On "The Mountain" Gorillaz Conquer New Heights

If there was ever an album that felt like a literal expedition through sound and spirit, The Mountain might just be it. After months of anticipation, the British virtual band Gorillaz has dropped their ninth studio album — a sprawling, genre-blending record that stakes out new creative territory while continuing the group’s legacy of boundary-pushing collaboration.

Gorillaz live 2010 - License: CC BY 2.0 - Credit: Wonker

A New Peak in a Storied Career

Released on 27 February 2026 via Gorillaz’s own label, Kong, The Mountain marks a milestone in the band’s quarter-century journey. Recorded in studios from London to Rajasthan and featuring contributions from artists across the globe, the album is a vivid testament to Gorillaz’s evolving sonic personality.

At its core, The Mountain is as much a philosophical statement as it is a record — threading themes of loss, resilience, and renewal through a tapestry of world-inspired rhythms, indie-electronic textures, and bold genre fusions.

Collaborative Mosaic

The Gorillaz formula has always leaned on collaboration, and The Mountain practically explodes with it. From the theatrical opener “The Happy Dictator” with Sparks to contributions from IDLES, Black Thought, Johnny Marr, Anoushka Shankar, Omar Souleyman, and many more, the record is a globe-spanning crew effort.

Posthumous appearances from legends like Dennis Hopper, Bobby Womack, and Tony Allen add haunting texture to the 15-track set, helping the band bridge past and present.

Linguistically, the album pushes its horizons, featuring songs performed in languages including English, Hindi, Arabic, Spanish, and Yoruba — a move that underscores the project’s international heartbeat.

More Than Music — A Tour and Visual Vision

To support the release, Gorillaz have lined up The Mountain Tour, launching in March 2026 across arenas in the UK and Ireland, with shows in Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, and a headline stadium performance at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in June.

Early reactions suggest that the live shows will be as immersive as the album itself, cementing this era as one of the most ambitious in the band’s history.

Gorillaz performing live during the Plastic Beach album tour in 2010. License: CC BY 2.0 - Credit: Wonker

Rising Acclaim and Emotional Depth

Critics and fans alike are responding to The Mountain not just for its eclectic sound but for its emotional weight. Inspired in part by the personal losses experienced by co-creators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, the album navigates grief and transcendence with surprising tenderness.

Listeners have praised its rich instrumentation and inventive collaborations, marking it as one of Gorillaz’s most cohesive and heartfelt works in years.

The Sagebrush Trilogy Concludes in Epic Fashion - Age of the Ram by Charley Crockett

Texan troubadour Charley Crockett is gearing up to close out one of the most ambitious creative runs of his career with Age of the Ram — a sprawling new album set for release on April 3, 2026 via Lone Star Rider/Island Records. This record marks the third and final chapter of Crockett’s storytelling epic known as The Sagebrush Trilogy, following Lonesome Drifter (March 2025) and Dollar a Day (August 2025).

A Trilogy for the Ages

In just under a year, Crockett has delivered a narrative arc that blurs the lines between classic Western tales, country mythmaking, and deeply personal songwriting. Age of the Ram wraps these threads together with a cinematic scope — complete with outlaws, frontier grit, and characters that feel lifted from pulp novels. The album contains 20 tracks, many of which double as “themes” or cinematic vignettes that help bridge the story’s many twists and turns.

First up from the album is the evocative lead single “Kentucky Too Long”, released in February. The acoustic-centered song paints a dusky picture of wandering and yearning, with lyrical nods to Vietnam and Uncle Sam — a testament to Crockett’s blend of roots authenticity and narrative depth.

Storytelling Through Sound

From the opening “Life & Times of Billy McLane (Theme I)” to rugged titles like I Shot Jesse James and Sweet Mother Texas, this project feels like an old Western rewritten through a Texas country lens. Fans of Crockett’s work — whether from his Deep Ellum busking days or his chart-making recent records — will recognize his signature mix of blues, soul, and traditional country threads woven throughout these tracks.

Behind the board, Crockett once again teamed up with Shooter Jennings, continuing a creative partnership that has defined the sound of the entire trilogy. With production recorded at iconic Sunset Sound Studio in Los Angeles, the palette blends pedal steel, acoustic grit, and cinematic dynamics that elevate each character’s journey.

The Road Ahead

To support Age of the Ram, Crockett has already launched his North American tour, bringing the Sagebrush story to stages across the United States and Canada from February through July 2026. Stops include Seattle, Nashville, Toronto, and Calgary, among others — giving fans a chance to experience this final installment live.

Whether you’ve followed the trilogy from Lonesome Drifter to now or this is your first taste of Crockett’s larger-than-life musical world, Age of the Ram promises to be a rich, narrative-soaked conclusion to one of the most ambitious projects in his catalog.

Sunn O))) Unleash Monolithic New Track “Butch’s Guns” and Reveal Massive European Tour Run

Seattle’s spectral drone metal titans Sunn O))) have delivered more excitement for 2026 with the release of their latest single “Butch’s Guns” — and a sprawling set of UK and European summer headline dates to go along with it.

After nearly three decades pushing the limits of volume, texture and atmosphere, founders Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson are gearing up for one of their most ambitious cycles yet. “Butch’s Guns” arrives as the second preview off their forthcoming self-titled album, Sunn O))), due April 3, 2026 via Sub Pop — marking the duo’s first full-length for the legendary Seattle label.

Sunn O))) performing live at Brutal Assault Festival (Dominik Matus, CC BY-SA 4.0

A New Sonic Monolith: “Butch’s Guns”

Clocking in at over fifteen minutes of fog-thick drone, “Butch’s Guns” showcases everything fans love about Sunn O))) — massive, low-frequency riffing, drawn-out tension and immersive, meditative heaviness that feels more like a ritual than a song. Critics and listeners alike are already describing it as a fitting lead-in to what promises to be one of the year’s most pivotal experimental metal records.

The new album follows their 2019 releases Life Metal and Pyroclasts, and caps a long-anticipated transition into a major label scoring with Sub Pop after years with Southern Lord. The full record was tracked at Bear Creek Studios in Washington and co-produced with Brad Wood, yielding six tracks that tread deep into the band’s spectral soundscapes.

A European Summer Blowout

Alongside the song drop, Sunn O))) have revealed a full roster of headline shows across Europe and the United Kingdom. The run kicks off June 23 in Zurich before rolling through Antwerp, Amsterdam, Cologne, and a series of UK stops, including Bristol, Brighton, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham and London — with two nights booked in Berlin to close out the tour.

Tickets went on sale February 20 at 10 am CET, and more dates are expected to be announced as the band continues building momentum.

Highlights from the confirmed leg:
– 23 June: Zurich, CH – Rote Fabrik
– 25 June: Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
– 30 June: Liverpool, UK – The Dome
– 3 July: London, UK – The Troxy
– 6-7 July: Berlin, DE – Silent Green Betonhalle

This European run will follow a substantial North American spring tour, which sees Sunn O))) traversing the U.S. and Canada with stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and more through late April.

Sunn O))) performing live at Brutal Assault Festival (Dominik Matus, CC BY-SA 4.0

What It Means for Sunn O))) in 2026

For a band whose influence stretches far beyond their genre — touching avant-garde, ambient, noise and experimental music worldwide — this latest creative rush feels like a reaffirmation of their enigmatic legacy. With a fresh album, a heavy, meditative single already turning heads, and one of their biggest touring campaigns in years, Sunn O))) are proving that even after nearly 30 years, they still command attention with slow, seismic power.

Whether you’re a long-time pilgrim of feedback ritualism or a newcomer curious about the hypnotic extremes of modern heavy music, “Butch’s Guns” might just be the perfect entry point to one of metal’s most singular journeys.

Jessie Ware Kicks Off Her Superbloom Era with Pulsing New Single “Ride”

London’s beloved export of disco-pop and cinematic soul, Jessie Ware, is back with a fresh offering that’s already creating waves in the dance-music world. On February 20, 2026, Ware dropped her new single “Ride,” a bold and body-moving track that teases the sonic terrain of her upcoming sixth studio album Superbloom, due on April 10, 2026 via Interscope Records.

“Ride” isn’t just another dancefloor cut — it’s a cinematic disco-western, imbued with dramatic flair and seductive energy. Built around an interpolation of Ennio Morricone’s iconic theme from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, the song blends stark western mystique with pulsing grooves fit for clubs and late-night reveries alike.

Photo by Rene Passet, licensed under CC BY 2.0

A Two-Year Tease Comes to Fruition

Fans first caught a glimpse of “Ride” during Ware’s 2024 performances at Glastonbury Festival’s NYC Downlow nightclub, immediately following her headline set on the iconic West Holts Stage. After years of anticipation, the sultry, cheeky anthem has finally arrived in full — and the reactions have been electric.

In a press statement, Ware explained how the track came together: “Ride was the first song I wrote for this record. I made it in 2024 with my best friend Jack Peñate and Karma Kid, who feature throughout the album.” Describing it as “fun, cinematic, cheeky and powerful”, she positions it as a celebration of music that makes you move — emotionally and physically.

From “I Could Get Used to This” to Superbloom

“Ride” follows the release of Superbloom’s lead single, “I Could Get Used to This,” which dropped in January and introduced fans to Ware’s vibrant new chapter — one steeped in romance, escapism, and full-on dancefloor bravado.

With Superbloom, Ware digs deeper into her expansive creative vision — blending her soulful songwriting roots with theatrical production and rhythmic punch. “Ride” makes it clear that this era of Ware’s career is both bold and exhilarating, bridging cinematic storytelling with unfiltered club energy.

Photo by Justin Higuchi, licensed under CC BY 2.0

Why “Ride” Matters

What makes “Ride” particularly compelling is how it showcases Ware’s versatility. From her early days crafting refined soul-pop to her recent disco-leaning releases — like 2020’s What’s Your Pleasure? and 2023’s That! Feels Good! — she’s expertly evolved without losing her core emotional heft.

“Ride” stands as both a standout single and a harbinger of what’s to come on Superbloom — a record already poised to be one of Ware’s most adventurous yet. If nothing else, the track proves that Jessie Ware is an artist still sharpening her edge, ready to surprise us again.

Stay tuned — Superbloom is shaping up to be one of 2026’s most compelling pop releases.

Tigran Hamasyan Unveils His Bold New Sonic World with Manifeste

Few artists in contemporary music have carved out as adventurous and genre-defying a path as Armenian pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan. Since bursting onto the international scene as a prodigy — winning competitions like the Montreux Jazz Festival piano prize and the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition — Hamasyan has continually reinvented his craft, fusing jazz, Armenian folk music, rock, prog elements, electronics and choral traditions into a singular musical voice.

Now, Hamasyan has dropped his highly anticipated Manifeste — a record that isn’t just another album but a statement of artistic intent.

Tigran Hamasyan live at Transition Festival by Dirk Neven / CC BY 2.0

What Manifeste Is — And What It Means

Released on February 6, 2026, via Naïve Records, Manifeste finds Hamasyan at a creative peak, building on his sprawling 2024 project The Bird of a Thousand Voices and pushing his sound into even deeper and more cinematic territory.

Rather than a traditional jazz or solo piano record, Manifeste moves like a ritualistic journey — opening with meditative textures, expanding into dense rhythmic and harmonic interplay, and concluding with grand choral statements. Across its fourteen tracks, Hamasyan loops piano, synths, bass synth, vocals, whistling and programmed drums into an immersive tapestry that marries the sacred and the modern.

Hamasyan himself described the album as both a personal and spiritual manifesto — not just a collection of songs, but a reflection of what he stands for as a creator and human being.

Musical Collaborators & Sonic Scope

True to Hamasyan’s deeply collaborative ethos, Manifeste features an expanded ensemble of musicians who help shape its varied sonic landscapes:

• Marc Karapetian and Evan Marien on bass

• Drummers Arthur Hnatek, Matt Garstka and Nate Wood

• Daniel Melkonyan (trumpet) and Nick Llerandi (guitar)

• Cello by Artyom Manukyan

• Asta Mamikonyan on vocals, plus traditional frame drum (daf) and blul (wind instrument) contributions

• The Yerevan State Chamber Choir, conducted by Kristina Voskanyan enriches several tracks with choral depth.

This expansive palette — from fragile chamber moments to explosive rhythmic zones — gives the album a cinematic breadth that’s been praised by critics and listeners alike.

Themes: From Ancient Roots to Futuristic Visions

What really sets Manifeste apart is its thematic ambition. Rather than isolating jazz or ethnic music, Hamasyan invites his listeners into a multi-layered labyrinth where:

• Armenian folk melodies and sacred musical traditions meet contemporary sound design

• Progressive rock energy collides with electronic production

• Ritualistic choral passages emerge alongside pounding polyrhythms and trance-like grooves

Tracks like “One Body, One Blood” swirl with choir and electronics, while pieces such as “Dardahan” emphasize driving rhythms and dense instrumental interplay — evidence of Hamasyan’s fearless blending of genres.

Tigran Hamasyan Portrait by Vahan Stepanyan / CC BY 3.0

Why This Album Matters

In its scope and ambition, Manifeste feels like a definitive statement from an artist who refuses to be boxed in. It doesn’t just add to Hamasyan’s growing discography — it radiates as a visionary work, rooted in tradition yet full-on futuristic in execution.

Long regarded as one of jazz and contemporary music’s most exciting voices, Hamasyan continues to stretch boundaries, making Manifeste not merely an album, but a compelling invitation into the transformative power of sound.

Listen if you’re curious about where jazz, folk, prog and electronics meet — and if you want to hear one of this generation’s boldest artists in full flight.