South Korean alt-pop and electronic artist ID:EARTH (아이디얼스) is back with her stunning new single “UTOPIA,” out now. The track serves as the title single from her forthcoming four-track EP “[UTOPIA],” due in early 2026.
In 2019, the artist made her debut with the single “Egypt.” Since then, ID:EARTH — short for “the identity of the Earth”— has established herself as a forward-thinking artist. Known for her ethereal vocals and cinematic production, her music has appeared in numerous Korean films and TV dramas.
Building on the cinematic soundscapes and experimental style that defined her acclaimed 2023 album “Space Station,” “UTOPIA” shows ID:EARTH delving deeper into questions of civilization, technology, and the human condition.
At its core, the song asks: “What is the utopia humanity dreams of?”
”The utopia presented is not a mere idealized paradise, but a dimension where the preservation of analog values coexists with technologies essential for the future,” ID:EARTH said.
The single arrives alongside an animated music video that expands this vision, merging futuristic imagery with philosophical depth to create a fully immersive audiovisual experience.
The lyrics in both the single and the upcoming EP use reversible phrases, multilingual passages, and fragments of ancient languages to symbolize the breakdown of communication barriers.
“Just as seeds are preserved for the future descendants of Earth, the album envisions a world where the most essential values endure,” ID:EARTH said. “In ‘[UTOPIA],’ love itself is also part of this ideal, proposing a society that follows the laws of nature while embracing the curiosity of new life — and ultimately asking whether we can take responsibility for the choices we make.”
With “[UTOPIA],” ID:EARTH continues to bridge art, philosophy, and technology — posing one of the most pressing questions of this time: How can humanity evolve alongside innovation without losing its essence?
Stream the single “UTOPIA” on: Spotify
Wolverhampton-based singer-songwriter Fitzroy Holt has announced his long-awaited debut album, “Around the Wrekin,” with the release of its explosive title track, out now via Gary Powell’s (The Libertines) label, 25 Hour Convenience Store.
Channeling the bluesy, scuzzy rock spirit of The Black Keys, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Kills, and Rival Sons, Holt has crafted a sound where folk storytelling collides with grit, melody, and distortion.
Born and raised in Dudley, in the heart of England’s Black Country, Holt grew up surrounded by folklore, factories, and a fierce outsider spirit. These influences pulse through every note he plays. Years spent performing anywhere he could — from backroom pubs to midnight bar gigs — shaped him into a commanding live presence known for his unpredictability and emotional range.
The album’s title, “Around the Wrekin,” borrows from a Midlands phrase meaning “the long way round” — a fitting nod to a record that’s been more than a decade in the making.
“These are songs first sketched when I was a teenager to recent work written during the intensity of touring,” Hold said. “The album circles through my childhood, heritage, addiction and love. The record mirrors that circle, shifting between stripped-down storytelling and walls of distortion, never allowing the listener to settle.”
Holt’s versatility has earned him slots alongside Jake Bugg, The K’s, Madison McFerrin, and Pete Doherty on his Albion Tour. He also joined The Libertines for select UK and European dates — experiences that honed the raw energy heard throughout Around the Wrekin.
His sound and live performances have drawn acclaim from BBC Introducing, Hunger Magazine, and Clash Magazine, solidifying him as one of the most compelling new voices in British alternative rock.
The album campaign, kicked off by this title track single, was celebrated with a hometown show in Wolverhampton. Four more singles will follow ahead of the full album release in March 2026, each revealing a different side of Holt’s sound — from stripped-down folk to unrestrained chaos.
Following the release, Holt will embark on a nationwide tour, bringing his unpredictable and electrifying live show to audiences across the UK.
Stream the single “Around the Wrekin’” on: Spotify
NYC-based alt-rock collective Ecce Shnak and Germany’s Eskei83 joined forces in the creation of “Jeremy, Utilitarian Sadboy (Kill Em Mix)” — a high-octane reimagining of the band’s original track.
Already electrifying crowds during Eskei83’s recent sets at Tomorrowland and other major festivals, the remix serves as a thrilling bridge to Ecce Shnak’s forthcoming full-length album “Dandy Variances,” due this spring via Records Man, Records.
Ecce Shnak — made up of David Roush (composer, bassist, vocals), Bella Komodromos (vocals), Chris Krasnow (guitar), Gannon Ferrell (guitar), and Henry Buchanan-Vaughn (drums) — has built a reputation for their daring, genre-blurring performances. The group combines art, intellect, and a touch of chaos, resulting in the perfect balance of alt-rock sound.
The Kill Em Mix takes the original’s math-metal guitar riffs and reshapes them into a throbbing dubstep synth-bassline, transforming the frenetic drums into a straight-up, high-octane club beat.
Snippets of Komodromos and Roush’s vocals are reimagined as an anthemic gang chant — a rallying cry for dancefloors worldwide.
By putting it altogether, the two acts have released a track that feels futuristic, cinematic, and endlessly kinetic.
“The Dresdenian shite-kicker recently spun his version at the dragon-blessed Tomorrowland party in Belgium,” Roush said. “Both Ecce Shnak and Eskei83 are proud to share this version with their own audiences and music-lovers generally. Endless gratitude to all music lovers worldwide.”
Following the success of their “Shadows Grow Fangs” EP — recorded and produced by Jeff Lucci, mixed by Nicholas Vernhes (Animal Collective, Deerhunter, The War on Drugs) and mastered by Grammy-winner Joe LaPorta (David Bowie, The Weeknd, Foo Fighters, Vampire Weekend) — Ecce Shnak has been on a tear.
They’ve released their Backroom Sessions live EP, headlined NYC shows, and toured the U.S. with platinum-selling legends Spacehog and EMF. The band also appears on EMF’s latest single “LGBTQ+ Lover,” an indie-dance anthem celebrating queer inclusivity, with video footage filmed during their joint tour.
Stream “Jeremy, Utilitarian Sadboy (Kill Em Mix)” on: Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon Music
Wellington, New Zealand’s Brainwave, a five-piece known for their blistering fusion of thrash-laced crossover and unfiltered hardcore aggression, channels the raw energy of Drain, Mindforce, and Forced Order, while forging a sound entirely their own.
Their debut full-length “Ill Intent,” out now, marks a defining step forward — both musically and personally.
The album’s striking artwork, designed by Cam Parker, mirrors those contrasts perfectly — balancing despair and defiance in one stark image.
“It’s an extremely personal record, albeit one set against the backdrop of a world tearing itself apart,” the band shared. “It’s about hopelessness, the pain of loss, and the brutality of everyday life. But it’s also about conquering the summit, overcoming both yourself and your detractors.”
The creation of “Ill Intent” was transformative for Brainwave. The group expanded from four to five members, officially welcoming guitarist Ian Moore in March 2025.
That spirit of collaboration runs deep through the record. The lineup — Rob Thompson (vocals), Joram Adams (guitar/vocals), Ian Moore (guitar), Caleb Webb (bass), and Angus Crowe (drums) — is joined by key figures from the wider hardcore community, including Aaron McPhail (Lucre), Arnold Kim (Molosser), Sam Andy (Martial Law), and Luke Manson (Xile), with Ateo Buhne (Dole Bludger / Star Time) contributing auxiliary percussion.
Production was run by Lewis Noke-Edwards in Melbourne, who handled producing, mixing, and mastering. Additional drum engineering came from TK at The Armory, while Joram Adams oversaw guitar and vocal production.
Across ten searing tracks, “Ill Intent” captures both the personal and the political — a furious balance of despair and determination that refuses to stay silent. It’s an album born from struggle, sharpened by purpose, and destined to cement Brainwave’s place at the forefront of modern hardcore.
Stream “Ill Intent”: https://mog.bfan.link/ill-intent
Canadian singer and guitarist C.ROSS (Chad Ross) released his new solo album “Future Site of C.ROSS,” out now via Atlanta’s Echodelick Records.
A longtime mainstay of Canada’s psych and indie-rock underground, Ross is best known as the singer and guitarist for heavy psych outfit Quest for Fire and space rock explorers Comet Control (both on Tee Pee Records), as well as a former member of the legendary garage-rock band The Deadly Snakes (In the Red Records). Over the years, he’s toured internationally with Pink Mountaintops and released a series of acoustic-driven albums under his solo moniker Nordic Nomadic.
On “Future Site of C.ROSS,” Ross dives deeper into his distinct blend of fuzzy psych-folk and cosmic rock — pairing raw, heartfelt songwriting with expansive, atmospheric production.
The seven-track record was recorded, produced, and mixed by Joshua Wells (Destroyer, Lightning Dust, Black Mountain), with Wells also contributing drums and keys. Additional recording and production were handled by Ross at his home studio in Muskoka, Ontario, with guest appearances from Aaron Goldstein (pedal steel) and Eiyn Sof (backing vocals).
“I started working on the songs for this record right after Skull Creator was released in 2022,” Ross said. “The tail end of the pandemic was on the horizon and I was still in hermit mode with my acoustic guitar, living in the woods in Ontario with my family. This is the second record I’ve done with Josh Wells. I flew down to Chicago with a handful of acoustic songs and we managed to put everything together rather quickly at his studio. We worked at it over a year, sending ideas back and forth from Chicago to my studio in Ontario. What transpired was a really nice extension of the first record.”
The album’s lead single, “Plant Your Eyes,” captures that duality perfectly.
“[It’s] about the things your eyes can’t see,” he said. “The constant vibration of the unknown. It’s kind of this absurd idea that your eyes can be thought of as seeds, that grow colourful light. I tried to channel some deep Crazy Horse fuzzed-out riffage and some delicate acoustics – all the ingredients for a healthy garden.”
With “Future Site of C.ROSS,” Ross unites every facet of his musical past — the fuzz, the folk, the cosmic sprawl — into a record that feels timeless and deeply human.
Stream “Future Site of C.ROSS” on: Spotify, YouTube, and Bandcamp
