A Wednesday that opens with two health updates and closes with a limited-run guitar worth more than most used cars. This is where the scene is right now.
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Trent Reznor Sets Record Straight on NIN Touring
In a new interview, Reznor pushed back on the narrative that Nine Inch Nails is functionally over as a live act. He cited a family health crisis — specifically his father's lengthy illness — as the reason for the extended absence from touring, not disinterest. New music is in progress, and Reznor is clear: the break was forced, not permanent. After a run of silence that made a lot of NIN fans quietly assume the worst, that's worth hearing directly from him.
Jello Biafra Faces Long Road After Hemorrhagic Stroke
The Dead Kennedys frontman and Alternative Tentacles founder suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and is in active recovery. Biafra is 68, and the road ahead won't be short — hemorrhagic strokes carry a harder recovery curve than ischemic events. No updates yet on long-term impact. The scene owes a lot to what Biafra built, from the DKs' catalog to the label infrastructure that gave countless underground bands a platform. This one matters.
Killswitch Engage, I Prevail, August Burns Red Headline Rock La Cauze 2026
The annual Quebec City charity festival gets a strong hard rock/metalcore card this year: Killswitch Engage, I Prevail, and August Burns Red top the bill, with Asking Alexandria, Starset, Bad Wolves, Bad Omens, and Our Last Night rounding out the lineup. Rock La Cauze benefits the Fondation du CHU de Québec. Solid booking for a festival that earns its goodwill.
Mastodon, Melvins, Poison the Well Booked for Sick New World Side Shows
Ahead of Sick New World's Las Vegas date on April 25, a string of ancillary shows has been announced featuring Mastodon, Melvins, and Poison the Well. If you're making the Vegas trip for the festival and want more than one night of heavy, these side shows are the answer. Dates and venues are rolling out through official channels.
Maynard James Keenan: 'No Faith Involved'
In a follow-up to recent comments about Puscifer's new album, Keenan addressed the separation of church and state directly — and said the phrase has nothing to do with faith: it's about keeping organized religion out of government. He called the current blurring of those lines a fundamental threat to the system, not a political talking point. This came in a separate interview from the album rollout, and it's Keenan at his clearest.
Gibson Custom Drops Michael Schenker 1971 Flying V — 50 Units
Gibson Custom unveiled a collector's-grade recreation of the 1971 Medallion Flying V — the same instrument now in Kirk Hammett's collection — built from 3D scans of the original. Only 50 exist. Each is hand-signed by Schenker, ships with T-Top humbuckers, a three-piece mahogany neck with slim artist profile, and a custom flight case with a commemorative mahogany display block. Available through Gibson Custom authorized dealers and Gibson Garage.
Heriot Release Four-Song Audiotree Set
British post-metalcore outfit Heriot put out an in-studio live session recorded at Audiotree in Chicago last November. The four-song set includes "Commander of Pain," "Siege Lord," "Mourn," and "At the Fortress Gate." It's streaming now. If you missed them on tour last year, this is a reasonable entry point into what the band sounds like when they're locked in.
Dogma U.S. Tour Derailed by Visa Processing Delays
The all-female metal outfit Dogma was set to open their U.S. run on March 15 in Seattle when visa processing delays shut it down before it started. All existing tickets remain valid for rescheduled dates, which have not yet been confirmed. It's the second time visa complications have followed this band into a U.S. run — a former guitarist went public last year alleging she was dropped after management failed to secure her work authorization. The situation has another layer worth watching.
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