SWOMP

Wage War hit Sick New World with a sharpened edge, arriving in Las Vegas fresh off the release of its new EP It Calls Me By Name.
SWOMP spoke with the Florida metalcore band ahead of its evening set, where the focus was firmly on the newly released material and the tour set to launch.
The five-track EP leans heavily into the band’s roots, both geographically and sonically, drawing inspiration from the raw intensity of their home state.
“It Calls Me By Name is about being drawn to your roots,” the band said. “Five tracks shaped by Florida, the swamp, and the relentless aggression of nature.”
That direction is front and centre on lead single “Song of the Swamp,” a track the band describes as the “tone setter” - built on tension, aggression and a relentless, driving force that carries through the release.
Wage War - Briton Bond, Cody Quistad, Seth Blake, Chris Gaylord and Stephen Kluesener - has long balanced melody with heaviness, but the new material pushes further into a more punishing sound.
The band is currently on the road in support of the EP, with a spring headline run already underway and stops across the United States, including Detroit, Chicago and New York.
Follow the band at https://wagewarband.com/.

Chained Saint wasted no time making an impression at Sick New World, opening the Spiral Stage with an early 11:35 a.m. set.
The teen metal band brought sharp energy from the outset, quickly sparking a circle pit as early-arriving fans packed in.
SWOMP spoke with the band backstage following the set, as the group continues to build momentum well beyond its South Florida roots.
Formed in 2022, Chained Saint - Ethan Kahn, Sebastian De Avila, Cameron Cottrell and Sean Sterling - has quickly earned attention across the metal world. The band has been praised by Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford and featured in The New York Times as part of a profile on Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine.
Their debut album Blindside, produced by William DuVall of Alice In Chains, leans into a stripped-down approach - recorded to analog tape with no digital shortcuts - capturing a raw, thrash-driven sound.
Offstage, the band has been gaining traction through a series of high-profile moments, including a run of Los Angeles shows with clothing brand Affliction, a limited-edition merch collaboration, and the release of a Live at the Whisky a Go Go EP.
They’ve also begun breaking into larger festival circuits, appearing at events like Welcome to Rockville and Rocklahoma. After a weather-cancelled set at Louder Than Life, the band still found its moment when Slaughter to Prevail invited Sterling onstage - a connection that has since led to tour opportunities.
Follow the band at https://www.chainedsaint.com/.
Photo credit: Jack Lue

After guitarist Marcos Curiel shared on social media that a new P.O.D. album was being recorded in Philadelphia, SWOMP got the scoop from the band in an interview following their blistering Sick New World set in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On top of finishing a new album, P.O.D. is staying busy throughout 2026 with several festival spots and shows across the United States and Europe.
Follow the band at https://payableondeath.com/.

The Dark.FM brought its brooding, electronic-heavy sound to Sick New World, continuing its steady rise with a set in Las Vegas.
SWOMP spoke with vocalist Craig Johns after the performance, where the focus turned to the band’s latest single “[zippermouth]” and its new remix collaboration with industrial producer Smash Stereo.
The reworked track pushes the band further into darker territory, layering heavier electronics and a colder, more aggressive edge onto the original.
“We’ve always just sort of done whatever we wanted,” Johns said, calling “[zippermouth]” the band’s most uncompromising release to date.
The Los Angeles group has quickly built momentum, with its debut EP surpassing millions of streams and a growing list of live appearances across North America and Europe.
Its Sick New World set is part of that push, with the band also confirmed for the festival’s Dallas edition later this year.
Looking ahead, The Dark.FM is set to make its debut aboard ShipRocked 2027, joining a lineup that includes Papa Roach and Ice Nine Kills for the annual cruise festival sailing from Miami in January.
Follow the band at https://thedark.fm/.

Snot packed in fans at Sick New World, delivering a tight, high-energy set as the band continues its return to the stage.
SWOMP caught up with guitarist Mikey Doling and bassist John Fahnestock after the show, where the conversation quickly turned to the legacy of original frontman Lynn Strait, who died in a 1998 car accident.
That history still drives the band — but so does what’s next.
Snot has brought in new vocalist Andy Knapp, earning praise as the group pushes forward with fresh momentum.
The Las Vegas set followed a Sick New World pre-party alongside P.O.D. and Alien Ant Farm, and comes amid a run that includes a sold-out show at the Whisky a Go Go — a nod to the band’s early days.
They’re also back in the studio.
“We’ve been writing and recording… the energy has been undeniable,” Doling said, noting multiple new songs are already finished.
More details are expected soon.
Follow the band on Facebook, here.
Photo credit: Jitte Davidson

Following Filter's Green Stage performance at Sick New World in Las Vegas, SWOMP spoke with frontman Richard Patrick about the band’s current run and recent collaborations.
Among them is Patrick’s guest appearance on “Blue Sky Mystery,” a recent single from Canadian rock band Finger Eleven, marking the first time the artists have worked together.
“Working with Scott, James, Rick, Sean and Steve could not have gone smoother. They are good guys and total pros,” Patrick said. “Recording ‘Blue Sky Mystery’ was a lot of fun.”
Filter released The Algorithm: Ultra Edition on Aug. 8 last year, a remixed and expanded version of its recent album featuring additional tracks, remixes and covers. The release includes the single “All The Good,” produced by Patrick alongside longtime collaborator Brian Virtue.
Formed in the mid-1990s after Patrick’s stint as a touring guitarist for Nine Inch Nails, Filter broke through with its debut album Short Bus and the single “Hey Man Nice Shot,” followed by further success with Title of Record.
Follow the band at https://officialfilter.com/.

Bloodywood continued its rapid ascent on the global metal scene with a high-energy performance on the Diablo Stage at Sick New World.
The Indian band’s set at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds showcased its blend of nu metal, metalcore and melodic hard rock, combined with traditional Indian folk elements — a fusion that has helped set the group apart on festival lineups.
Following the performance, SWOMP spoke with rapper Raoul Kerr about the band’s momentum and growing international reach.
Bloodywood is currently touring behind its latest album Nu Delhi, which serves as a tribute to the band’s home region while expanding on its genre-crossing sound.
The group has quickly built a reputation as a standout live act, bolstered by festival appearances and sold-out shows. It has also shared stages with major acts and collaborated with Japanese metal band BABYMETAL on the track “Bekhauf.”
Later this year, Bloodywood is set to bring its live show across the United States on its “System of a Brown” tour, marking one of its most extensive runs in the country to date, with support from The Pretty Wild, Ladrones and Ankor on select dates.
Follow the band at https://www.bloodywood.net/.

Violent Vira kicked off her 'Our Lady of Sorrows Tour' at Sick New World in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The Boise, Idaho rock/metal singer-songwriter will travel across the U.S. on the tour, which wraps up in Cincinnati on May 21, 2026. They are also set to go on tour alongside Halestorm in support of BABYMETAL this September. The tour will stop in Canada when they play the RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto on September 7, 2026, plus they'll perform at Pine Knob in Clarkston, Michigan on September 18, 2026.
Fresh off their Green Stage set at Sick New World, Violent Vira caught up with SWOMP for an interview.
Follow Violent Vira at https://www.violentvira.com/.

Canadian country artist Chad Brownlee released his new single 'Legendary' on April 24, marking what he describes as a shift toward a bigger, more high-impact sound.
The track, released via The Orchard, blends Brownlee’s country roots with a rock-driven edge and draws on his past as a professional hockey player. The song is positioned as an arena-ready anthem, capturing the intensity and pressure of high-stakes moments.
SWOMP caught up with Brownlee for an interview.
Co-written with Jason Blaine and Grammy-winning producer Ben Glover, 'Legendary' focuses on themes of competition and ambition, aimed at both sports audiences and country music fans.
Brownlee, originally from British Columbia, began his career in music after being drafted by the Vancouver Canucks and stepping away from professional hockey in 2009. Since then, he has become a mainstay in Canadian country, earning multiple gold and platinum certifications, including for his No. 1 single Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere.'
The release comes as Brownlee prepares for a series of tour dates across Canada, with stops in Alberta, British Columbia and New Brunswick. He also opened for Lee Brice at a show in Abbotsford, B.C., earlier this month.
Recent years have seen Brownlee take a more independent approach to his career, building on a catalogue that has generated more than 115 million global streams and millions of views on YouTube.
Follow him at https://www.chadbrownlee.com/.

Arkells have released their new album Between Us today, marking the latest chapter for the nine-time Juno Award-winning group as they prepare for an extensive run of live shows across Canada and beyond.
The album, released April 17 through Universal Music Canada and Virgin Music Group, was produced and recorded in Los Angeles with Grammy Award-winning producer John Congleton, known for his work with artists including St. Vincent and Death Cab for Cutie.
SWOMP caught up with frontman Max Kerman to talk about the album.
Between Us features previously released singles “Ride” featuring GROUPLOVE, “Next Summer,” and “Money” featuring Portugal. The Man, alongside the track “What Good?” and the newly released “What’s On Your Mind” featuring Poolside.
On the latest single, Kerman said the band aimed to capture a hypnotic, groove-driven feel.
“We wanted a song that felt hypnotic—where the chords don’t move much, and the rhythm and melody do all the heavy lifting. It’s my favourite thing about seeing dance music live: how it can loop and loop and loop, and the longer it goes, the better it feels. We went deep into synth-world on this one.”
He added: “we toured with Poolside and saw the power of repetition. What restraint can offer to the crowd. The patience of building a song with the groove dictating everything. The song was just about finished when we asked Poolside to add some shine to it all. Our music has ended up in all kinds of places, and we hope this ends up on some dance floors.”
The release follows a high-profile performance at the Juno Awards in March, where Arkells performed “Ride” alongside GROUPLOVE in their hometown of Hamilton.
In support of the album, the band is embarking on a 2026 tour focused on smaller, more intimate venues, including a series of “city takeovers” across western Canada and multiple nights in Toronto. Many of the shows sold out quickly, with the band revisiting venues they have not played in more than a decade.
The North American run begins next week with two sold-out album release shows in Buffalo, N.Y., before continuing through the United States and Canada into the summer.
Arkells said the Between Us tour is designed to create “unique experiences in a variety of settings,” emphasizing up-close performances that reflect the band’s long-standing connection with fans.
The Hamilton-based group has built a reputation for blending alt-rock, soul, indie and modern R&B influences, while maintaining a focus on communal, high-energy live shows that have helped cement their status as one of Canada’s most recognizable rock acts.
Follow the band at https://www.arkellsmusic.com/.
Photo Credit: Nathan Nash