Canadian musician Devin Townsend will return to Spain this October for two exclusive acoustic performances presented by Madness Live!, offering audiences a markedly different experience from his traditional full-band concerts. Scheduled for 9 October at Revi Live in Madrid and 10 October at Salamandra in Barcelona, the events will combine intimate acoustic sets with question-and-answer sessions, allowing attendees to engage directly with one of progressive music’s most distinctive artists.

The announcement follows confirmation of Townsend’s forthcoming European “Metamorphosis” tour and introduces a format designed to highlight the songwriter behind the expansive productions that have defined much of his career. Rather than focusing solely on performance, each evening will provide insight into his creative process, musical influences and artistic evolution through an open conversation with the audience.

According to the event organisers, every performance will feature a changing repertoire spanning different periods of Townsend’s extensive catalogue. The acoustic setting is expected to revisit material from multiple projects, reflecting the diversity that has characterised his work across progressive metal, ambient music, rock and experimental compositions. As with many of Townsend’s live appearances, room has been left for improvisation, humour and spontaneous interaction with the audience.

Both concerts will be held in an exclusively seated configuration. Seats will not be individually assigned, with admission determined by arrival order on the day of each event. Capacity has been deliberately limited, reinforcing the intimate nature of the performances. Madness Live! has also announced an exclusive pre-sale for members of its Madness Live! programme, beginning on 16 July 2026 at 12:00 CET, with participating members receiving double Loucura Points during the pre-sale period.

For fans accustomed to Townsend’s large-scale productions and elaborate stage concepts, these concerts offer an opportunity to experience his compositions in their most direct form. Stripped of extensive arrangements, the performances place greater emphasis on songwriting, vocal expression and the interaction between artist and audience, creating a setting that differs significantly from his conventional touring format.

Across a career spanning more than four decades, Devin Townsend has established himself as one of contemporary progressive music’s most versatile composers and performers. After first gaining international recognition as the vocalist of Strapping Young Lad, he developed an extensive solo career that has encompassed projects including the Devin Townsend Project, Casualties of Cool and Punky Brüster, while continually expanding the boundaries between progressive metal, ambient music, orchestral composition and experimental rock. With more than thirty studio albums released under various banners, Townsend has consistently demonstrated an ability to combine technical precision with melodic accessibility and conceptual ambition. His willingness to explore contrasting musical directions without abandoning his artistic identity has secured his position as one of the most respected and influential figures in modern progressive music.

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Portugal’s underground music calendar will welcome another edition of Colapso Fest on 12 September 2026, as the festival returns to O Teatrão with a programme centred on punk, post-hardcore and alternative heavy music. The event brings together four Portuguese acts like Hetta, Lord Of Confusion, Soul Of Anubis and Pledge, offering a full day dedicated to independent music and the country’s contemporary underground scene.

Hosted at O Teatrão, Colapso Fest continues to establish itself as a meeting point for audiences seeking a carefully curated line-up outside the mainstream festival circuit. By combining bands operating across different branches of heavy and alternative music, the festival presents an opportunity to showcase both established and emerging names while reinforcing the vitality of Portugal’s independent music community.

This year’s programme reflects a broad stylistic spectrum. Hetta are expected to bring their blend of emotionally driven post-hardcore, while Lord Of Confusion continue to represent the heavier end of Portuguese doom and sludge. Soul Of Anubis add a darker mixture of sludge and doom metal, and Pledge complete the bill with their modern hardcore approach, creating a line-up that embraces different interpretations of underground music without losing a coherent identity.

Tickets are available through a phased pre-sale system. Phase One runs until 11 August at 15€, followed by Phase Two, from 12 August to 11 September, priced at 17,50€. On the day of the festival, admission will cost 20€.
Tickets may be purchased via MB Way (968 527 138) or bank transfer, with proof of payment sent to colapsofest@gmail.com.

Beyond the performances themselves, Colapso Fest represents another example of Portugal’s growing network of independent festivals that prioritise artistic diversity over scale. Events of this nature continue to provide valuable platforms for national bands, encouraging audiences to engage with new music while strengthening connections between artists, promoters and the wider underground community.

Among this year’s performers, Lord Of Confusion have become recognised for their combination of doom, sludge and stoner influences, establishing a consistent presence within Portugal’s heavy music circuit through festival appearances and club performances. Soul Of Anubis, a duo whose music combines sludge and doom metal with influences ranging from Mastodon to High on Fire, recently expanded their catalogue with Ritual, further consolidating their identity within the national scene. Together with Hetta and Pledge, they illustrate the stylistic breadth that currently defines Portugal’s underground heavy music, where experimentation and genre crossover continue to shape the evolution of contemporary alternative music.

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The upcoming Portuguese performance by Integrity has gained further momentum with the announcement of two national support acts. Promoted by Hell Xis, the concert will now also feature Utopium and NoPath, bringing together three bands that represent different approaches to heavy music while highlighting both international legacy and the contemporary Portuguese underground.

The addition of Utopium and NoPath broadens the scope of the event, placing established pioneers alongside emerging Portuguese names. Their inclusion reinforces Hell Xis’ commitment to presenting carefully curated line-ups that connect internationally recognised artists with the local scene, creating opportunities for Portuguese audiences to discover new acts within the same musical spectrum.

Utopium have steadily established themselves within the Portuguese underground through a sound that combines metallic hardcore, modern metal and atmospheric passages. Their dynamic live performances and emphasis on texture and intensity have made them one of the country’s noteworthy contemporary heavy acts, making this appearance alongside Integrity a significant opportunity to perform before a wider audience.

Completing the bill, NoPath bring a contrasting yet complementary approach, rooted in aggressive hardcore and contemporary extreme music. Their energetic stage presence and direct songwriting have contributed to their growing recognition in Portugal, adding further diversity to a line-up that spans multiple generations of heavy music.

With the confirmation of the Portuguese support acts, the concert promoted by Hell Xis now offers a broader representation of the current underground landscape. The combination of a pioneering American band with two emerging Portuguese groups reflects the promoter’s continued investment in events that strengthen connections between international touring artists and the domestic scene.

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CA Vilar de Mouros has revealed another round of artists for its 2026 edition, with Marky Ramone, Skindred, Cabaret Voltaire and Lambrini Girls joining the programme.
Portugal’s longest-running music festival continues to build a line-up that reflects the diversity of contemporary and classic alternative music, bringing together influential artists from punk, metal, industrial and alternative rock.

Combined with the previous confirmations is Marky Ramone, whose contribution to punk rock extends far beyond his years as drummer of the Ramones. Joining the pioneering New York band in 1978, he performed on several of its most celebrated albums, helping define the sound of one of the most influential groups in rock history. Through Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg, he continues to perform the Ramones’ catalogue, ensuring that one of punk’s most enduring legacies remains active on stages around the world.

Representing a very different corner of the musical spectrum are Cabaret Voltaire, one of the foundational names in industrial and electronic music. Originally formed in Sheffield in 1973 by Richard H. Kirk, Stephen Mallinder and Chris Watson, the group became synonymous with experimentation, tape manipulation, post-punk and early electronic music, influencing generations of artists across industrial, techno, electronic and alternative music. Today, the project continues under the direction of Stephen Mallinder, preserving the pioneering spirit that established Cabaret Voltaire as one of the most innovative acts to emerge from the British underground.

Also joining the festival are Welsh genre-blenders Skindred. Since their formation in 1998, the band has become renowned for combining alternative metal, reggae, punk, hardcore and electronic music into a distinctive sound led by the charismatic Benji Webbe. Their energetic performances and albums including Babylon, Union Black and Smile have earned them an international reputation as one of the most engaging live acts in modern heavy music.

Completing the latest announcements are Lambrini Girls, the Brighton punk duo whose uncompromising blend of punk, noise rock and post-punk has rapidly attracted attention throughout Europe. Combining socially conscious lyrics with intense live performances, the band has emerged as one of the most exciting new voices within the contemporary punk scene.

These additions complement an already impressive programme featuring Yungblud, Kasabian, Dropkick Murphys, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Body Count featuring Ice-T, The Hives, Kula Shaker, Less Than Jake, President, Ugly Kid Joe, War and Triggerfinger. Together, the artists reinforce Surprise & Expectation’s ambition to present a festival that embraces multiple generations and styles while maintaining a strong international outlook.

With each successive announcement, CA Vilar de Mouros 2026 continues to demonstrate the breadth of its artistic vision. From the pioneering legacy of Marky Ramone and Cabaret Voltaire to the contemporary energy of Skindred and Lambrini Girls, the latest additions further consolidate one of Portugal’s most historic festivals as a meeting point for diverse expressions of alternative music.

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More than a decade after his last appearance in Portugal, Morrissey will return on 1 August 2026 for an exclusive performance at Super Bock Arena.
Promoted by Last Tour Portugal, the concert marks the acclaimed songwriter’s long-awaited reunion with Portuguese audiences and forms part of his latest European tour, which also introduces material from his recently released album, Make-Up Is A Lie.

Born Steven Patrick Morrissey in Manchester, England, the singer first rose to international prominence as the frontman and lyricist of The Smiths, one of the most influential British bands of the 1980s. Between 1982 and 1987, the group’s distinctive combination of Johnny Marr’s guitar work and Morrissey’s introspective, literary songwriting produced albums that would become landmarks of alternative music, leaving a lasting influence on subsequent generations of artists across indie rock, alternative rock and pop.

Following the dissolution of The Smiths, Morrissey embarked on a solo career that has now spanned nearly four decades. His debut solo album, Viva Hate (1988), reached the top of the UK Albums Chart and established a successful second chapter that would include acclaimed releases such as Your Arsenal, Vauxhall and I, You Are the Quarry, Ringleader of the Tormentors and numerous subsequent studio albums. Throughout this period, he has maintained a distinctive artistic identity characterised by expressive vocals, melodic songwriting and lyrics exploring themes of identity, isolation, politics and social observation.

His influence extends well beyond commercial success. Morrissey’s songwriting and unmistakable stage presence have helped shape alternative music for decades, while his catalogue continues to attract audiences spanning multiple generations. Whether revisiting songs from The Smiths or performing material from his solo career, his concerts offer an overview of one of British music’s most recognisable repertoires.

The Portuguese concert is organised by Last Tour Portugal, which continues to expand its programme by bringing internationally renowned artists to the country. Over recent years, the promoter has strengthened its presence within the Portuguese live music sector through a diverse calendar of concerts and major events, consistently presenting internationally recognised performers across multiple musical genres.

At Super Bock Arena, audiences can expect a setlist combining defining moments from Morrissey’s extensive solo catalogue with selections closely associated with his years in The Smiths. The performance will also introduce songs from Make-Up Is A Lie, allowing Portuguese fans to experience new material alongside compositions that have become enduring fixtures of alternative music.

Morrissey’s return represents one of the most notable concert announcements of the summer. More than forty years after emerging as one of Britain’s defining lyricists, his work continues to resonate with audiences through its unmistakable voice, literary approach and enduring contribution to modern popular music. For Portuguese fans, the concert offers a rare opportunity to experience an artist whose catalogue has remained influential across successive generations.

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American alternative metal pioneers Deftones will return to Portugal on 30 August as one of the headline acts of MEO Kalorama 2026.
Organised by Last Tour Portugal, the festival once again brings an eclectic international programme to Parque da Bela Vista, continuing its commitment to presenting artists that have shaped contemporary rock, alternative music, metal, hip-hop and electronic music.

Formed in Sacramento, California, in 1988, Deftones have built one of the most distinctive careers in modern heavy music. While frequently associated with the rise of nu metal during the 1990s, the band rapidly developed a broader artistic identity by incorporating elements of alternative rock, shoegaze, post-metal, dream pop and atmospheric experimentation into their sound. This willingness to evolve has allowed Deftones to remain creatively relevant for more than three decades while cultivating one of the most dedicated audiences in contemporary heavy music.

Albums such as Adrenaline, Around the Fur and the landmark White Pony established the group as one of the defining bands of their generation. Later releases including Diamond Eyes, Koi No Yokan, Gore, Ohms and their most recent material have demonstrated a continued ability to balance heaviness with melody, combining Stephen Carpenter’s downtuned guitar work, Chino Moreno’s dynamic vocal performances and expansive songwriting into a sound that remains immediately recognisable.

Their live performances have earned a reputation for translating that balance to the stage, moving seamlessly between aggressive compositions and atmospheric passages while drawing from a catalogue that spans more than thirty years. For Portuguese audiences, the band’s appearance at MEO Kalorama represents another opportunity to experience one of alternative metal’s most influential acts in a festival setting.

On 30 August, Deftones will share the bill with Turnstile, Clipse, High Vis, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, Peaches, Wednesday, Panic Shack, Travo, Pelados, Tyler Ballgame, Joshua Idehen, Mind Enterprises, Raquel Martins and DJ Lycox, making the festival’s closing day one of the most stylistically diverse of the weekend.

The remaining days continue the festival’s cross-genre approach. 28 August will feature artists including Robbie Williams, Grace Jones, Interpol, Judeline, MARO and Anna von Hausswolff, while 29 August welcomes Ms. Lauryn Hill with special guests Wyclef Jean, YG Marley and Zion, alongside Black Star, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Vince Staples, Ravyn Lenae and several other internationally recognised performers. Together, the programme reflects MEO Kalorama’s ambition to present a broad spectrum of contemporary music rather than focusing on a single genre.

Since its inaugural edition, MEO Kalorama has established itself as one of Portugal’s leading summer festivals, combining internationally acclaimed artists with a strong emphasis on visual arts, sustainability initiatives and emerging talent. Under the organisation of Last Tour Portugal, the event continues to attract audiences from across Europe while reinforcing Lisbon’s position on the international festival calendar.

For Deftones, the Portuguese date forms part of another significant chapter in a career that continues to evolve without abandoning the characteristics that made the band one of the defining names in alternative metal. Their return to Portugal is expected to be one of the highlights of MEO Kalorama 2026, bringing together long-time followers and newer audiences for a performance by a band whose influence continues to extend well beyond the boundaries of heavy music.

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One of the most talked-about new names in contemporary heavy music, President are set to make their Portuguese debut at CA Vilar de Mouros 2026, adding another highly anticipated performance to the programme of Portugal’s longest-running music festival.
The festival continues to reinforce its international profile by bringing together established artists and emerging acts across rock, alternative music and metal.

Although President have only recently emerged, the band has generated considerable interest through a carefully constructed identity that places the music ahead of individual personalities. Choosing anonymity over conventional promotion, the group has focused on building anticipation through a limited number of releases and performances, allowing audiences to engage with the project on its own artistic merits. That approach, combined with a modern sound rooted in alternative metal and contemporary rock, has quickly established President as one of the most closely watched new acts on the current touring circuit.

While much about the band’s identity remains intentionally undisclosed, President’s music balances melodic songwriting, atmospheric textures and powerful instrumentation, resulting in a sound that has resonated with audiences well beyond the initial curiosity surrounding the project. Their appearance at CA Vilar de Mouros therefore represents an opportunity for Portuguese audiences to experience one of heavy music’s newest and most intriguing live acts as the project continues to gather momentum internationally.

President arrive as part of a diverse line-up assembled for this year’s edition of CA Vilar de Mouros. Already confirmed are Yungblud, Kasabian, Dropkick Murphys, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Body Count featuring Ice-T, The Hives, Kula Shaker and Less Than Jake, and Ugly Kid Joe, reflecting the festival’s tradition of combining alternative rock, punk, metal and classic acts within the same programme.

Held in the historic village of Vilar de Mouros since the 1960s, the festival has become one of Portugal’s defining summer events and one of Europe’s longest-running music festivals.
The event has continued to attract internationally recognised artists while preserving the distinctive atmosphere that has made it a recurring destination for audiences from Portugal and abroad.

For President, the Portuguese appearance marks another important step in the band’s rapidly expanding live schedule. For festival-goers, it offers the chance to witness a project still in the early stages of its development alongside some of the most established names on this year’s bill. As CA Vilar de Mouros once again brings together artists from across the international rock and metal landscape, President’s debut performance stands among the edition’s most intriguing additions.

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Following several months of working together behind the scenes, the band has now revealed Bento as the latest addition to its ranks, confirming that new material and future plans are already underway.

Commenting on his appointment, David Bento shared his enthusiasm for joining one of the country’s leading extreme metal acts:

“I’m beyond honored to be joining Analepsy as their new vocalist.

I’ve had a close connection with the band for many years through my friendship with Marco. Ever since I was a teenager, Analepsy has been one of my all-time favorite bands and one of my biggest influences as a vocalist. They were one of the bands that inspired me to become a vocalist and start playing in bands myself.

I have nothing but respect for Calin and everything he has done for the band. I know this is a huge challenge, and I’ll give my absolute best to be worthy of this opportunity. A huge thank you to the guys for putting their trust in me. It truly means the world to me, and I can’t wait to start this new chapter with all of you.”

Bento’s arrival follows the departure of longtime frontman Calin Paraschiv, whose contribution to ANALEPSY helped establish the band as one of Portugal’s most internationally recognised names in brutal death metal. In his statement, Bento acknowledged his predecessor’s legacy while expressing his determination to honour the band’s history and contribute to its future.

The announcement also signals that the band has already begun working with its new vocalist, suggesting that fans can expect further news in the coming months.

Analepsy 2026

ANALEPSY 2026 Line-up
David Bento – Vocals
Marco Martins – Guitar
João Jacinto – Lead Guitar
Léo Luyckx – Drums

With a renewed line-up and a new vocalist at the helm, ANALEPSY now look ahead to the next stage of their career, as the Portuguese death metal force prepares to unveil what comes next.

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Last Friday, July 10, American drone metal pioneers Sunn O))) performed at Fundação Serralves in Porto as part of the European tour supporting their self-titled new album, released in April this year.
Seven years after their previous release, they once again delivered overwhelming sonic weight.

Sunn O))) (full gallery below)

Doors opened and a sea of black gradually filled the iconic Tennis Court. Fans and curious newcomers alike waited eagerly for the duo. “It’s going to be a journey, get ready!” and “Watch your ears,” could be heard among the crowd.
The excitement and anticipation were unmistakable.

At the precise hour, a dense wave of fog engulfed the venue. Cheers and applause quickly gave way to silence. The concert had begun, and so the journey into the cosmos.

The Tennis Court proved to be the perfect setting. Surrounded by trees beneath a clear night sky, it made the experience even more immersive. Art presented in a House of Art.

The very first riff made everything vibrate-everything. The ground, the body, the very core of your being. Faces of astonishment, wide smiles, and dropped jaws were the audience’s immediate response.

For 90 minutes, the venue ceased to be a tennis court and became outer space itself, with the audience transformed into tiny particles drifting through it.
Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson were almost completely lost in the dense fog; only the hoods of their black robes and their hands, rising in astonishingly perfect unison, remained visible.

Although their music may appear monotonous to the uninitiated, the truth is that time-or any sense of it-simply disappeared.
The guitars and crushing distortion echoed through the mind while sending waves through the body, drawing the audience into something close to a meditative state.

Seeing Sunn O))) live is not for the faint-hearted.
Many describe it as an endurance test, and not without reason: around a dozen amplifiers pumped out low frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 60 Hz at an astonishing volume.
The sound was not merely heard-it was felt throughout the body and mind.
Some people moved away from the stage, while others simply gave up and left the audience.

Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson delivered far more than a concert.
They created an experience: a journey through the layers of the atmosphere and into a universe of sensations and emotions.

Text by Lara Brito | Photos by Ricardo Silva

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This September, Heavenwood will take to the stage at Coliseu Box for a special performance celebrating more than three decades of artistic evolution while presenting the closing chapter of their latest studio work, The Tarot of the Bohemians – Part II.
The concert promises a retrospective journey through one of Portugal’s most distinctive metal catalogues, bringing together material from across the band’s career alongside compositions from their newest release.

Formed in Vila Nova de Gaia in the early 1990s, Heavenwood have long occupied a unique position within Portuguese heavy music.
Blending gothic metal with melodic death metal, atmospheric arrangements and symphonic elements, the band developed an unmistakable musical identity that has remained consistent despite the natural evolution of their sound over the years.

Led by vocalist Ricardo Dias dos Santos, Heavenwood quickly established themselves beyond Portugal’s borders. Their debut album, Diva (1996), became the first album by a Portuguese metal band to receive an official release in Japan, introducing the group’s music to an international audience at a time when opportunities for Portuguese artists within the genre were still limited. The band would later continue to expand its international profile through performances across Europe, including a landmark appearance at Wacken Open Air, becoming the first Portuguese metal band to perform at the renowned German festival.

Across a discography that includes Swallow, Redemption, Abyss Masterpiece and the two-part The Tarot of the Bohemians project, Heavenwood have consistently explored themes rooted in symbolism, spirituality and introspection. Their compositions balance melodic accessibility with darker atmospheres, combining layered instrumentation and expressive vocal performances to create music that has remained relevant across successive generations of listeners.

The forthcoming concert at Coliseu Box is conceived as more than a conventional album presentation. Alongside material from The Tarot of the Bohemians – Part II, the set is expected to revisit key moments from the band’s catalogue, tracing their artistic development from the early years through to their most recent creative chapter. It offers audiences the opportunity to experience the evolution of a band whose work has become an integral part of Portugal’s gothic and extreme metal heritage.

Closing the The Tarot of the Bohemians cycle, the event also reflects Heavenwood’s continued commitment to artistic coherence.
The conceptual themes introduced in the first instalment reach their conclusion through Part II, expanding the band’s long-standing fascination with hermetic symbolism, mysticism and poetic expression while maintaining the melodic and atmospheric foundations that have defined their sound for more than thirty years.

As Heavenwood prepare to return to the stage this September, the evening at Coliseu Box stands as both a celebration of longevity and a recognition of the band’s lasting contribution to Portuguese metal.
It is an opportunity to revisit a catalogue that has helped shape the national scene while presenting the latest chapter in a career distinguished by consistency, artistic ambition and an enduring sense of identity.

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