Melodic Magazine // Black Veil Brides, Of Virtue, PINKNOISE, Dark Divine

Lilith Czar creates merch with meaning through Never Take It Off

Undead Melody encapsulates Dark Divine’s growth

Mental health and human connection with Of Virtue

seek vengeance on new album VINDICATE

C N T E N T S

ON YOUR RADAR - 8 5 artists that you should know. No, really.

DARK DIVINE - 10

Dark Divine enter a defining new era on Undead Melody, capturing the band’s growth and evolution, onstage and off.

VENUE HIGHLIGHT: RIVERBEND MUSIC CENTER - 15

For more than 40 years, Riverbend Music Center has been transforming summer nights along the Ohio River.

OF VIRTUE - 16

Of Virtue continue to spark conversation around mental health while pushing their sound forward.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES - 22

Fueling nearly two decades of defiance and devotion, Black Veil Brides channel themes of vengeance, resilience, and self-realization on their latest release, VINDICATE

BUSINESS BEATS:

LILITH CZAR / NEVER TAKE IT OFF - 30

Reinvented through rebellion and self-ownership, Lilith Czar expands her creative identity through music and her brand Never Take It Off, centering selfexpression and empowerment.

PINKNOISE - 34

Turning personal honesty into community connection, PINKNOISE embraces the power of music.

IN YOUR CITY: CINCINNATI - 38

The Queen City is fueled by community and people determined to keep its music scene alive.

UPCOMING TOURS - 40

These 10 upcoming tours are tours you need to clear your calendar for.

MAY/JUNE 2026 ISSUE 023

DESIGN + EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Victoria Goodwin

COVER PHOTO

Jonathan Weiner @jonathan.weiner

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Avery Heeringa

ASSISTANT DESIGNER

Ashlyn Siples

Ayanna Fata

FIND US melodicmag.com @melodicmag

THANK YOU

A massive thank you to Andy Biersack, Lilith Czar, Of Virtue, Dark Divine, and PINKNOISE for taking time out of their busy schedules to chat with Melodic Magazine.

Also a big thank you to everyone who helped make this issue come to life: Adam Colwell, Alexander Bemis, Alexander Bemis, Ann Korwan, Ashley Osborn, Atom Splitter PR, Audrey van Schagen, Brendan Mcglathery, Christine Sloman, Cupid Theory, Jacqueline Day, Jonathan Weiner, Joshua Shultz, Juan Ibanez, Justice Petersen, Lilith Czar, Lindsey Ruth, Nadia Hutkay, Natalie Zeta, Nettwerk Music Group, Never Take It Off, Nici Eberl, Serina Epperson, Thriller Records

ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Since their 2017 formation, Austin-based dreamcore outfit Colorblind have only continued to rise within the modern rock world. The band is currently on their Hounds Of The Underground Tour alongside If Not For Me and Windwaker, which serves as their very first co-headlining run. But the career milestones for Colorblind don’t stop there, as the group prepares to release their debut full-length album, Who Sold You This Truth ++ Was It Yours To Hold. Arriving August 28 through Solid State Records, the band’s introductory LP will continue to expand upon their signature ethereal metal artistry that they’ve become known for. Over the last few years, Colorblind have established themselves as post-hardcore trailblazers, steadily releasing one hard-hitting single after the next while earning touring slots with the likes of Honey Revenge, Catch Your Breath, Miss May I, and more. Undoubtedly, their debut full-length is a highly anticipated release for their rapidly growing fanbase.

COLORBLIND

With the release of her new single “Voodoo” on May 15, rising rock heroine Bailey Spinn continues to captivate audiences with her piercing sonic resonance. Following recent singles “Homicide,” “critical,” and “fear of going out,” Spinn’s latest musical effort serves as a nu-metal-inspired exploration of parasocial relationships, and further expands upon the dark musical landscape that she has continued to explore. On her debut EP my worst enemy (2023), Spinn firmly established her pop-punk artistry, and in the years that followed she has further embraced a heavier musicality. Her unforgettable sonic sting has made a strong impression in the rock circuit, and Spinn has amassed over 22 million followers across all social platforms and millions of streams on breakthrough tracks like “happy ending” and “romance is dead.” Praised for her searing vulnerability and personal lyrics, there’s no doubt Spinn will make serious headway with rock audiences through this year and beyond.

BAILEY SPINN

FFO: The Warning, Kami Kehoe, Cassyette LISTEN: “happy ending,” “runner up,” “romance is dead”

FFO: Wind Walkers, Sleeping With Sirens, Nevertel LISTEN: “Motionless,” “Ghosts,” “Neversleep”

Well before the release of their debut EP Measly Means on May 6, British rock group VILLANELLE already built serious momentum as standout trailblazers in today’s grunge rock renaissance. Composed of frontman Gene Gallagher, guitarist Ben Taylor, and bassist Jack Schiavo, the trio made a bold introduction with last year’s debut single “Hinge,” but even this wasn’t the group’s true introductory effort. Rather, it was playing their very first live shows while opening for Oasis – fronted by Gene’s father Liam Gallagher –on the 2024 anniversary tour for Definitely Maybe. Diving headfirst into the deep end fairly early on in their careers, VILLANELLE have since eased up on the gas, choosing to carve their own space in heavy music through their buzzed-out, high-energy musicality. Heavily inspired by grunge and ‘90s rock, VILLANELLE bring forward the fuzzy rage reminiscent of Nirvana, but with a refreshing glimmer of youthful modernity. This summer, the group will embark on their North American tour, making festival appearances at Governor’s Ball, Warped Tour, and Lollapalooza. Steadily on the rise to grunge rock stardom, VILLANELLE is no band to miss if they play near you this summer.

VILLANELLE

SAWYER HILL

FFO: Red Leather, The Strokes, Dead Poet Society LISTEN: “Look At The Time,” “High On My Lows,” “Firestarters”

FFO: Violet Grohl, Smashing Pumpkins, The Molotovs LISTEN: “Placebo,” “Hinge,” “Measly Means”

KELSEY KARTER AND THE HEROINES

Whether it’s his gritty, blues-rock swagger, his unapologetic songwriting, or his undying dedication to the craft, one could take one look (or listen) at Sawyer Hill and find many traits that would deem him destined for musical greatness. Hill began his journey at 15 years old, playing in bars across Northwestern Arkansas – with his parents’ permission, of course. Ever since, the singer has steadily traveled down this artistic path, and by 2024 found himself a viral sensation. His single “Look At The Time” earned a spot on Spotify’s Viral Top 50, and he later shared his debut EP Heartbreak Hysteria in 2025. That same year, Hill’s iconic artistry has continued to rock the music industry, earning him a supporting slot on YUNGBLUD’s North American leg of his IDOLS World Tour. With a sonic palette that’s as unforgettable as it is magnetic, Hill blends together country, rock, and blues influences to create a sound that is uniquely his own. His latest single, “Jimmy’s Gone Numb,” builds upon his fearless musicianship, with lyrics that explore the dark underbelly of the American dream. As his first release of 2026, there’s no doubt that “Jimmy’s Gone Numb” is a sign of greater things to come.

Glam rock daredevils with a taste for the theatrical, Kelsey Karter and the Heroines possess an artistry that is truly sensational. While their 2020 debut album Missing Person was a great success, their sophomore LP Love Made Me Do It (2025) brings their sparkling rock ‘n’ roll flair to new heights. A bold rock opera, Love Made Me Do It delivers tales of rebellion, romance, and perseverance across 14 tracks. Known for their strategic social media presence and the fearless attitude of frontwoman Kelsey Karter – heralded by many as a powerful female figure in today’s rock scene – the band has earned praises from some of the genre’s biggest names, including Pat Smear, Billy Idol, Steve Stevens, and more. This summer, Kelsey Karter and the Heroines will bring their cinematic rock essence on the road for The Pleasure Tour, making their way across the U.S. with support from Frankie and the Studs, TORTURETWINN, and Grace McKagan.

rise from the grave on Undead Melody

“We truly feel like this is the best music we have ever written.”

“Elevated” is how Anthony Martinez, frontman of metalcore band Dark Divine, would describe the band’s new album in one-word. With a collection of melodies that pump life into the metal music scene and encapsulates their individuality as a band, Dark Divine is reaching new heights with Undead Melody, an album that showcases all they’ve built up to.

Formed in 2021, Dark Divine is composed of Martinez, guitarist Robby Lynch, bassist Cory Scissorhands, and drummer Triston Blaize. With only being a band for half a decade, Undead Melody comes at a special point in their careers where they can show how far they’ve come, highlighting their growth and expressive performance style that has come with experience.

While gearing up for their May 29 album release date, Dark Divine has stayed busy. In mid-April, the band embarked on a European tour, which wrapped up on May 10, with the intense, pop metal band Smash Into Pieces that offered its own adventures and challenges. “It was one of the most humbling yet gratifying experiences I have experienced in a tour,” Martinez says.

In the five years that Dark Divine has been a band, they’ve spent the majority of their performance time cultivating an audience home to America and Canada, making their name familiar to those confined to these areas. However, when they went overseas to Europe, they experienced stops with audiences that had never heard of them, offering a new challenge of pulling new fans into their world.

“Bringing the performance that we have developed and refined over the last five years to a fresh audience who we haven’t won over yet was an extremely humbling experience in the best possible way,” Martinez says. “As a frontman, I really enjoyed returning to the challenge of winning over a crowd who wasn’t familiar with us.”

In leading up to Undead Melody ’s release date, the palpable anticipation has been hitting Martinez. “On the day this album is released, there will be a tidal wave of relief that washes over me,” he says.

This album didn’t emerge from a straightforward, easyflowing process, but was rather a true test to the band’s ability to adapt and overcome, with it taking about a year to write. Excitingly enough, the long days of bringing this album to life was worth it, as it seemingly the finished product encapsulates their best moments and all they’ve built as a band in their five years. “We truly feel like this is the best music we have ever written,” Martinez says. “In knowing that, [we] have been in absolute agony not being able to reveal it to our audience.”

Martinez had a small dose of relief from the anticipation of this release when the band played an unreleased song over the PA system for their VIP audience on their headliner run. “Seeing people react to the new stuff was so satisfying,” he shares. “It was like revealing a secret you had been holding onto forever. So it’s safe to say, on May 29 I will be a very happy person.”

With about half of the album already released as singles pre-release, the positive audience reaction they’ve received has given the group validation and confidence in this new album. “I feel like we share a lot of taste with our audience in terms of music, so when we write songs that scratch our own brains, it ends up scratching theirs just as much,” Martinez says.

When writing, Martinez always thinks about how songs will play in a live setting in hopes of eliciting a positive audience response and participation. “Energy and tone in a concert setting is a huge motivator in the cadences and lyrics that I write,” Martinez says. “For example, ‘Better Start Digging’ was written almost exclusively for the live element. The chorus is meant to be shouted by an audience.”

Undead Melody covers an array of messages and themes, with each track grappling with its own unique concept or experience, making them each individually distinct. However, looking at the album as a whole, Martinez says that there is an overarching theme of death and rebirth. “It’s very much a reflection of the feelings we felt during the writing process and the moment we finished writing,” Martinez says.

In the early stages of creating Undead Melody, Dark Divine was hit with a wave of uncertainty, Martinez explains. Before setting out to write the album, the band had split with one of their instrumental writers, leaving them with the challenge of trying to find their footing again.

“This album was our first attempt at writing from the ground up with no real plan yet,” Martinez says. “There were definitely some moments where we were struggling to find a direction to take this next chapter in.”

The moment that Dark Divine found a sense of footing and direction for this album was the moment the band wrote an early demo version of “Make Me Disappear,” where they felt a “logical next step for [us] to expand on” was revealed. Their year-long creative process of this album was full of commitment. From nonstop studio sessions to writing demos with various producers from all over the United States, the band was in it for the long run. “We had written during blizzards and we had written during the L.A. fires,” Martinez says. “There were times where it got very stressful, but once this album had direction, there was no stopping us from completing this record.”

A half-decade in, Dark Divine is at a unique career stage. “We have put so much into these last five years and I feel like our [last] headline tour was a reflection of that,” Martinez says. “We are starting to see people view us as headliners and not as a supporting act that has yet to prove their worth.”

“When we perform for this fanbase and can provide a space for people to fully express themselves with us...”

...something special happens.”

Dark Divine has seen growth in themselves as a band, one that has been logistic and steady compared to overnight success stories of bands having one song gain traction on social media, jump starting a high stage of their careers. Martinez personally appreciates the way the band has grown, especially when it comes to how invested the group’s audience is. With the “slow burn” growth of the group’s popularity, their audience feels more authentic and invested in the band and their discography, rather than just a singular track that blew up on social media.

Even though the band members are the ones on the stage performing these shows, they don’t credit themselves for their unique performances, but rather their fans. “There is something inside this specific audience that is always ready to be unleashed at these shows,” Martinez shares. “Our fanbase is full of Halloween-obsessed, die-hard creatives who are constantly searching for ways to be involved with the music they love so much.”

This involvement goes beyond their shows, in the form of fan art, online edits and videos using their songs for different trends. This community and level of passion fuels them as performers, energizing them to continuously put on memorable shows. “When we perform for this fanbase and can provide a space for people to fully express themselves with us, something special happens,” Martinez says. “Everything gets louder, crazier, and the energy that this audience carries with them is harnessed. I don’t think you will ever find a more fun audience to perform for, and I say that with confidence.”

Although that performance style seems to come about naturally on stage, Martinez had to learn what works for him, gaining confidence and building on his art and performance ability year after year. “Confidence and comfort onstage comes to some naturally, but not for others. I, unfortunately, had to learn how to use my body and feel comfortable onstage,” Martinez says. “Going back and watching our older performances allows me to really see that progress in real time.”

Martinez recalls the awkwardness of the early stages of finding their onstage chemistry as performers. However, each member’s stage presence has grown and developed with each tour, leading to the curated dynamic they take on today. “I am always on a mental journey to feel like the performer I’ve always wanted to be, and I do think in recent years I have come closer and closer to achieving that goal,” Martinez says. “The same can be said about every member of the band.”

The path that Dark Divine is on seems to be everything they’ve ever hoped for and more. “Each year our band seems to be doing bigger and better things and nothing feels unstable or unsustainable,” Martinez says. “All I hope for the future is to continue to see that steady growth and keep seeing our fanbase not only grow, but grow with us.”

The focal point of Undead Melody ’s album cover are four empty graves, with a glowing purple light emitting from each one of them. There is no time to stay underground, as the band has found their true calling lies above it. “There is nothing dead about these graves,” Martinez says. “We have risen from them and are better than ever.”

RIVERBEND MUSIC CENTER

CINCINNATI, OH

Riverbend Music Center remains Cincinnati’s summer concert home

Tuckedalong the Ohio River, Riverbend Music Center has been a staple in Cincinnati’s music scene for over 40 years. Since opening in 1984, the outdoor amphitheater has become the go-to summer venue for music fans across Ohio, bringing together massive tours and unforgettable nights under the stars. What started as a home for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra quickly evolved into one of the Midwest’s most recognizable concert venues.

With room for over 20,000 fans, Riverbend has hosted artists from nearly every corner of music. Legends like Jimmy Buffett, the Grateful Dead, and Dave Matthews Band have all played the stage, while festivals like Warped Tour and Ozzfest have turned the venue into a summer destination for generations of alternative music fans. This historic venue is even one of the original locations for Lollapalooza before it settled into its permanent spot in Chicago’s Grant Park.

Whether fans are packed into the pavilion or stretched out on the lawn with blankets and friends, there’s something about a Riverbend

show that feels different from the average arena concert. The open-air setting, warm summer nights, and view of the nearby river give concerts a laid-back atmosphere that keeps fans coming back year after year.

The atmosphere itself also adds to the experience of a show at the Riverbend.

Concertgoers often tailgate in the parking lots hours before gates open, and once the sun begins to set over the river, Riverbend shifts into the kind of electric atmosphere that makes a concert unforgettable. For many Cincinnati locals, going to Riverbend is a summer tradition.

Riverbend Music Center continues to draw major artists, trending tours, and soldout crowds every summer season while remaining one of the Midwest’s biggest live music destinations. More than just a venue for Cincinnati music fans, Riverbend is part of the city’s identity—a place where generations of concert memories continue to grow with every new season.

VENUE HIGHLIGHT

want to be the light when things feel dark

“If we can help one person, then we know that what we are doing is making an impact, and that’s always been what we wanted to do with our music.”

“Even if you feel alone...

It’s a somewhat busy afternoon for Of Virtue vocalist Tyler Ennis and guitarist/co-vocalist Damon Tate, with Ennis in the middle of updating Zoom for the band’s call with Melodic Magazine and Tate driving in his car around Michigan while on the phone. But nevertheless, the two found time to discuss the band’s latest singles and an upcoming record.

“If we can help one person, then we know that what we are doing is making an impact, and that’s always been what we wanted to do with our music,” says Ennis.

“It’s a really good feeling being able to release a song that has such a powerful meaning and an impact,” Ennis says of “What’s It Like to Be Happy?” “That is something that our band has

kind of always been about, especially back in 2019 when we released What Defines You. We had a song in there called ‘Torn Apart,’ and that was along the same lines.”

“What’s It Like to Be Happy?” comes at a relevant time, as mental health and self-care have become more of a topic of conversation since the COVID-19 pandemic. “We wanted to kind of start that conversation of what happiness means to you, because I feel like if we start talking about those things more—self-care and mental health— it becomes more normalized,” Ennis mentions. “There’s not a stigma around it. There’s nothing wrong with talking about your feelings. There’s nothing wrong with going through things. Even if you feel alone, you’re never alone.”

you’re never alone.”

Over the years, Of Virtue has become known as a band that is unexpected, ever-changing, and full of pure emotion. The Michigan-based group, which also consists of members Michael Valadez (guitar) and Ryan Trinh (drums), have performed in over 30 countries, across three continents, and reach an audience of 372K monthly listeners on Spotify alone. Their music is melodic, heavy, and irresistibly catchy, making them an engaging act no matter where they go or who listens.

“I feel like there’s a natural shift,” explains Tate. “When you listen to the older records, you kind of look at them as a little footnote of, ‘Oh this was how I was feeling at the time.’ Sometimes you can actually notice themes where I might be talking about some of the same things, but now they’re gonna relate a bit differently.”

There’s comfort in music that embraces difficult truths and bands that serve as a voice for someone who might have trouble finding their own. This notion is at the center of Of Virtue’s work, with Tate explaining, “It’s relevant to be as vulnerable as you possibly can so you can help people like your former selves or people that haven’t been as fortunate to know, see, or hear words that can speak for them if they aren’t strong enough in those moments to speak for themselves.”

Based on “Death of the Altar” and “The Art of Love,” which preceded “What’s It Like to Be Happy?,” Of Virtue have a lot to say on their upcoming album. A title and release date have yet to be announced, but for now, Ennis says that Of Virtue always wants to release “a better body of work” with each release. “I really feel like, with this

“It’s [about] being a light, being able to help people, being able to just be a little bit of something positive when it doesn’t feel like there’s a whole lot going right.”

upcoming album, it gives you a glimpse of where we started—from What Defines You, which was the first album with me on it, to now,” he explains. “I kind of had to take a step back and realize what is gonna get our band to the next level. We utilized [Damon] in Omen (the band’s previous album), but I don’t think enough. That was kind of what we wanted to do with this album, and there’s actually a lot of songs that are more Damon-centered.”

Still, Of Virtue plan on retaining their eclectic sound on their next album. “We haven’t lost the Of Virtue sound. If anything, we’ve just grown into this more mature version where there’s Damon’s strengths and my strengths, and I’m very excited for everybody to hear what we have coming out with this next album,” Ennis says.

One way for everybody to hear the songs from this album is through Of Virtue’s upcoming shows across both the states and Europe. The band’s The Art of Love & Power tour will find Of Virtue co-headlining with their friends Savage Hands and will feature support from Kingdom Collapse, Set for Tomorrow, and Sorry X. After their coheadlining leg wraps, they’ll head over to Europe to support Unprocessed on tour.

“We just want to make it to where you can come, you can just get away from whatever you’re doing, and when you leave, you’re gonna be like, ‘I wanna do that again.’”

Tate promises “hugs, high fives, and positive vibes” at the band’s upcoming shows. He is aware that the group’s shows can serve as a safe space for some, and Of Virtue is all about giving back through these shows. “Come say hi, hang out at the merch table afterwards, take a picture, share a little bit of something, or at least just rock out. We just want to make it to where you can come, you can just get away from whatever you’re doing, and when you leave, you’re gonna be like, ‘I wanna do that again.’”

Connection is such a big part of why Of Virtue do what they do, and Tate does not take the opportunity to interact with others for granted. “We’re living our dream, but some days it’s hell, other days it’s the best thing on Earth,” Tate says. “At the same time, it’s also provided us with some perspective. When you’re working, you’re going around every day, and you see people who are unhappy, or people see you and you’re kind of down, and it’s like, take a moment out of your day and lift each other up.”

“It’s [about] being a light, being able to help people, being able to just be a little bit of something positive when it doesn’t feel like there’s a whole lot going right.” A good place to start will always be with music. As for bands that Of Virtue turns to in times of need or brings comfort, “There’s a band called Misery Signals,” Tate says. “For me, without them, we are not sitting here talking. Of Virtue doesn’t exist. I don’t know if I would’ve met the people that I’ve met. I had the fortune with my other band [For The Fallen Dreams] to play their farewell shows last year, so it was like an awesome, full circle, bucket list moment to be able to meet the people that have such a profound impact on my life.”

Now, Of Virtue can give others the same comfort and inspiration that bands like Misery Signals gave to Tate. As of late, the band has noticed an increased number of Gen Alpha in the crowds at their shows, which signals that what the band does onstage is resonating with new audiences. “You get younger fans or you get people who are like, ‘This is my first metal, this is my first rock concert, this is my first concert in general,’” says Tate. “If you can instill that [the shows] might not all be like this but they can be like this, and you can foster that into them to where they can go search and start their own journey themselves, we can be the jump-off for that.”

For Andy Biersack, revenge is second nature. As the frontman of heavy metal outfit Black Veil Brides, Biersack utilizes this perpetual desire for vengeance as a means of self-improvement and the ultimate form of retaliation against those who have ever spoken out against the band’s searing artistry.

Since their formation nearly two decades ago, Black Veil Brides have remained one of rock’s most divisive bands, making their ferocious dedication to personal resolution only a natural cause and effect. Panned by critics and dismissed by the rock community when they first got their start alongside other famed Warped Tour acts years ago, Black Veil Brides see every kick as a boost to further glory, and 20 years later, they still don’t seem to have a taste for conformity.

This adamant retribution is the overarching theme of Black Veil Brides’ seventh full-length record VINDICATE , released May 8. Across 14 tracks, the band brings their visceral songwriting to new heights, exploring the concept of vindication as something that can be both self-fulfilling and obsessive.

“I think having anything that motivates you to be more tenacious than the person next to you at achieving the thing you want to achieve is a positive.”

To coincide with the record’s aggressive thematic nature, the band also shares what can be considered their heaviest body of work yet, using their signature blend of cinematic delivery and melodic rage to craft the perfect sonic identity for the album’s equally hard-hitting conceptual elements.

Ahead of the album’s release, Black Veil Brides kicked off a headline tour throughout North America, currently making their way across the continent with support from TX2, As December Falls, and From Ashes To New. The band also recently announced a return to the U.S. later this year, set to hit select cities with Caskets, Archers, Holy Wars, and Autumn Kings as support.

With this current run marking the band’s first full-scale headline tour in a couple of years, Biersack says they’re eager to get back on the road after dedicating these last few years to making the record.

“We’ve just been doing little short runs here and there. So it’s really exciting to get to play that long headline setlist every night and do a lot of old songs and a lot of new songs,” Biersack tells Melodic Magazine ahead of the release of VINDICATE . “Really, I would say the most exciting part of it is just seeing the growth. Playing venues that we’ve played over the years and even during our first main wave of popularity, having more people at those venues, selling more tickets, and having more excitement than we’ve maybe ever had is really, really cool and not something that I take for granted. It’s a pretty humbling thing to experience this many years into your career.”

Looking back on the evolution of their live presence, Biersack says the band is performing better than ever before after years of playing together. “Plus, we’re not all drunk all the time. So that’s a big help,” Biersack quips. “Pretty much everybody in the band, and certainly when we go on stage, there’s no drinking at all. And so you’d be amazed how much better you can be as a live band if you’re not completely blacked out every night on stage. Also just us as people, we’re happier. We enjoy being on the road together. We have a good relationship and friendship as a band. So I think that translates well to the stage. We really get along. I never take that for granted because I know with a lot of bands, that’s not the case.”

Following their North American run, the band will make their way across Europe and the U.K., making several festival appearances before returning to the U.S. this August. Slated to appear at some of rock’s biggest festivals, including Rock im Park, Rock am Ring, Hellfest, and more, Biersack says it’s both exciting and rewarding to play on the stages that the band now considers second homes.

“I’m just excited to go back to Europe,” he says. “It’s been a couple of years for us. But Download [Festival] in the U.K. was one of the big watershed moments for us in our career and really marked the beginning of our relationship with the U.K. audience, which ended up being one of our biggest demographics or markets in the world. We were very lucky that we got some really cool spots early on in my career at Download in Donington Park, so that’s always kind of a bit of a homecoming for us.”

Returning to such monumental stomping grounds like Download Festival is truly a full-circle moment for the band, and the release of VINDICATE is the cherry on top of a self-reflective era of Black Veil Brides’ career. “This is now the point at which

the record no longer is mine and becomes yours,” Biersack says of the album’s release. “So I always like this moment. I like when it becomes a thing that’s out in the world, and it’s no longer something that I’m obsessing over or working on or listening to mixes or whatever else now. It’s out there, and we’re already writing for the next one. So we’ll begin the process all again.”

For many artists, the next step after such a monumental release would be to bask in the radiance of the album’s imminent send-off, taking a few moments to relax rather than immediately getting started on the next record. “Those people are the ones that don’t get to stick around for 20 years,” Biersack says. “You’ve got to take advantage of the opportunities. If we’re lucky enough for people to care and give us budgets to make records, then it’s our responsibility to do so.”

Black Veil Brides exceed all expectations for listeners on VINDICATE . Previewed by numerous singles, including “Certainty,” “Hallelujah,” and “Revenger,” the album cemented itself very early on as unrelenting in its musical brutality. However, it’s the record’s final single, “Cut,” that adds a light to the album’s mystifying darkness.

“Cut” notably features Lilith Czar, hard rock trailblazer and wife of Biersack, also known as the alt-rock singer-songwriter Juliet Simms. While it’s only the second Black Veil Brides track to feature Czar—following her guest vocals on “Lost It All” from 2013’s Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones —Biersack says her impact on his artistry is always present, with Czar providing backup vocals on nearly every one of the band’s albums since 2013.

“We did a little vow renewal. Jinxx played violin, and it was beautiful.”

“Even just in our marriage, our life is so much about music,” he says. “We bounce every idea off each other. We’re constantly working together. I think for somebody else, because they’re not necessarily living in our home with us, it might seem more foreign in the idea. But to me, it’s just the most natural thing in the world. Every idea I have, I run by her first. She’s my person in the world.”

Black Veil Brides’ duet with Czar arrived alongside a music video, which envisioned a retelling of Tim Burton’s classic Corpse Bride (2005). Arriving almost exactly on their 10-year wedding anniversary, Czar wore her real wedding dress for the video, resulting in a project that was both heartfelt and haunting, balancing dark beauty with grim decay. And with the timing being so perfect, the couple even decided to renew their vows during filming.

“I think it was just like, when are you ever going to have this chance again?” Biersack reflects. “We

had talked for years about doing a vow renewal. So we thought, well, Blasko, who’s our manager who married us, was going to be there. The whole band’s going to be there. She’s going to be in her wedding dress. Our friends that worked with us are going to be on set. It was the perfect situation. So we wrapped shooting, and then the director, Max [Moore], let us kind of take over the set, and we did a little vow renewal. [Our guitarist] Jinxx played violin, and it was beautiful.”

“Cut” is one of the album’s many niche explorations of just how devotion and perseverance run through the veins of Black Veil Brides. Whether sonically or emotionally, vindication is something that comes so naturally to the band that writing an album exploring both the highs and lows of such a concept was the most authentic choice Biersack says he could make as a songwriter.

“[Revenge] is something that is a real motivating factor for me, both positively and negatively in my life, so I wanted to write something that had a concept, that had a narrative, but that felt very personal,” he says. “There are different facets to my personality, all of which I’d like to be able to write records about because I’m so egotistical. But the one that kind of came to the forefront was this idea of, ‘Fuck you, I’ll show you, you’re wrong about me.’ That’s been pervasive throughout my whole career. So I’m just trying to be as honest as possible. I think I try to show the good and bad of that. There are moments on the record that are very triumphant, and then there are moments that are very introspective and sad. And that’s the path that you take when you’re constantly seeking vengeance on your enemies.”

For most, revenge is often thought of as selfdestructive, unforgiving, and unrewarding. Yet while seeking justice against those who have wronged you may typically be regarded as a negative thing, Biersack has also used his desire to prove people wrong as the ultimate form of resistance against your demons. “I think having anything that motivates you to be more tenacious than the person next to you at achieving the thing you want to achieve is a positive,” he says. “Having motivation is important, and I think you can use things like revenge and vengeance and vindication as a positive methodology to keep your ass moving and [do] things that you should be doing.”

VINDICATE conveys the never-ending cycle of one’s personal relationship with vengeance. At the top of the album, the opening tracks “Invocation To The Muse” and “Vindicate” encourage listeners to overcome the voices that tear them down, by any means necessary. However, by the time the album comes to an end, the closer “Eschaton” finds the realization that a constant yearning for revenge is too all-consuming. We reach this resolution, only for the demons to call once more, and the cycle repeats itself.

This undying tale of vindication is amplified through the album’s explosive heaviness. While VINDICATE conveys Black Veil Brides’ signature cinematic flair, with album highlight “Bleeders” delivering a Sweeney Todd-esque flavor of rage, there’s no denying that the album is the band’s most aggressive body of work yet. The formation of

“There are moments on the record that are very triumphant . And then there are moments that are very introspective and sad. And that’s the path that you take when you’re constantly seeking vengeance on your enemies.”

“Having motivation is important, and I think you can use things like revenge and vengeance and vindication as a positive methodology to keep your ass moving and doing things that you should be doing.”

this sound, according to Biersack, came together just as organically as the album’s overarching story.

“I think I would be lying to say it wasn’t a choice, because anything that you do creatively that you work really hard on has to be a choice,” he says. “We didn’t stumble into it, but it wasn’t like a sit-down conversation like, ‘This is going to be the heavy one.’ That’s the way that we trended, for lack of a better term, in terms of writing. I think it just matched the tonality, too, for me lyrically.”

Two decades later, and now standing with seven full-length albums and four EPs under their belts, Black Veil Brides strive to deliver something new with every record while always staying true to their signature sound. As a result, every project from the band has flawlessly conveyed their continuous musical evolution, building upon their unforgettable heavy metal musicality. “I think for me, I just like to have an idea that excites me and that I can keep building on and building on and building on,” Biersack says of musical inspiration. “So when I have that, when I find that, I’m so locked into it that I become obsessive.”

This obsession has already bled into what will one day be Black Veil Brides’ next studio album, which Biersack says will continue to expand upon the story that has since been established on VINDICATE . “I feel really good with where we’re at,” he says. “So if you like this record, I feel

like we’re going to be living, not necessarily in the stagnant world of this, but I think tonally, this is a very similar place to where we’re going to be.”

While the burning message of rebellion and vindication bleeds through every track on Black Veil Brides’ latest album, Biersack believes that once a project is put out into the world, the listener ultimately decides what a song or album will mean to them. However, while an artist might not have complete control over lyrical interpretation, the one message that Black Veil Brides can make clear is that the depths of their vengeance know no bounds.

“I would like people to take away from it what they want to take away from it,” Biersack says of VINDICATE . “It’s not my job as a songwriter to tell you what to feel. Sometimes artists will pander, and they think that they’re in charge of what their audience gets out of something. I think it’s not really appropriate for me to tell somebody what to take away from it. What I hope is that they listen to the whole thing and that they find something that they connect with.”

Business Beats with Lilith Czar & Never Take it Off

Through her unapologetic display of dark feminine aesthetics and her unrelenting songwriting, Lilith Czar is one of the strongest voices in modern rock ‘n’ roll. The artist also known as Juliet Simms, Czar initially made herself known on the stages of Warped Tour during the late 2000s and early 2010s through her years with the band Automatic Loveletter and as a solo artist.

When she wasn’t writing sharp, emo alt-rock ragers, Czar was also creating another project that, although not musical, would have just as great an impact in the rock music scene. In 2011, she founded Never Take It Off, a jewelry company that partners with rock artists to provide unique accessory staples and undying inspiration to fans.

Since her artistic reincarnation and the release of her debut album as Lilith Czar, Created From Filth And Dust, in 2021 and sharing with the world a bold yet unforgettable artistic evolution, Czar has allowed her artistry to be fueled by unapologetic rebellion and authenticity. Her debut body of work as Czar not only introduced the world to her new musical era, but also cemented the rebirth of one of alternative music’s most powerful voices.

Czar, after years of fighting against a patriarchal music industry, has reimagined herself as a darker rock figure in recent years, rising from the ashes of what once was and carrying a heavier sonic strength on her wings. Yet through every phase of her music, whether through Never Take It Off or as a reborn hard rock heroine, her desire to inspire fans through her raw lyricism and emotional impact has never wavered.

“At its core, Never Take It Off has always been about giving people something tangible to hold onto,” Czar tells Melodic Magazine. “A reminder of who they are, what they’ve been through, and what they stand for. Going through my own transitions—physically, mentally, creatively—it reinforced just how important it is to have something that grounds you. Something that reminds you of your own strength and your own promise to yourself.”

“At its core, [it’s] always been about giving people something tangible to hold onto.

The Business

By 2011, Czar had already spent years on the road as the frontwoman for altrock group Automatic Loveletter, formed by her and her brother Tommy Simms. After meeting countless fans and hearing their own stories of hardship and redemption, Czar saw firsthand the power of art and music in the rock community, and she knew she wanted to give something to them in return.

“That’s where the idea began, with vow bracelets,” Czar says. “You’d tie one on, make a promise to yourself, and never take it off. A quiet, constant reminder of who you are, what you’ve been through, and who you’re becoming.”

Thus, Czar and her brother founded Never Take It Off. The name comes from the opening track off Automatic Loveletter’s sophomore album The Kids Will Take Their Monsters On, and further instills the connection between the music and the listeners, allowing them to wear the music with them wherever they go. “There was already this thread of resilience and self-commitment in my music, and Never Take It Off became an extension of that in a physical form,” she says.

Wanting to extend the message even further, Never Take It Off soon included other artist collaborations, crafting signature pieces for artists like Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides), Chris Cerulli (Motionless in White), Lee Jennings (The Funeral Portrait), Danny Worsnop (Asking Alexandria), Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens), Devin Papadol (Honey Revenge), and

A reminder of who they are, what they’ve been through, and what they stand for.”

many more. “Every artist we’ve worked with shares that same passion for giving back, for helping their audience find hope, resilience, self-love, and growth,” Czar says. “In a lot of ways, what initially inspired Never Take It Off was the fans themselves. Their voices, their stories, and that desire to create something that could genuinely support and uplift them.”

When it comes to designing her own pieces for Never Take It Off, the biggest influence is the music.

“A lot of the time, we’ll use lyrics or song titles to name the pieces, so that naturally becomes a guide for how we design them,” Czar says.

“But it also works the other way around. Sometimes I’ll have an idea for a piece first, and then I’ll go back through my lyrics to find something that fits. It’s very fluid.”

She adds, “We always try to stay rooted in the meaning behind it. I find myself asking, ‘What does this give to the person wearing it? What could this symbolize for them?’ That idea carries through all of the artist collections as well. It always comes back to: does it have meaning?”

Fifteen years later, Never Take It Off still holds a firm place in the rock scene, and what once started as a young girl’s dream has now become a staple in the modern alternative landscape. “My mom still tells this story,” Czar reflects. “I must have been about six years old, and she was putting me to bed. Right before I fell asleep, I looked at her and said, ‘Mommy, I want to help the people in the world.’ And she just smiled and said, ‘You will, honey.’ So I think that intention has always been there.”

The Beats

Czar’s passion for storytelling and lighting a fire in listeners transcends well beyond Never Take It Off. While Created From Filth And Dust marked the sensational emergence of her new artistic persona, the album never told the complete story of the end of Juliet Simms and the birth of Lilith Czar. “It felt like I was still holding my breath. I wasn’t in a position to be completely open yet, and there were things I had to keep close until I could get to a place where I felt ready to share them,” Czar says.

Last year, she shared two new singles, “POPSICLE” and “Edge of Madness,” that further expanded upon Czar’s lore and proved how she learned to overcome an industry that frequently made attempts to limit her artistry.

Most recently, Czar was featured on Black Veil Brides’ latest studio album, VINDICATE , for the haunting duet “Cut.” Collaborating once more with her husband and Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack, the making of the song and its romantically macabre music video happened to mark the couple’s tenth wedding anniversary.

“[Black Veil Brides] is made up of musicians who are so prolific and so incredibly talented that you really get to live out your wildest dreams in terms of creating something huge and beautiful,” she says.

“Every member brings their own kind of magic to a song, and they operate on such a high level that it naturally pushes you to rise to meet it. It brings out the best in you. This particular song represents so much of the journey we’ve all been on together, so it felt really natural for me to be a part of it. I joke with Andy all the time and tell him, ‘It kind of feels like you wrote this one for me.’ It’s one of those songs where, when you hear it, you wish it was yours.”

“Cut” marks the second feature Czar has with Black Veil Brides, the first being her work on the song “Lost It All” from the band’s 2013 album Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones

“I love working with the guys, and of course, with my husband,” she says. “At this point, [the band] really does feel like family. Getting to sing with Andy is something I don’t take for granted. Not a lot of couples get to share something like that creatively, at this level, so it’s really special to me. I think the music video is going to end up being one of the most meaningful things we’ve ever done together.”

Czar’s recent singles, including her duet with Black Veil Brides, continue to build upon the magnetic universe of Lilith Czar. Embodying divine power, feminine rage, and sacred brutality throughout her work, Czar’s transition from Juliet Simms has granted her the greatest reward: freedom. “More freedom. Freedom to say what I actually want to say, and to be more vulnerable and real,” she says.

“Now I feel like I’m creating from a place that’s healthier, more intentional, and more aligned.” she continues. “And that energy flows into everything I do, whether it’s music or the brand.”

“I get to create in my own space, in my own time, and that’s changed everything.”

is on a mission to share stories of the human experience as authentically as possible

Behind PINKNOISE, otherwise known as Kacey Foxx’s musical persona, is a mission to share stories of the human experience as authentically as possible. It all started last year with the release of their debut single, “NEVER LAST,” which amassed over five million streams across various platforms and inspired hundreds of thousands of listeners to join the PINKNOISE community. This inclusive, judgment-free community connected with the pain and the resilience found on “NEVER LAST” from PINKNOISE’s 2025’s EP HUMAN=KIND

In April, PINKNOISE released FLESH AND BONE , an EP that focuses on toxicity, turmoil, and rage. Together, these projects give us a wellrounded view of PINKNOISE’s world and of humankind itself. Melodic Magazine recently caught up with the genre-bending artist, where they discussed the new music, touring for the first time, and more.

Your EP FLESH AND BONE has been out for about a month now. What has the reception been like so far, and how do you feel about it overall?

I think for being as honest as I’ve been on that EP, it’s been really cool to see people receive it so well and be able to relate to it. It makes me feel a lot less like an imposter myself. It makes me realize that we, as humans, have a lot more that we relate to with each other than we realize, especially in such turbulent times in the U.S.

Were there any moments in creating FLESH AND BONE where you felt like these emotions and feelings could be too personal to share?

I think there’s always a fear of maybe I’m going to talk too much about what I’m going through. It feels very unveiling to show people who you really are—not just the facade that’s on the Internet. I think it’s important to break down those barriers of ‘I’m afraid to say this because I don’t want to be seen as too human.’ For me at least, that’s kind of the whole point—to capitalize on ‘I’m just a human being. I’m just like everyone else.’ If you’re too afraid to share these feelings, at least I’m here for you to use my music as an avenue to feel those feelings yourself.

I think it’s always debatable: ‘Should I share this? Should I not?’ I think it made all the sense to just be vulnerable because I feel like people don’t know that much about me. They just see an internet persona, and that’s not all there is to me or to a lot of artists.

On the EP, “TALK TALK” gets into the internet and its culture and “THE FUTURE IS PINK,” is a call for more authenticity. Do you feel that artists—especially up-and-coming artists who use social media as a primary way to promote their music— will rely more on technology or will they lean more toward authenticity going forward?

I think that’s the question that’s up for debate right now with most artists. It’s definitely becoming more of a reality where AI artists pop up and you see them have 200K-300K monthly listeners—some even have a million monthlies.

It’s discouraging as somebody who’s been doing it for 13 years... You’re like, ‘What am I doing wrong? Why does this robot have more streams or more traction than me?’ It is kind of scary, but I think at the end of the day, there are more people who want to feel real things. A lot of these AI artists use the same Vocaloid human person for their songs, and I think people will eventually get tired of that sound. So, I have hope for the future.

You worked with Trevor from Wind Walkers for “RAIN.” What was it like to collaborate, open up, and share this more personal side of yourself with him in that way?

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to be with Trevor in person during the session like I had hoped. We’ve been friends for about four years online, and he actually found me through my last band. He shouted me out on a podcast, and I had never heard of Wind Walkers, but he said that he really loved my voice. Of course I thanked him and checked out their music. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s so talented.’

When I had initially started making this song, I was like, ‘I feel like this needs a really powerful singer to sing the second half and to kind of match my energy.’ Trevor was one of the first people that came to mind. We had talked about being on a song

“We, as humans, have a lot more that we relate to with each other than we realize.”

together pretty much since we became friends, so it just kind of made sense. My project started gaining traction and Wind Walkers is just crushing it right now. It feels really good when you send someone a version of a song and they’re like, ‘I have no notes. What do you need me to do?’ He’s just the best guy, and he was like, ‘I really relate to this a lot and I would love to bring it to life.’

Did it take a long time for it to come together or was it quick?

That was actually a song that had been in the archives for a year and half, so it did not come together that quickly. We wanted to put it on the first EP, HUMAN=KIND, but I was like, ‘I think it needs more time.’ I think the thing that took me the longest was the bridge, the heavier part. I just wanted it to hit insanely hard, so it took a little bit of extra time and finesse for that. Trevor had just sent us one take of his vocals and we were like, ‘This is incredible.’ He crushed it. But yeah, it did take a little bit of extra TLC. We just wanted to make sure we got it right.

“WHY YOU SURVIVED,” which is also on the EP, can resonate with anyone who has gone through a low point or feels as if things aren’t meant to be. What is your meaning behind it?

I wrote this as more or less a song for my friend Gabe and I. Over the last couple of years, he’s been through a lot. When I moved away from Tucson, my hometown, I was really afraid to leave him behind because he has been struggling so much with the loss of his arm. I can only imagine what that feels like.

I really wanted to put this track out because I feel like it can resonate with so many people who have been through something hard, something traumatic, something heartbreaking... It was just a reminder for both of us that we’re still here, we can still say we love each other, and we can still hang out and have the best of times when we’re together, and until we don’t have that time anymore, we should just soak it up. I think it was really important for me to write that for him because he had been through such a low point, and I got to be there alongside him during a lot of that. So for me, it’s our song. He’s one of my best friends, he was in my wedding, and to me, that’s what it means. I think it’s gonna be really hard to sing that on tour, but I’ve been told that it means to much to a lot of my fans. I think I owe that to them, like if that’s their survival song, I really want to make sure I capitalize on bringing that to life on stage.

You’ve built a strong community through PINKNOISE, one that’s safe and inclusive. What was it like interacting with this community while you were on your recent tour supporting Magnolia Park?

I feel like Magnolia Park and I have a lot of things in common with our music and our message, and I think we reach a lot of the same type of fans. Magnolia Park have made sure they found the right

people through their following, and I think they’re role models for me, in a way. They’re so outspoken about all of the injustice that’s happening in the United States.

It’s really powerful that they’re not afraid to stand up for what they believe is right, and that definitely resonates with me, especially being a queer, nonbinary person. It’s nice to see people still wanting that representation in the scene and being like, ‘This is where we stand.’ I definitely made a lot of fans on that tour, and I’m very grateful for Magnolia Park taking me out on my first one.

What was it like playing some of these songs live for the first time?

The first day, it was really scary. I hadn’t played a show in so long. But as soon as I hit the stage, I’m not that nervous anymore. It flew by that first night, and then the second night I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to try and enjoy this a little bit more and get into it and think about what I’m doing and try to step it up from the night before.’

It was so cathartic for me on the second-to-last show; I was singing “RAIN,” and I saw probably 50-100 people in the crowd singing. That was really crazy to me as an opener, to see them singing my song in real time with me, especially when that song is my personal anthem. I’m so excited to do it again, I can’t wait!

You have some support shows coming up with True North, Out In Front, and Until I Wake, and then your own headline tour. What can fans expect from those shows?

For all the shows where I’ll be the support, they can expect a lot of hype and a lot of energy. I want to give everyone the best 30 minutes that I can, and I really want to hype up these bands that are giving me the opportunity to open for them. Fans can expect a really banging setlist. I have curated these myself and all of the interludes in the set, so it’s definitely a more personal experience.

For my headliner, I have a lot more surprises and tricks that I’m gonna be pulling out. I think people are not ready to see what kind of fire I can cause, so I think it’s gonna be explosive, it’s gonna be a lot of fun, and it’s gonna be very pink.

Anything I missed?

I am about to put out an acoustic version of “RAIN.” It has been heavily requested, and I think that it’s gonna be awesome for people to hear a stripped version of it. We changed the bridge completely, and it just sounds so much prettier than the actual song. I think the original song is so powerful and moving, and this one is definitely more the “calm before the storm,” which I think is really cool. So, it’s more chill for people who don’t like screaming. I think they’re going to really like it.

IN YOUR CITY

CINCINNATI

Cincinnati has always been a city fueled by community, creativity, and the people determined to keep its music scene alive. With the Midwestern grit, the Queen City has built a legacy that stretches from the historic influence of Everybody’s Records and legendary venues like Riverbend Music Center. DIY spaces and local artists have become home to generations of punk, indie, emo, hardcore, hip-hop, and alternative acts. While festivals like the now-retired Bunbury and MidPoint Music Festival helped spotlight the city’s independent spirit. Cincinnati’s music scene has always felt personal.

INTRODUCING YOUR LOCAL FAVORITES

as voted on by Cincinnati natives

CONCERT VENUES

Andrew J Brady Music Center

Bogart’s

Madison Live

Madison Theatre

CREATIVES

Ben Wright @thatsbenwright

MegaCorp Pavilion

Memorial Hall

Riverbend Music Center

The Woodward

Beyond the Stage @beyondthestage.live

Brittany Muldoon @brittanymuldoon16

Gavin Case @gcphoto23

FAVORITE MUSICIANS

Black Veil Brides

Coastal Club

Foxy Shazam

HARBOUR

Michael Marcagi

FESTIVALS

Arcade Music Fest

Bunbury (RIP)

Burritofest

Cincinnati Music Festival

Jeff Dean @dustoffdeano

Jim Borgman

Tina DeAlderete @_tina_latina

MidPoint Music Fest (RIP) Midwest Friends Fest

Saving Escape

Settle Your Scores

Softspoken WALK THE MOON

RADIO STATIONS

100.3 RnB Cincy

102.7 WEBN

103.5 WGRR

Inhailer Radio

Q102 Cincinnati

WHAT THE LOCALS SAY

“Dawn Patrol on Webn, Alice’s Restaurant on Thanksgiving at noon and 6pm, Kings Records, and Riverfest fireworks choreographed to the music of WEBN” are some of Kevin’s favorite things about the city.

Everybody’s Records is a fan favorite for many in the city!

UPCOMING TOURS

Forget FOMO

These upcoming tours are the ones you need to clear your calendar for.

YUNGBLUD

Return To Dust, The Warning

As a rising star of 2026, Yungblud’s tour is among the highly anticipated of the year, with Return To Dust and The Warning opening for the English rock star at select dates. Among headlining Bonnaroo, Yungblud will be playing at Lollapalooza in Chicago.

5/1 - 6/13

5/9 - 6/8

COLORBLIND, IF NOT FOR ME, WINDWAKER

A triple co-headlining trek featuring Colorblind, If Not For Me, and Windwaker, the Hounds Of The Underground Tour will span major cities across North America with rotating sets each night. A lineup blending dreamcore, metalcore, and post-hardcore, the tour arrives at a pivotal moment for all three bands.

MADISON BEER

Lulu Simon

After kicking off her tour in Europe, pop star Madison Beer will be returning to the states for a summer leg of her Locket Tour starting June 8, after concluding her European tour. She will be joined by Lulu Simon for support across all dates before concluding tour on July 13.

5/11 - 7/13

5/16 - 12/13

HARRY STYLES

Kicking off summer on a high note is Harry Styles with his Together, Together Tour. Doing residencies at various venues, including Wembley Stadium in London and Madison Square Garden in New York City, he will be supported by different acts each city of the tour.

COHEED AND CAMBRIA

Cicada Rhythm, Arm’s Length, Kaonashi, Narrow Head

While currently on tour supporting Shinedown, Coheed and Cambria will be filling their off days with their This Is Our War Tour with a shows across the U.S. and Canada. Cicada Rhythm, Arm’s Length, Kaonashi, and Narrow Head will be joining as supporting acts for select dates.

HOT MULLIGAN

Joyce Manor, saturdays at your place, koyo

Hot Mulligan is set to have an exciting summer for fans with a mix of concerts and festivals. This June, Hot Mulligan will be performing across the U.S. with support by Joyce Manor, saturdays at your place, and Koyo. Additionally, the band will be playing at Bonnaroo, Warped Tour, Lollapalooza, and Shaky Knees this summer and fall.

DON BROCO

Supporting their recent March release Nightmare Tripping, Don Broco will be touring across Europe and U.K. starting June 4. After their headlining tour, the band will head to North America to support Beartooth starting November 11 through the end of the year.

SACE6

John Harvie, Shyeye

Having just released their debut album brutalist, the alt-rock duo sace6 will heading out on their very own headlining tour, following their tour supporting Dayseeker. John Harvie and Shyeye will support the band’s tour in the U.S. starting June 10 and through their European tour beginning in November.

ROYAL & THE SERPENT

After finishing up her opening slot duties for Ashnikko, Royal & the Serpent will remain on the road for her Emptiness Is Godly tour starting June 8, promoting her album of the same name. Opening acts have not been announced yet but are certain to bring just as much energy as the alt-rock star.

SUMMER SCHOOL TOUR

Honey Revenge, South Arcade, Winona Fighter, Games We Play, Chase Petra

As somewhat of an evolution of the Warped Tour, the junior year of the Summer School Tour features five up and coming rock and alternative acts, including Honey Revenge, South Arcade, Winona Fighter, Games We Play, and Chase Petra. Be sure to catch them in a city near you.