Harbinger’s Killer Picks – July 2026

Greetings metalheads! I skipped the month of June to take a vacation but it’s time for another edition of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks. So, without further ado, here are my five killer picks for the month of July.

First, French metal veterans Stonecast returned with their fourth LP, Expand Crimson Chaos, on June 26^th via Pitch Black Records. It’s been seven years since the release of their previous opus, the critically-acclaimed I Earther, and the quartet shows no signs of slowing down, some twenty plus years into their career. At its heart, it’s a concept album of sorts with songs about resistance, fortitude, and the quest for redemption. It’s got uplifting and rallying themes that metal fans can get behind. From the opening track, “Death”, with its sense of grandeur setting the tone for the sonic excursion that follows to the ripping closer, “Nuclear Winter”, this kick-ass collection of songs takes the listener through an extensive gamut of emotions. Some highlights for me include “A ce lieu”—the only song sung in French and my very favourite; “Against the Tide”, the catchiest track of the LP; “King of Hell”, a noisier, thrashier tune with a terrific guitar solo; as well as the title track and first single, “Expand Crimson Chaos”. Vocalist Frank Ghirardi has many opportunities to showcase his singing chops and he reaches some pretty high notes at times. Stonecast sounds tight and melodic like a well-oiled machine and Expand Crimson Chaos is a solid meat and potatoes metal record. Fans of Judas Priest and Iced Earth will dig it a lot. As much as I enjoy Expand Crimson Chaos, I can’t help but wonder what an entire album sung in French would sound like. I think it might be a fun challenge for them to do in the near future. Until then, lend Stonecast’s latest oeuvre your ears, it’s well worth your time.

Stonecast on Bandcamp

Second, long-time psychedelic rock purveyors Dead Meadow will release a 7-track collection of mostly unreleased gems with Foundlings on July 31^st via boutique label Heavy Psych Sounds Records. The Washington D.C. trio has been around since 1998 and has more than left its mark on the music scene. It’s always interesting when a band that’s been around for nearly three decades decides to unearth rare material to assemble a collection. It reminded me of Megadeth’s 1995 EP Hidden Treasures which was a collection of songs that originally appeared on movie soundtracks and tribute albums. Foundlings features four unreleased tracks as well as three covers. The EP opens with the single “Lost to Light”, a head-bobbin’ tune from their 2023 Voyager to Voyager sessions. “Nobody Home” follows, a catchy heavy psych song from the 2022 EarthQuaker Devices sessions. Next, we have “Kingdom of Heaven”, a Powell St. John cover from the 2010 The Psychedelic Sounds of the Sonic Cathedral tribute album to Roky Erickson and the 13^th Floor Elevators. Onto their quite faithful Beatles cover of “Tomorrow Never Knows”—I really like their take on it but to me, the best rendition ever of that song belongs to Our Lady Peace who covered it in 1996 for The Craft soundtrack. Then we get a song from The Committee to Keep Music Evil sessions back in 2002 titled “Everything’s Goin’ On”; both mysterious and hypnotic, it’s my favourite of the original tunes on here. Their phenomenal cover of Led Zep’s “No Quarter” follows, taken from the 2017 Cleopatra Records’ Tribute to Led Zeppelin, and this one is my fave of the covers. To close out the set, a warm and calming instrumental titled “From the Children of Planet Earth”, recorded in 2024 during the Voyager to Voyager sessions. To be honest, I was expecting more out of this collection but I still dug it. In the end, Foundlings is a great entry point for newcomers to Dead Meadow and an excellent addition to any of the band’s countless devotees.

Heavy Psych Sounds’ Bandcamp page for Dead Meadow

Third, German hard rock/metal pioneers Sinner will release their final album, Boom Bang Goodbye, on July 31^st via powerhouse metal label Reigning Phoenix Music. Full disclosure: I’d only heard in passing of this band and its singer/bassist Mat Sinner but had never actually listened to a song of theirs (to my knowledge anyway). Some bands from Europe don’t have the same exposure to North American listeners and vice versa. And I find out they’ve been around since 1982? Sorry, my bad. Granted, the Internet has long shattered those frontiers, but nevertheless, I wasn’t familiar with Sinner. For the uninitiated, they remind me of RATT, Warrant, and to some extent even Def Leppard. A perfect blend of classic hard rock and melodic metal, Boom Bang Goodbye is an absolute blast from beginning to end. It features a slew of guests such as Renan Zonta, Michael Bormann, Ronnie Romero, Björn “Speed” Strid, Erik Mårtensson, Michael Sadler, Sascha Krebs, and Magnus Karlsson. Some highlights for me include the nostalgia-infused opener, “Dreams Can Come True”; the earworm first single “Wait”; the lovely ballad and second single “Leave It All Behind” where Ronnie Romero shines vocally; the sing-along “Are You Ready”; the tuneful “Turn the Page”, sounding like it could’ve been a Cheap Trick track; and “Under the Moonlight”, the catchiest song on here in my opinion with a wistful guitar solo. The 11 songs feel like a Greatest Hits package—not a dud for the duration. I caught Sinner just in time as they’re saying goodbye but I’m glad I did at least. Boom Bang Goodbye has a magical quality to it. It instantly puts a smile on your face as soon as you hear the first riffs and lyrics. It’s a feel-good record in every respect, chock-full of splendid guitar hooks & solos and infectious choruses throughout, making for a collection of memorable, fun ‘80s-inspired arena anthems. A sure-fire contender for the Top Ten Albums of the Year list down the road.

Reigning Phoenix Music’s page for Sinner

Fourth, Hartlepool, UK’s dark electro trio Machiner will give birth to their debut album, Motion Waves, on August 7^th via North East of England label Butterfly Effect. A concoction of distorted guitars, deft rhythm programming, and exquisite orchestration, the entire record has a dreamy quality to it. From the first notes of the first single and opener, “Silent Running”, my curiosity was instantly piqued. It’s a warm, gentle, and melodic song that reminded me of the atmosphere found on Pink Floyd’s 1994 masterpiece, The Division Bell, an album that is very dear to me. Other highlights for me include “The Between”, a gem of a song which echoes U2 at times; “Dark Age”, a mysterious cinematic track that might just be my favourite of the bunch; “Cast Me in Amber”, the longest cut of the LP has a very catchy melody; and last but not least, the delightful closer, “Ever Over”, an absolutely perfect tune for stargazing. With Motion Waves, Machiner delivers a unique blend of polished alt rock and dark wave to create an immersive cinematic soundscape for the listener. Band leader/frontman Paul McCarte’s soothing voice is easy on the ears and fits Machiner’s sonic mood to a T. Channelling Depeche Mode and New Order with Floydesque vibes on occasion, it’s part throwback to the music of the ‘90s, part window to the sounds of the future to form a fully realized aural vision. Motion Waves is a superb contemplative record from beginning to end. Don’t sleep on it and give it a listen at your earliest convenience!

Butterfly Effect’s Bandcamp page for Machiner

Fifth, legendary German metal sextet Mob Rules will release a new 5-track EP titled Stories from the Verdant Vale on August 21^st via ROAR, a division of Reigning Phoenix Music. A direct follow-up to their fantastic tenth album last year, Rise of the Ruler, this EP stems from songs written during the final stages of the Rise sessions, now presented as a special standalone release. I’d heard various songs from Mob Rules over the years but upon Stories from the Verdant Vale landing in my inbox, I decided to take their Rise of the Ruler record for a spin to get a better picture of where these latest songs came from. What a great band this is! I’d recommend doing the same to better appreciate the new material. Stories showcases a softer side of the band and each song has a distinctive feel to it. The two singles, the old school metal tune “Master of the Black Crow” and the catchy ballad “Above the Maelstrom”, are outstanding, but my favourite of the bunch is the melodic synth-driven “Masquerade Ball” with its marvellous guitar solo. This is definitely a band I’ll have on my radar going forward. They’ve been around for thirty years but have aged like the finest of wines. Stories from the Verdant Vale is an awesome sampler of what Mob Rules has to offer. It’ll pique new listeners’ curiosity and make them track down their previous LPs. Long-time fans will savour this new crop of songs and remain eager for the band’s next full-length release. Highly recommended!    

Reigning Phoenix Music’s page for Mob Rules

There you have it! Some hot music to cool you off during the scorching days of summer. Have fun this summer season while it’s here as it’s rapidly slipping away from us. Until next time, enjoy the warm weather, the cold drinks, and crank up the tunes!