This Week's round-up: New music from Djo, Rise Against and H.E.A.T

Djo – the musical project of actor / producer / songwriter Joe Keery known for his work in blockbuster projects as Stranger Things and Fargo – will release his highly anticipated new album The Crux this Friday, April 4th. Before the album drops, he shares one final preview of the record with 'Potion.' Showcasing a different side of the record to the BBC Radio 1 playlisted single 'Basic Being Basic', and its Hottest Record In The World follow-up 'Delete Ya,' 'Potion' finds Djo in Laurel Canyon. “’Potion’ is like your favorite pair of blue jeans,” says Keery. “I’d been working on Travis picking when I wrote this song, so it’s kind of like if Harry Nilsson and Lindsey Buckingham had a baby.” Keery performed the majority of the songs on the entire record himself, but on this acoustic and falsetto-led track he is particularly front and centre, tackling vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, drums, percussion and Mellotron.

The Crux will be released on April 4th on AWAL – fans can pre-order now

Djo had a massive 2024 with the viral hit 'End of Beginning,' Spotify’s #6 most streamed song of the entire year, and 2025 is shaping up to be even bigger. He recently performed 'Basic Being Basic' on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he was also the couch guest, and will perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on April 14th. His massive world tour kicks off this Thursday with a fully sold-out North American run, and includes his festival debuts at both Coachella and Glastonbury, as well as a return to Chicago for Lollapalooza, and more. He will also play a few shows in EU/UK alongside Noah Kahan.

Perennially exuberant Northern Irish noiseniks ASH return today with their new single, a suitably vibrant version of the Harry Belafonte's 1961 staple ‘Jump In The Line’. Fans will have caught the band playing the song live on their recent tour with The Darkness.

“‘Jump In The Line’ has been our go to outro music for live shows for the last few years so its no surprise it's buried its way into our subconscious,” explain the trio. “We've somehow regurgitated it as a homage to The Ramones and it has classic Ash DNA splashed all over it. Frenetic tempo; check. Infectious hooks; check. Melody to die for; check. Face melting solo; check. And finally Mr. Hamilton's blood curdling scream committed to tape. You betcha! What started as a fun idea in a rehearsal room turned into something too good not to release. Rock Your Body In Time! Oh Yeah! We Believe You!”

The video was written and directed by Anthony Neale and inspired by the Evil Dead film series. Neale comments on the video:

“With only Tim available for the shoot i had to think of a narrative that would suit the song and utilize Tim's natural charms and onscreen presence. I knew he could act as we had already done this with 'Crashed Out Wasted' so I thought it would be amusing to nod to another film genre, this time horror. I had recently been watching some episodes of Ash Vs The Evil Dead and i thought this would be a simple way of paying homage to Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell et al and a nifty setting for the music video for 'Jump In The Line'.

With the wonderful Mackenzie Stretch devising a dance routine and rehearsing a flying V 'axe' Vs Chainsaw fight with Tim (in his kitchen) inspired by the film Mandy, myself and the Director Of Photography Ciaron Craig planned a night of mayhem for Mr Wheeler having to fight off and repeatedly kill his possessed girlfriend who won't stop dancing and won't stay dead.”

On the heels of playing LA's Kia Forum, and releasing recent single 'Nod' - "the anthem we need right now" (VICE) - Rise Against have shared their second new single of 2025. Out now on Loma Vista Recordings, 'Prizefighter' illustrates the internal battle between making art, maintaining autonomy, and meeting the demands of the present day’s never-ending, rapidly-shifting attention span. Rise Against vocalist and lyricist Tim McIlrath says, “‘Prizefighter’ is about a compulsion to create, that then creates an audience, and then your connection with that audience and your responsibilities to that audience, and how much an artist is obliged to that audience. It's trying to reconcile the shift from spectator to the public arena, and what you owe the people that are your fans versus what you owe your own mental health.”

Listen to 'Prizefighter' and watch the video, showcasing the symbolism behind the song, the roaring energy of Rise Against’s live shows, and the deep devotion of their fans below.

'Prizefighter' follows Rise Against’s blazing return with 'Nod' – their first new single in three years – which arrived days after the US presidential inauguration, and delivered “a particularly potent rallying cry for the moment” (Rolling Stone). Quickly uniting millions in its call for community and compassion, encouraging listeners to not sit idly by as world events, societal changes and technology shape our ways of life, Rise Against have since toured across three continents this year, and have made 'Nod' a highlight of their live sets. Watch the video here.

Produced by Catherine Marks (Boygenius, Foals, Manchester Orchestra, St. Vincent) and mixed by Alan Moulder (Nine Inch Nails, Paramore, Queens of the Stone Age, The Killers), “Prizefighter” now marks a propulsive page-turn in Rise Against’s next chapter, revealing another side of the band’s outspoken perspective and prescient point of view.

Like the body of multi-Gold and Platinum hits that have come before, 'Prizefighter' and 'Nod' further amplify the type of invigorating music, defiant messages and bulletproof melodies that have earned billions of streams, filled arenas, topped charts, broken records, and, above all, joined fans in an embrace of vital issues. Just as the stakes could not be higher, the Chicago punk rock band is back bigger, louder and more progressive than ever.

Currently in the midst of their Rise of The Roach tour, band members Tim McIlrath (lead vocals/guitar), Joe Principe (bass/vocals), Zach Blair (guitar/vocals) and Brandon Barnes (drums) will be on the road all year long, with a slew of summer festivals, dozens of arena and amphitheatre shows, and more on the horizon, all throughout the US and abroad.

With just three weeks to go until their highly anticipated album ‘Welcome to the Future’ is released, hard rock sensation H.E.A.T unleash their latest powerful anthem today. ‘Running to You’ – the newest single from the upcoming record – arrives alongside an explosive music video.

A euphoric ode to relentless passion, ‘Running to You’ is another instant classic from a band firing on all cylinders. Once again, the band has teamed up with acclaimed director Patric Ullaeus (Europe, Arch Enemy, Children of Bodom) to deliver a music video that perfectly captures the relentless, in-your-face 80s metal fury that’s as raw and unapologetic as only H.E.A.T can deliver.

With ‘Welcome to the Future’ set for release on April 25th via earMUSIC, the album is already receiving high praise.

International music press reviews have given the album a perfect 10/10, with the album being called H.E.A.T’s “strongest album to date” (Hardline), described as “fresh as never before” (Classic Rock), and reassuring the world that “the future of rock music is in safe hands” (Powerplay).

‘Welcome to the Future’ is available for pre-order now in multiple formats: CD jewel case, black vinyl, limited-edition neon orange vinyl, and digital.

After a sold-out first leg in Europe, H.E.A.T is gearing up for the next round of live shows, ready to bring their contagious energy to rock fans across the globe. Upcoming tour dates include stops in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Spain, as well as festival shows in Germany and Bulgaria. Tickets are available on the H.E.A.T website.