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Rush Plays First Show Since Neil Peart's Death
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson opened the 2026 Juno Awards last night — the first live Rush performance since August 1, 2015, and the first since Neil Peart died in January 2020. The reconfigured lineup features drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold, both recruited for the Fifty Something world tour announced last October. The set opened with "Finding My Way," the first track off Rush's 1974 self-titled debut. Whether this constitutes a reunion or something else is a conversation worth having, but the footage exists and the moment is real.
Nevermore Pulls Out of ProgPower USA XXV Due to Work Permit Delays
Nevermore have been forced to withdraw from ProgPower USA XXV after running into work permit issues that couldn't be resolved in time for the festival. No replacement has been announced. ProgPower USA is one of the few American festivals that consistently programs technical and progressive metal at a high level, and losing Nevermore — one of the marquee acts — is a significant blow to the lineup. The band has not indicated whether the permit delays affect other North American dates.
Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway Release "Done Me Wrong" Video
Daron Malakian has released a music video for "Done Me Wrong," the latest track from his ongoing Scars on Broadway project. Malakian has kept Scars on Broadway running intermittently since System of a Down's indefinite pause, and the new material maintains the same muscular, slightly unhinged energy the band has always carried. No album announcement accompanied the drop, but the video signals active movement on that front.
Bumblefoot Releases "The Thread" Video from Bumblefoot...Returns!
Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal has released the music video for "The Thread," taken from his new solo album Bumblefoot...Returns! Thal has been one of the more quietly consistent solo artists to come out of the ex-Guns N' Roses alumni world — building a catalog that leans into technical guitar work without turning into pure shred theater. The new album marks his return to focused solo output after years of touring and session work.
Elder Stream Title Track from New Album Through Zero — Out May 29
Elder are streaming "Through Zero," the title track and first single from their upcoming album of the same name, due May 29 via Blues Funeral Recordings in North America. The band, originally from Massachusetts and now largely based in Germany, recorded the album themselves and co-mixed it with Richard Behrens. Vocalist and guitarist Nick DiSalvo describes the new record as "dreamy, heavy, raw, electronic" — a wider range than even Innate Passage suggested. A European festival run this summer includes Download, Hellfest, and Graspop, followed by US dates in the fall.
Turnstile's Grammy-Winning "Birds" Soundtracks Baltimore Orioles 2026 Hype Video
Turnstile won Best Metal Performance at this year's Grammys for "Birds" — and the song is already doing more work than most Grammy winners ever do. The track now soundtracks the Baltimore Orioles' 2026 season hype video, with the lyric "These birds not meant to fly alone" anchoring the whole thing. Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso has also reportedly made it his walk-up music. For a band that came out of Baltimore's hardcore scene, having their sound tied to the city's baseball team in this particular moment lands differently than a typical sync placement.
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