Last year Schattenmann took the Gothic scene by assault and within two years, singer Frank Herzig had raised the future of Neue Deutsche Härte together with his band mates Luke Shook (bass), Jan Suk (guitars) and Nils Kinzig (drums). Together, they brought the slightly outdated genre, invented by groups like Rammstein and Oomph!!! back to life, and with support tournees with bands like Megahzer, Hamatom and Unzucht, they had everyone talking. With their new album 'Epidemie', due to be released next Friday 5th July, they go further and present an exciting mix out of the harsh heaviness of NDH, featured by brachial Metal riffs and danceable, easy-going hook lines.

South Carolinian-born Hannah Wicklund will release her third album 'Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin’ Stones' on Strawberry Moon Records on Friday 13th September. The album was produced by Sadler Vaden, guitarist for Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit and received rave reviews when it was released in the US last year. The album dovetails her nationwide UK Roadstars tour with Piston and Gorilla Riot in October, which stops off at London's Islington O2 Academy 2 on Friday 11th. The 10-track self-released album was recorded in Nashville, and is a fresh take on Wicklund's musical influences drawn from 60's, 70's and 80's guitar-driven Rock. Indeed, her music stands on a bedrock of razor-edged, old-school Rock ’n’ Roll reanimated by a new generation’s urgency, as testified by today's Video Of The Day, the latest single 'Shadowbowboxes and Porcelain Faces', which showcases the emotional toll the darkness of our digital lives takes.

"Between songs Chantel is bubbly and chatty, even during some of the songs, she is having fun and laughing with the band, but when the need arises and it’s time for the solo, she’s all business, the eyes are closed, head tilted and clearly loses herself completely in the music, letting it flow through her like only the greats can do." That was part of our take on Chantel McGregor at BluesRockFest almost nearly four years ago, and Chantel is back on the road again with her UK tour which takes in among other venues, Ramblin' Man Fair on Sunday 21st July, London's Under The Bridge supporting Focus on Friday 25th October plus an acoustic set at London's Water Rats tonight.

There's still time to choose here the final band for Ramblin' Man Fair's Rising Stage. The festival is fast approaching and will be taking place over the weekend of 19th-21st July at Mote Park in Maidstone. The runners and riders include Trident Waters, Stonewire, Piston (today's Track Of The Day), Gallows Circus and Karobela (previously Flawless Carbon, pictured and today's Video Of The Day, who we saw supporting Bernie Marsden at London's 100 Club in January last year. So ramble on over and get voting!

Tonight's Tribute To Memphis Slim at The Eel Pie Club, The Patch, 67 London Road, Twickenham TW1 3SZ, is a unique thumbs up to one of the Blues giants by Peter Chatman, the son of Memphis Slim, which has also been performed at London's Royal Albert Hall. The band features Eric Ranzoni (pictured) who also plays keys with Mud Morganfield (son of Muddy Waters), plus Pete Pritchard on bass, who has played with, among others, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Alvin Lee and Elvis Presley's original guitarist, Scotty Moore. On guitar is Mal Barclay of The Cadillac Kinks, and on drums, George Hart. Doors open at 8.15pm with music from 9-11pm. WRC members are reminded that they can use their cards to get discounted admission.

On today's Rock On The Ridge Track Of The Day there's music from Diamond Head, Black Tree Vultures, Revival Black, Big River, Matt Mitchell & The Coldhearts, At The Sun (pictured), Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, Empyre, Electric Mary, Piston, GoldWater, Bootyard Bandits, Catfish, Black Whiskey, Hedfuzy, Wolf Jaw, Last In Line, Deadland Ritual, The Black Hands, Pearl Handled Revolver, We Three Kings, Mississippi Riot, Trident Waters and Sweet Crisis.

HRH’s very own Rock Factor, Highway to Hell, is back with its tenth cycle at The O2 Academy in Sheffield on Friday 30th August! The stage is set for the national competition which has engaged up and coming talent, putting them on the big stage and seeing their record sales grow worldwide. They started with hundreds of prospects which have been voted down to a final eight who will perform in front of a packed crowd in Sheffield who will vote in the winner. The runners and riders include 3Sixty (Video Of The Day) who we introduced you to last year, plus Bad Pollyanna, Delusional Silence, King Kraken, Quiet The Thief, Steal the City, Twister and Straight For The Sun.

The album, 'This Is The Town: A Tribute to Nilsson (Volume 2)', released last week on Royal Potato Family, celebrates the songs of the legendary Harry Nilsson with performances by Cheap Trick, Martha Wainwright, Lauren Ruth Ward and more. The fourteen kindred spirits of Nilsson assembled on the collection are as stellar as they are varied in their art, each underscoring different facets of his songwriting. A follow up to the initial 'This Is The Town' tribute released in 2014, the attention to detail within the fourteen new recordings plus the obvious love for the man who penned them by the artists assembled, exemplifies the timelessness of Nilsson's songs, laying before the listener a roadmap of the many directions to be discovered in the songs of one of Pop's most exquisite artists.

Today's Blues On The Radio Track Of The Day is another hour filled with music from Keb' Mo', Ian Siegal, The Reverend Shawn Amos, Eva Carboni, Blues Situation, The BB King Blues Band, Kelly's Lot, Rebecca Downes, Michele D'Amour and the Love Dealers, ElectroBluesSociety and Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse. Add to all of that a couple of tracks from Lethbridge Owen (pictured), ahead of tonight's show at The Tuesday Night Music Club, The Comrades Club, Coulsdon CR5 2NF, and you have one busy hour!

Following its monster success last year, it's now just under two months and counting, as Stonedeaf 2019 is set to return on Saturday 24th August at the Newark Showground with headliner Glenn Hughes supported by Inglorious, Wayward Sons, Geoff Tate, Diamond Head, The Amorettes, Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons, Samarkind and Massive! Cited as one of the UK’s friendliest Rock festivals and filling the void of a one day one stage Rock festival so lacking in the UK - bring it on!

Wisconsin-bred guitarist Jared James Nichols returns to the UK supporting Living Colour on their July 2019 UK Tour alongside Wayward Sons. He will also play a headline show at London's Boston Music Room on Thursday 18th July, and to coincide with Jared’s return, he will self-release a brand-new single – 'Nails In The Coffin' on Friday 28th June on Old Glory Music, which is today's awesome Video Of The Day. Hailed as one of the most exciting new Blues Rock guitarists around, Jared is no stranger to UK audiences. In 2015 he embarked on a full European tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd, followed by an extensive UK tour supporting the legendary Glenn Hughes, where he won over critics with across-the-board rave reviews. He also toured with Stone Broken and opened the Planet Rock Main Stage at Ramblin’ Man Fair in 2017.

Five years in the making, ‘Return to Eden’ released earlier this month (today's Video Of The Day), marks a new return for Finnish guitarist and composer Timo Tolkki (ex-Stratovarius). Following a period out of the spotlight, Tolkki began writing the third chapter of his Metal opera following ‘The Land Of New Hope’ (2013) and ‘Angels Of The Apocalypse’ (2014), with Tolkki completing this outstanding comeback album with help from Italian producer Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere). A convincing and inspired release, Tolkki’s creative drive and vision is more evident than ever. As with the previous chapters in this opera series, a slew of heavyweight guest vocalists handle vocal duties, with featured appearances by renowned Dutch singer Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering), Zak Stevens (ex-Savatage), Todd Michael Hall (Riot V), Mariangela Demurtas (Tristania, Ardours) and Eduard Hovinga (ex-Elegy). Tolkki has travelled a long, hard road to get to where he is today, but is now back and more determined than ever to claim his rightful place in the Metal scene.