Alissa White-Gluz joins Alex to talk about her new project Blue Medusa. Alissa shares the story behind the name, discusses her latest single “Checkmate,” and opens up about what it means to be a “creative dork.”
Alissa White-Gluz Talks new band BLUE MEDUSA, Being A Creative Dork, more | The Podcast That Rocked #Podcasts
In this conversation, Alissa talks about teaming up with Alyssa Day and Danny Sophia, what inspires her as an artist, and how she approaches flexibility and freedom in modern metal. She also previews upcoming tour dates, festival appearances, and future plans for Blue Medusa, plus the artists she’d love to collaborate with.
Blue Medusa “Checkmate”\
“This is a song where everything just clicked,” says White-Gluz. “Checkmate is an extremely cathartic song for me. It was created in one of those flow states where the lyrics and melodies and rhythms just write themselves and you get the feeling that you’re onto something powerful. It’s probably the heaviest thing I’ve written in terms of lyrics, and probably the lightest of what we have cooking in terms of sound. I wanted to share the intensity of these feelings with fans and give them something to hold onto. I’m so happy to see so much support for Blue Medusa already; fans can look forward to more dark, heavy, brutal and haunting music very soon.”
“After more than a decade at the forefront of modern metal, internationally acclaimed vocalist Alissa White-Gluz is entering a powerful new chapter with the launch of her new band, BLUE MEDUSA. Known for her commanding voice, unmistakable stage presence, and trailblazing role in extreme metal, White-Gluz has built a career defined by momentum and reinvention. Widely recognized as one of the longest-serving female death metal vocalists, she has spent two decades performing on the world’s biggest stages and earning a reputation as one of the genre’s most electrifying frontwomen. White-Gluz was at the forefront of Arch Enemy’s most successful years in the band’s history, expanding their global audience and performing on the world’s biggest metal stages. Across multiple bands, collaborations and projects throughout her career, White-Gluz has consistently helped push heavy music into new territory. Now, with BLUE MEDUSA, White-Gluz sets her sights on pushing that legacy even further.” (Press Release)
PRESIDENT Unveil Lyric Video For New Single “Mercy”
Multi-million streaming, UK-based collective PRESIDENT continue to exist at the intersection of heavy music, electronic experimentation, and cinematic atmosphere. Launching in 2025 and operating under the cloak of minimalism and anonymity, PRESIDENT have been cultivating intrigue with each single and live performance. Refusing to conform to the traditional structures of genre or identity, PRESIDENT prioritize intent over image.
Today, PRESIDENT have unveiled the lyric video for new single “MERCY,” which arrives at the close of their massive U.S. tour supporting Bad Omens. “MERCY” is all about perfectly executed dynamics — mixing memorable melodies and heavier-than-granite riffs with gritty breakdowns. The result is another unforgettable anthem.
PRESIDENT “Mercy”
About the song, President say, “Throughout history, religion has been tied to profound division and loss. This song is a reflection on that reality, and a way for me to come to terms with what it means on a human level.”
More news about future President live rallies will be revealed shortly.
“MERCY” follows “ANGEL WINGS,” which arrived in February. Watch the video here. The song was tipped by Rock Sound as “a blend of bubbling synths, spine-tingling melodies and crushing riffs,” while Revolver declared that the song “refined their mix of modern metal, pop and electronic music, contorting itself from twitchy programmed beats towards a cavernously djenting boom.” Vice stated that President’s “style is deeply compelling as it’s paired with a refreshingly honest approach to songwriting.”
Built to exist outside the noise, PRESIDENT are building something that invites deeper investment — designed to be discovered, not sold. PRESIDENT said it best, telling Revolver in a cover feature that “the music industry has elements of fast fashion to it these days. Things just come and go. Everything’s really quick. Everyone’s shouting for attention and there’s just so much noise, and it just becomes a fucking conveyor belt. [We] wanted to step back and not be a part of that. But if people are interested, and they want to enter into this world, we’ll grab them with open arms.”
PRESIDENT’s debut EP, King of Terrors, was released in fall 2025. Listen here.
The Podcast That Rocked for 3/25/26. Muse releases new song/album announcement in space and it goes unheard, awful Parkway Drive situation, more.
MUSE Releases New Song In Space and No One Cares? | The Podcast That Rocked on YouTube
MUSE Releases New Song In Space and No One Cares? | The Podcast That Rocked on Spotify
Discussion Topics: –Muse sends new song to space; little response? -Parkway Drive address awful situation -MAPHRA’s cover of Bring Me The Horizon goes to number 1 -Sevendust had a break-up planned –Blue Medusa with Alissa White-Gluz plans new album, tour, and collaborations -Someone defrauded Spotify with AI and we don’t know who to cheer for -Upcoming albums/tours/more
SONG OF THE WEEK: Infected Rain “Stranger”
Infected Rain “Stranger”
Muse “Be With You”
“Muse have long toyed with technology and sci-fi in their music, but now they’re doing it in real life, too. The alt-rock band just announced their new album, The Wow! Signal, by launching a special tablet over 20 miles into the atmosphere, in partnership with Sent Into Space. While that screen was above the earth, Muse premiered the music video for their new single, “Be With You.” The Wow! Signal is out June 26 via Warner. The 10-song LP, which also includes the previously released single “Unravelling,” gets its name from a famous interstellar mystery that actually happened. In 1977, a powerful 72-second radio burst was detected originating from the Sagittarius constellation with a bandwidth and intensity that suggested a possible extraterrestrial source. After discovering it, the astronomer circled the now-famous sequence “6EQUJ5” and scribbled “Wow!” beside it. The rest, as they say, is scientific pop-culture history.” (Pitchfork)
A look at one of my all-time favorite albums, the self-titled 2002 release from Audioslave. Definitely worth a look back as it feels like this one is being forgotten over time.
Audioslave – Audioslave | All Time Favorite Albums
“Scream for me, movie house. As previously reported, the rise and fall and rise of metal icons Iron Maiden is set to be explored in a new documentary titled Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition. Though the film won’t hit theaters worldwide until May, a new trailer finds members of Metallica, Anthrax and Rage Against the Machine celebrating Maiden’s impact on the world of music. The trailer, which you can see up above, comprises plenty of archival footage of Maiden rocking clubs, arenas and stadiums, this alluding to the connection the group have made with multiple millions of fans around the world. “If you’re an Iron Maiden fan, you’re part of one family, my friends,” vocalist Bruce Dickinson explains in one old clip. The film is poised to trace Maiden’s 50-year journey, tackling the music but also the behind the scenes highs-and-lows that come with being a band for so long. “Any long career is going to have ups and downs, and you just kind of ride with it,” bassist Steve Harris says, with the trailer hinting at Maiden’s meteoric rise in the Eighties, how the grunge scene impacted their popularity in the Nineties, hard-partying problems, internal fistfights, health challenges, and more.” (Revolver)
Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition – Official Trailer
HEAVYS Metal Picks | 3/20/26
Five new heavy songs to pump up your playlist. What are you listening to?
HEAVYS Metal Picks | 3/20/26
“Traditional Mongolian strings herald the arrival of “The Men.” This organic swell gives way to a gritty and gruff groove-laden riff topped off with hypnotic vocals. The band’s signature hybrid of indigenous instrumentation, heavy-as-a-2×4 guitars, and transfixing tribal chanting makes for another essential anthem from The Hu. It’s tailor-made for an epic battle scene, climax of your favorite video game, or workout session. At the same time, it’s evocative of the musicians’ own tradition and heritage. About “The Men,” Galaa commented, “‘The Men’ is written based on Mongolian philosophy of ‘Man’s Inner Spirit’ or ‘Хийморь’ and the importance of inner strength and kindness of a man to the world. Energy of men should always be reinforced with positiveness, strength and generosity, so this song try to encapsulate that ancient wisdom and share to the rest of humanity. Lyrics are chants that guides young and old men alike to be headstrong and to have dream that cultivate goodness. We only wanted to focus on the positives that can make a man ponder about who he is in this world and wonder about how he can have positive inner spirit when listening to it. Hope our fans will be able to capture every fiber of Mongolian Man’s way of living through this song.” (Press Release)
Metal Icon Alissa White Gluz’s BLUE MEDUSA Unveils New Single “Checkmate”
Internationally acclaimed vocalist Alissa White-Gluz returns with “Checkmate,” a striking new single that marks a powerful evolution in both sound and creative vision.
Beloved for her commanding presence in extreme metal, White-Gluz steps forward here with a renewed sense of freedom, fully embracing the breadth of her vocal range and artistic identity. “Checkmate” showcases a dynamic fusion of melody, heaviness, and razor-sharp precision, delivering a track that is as catchy as it is emotionally resonant. The crushing new single was written by Alissa White-Gluz, Alyssa Day and Dani Sophia, and mixed and mastered by Kile Odell.
Blue Medusa “Checkmate”
“This is a song where everything just clicked,” says White-Gluz. “Checkmate is an extremely cathartic song for me. It was created in one of those flow states where the lyrics and melodies and rhythms just write themselves and you get the feeling that you’re onto something powerful. It’s probably the heaviest thing I’ve written in terms of lyrics, and probably the lightest of what we have cooking in terms of sound. I wanted to share the intensity of these feelings with fans and give them something to hold onto. I’m so happy to see so much support for Blue Medusa already; fans can look forward to more dark, heavy, brutal and haunting music very soon.”
Beyond the music, “Checkmate” also highlights White-Gluz’s expanding role as a visual storyteller. Co-directing the music video with Vicente Cordero of Industrialism Films – whom she previously collaborated with on high-ranking videos for “The Wolf You Feed” with Nita Strauss and “I Am a Machine” with Kat Von D – she brings a cinematic, detail-driven approach that elevates the track into a fully immersive experience. Built around a unique, outside-the-box concept developed by White-Gluz, the video unfolds within a game of chess, where each move carries deliberate allegory and layered symbolism.
“I know what every frame is for,” jokes White-Gluz. “I’ll share that someday, but for now, I welcome fans to dive deeper into the meaning and develop their own interpretations. That’s what makes videos and movies fun and interesting, in my opinion.”
The result is a release that feels both familiar and refreshingly new, bridging the gap between longtime fans of her work and listeners discovering her for the first time. “Checkmate” balances melody with intensity, offering a thought-provoking and emotionally charged entry point into what promises to be a bold new chapter.
CAGE FIGHTReleases New Single “Pick Your Fighter” Feat. Julien Truchan of Benighted
New Album ‘Exuvia‘ Due for Release May 1st via Spinefarm Pre-Order HERE
Today, UK metal band CAGE FIGHT – fronted by vocal powerhouse, Rachel Aspe – have released their new single, “Pick Your Fighter,” featuring Julien Truchan of Benighted.
Cage Fight “Pick Your Fighter” ft. Julien Truchan of Benighted
Rachel Aspe explains:
“We wanted to write a fun, sing-along party song with themes of determination and fighting spirit, and the result is ‘Pick Your Fighter.’ I also wanted to pay tribute to a French artist who marked my teenage years, and my dad suggested Nâdiya, an R&B singer who is huge back home. Musical and lyrical motifs in ‘Pick Your Fighter’ nod to Nadiya‘s hit ‘Et C’est Parti’, a motivational party song that was a huge hit. The crowning touch is some very heavy guest vocals from my French friend Julien Truchan of the band Benighted. And there are pig squeals, many pig squeals!”
Inspired by the “Et C’est Parti” video, which uses a boxing ring as a metaphor for the song’s message, the “Pick Your Fighter” clip is in the style of an 8-bit combat video game.
To create this video, CAGE FIGHT collaborated with Enemy of Boredom Academy, which supports neurodivergent young people in becoming media professionals.
CAGE FIGHT drummer, Nick Plews, runs one of the sites for EOB Academy, and had the idea to give EOB’s Video Game Design students – currently sitting their Level 3 qualifications – the opportunity to take part in an exciting work experience project, which they can reference in their portfolios, helping them gain exciting opportunities in the future.
Nick comments:
“That lightbulb moment, which came in the back of the van after a gig, was so exciting. I couldn’t wait to get back and rally the troops to get this looking awesome! On a personal note, this is definitely a special moment for me, and I am beyond impressed with what the students have achieved.”
CAGE FIGHT will release their second studio album, ‘Exuvia,’on May 1st via Spinefarm.
Recorded by Sam Bloor at Lower Lane Studios and mixed by Jim Pinder (Sleep Token, Malevolence), ‘Exuvia’ retains the raw, old school hardcore heart of CAGE FIGHT – vibrating with meaty grooves, pummelling rhythms, plus a wave of furious anger that feels like a punch to the gut. At the same time, it also explores more multi-layered terrains, atmospheres, and melodies, making CAGE FIGHT sound bigger, tighter, and more epic than ever before.
Throughout the 11 pieces of music, the bandproves they aren’t afraid to experiment… and have a bit of fun. A case in point is “Pick Your Fighter,” which features Julien Truchan from Benighted on guest vocals, and was inspired by a French pop song – “Et c’est parti…” by Nâdiya – though you’d never guess it from the song’s crushing heaviness.
The rest of the lyrics on ‘Exuvia’ are written by Rachel – the first time she has expressed herself in this way, and the results are deeply personal, taking in anxiety, assault, and having to deal with grief. The expansive final track, “Élégie,” is about losing her grandfather, and the regret that can come from things left unsaid.
On “Pig,” meanwhile, she calls out the creepy men who send women unsolicited messages online, while the title track was inspired by her grandmother, who is currently battling cancer, and helped Rachel write the song’s lyrics.
The album’s cover art, shot by photographer Manuel Acquualeni, depicts a radiation mask, establishing a connection both to Rachel’s experience with her grandmother and to the album’s title – ‘Exuvia’ can be defined as a cast-off skin or outer shell. It also represents healing, something Rachel feels she has achieved by opening up in the lyrics.
In celebration of the forthcoming release of‘Exuvia,’ CF will host an album release party on May 1st at legendary London dive bar, Blondie’s.
Radio City BeerWorks is also brewing a new batch of “Pick Your Fighter” beer, which will be available on tap at the event.
Since their inception, the band has become known for their visceral, high-energy live performances; already, they’ve toured with acts such as Sepultura and Cromags, supported the likes of Napalm Death and Employed To Serve, and played numerous festivals, including Summer Breeze and Bloodstock.
Next, they head out on a UK tour with Employed To Serve.
UK dates with Employed To Serve:
20 Mar – Shipley @ Kirkgate Community Centre
21 Mar – Edinburgh @ Mash House
22 Mar – Newcastle @ ThinkTank
23 Mar – Sheffield @ Yellow Arch
24 Mar – Norwich @ The Waterfront Studio
25 Mar – Milton Keynes @ The Craufurd Arms
26 Mar – Wolverhampton @ KK’s Steel Mill
27 Mar – Southampton @ The Joiners
28 Mar – Cardiff @ Clwd Ifor Bach
01 May – London @ Blondie’s (‘Exuvia’ album launch party)
Announced festivals:
02 May – Dark Reign, UK
27 Jun – Basinfire Festival, CZ
26 Jul – Mozhell Open Air, FR
31 Jul – Radar Festival, UK
01 Aug – Xtreme Fest, FR
02 Aug – Sylak Festival, FR
14 Aug – Motocultor Festival, FR
21 Aug – Furiosfest, FR
22 Aug – Barbeuk Festival, France
Footage of Cage Fight on the main stage at Bloodstock2025 is currently receiving a storm of appreciation across socials; check out Rachel performing ‘PIG’ HERE.
The Podcast That Rocked for 3/18/26. The Pretty Reckless return; could they revive Rock & Roll?, Live Nation leaked message fallout, more.
The Podcast That Rocked on Spotify
Discussion Topics: -Can TPR save Rock & Roll? –Live Nation dig themselves deeper –James Hetfield proposes in super rich guy fashion –Vinyl sales exceed 46 million copies in 2025 -KISS in animated fashion -Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition trailer posted -Upcoming albums/tours/more
SONG OF THE WEEK: The Pretty Reckless “When I Wake Up”
“When I Wake Up”
“After sharing cryptic teasers on social media over the last few days, The Pretty Reckless have revealed a set of 2026 North American headlining tour dates, shared the details for their upcoming new album Dear God and dropped a new song. The band has been touring with AC/DC for nearly two years but haven’t embarked on a proper headlining tour since they went out with Halestorm in 2023. While they still have a bunch of shows with AC/DC left in 2026, they’ve added some headlining dates to the mix.” (Loudwire)
IRON MAIDEN: BURNING AMBITION | Official Trailer
IRON MAIDEN: BURNING AMBITION explores how Iron Maiden has helped shape a cultural movement, challenging conventional views of rock music and heavy metal’s broader impact on society and culture. Featuring interviews with the band and contributors such as Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich, and Chuck D, this electrifying film offers an intimate look at their uncompromising vision and unwavering connection with their global army of fans.
Due out April 24th Via Sumerian Records Pre-Save HERE
Roman Candle release their new single, “Blasphemous Act“, today alongside the announcement of their debut album, Unadulterated, due April 24th via Sumerian Records. Watch the music video HERE, stream the track HERE, and pre-save UnadulteratedHERE.
Written in the final hours of the album sessions, “Blasphemous Act” arrived too loud and too late to leave behind. Built on raw, unfiltered vocals and dynamics that coil and crack under barely controlled pressure, the track maps the exact moment devotion tips feral, channelling obsession and retribution into something cathartic, unhinged, and ending in a repeated “run for your life” refrain that hits like a full stop.
The title came from a Magic: The Gathering card. The song went somewhere darker. Piper explains:
“‘Blasphemous Act’ was the last song we wrote for the record, and it hit with such ferocity that it forced its way onto the album in the eleventh hour. The name came from a Magic: The Gathering card, but the song took on a life of its own — this unhinged, teeth-bared spiral of obsession and retribution. Lines like ‘your neck in my teeth is all that I need’ and ‘karma is owed, paid in full’ captured a darker, more primal side of the band that we didn’t even know we were still capable of tapping into. By the time it explodes into that repeated ‘run for your life’ refrain, it felt clear: the record wouldn’t be complete without this song.”
To date, the band has amassed 2.8 million streams across all platforms and 400,000 YouTube views, steadily building a devoted following through relentless live performances and emotionally resonant songwriting.
ABOUT ROMAN CANDLE
Hailing from the desert underground of Las Vegas – Roman Candle – Piper Ferrari, Jonas Vece, Sergio Lopez, and Alex Dupuis – form one of the most emotionally raw and compelling new voices in modern screamo.
What began as a creative spark between Piper and Jonas has evolved into a fully realized four-piece, blending serrated aggression with vulnerable lyricism and a deep sense of place within the current hardcore landscape.
Onstage, the band operates with total commitment. Piper’s commanding vocal presence, Jonas’s tense and dynamic guitar work, Sergio’s driving low end, and Alex’s explosive percussion combine into a live experience that feels both communal and cathartic. Their hometown support has swelled alongside national attention, positioning them firmly at the forefront of a new generation of screamo artists.
Roman Candle Are Piper Ferrari – Vocals Jonas Vece – Guitar Alex Dupis – Drums Sergio Lopez – Bass
You know those bands that stay together forever? Not many of them, but some bands break-up in an ugly fashion. This video looks at 10 bands with terrible break-ups.
10 Bands With Terrible BREAK-UPS
“Jane’s Addiction are talking again. The alt-rock heavyweights, who abandoned last year’s North American Tour after an onstage altercation between frontman Perry Farrell and guitarist Dave Navarro at the Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA, have spelt out their feelings about the widely-reported spat. “We would like to clarify the events surrounding the cancellation of the tour after the show in Boston in September 2024,” say the band. “After that show, without notice to Perry, we unilaterally determined it would be best to not continue the tour and made inaccurate statements about Perry’s mental health which we regret.” (Louder Sound)
