Royal Blood released a new track “Swallow the Bomb” alongside an exclusive interview with Zane Lowe. This is the second track to be revealed from their highly anticipated new album Dead Company out November 13 via Warner Records.LISTEN HEREThe band made a welcome return last month with album news, a single “Ten Over Ten” and reveal and some rapturously received live shows. Fans were treated to three sold out underplay shows across the UK, including a surprise Reading Festival appearance. They also announced a run of UK shows kicking off in November and featuring special guests, Unpeople and Xcerts across various dates. Click Here for ticket and tour details.Dead Company marks a powerful new chapter for the duo, who last released BACK TO THE WATER BELOW in 2023. Following a period away from the spotlight, Mike Kerr (vocals, bass guitar, keys) and Ben Thatcher (drums & percussion) entered the studio in 2025 with no deadline, no distractions and a simple ambition: to see what was possible with two people, 12 notes and infinite outcomes. Self-produced by Royal Blood, they set out to make an album as raw, human and visceral as possible. Dead Company strips everything back to its core. Immediate and uncompromising, it captures Royal Blood at their most powerful. U.S. tour to be announced soon.

Mile End Effects does not do “subtle.” From art to enclosure to audio, Montreal builder Justin Cober’s pedals make big, bold statements. Even against a lineup of effect units that look and sound like Cold War-era machines of destruction, his latest creation, the Sofort, Si Fort, might just be the most devastating yet: a two-in-one design that combines a Sovtek Big Muff and Ampeg Scrambler elements.Jolly Green GiantCober has demonstrated before that the visual aesthetic of his products is important enough that pedalboard-friendliness does not factor into his design decisions. Not surprisingly, this pedal is comparatively mammoth and beautiful. The giant, army-green slab is deliciously retro and Soviet, from its crisp screenprint art and font (handled by Tristan Lacombe, of Montreal psych-rockers Population II) to its chunky Pultec EQP-1-style knobs. (The Sofort, Si Fort continues the sharp orange/olive green color contrast introduced last year on Mile End’s Pique.) In a cultural moment obsessed with optimization at the expense of good ol’ fun, it’s heartening to behold a pedal that exists confidently on its own terms.Each fuzz circuit has its own footswitch and controls. Section A is the green Russian Big Muff-style fuzz, with knobs for sustain (gain), level (volume), and filter (tone). A three-way switch just below the filter control toggles activates a mid-frequency bump. Paired with the filter knob, it unlocks drastically different EQ emphases that cover ground beyond simply making up for a Sovtek Big Muff's mid-scooped voice. The B section is the Scrambler-style circuit, which is controlled with two knobs near the pedal’s bottom: blend and octave. Turned fully counterclockwise, octave allows just a hint of crispy harmonic content. At maximum, it shrieks and careens toward full ring-modulated madness. Blend lets you adjust exactly how much of that madness you want prickling the Muff circuit’s smooth-edged thundering. Each effect can be engaged independently. The only potential downside in the layout is that the chicken-head knobs for tone and level in the A section touch at certain settings. Just take care when you’re turning.Immediately, and So LoudlyWhile two-in-one pedals are far from novel, the tones contained in these two circuits are so radically different that it’s almost perplexing to hear them emerge from the same pedal. The name Sofort, Si Fort combines German and French words meaning “immediately” and “so loud” and the pedal’s output is both of those things. As imposing as the Sofort, Si Fort’s physical stature is, it’s dwarfed by the enormousness and mass of its sounds. Within seconds of plugging in and tweaking, I was conjuring Sunn O)))-worthy waves of low-mid bliss, and lively, whirling overtone chaos. The Green Sovtek Big Muff variant is celebrated for its bass presence, and Cober made sure that quality is preserved in the Muff-style circuit here. Engage the A section, and you’ve got a soft-edged, earth-shaking fuzz, with streaks of texture and graininess. The Scrambler-style section gouges and slashes at these massive low-end couch cushions. If you keep the octave low and the blend maxed out, the higher harmonic content will subtly scratch up your signal. As you crank the octave up, though, you'll eventually reach ring-mod meltdown. Utilizing your guitar volume knob at these settings is great fun, and uncovers all sorts of additional textures and tones. I’m trying not to be too fawning here, but the combination of the smooth, enveloping Muff tones with the jagged yelp of the Scrambler is positively blissful. For me, it blows the RAT-into-Muff combo out of the water in terms of texture and harmonic possibility. The VerdictIf you’re looking for low-end fuzz authority that never loses its fangs or clarity, and can reach more unusual highs, the Mile End Sofort, Si Fort is the ticket. There is a price to be paid for this much fun—it’s a very noisy pedal. But, like, duh? As we said, subtlety is not the goal here, and players who understand this will extract endless pleasures from the Sofort, Si Fort—which, at $213, feels like a steal.

5x GRAMMY® Award-nominated guitar legend Joe Bonamassa and Sixthman, the leader in festivals and music cruises for more than 25 years, have announced a second northern edition of their world-famous blues-rock celebration, Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Alaska II, sailing September 14-21, 2027, from Seattle, WA to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Victoria, BC, aboard the beautiful Norwegian Jade. Fans are urged to sign up for the presale now at www.bluesaliveatseaalaska.com to secure a cabin on this highly anticipated Alaska return.Hosted and personally curated as always by the one and only Blues Titan himself, Joe Bonamassa, Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Alaska II will present a celebration of music and community unlike any other, with powerful headline performances, exclusive collaborations, intimate jams, and unforgettable sets from some of the best in blues rock. The all-star lineup of artists includes Joe Bonamassa, Grace Potter, Larkin Poe, JJ Grey & Mofro, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Ruthie Foster, Eric Gales, Jimmy Vivino, Robert Jon & The Wreck, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Danielle Nicole Band, D.K. Harrell and many more to be announced. In addition, the once-in-a-lifetime voyage will present an incomparable array of immersive activities and experiences, with autograph sessions, contests, and more.Beyond the music, Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Alaska II will sail through some of the region’s most iconic destinations, from the vibrant waterfronts and rich cultural attractions of Juneau, the Gold Rush history and mountain scenery of Skagway, and the awe-inspiring wonder of Glacier Bay National Park, with its towering glaciers, pristine wilderness, and abundant wildlife. The journey also includes a visit to the charming city of Victoria, BC, where picturesque harbor views, stunning gardens, and a vibrant culinary scene await. From breathtaking landscapes to watching whales from the deck amidst the unforgettable beauty of Alaska’s wild frontier, Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Alaska II offers a new way to experience Alaska while reveling in the timeless power of live music and the camaraderie of the tight-knit blues community.The Norwegian Jade will provide everything needed to make Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Alaska II the most magnificent cruise adventure yet, with unique bars and lounges at every corner, a wide range of delicious specialty and complimentary dining options, the Pool Deck (with multiple hot tubs), the Jade Club Casino, Mandara Spa, Pulse Fitness Center, Basketball/Pickleball Courts, and so much more.Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Alaska II follows next year’s sold-out Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea XII, sailing March 15-19, 2027 from Miami, FL to Grand Cayman aboard the luxurious Norwegian Jewel. Though fully booked, Sixthman’s First Available Program releases staterooms in the months leading up to sailing that become available from cancellations or changes in operational needs every Friday. For more information, please visit www.bluesaliveatsea.com/firstavailable.Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Alaska II will once again proudly benefit the Keeping the Blues Alive® Foundation, Joe Bonamassa’s nonprofit dedicated to supporting music education by providing students, teachers, and musicians with essential resources and opportunities. While on board, guests will have the chance to take part in unique fundraising experiences, raffles featuring signed memorabilia, and other meaningful ways to support the foundation – all while enjoying the blues adventure of a lifetime. Founded by Bonamassa in 2011, Keeping the Blues Alive® Foundation (KTBA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to fuel a passion for music in younger generations by funding projects and scholarships to provide students and teachers the resources and tools needed to further music education.Since its inception, KTBA has been able to fund music programs and initiatives that have impacted the lives of more than 147,000 students in all 50 states. KTBA accomplishes this by making weekly donations to music projects in schools, as well as funding merit-based scholarships and extracurricular programs all over the country. In 2020, KTBA took its mission a step further by forming the Fueling Musicians Program. This program was created as an emergency relief plan for touring musicians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. By providing financial assistance for essential living expenses, the Fueling Musicians Program aims to help struggling musicians get back on the road again when it is safe. To date, the program has helped over 475musicians with immediate cash payments of $1,500. KTBA has made the Fueling Musicians Program a permanent part of the organization to help struggling musicians get on their feet and on the road. With donations of almost $3M in total from fundraisers, merchandise sales, and more, the Keeping the Blues Alive® Foundation has been able to help keep music education thriving. For more information, please visit keepingthebluesalive.org.