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ASIA – announce new album ‘Indigo’

Legendary English rock supergroup ASIA are pleased to announce that their new studio album, ‘Indigo,’ will be released on November 6, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.

To mark the occasion, the band shares the new single and official video, “The Traveller (Into The Light),” available below.

Geoff Downes commented: “The first track off the album is a high-power energy piece, with a few elements of prog trickery but retaining the accessible chorus block, which was always a signature of ASIA’s music from the very beginning. Harry and I started working on this as one of the early ideas that seemed to come together very organically. Virgil’s dynamic and innovative drum parts drive the piece along, while John’s soaring guitars keep the momentum. Harry’s vocals are commanding, and my keyboard parts hold the wall of sound together. It’s a song of great optimism, mainly about looking forward to the future and travelling ‘into the light’. Play it loud!”

More than four decades after redefining the sound of melodic progressive rock, ASIA returns in 2026 with ‘Indigo’ – a studio album that bridges past, present, and future with remarkable grace and authenticity.

Now featuring Geoffrey Downes alongside an inspired new lineup – Virgil Donati, John Mitchell, and Harry Whitley – ASIA steps confidently into a new era while honoring the legacy that made them one of the most iconic supergroups of all time.

Geoff Downes described the genesis of the album: “The initial writing period began in 2015, following the release of our previous album ‘Gravitas’ in 2014. John Wetton and I started putting our ideas together, aiming to get into the studio once more. It was with great sadness that John became seriously ill. During this time, we had put on hold our plans, and sadly, John passed away before we could continue and complete it. So, it was always in my mind that at some point it would be a shame not to finish off some of these songs and finally release them as part of an ASIA album.

“In 2023, when the tribute concert for John took place, I was so encouraged by the response to ASIA’s music that I viewed this as the perfect opportunity to re-establish not only the band, but also to reunite with our long-time supportive label, Frontiers, paving the way for us to get back in the studio”, he continued.

Downes also added: “So, ASIA was back in the room, so to speak, and we were very fortunate to have recruited Virgil Donati and John Mitchell, both of whom had worked extensively with John before, as well as our new vocalist and bassist, Harry Whitley. The tours followed to great success throughout 2024 and 2025, and finally, we sat down towards the end of last year to record the album. Working with these fine musicians was a great privilege and the music just seemed to flow”.

“The album was really a joy to make. I forged a close writing relationship with Harry, and I felt how great it was to be working with someone who had very similar musical influences and taste once again, just as I did with John. I feel that this is one of our best albums to date. The songs are deep in musicality, with a powerful and original performance, dynamics and strong lyrical undertones – it’s an album that hopefully our fans will widely appreciate and support our cause to put ASIA back on the map. Enjoy the ride!” he concluded.

Recorded throughout 2025 and produced by Downes and the band, with mixing and mastering handled by John Mitchell, ‘Indigo’ captures the unmistakable spirit of ASIA while injecting it with renewed vitality and purpose.

At the heart of the album lies an emotional connection to the band’s history. ‘Indigo’ includes some of the final compositions written by the late John Wetton – “Tattoo Indigo (Parts 2 & 3)” and “Chesapeake Bay”- imbuing the record with a profound sense of continuity and tribute. The presence of Wetton is further felt through the extraordinary vocal performance of Harry Whitley, whose tone and phrasing evoke a striking and deeply moving resemblance to the band’s original voice.

Musically, ‘Indigo’ stands as a natural continuation of ASIA’s acclaimed 21st-century output, while subtly weaving in the sonic DNA of the band’s classic early albums. From soaring melodies to richly layered arrangements, the album delivers the signature blend of accessibility and musicianship that defined hits like “Heat Of The Moment” and “Only Time Will Tell.”

The album also features special guest appearances that elevate its scope: Steve Howe contributes acoustic guitar to the evocative “Chesapeake Bay”, while Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) delivers a powerful performance on the bonus track “Tattoo Indigo (Part 3).”

Following a resurgence of live activity across the US, Japan, and Europe, ASIA is looking forward to taking to the road again. 
With ‘Indigo,’ ASIA don’t just revisit their legacy – they expand it, proving once again that their music remains as vital, resonant, and timeless as ever.

Indigo‘ Track List:
The Traveller (Into The Light)
Change Of Heart
ArcadiaIs
This The Life?T
attoo Indigo (Part 1)
Tattoo Indigo (Part 2)
Tattoo Indigo (Part 3)
Life In The Sun
Hymn For The Fallen
Night And Day
Valencia (The Ghost Ship)
An ElegyChesapeake Bay (Featuring Steve Howe)
On A Winters Night
Echo Of You
Tattoo Indigo (Part 3) (featuring Mike Portnoy) (Bonus Track)
ASIA: Facebook  Web  Instagram

ARTHUR BROWN – to release new album ‘Nature’

Legendary British rocker Arthur Brown has a new album coming out September 4th, through Prophecy Productions. It is a collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Dan Smith. Arthur Brown is still out there rocking – touring, and creating new music – 58 years after his worldwide hit “Fire”!

Arthur had 2 albums in 2022, Monster’s Ball (w/ various guests) and the excellent Long Long Road (w/ Rik Patten). His new single and video is out. The album is available for pre-order, in various formats HERE. Check it out. Really looking forward to this. *Also check out the press release below, as well as tracklisting and links to more on Arthur Brown. Further, Arthur has upcoming shows and will also be a guest host on ALICE COOPER’s upcoming UK book tour, see all dates below.

Video by Marvin Stang

Iconic British blues rocker ARTHUR BROWN has revealed the title track of his forthcoming new full-length “Nature“, which has been created in collaboration with DAN SMITH. ‘Nature’ is presented in the shape of a beautiful music video that has been pro-shot live at his flamboyant shows during ARTHUR BROWN’s recent touring across Europe.

ARTHUR BROWN comments on ‘Nature’: “This is a time of confusion and choice”, the legendary rock musician muses. “Deep inside us is a consciousness, which is the basis of everything. Can we find a way to know ourselves as being it? At the moment all our social structures, our laws, education system, everything in our culture are no longer using the parts of our brain that can care for the world in its totality. From this comes our discomfort in our living. All our problems arise from this dualistic world image. We need to find a way to stand before this ‘consciousness’ and drop all our current ‘answers’.”

As ARTHUR BROWN continues to perform – “Nature” stands as a profound and poetic culmination of his artistic journey. After six decades on all the stages of the world, boundary‑breaking performances, pioneering and innovating rock music, fate and life have brought the iconic singer back to where he came from – both as a creative artist and in his personal geography.

For more than sixty years, ARTHUR BROWN has stood as one of the most singular figures in rock music. The singer and performer is universally recognised as a true visionary whose work has always moved beyond conventional songcraft and crossed over into theatre, ritual, and sonic experimentation. At the culmination of his extraordinary decade-spanning career, ARTHUR BROWN announces the release of what he describes as his pinnacle album: “Nature”. 

In recent years, ARTHUR BROWN has been contemplating how he would like to see the final chapter of his musical journey to unfold. After decades of global travel and artistic exploration, the question became not how to continue – but how to remain true and authentic to himself. Originally planning to settle in the United States, the Norns weaving fate pulled some strings. Brown and his partner as well as creative director, Claire Waller, found themselves unexpectedly in North Yorkshire, in the north of England. 

An Album Shaped by Time, Elements and a Return

What at first looked like only a temporary change of plan soon revealed itself as something far more profound. Settling down among the vast landscapes of the North York Moors, ARTHUR BROWN discovered that he had followed something powerful, the call of his blood. The iconic rock pioneer found himself living in his ancestral home, only miles from the final resting place of his great‑grandfather, grandfather, and father on one side. While on the other side loomed that ancient fishing town at the heart of many a dark folk tale, Whitby – the place of his birth. These discoveries made his return feel almost magical in its poetic symmetry.

“Nature” is a reflection on a life that has and is dedicated to the search of meaning through creativity, spirituality, and artistic exploration. Throughout ARTHUR BROWN’s life, one idea has returned time and again: the cosmic unity of existence. “Nature” places that philosophy at its centre. “Nature” is not intended as some kind of closing statement but rather the distillation of a lifetime spent exploring the mysteries of being. It is the sound of a wandering minstrel pausing, at last, to listen to the wind in the trees. And quite literally so…

Nature’s call changed the way that ARTHUR BROWN was used to working on new music. Rather than constructing the album purely within the walls of a studio, he began recording the natural sounds that surround his home. The bubbling brook. The flow of the nearby river. Wind moving through trees. Wind chimes hanging in the air. Footsteps across soil and woodland paths. The crackle of fire in the hearth. All these sounds and more became part of “Nature”‘s sonic palette. 

ARTHUR BROWN went on to find the perfect collaborators for his musical endeavour. Working with his friend and producer Isaac McInnis of Crooked Room Studio, the veteran musician developed the conceptual framework of the record – blending environmental recordings with improvisational composition. When he was satisfied, ARTHUR BROWN took the next step and called upon another friend, the composer, multi-instrumentalist, and collaborator Dan Smith, who is also a member of the current CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN live line-up, to help shape the music.

Together with McInnis and Claire Waller, the creative process unfolded organically step by step. ARTHUR BROWN brought with him a lifetime of lyrical writing, poetic prowess, and philosophical reflection. The songs evolved through a series of improvised recording sessions, which were guided by instinct rather than rigid structure.

Following these sessions, Dan Smith continued to expand and develop the musical landscape. He worked alongside McInnis, Waller, and Brown to shape what would ultimately become “Nature”. More than just another album, this record offers an interwoven tapestry of natural sounds, improvised exploration of instruments, traditional composition, and joyful collaboration.

It is time to let “Nature” take its course…

photo: Harvey Waller

Tracklist
1. Nature
2. With a Tear
3. The Source
4. Seven
5. Bursting the Bubble
6. Water on Stone
7. Open Hearts
8. Enough

Line-up: Arthur Brown – vocals
Dan Smith – various instruments

Recording line-up:
Arthur Brown – vocals
Dan Smith – guitar, bass, keyboards, programming, backing vocals
Isaac McInnis – keyboards, programming, scissors

Guest musicians:
Sam Walker – drums, steel pans, percussion, backing vocals on track 1 & 4
Claire Waller – scissors, recorder on track 1 & 7
Paul Elliott – drums, percussion on track 2

Recording & mix: by Isaac McInnis at Crooked Room Studio, York (UK)
Mastering: by Kevin Tuffy at Tuff Mastering, Berlin (DE)

Artwork photography: by Harvey Waller
Layout: by Łukasz Jaszak

Available formats

“Nature” will be available as a ltd. hardcover 48-page 2CD artbook with essays by Arthur Brown & bonus CD incl. two excl. studio tracks, ltd. Gatefold marbled natural & clear vinyl LP (400 copies), ltd. Gatefold brown vinyl LP (400 copies), Gatefold black vinyl LP, and on Digipak CD.

Links
www.thegodofhellfire.com
www.facebook.com/arthurbrownmusic
www.instagram.com/godofhellfire_actual

https://arthur-brown.bandcamp.com/album/nature-1

ALICE COOPER UK Book Tour dates with host ARTHUR BROWN:
13 OCT 2016 London (UK) Palladium
14 OCT 2016 Brighton (UK) Dome
17 OCT 2016 Stockton (UK) Globe
20 OCT 2016 Wolverhampton (UK) Civic Hall

KAI HANSEN – new album & single announced

METAL ICON KAI HANSEN ANNOUNCES NEW SOLO ALBUM BORN WITH A HAMMER. ARRIVES  SEPTEMBER 18 VIA EARMUSIC

Kai Hansen is one of the defining figures in heavy metal.

As co-founder of Helloween and founder of Gamma Ray, he shaped power metal into a global force and created a sound that continues to drive the genre today.

Now, Hansen returns with Born With A Hammer, his first solo album since Kai Hansen & Friends’ XXX – Three Decades In Metal, is set for release on September 18 on earMUSIC.

Raw, energetic, rebellious and unmistakably personal, Born With A Hammer brings together every side of Hansen’s musical identity. Across 10 songs, the album moves between powerful heavy metal, punk attitude, hard rock drive, melodic hooks, and pure guitar-driven energy, carried by the songwriting instincts, guitar work, and unmistakable voice that have made Kai Hansen one of metal’s most distinctive artists. Written without compromise and fueled by pure passion for heavy music, Born With A Hammer captures Hansen at full creative force: Direct, alive and unmistakably metal.

The album was produced by Eike Freese and recorded with a band that brings both firepower and history to the project. Alongside Freese on guitar, the lineup features Alexander Dietz (Heaven Shall Burn) on guitar and Dan Wilding (Carcass) on drums, who already stood alongside Hansen on XXX – Three Decades In Metal, plus Tim Hansen (Induction) on guitar.

Released today alongside the album announcement, “Feeding The Beast” is the first single and opening track from Born With A Hammer, accompanied by an official music video. Driven by razor-sharp riffs, anthemic melodies, and relentless energy, the song delivers a direct and powerful first taste of the album.

Following the global success of Helloween’s recent reunion era and world tours, Born With A Hammer opens a new chapter for Kai Hansen as a solo artist, bringing that  energy into a record that stands firmly on its own. 

Stream “Feeding The Beast” HERE
 
Pre-order Born With A Hammer HERE

FEEDING THE BEAST TRACK LISTING:
“Feeding The Beast”
“Welcome To Life”
“Don’t Care”
“Wait And See”
“Born With A Hammer”
“I.D.G.A.F.”
“End Of The Road”
“Triple Trouble”
“Invaders”
“Wonderland”

FORMATS:
CD Digipak
Black LP Gatefold (180g)
Limited Picture Disc LP (180g)

https://www.facebook.com/kaihansenofficial

https://www.instagram.com/realkaihansen/?hl=en

YES – new album ‘Aurora’, and single

Well, not really new news, but YES have announced a new album and released the first single with animated video.Check out the press info below, the album art by Roger Dean, and the video.

YES, who is Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood & Jay Schellen, are proud to announce their 24th studio album ‘Aurora’ will be released on the 12th June 2026 via InsideOutMusic/Sony Music.  As Howe explains: “Making this record was joyful, a chance to play, explore and give everything to the music. It’s always been about collaboration, somebody can write a song, but until everybody puts their contribution in it isn’t really a Yes song. We’re not trying to echo the past; we’re carrying the spirit of Yes forward and turning it into something new”. The band are also launching the first single from the album, and you can watch the beautiful animated video for the title track, created by Matt Hutchings (Greg Lake, Oasis, Iron Maiden),

‘Aurora’ will be available as a Limited Deluxe 180g Light Green 2LP+2CD+Blu-ray Artbook & Poster, as well as a Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook, both featuring the stunning artwork of Roger Dean and Freya Dean, as well as a bonus disc of instrumentals, and a blu-ray featuring Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound & 24bit stereo mixes (by Curtis Schwartz). The album is also available as a Gatefold 180g 2LP + LP-booklet, Special Edition CD Digipak & as Digital Album.

Pre-order now here: https://yes-band.lnk.to/Aurora

Track listing:

1. Aurora 07:27

2. Turnaround Situation 05:50

3. Love Lies Dreaming 06:24

4. Countermovement 13:48

5. Ariadne 06:18

6. All Hands on Deck 03:04

7. Outside the Box 04:20

8. Emotional Intelligence 03:30

9. Jambustin’ (Bonus Track) 04:24

10. Watching the River Roll (Bonus Track) 04:42

When Yes first began sketching out ideas for what would become ‘Aurora’, the process was loose and exploratory. There was no preconceived concept at the start, just a collection of musical fragments that gradually began to find one another and take form. Among these early sketches was a piece titled “Aurora,” and it quickly became clear that the name carried certain gravity. It suggested light, emergence, and a sense of vastness, qualities that resonated deeply with the band. Jon Davison remembers how “the title immediately resonated with Steve Howe and sparked visual inspiration for artist Roger Dean, setting a conceptual tone that would guide the project.”

Work on ‘Aurora’ began almost as soon as the ‘Classic Tales of Yes’ tour ended in 2024. The idea of a new album surfaced quickly and with the label’s encouragement, the band had the time to develop material organically. Rather than gathering in a single studio for months, they embraced a modern workflow; ideas were born in home studios, shaped independently, and then woven together through constant collaboration. Downes and Howe often acted as the central creative axis, with Howe, as producer, serving as the point through which all ideas eventually flowed. Across ‘Aurora’, each track carries its own character. Some echo the classic Yes approach, others push into new territory, but together they form a cohesive whole that honours the band’s heritage while embracing forward motion. With their 24th studio album, Yes demonstrate not just longevity, but a sustained curiosity, a desire to keep exploring, keep refining and keep discovering their capacity to create.

GOLDEN EARRING – 1970 album to be reissued w/ bonus tracks

• Expanded edition of the band’s 1970 eponymous album, also known as ‘Wall Of Dolls’
• Including the Golden Earring classic Back Home
• Remastered for the first time from the original first-generation Phonogram Studio master tapes
• Three bonus tracks, including the follow-up single Holy Holy Life and the US single version of Back Home
• Including a 20-page booklet with liner notes, memorabilia, and photos

Founded in 1961 by George Kooymans and Rinus Gerritsen, Dutch rock band Golden Earring (or Golden Earrings, until 1969) started off as a beat band, experimented as a psychedelic quartet and finally became a heavy rock group. Their ninth album Moontan (1973) – including their classic track “Radar Love” – hit the international album charts and is the band’s most successful album in the United States, being the only Golden Earring album to be certified Gold by the RIAA.

Golden Earring‘ is the sixth, self-titled album that is also known as ‘Wall Of Dolls’ because of the cover photo. The record, released in September 1970, marks the debut of drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk with Golden Earring and is the first in a series of progressively oriented records that the group released in the 1970s.

The single “Back Home” from this album – written by George Kooymans during the American tour in 1969 – reached the top position of the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1970, while the single also reached the charts in Germany and France.

This expanded edition contains three bonus tracks: the single “Holy Holy Life” (#5 in the Dutch Top 40 in February 1971) with B-side “Jessica”, as well as the single version of “Back Home” as released in the United States on Dwarf Records in October 1970.

All tracks have been remastered in 24 bit/192 kHz from the original master tapes. The 16-page booklet contains a story about the creation of the album, written by Golden Earring biographer and archivist Jeroen Ras.

This expanded CD edition of ‘Golden Earring’ (‘Wall Of Dolls’) is the eighth in the series of remastered & expanded albums by Golden Earring, supervised by Red Bullet catalog and band archivist Wouter Bessels.

TRACKLISTING

1.        Yellow And Blue
2.        The Loner
3.        This Is The Time Of The Year
4.        Big Tree Blue Sea
5.        The Wall Of Dolls
6.        Back Home
7.        See See
8.        I’m Going To Send My Pigeons To The Sky
9.        As Long As The Wind Blows
+ BONUS TRACKS
10.      Back Home (US single version)
11.      Holy Holy Life
12.      Jessica

Golden Earring (remastered & expanded) will be released by Red Bullet Productions on 10th April 2026 and is available through all renowned music stores and online shops, plus all known digital channels (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.). The vinyl version released by Music On Vinyl will follow in late 2026.