop singer-songwriter Catie Turner is embracing a new chapter in her music career following her recent appearance at Innings Festival and the release of her latest single, “Hurt You Now.” In an interview with SWOMP, Turner reflected on performing at the Tempe, Arizona festival on Feb. 21, where she played multiple sets, including an appearance on the Home Plate Stage. Known for blending soft,...

Canadian rock band The Sheepdogs have released their latest album, Keep Out of the Storm, and are preparing to launch a Canadian headline tour beginning March 13 at the Capitol Theatre in Chatham, Ontario. SWOMP spoke with bassist Ryan Gullen about the new album and the upcoming tour.  The multi-platinum, four-time JUNO Award-winning group shared the new record through their own label, Right On Re...

Rising Canadian country artist Sully Burrows is carrying strong momentum into 2026, following a breakout year that included new music, major tour opportunities and a growing national profile. The Parry Sound, Ont., singer-songwriter recently spoke with SWOMP about life on the road, his debut EP and what fans can expect next as his career continues to build.  Burrows said the start of 2026 has alre...