This week's round-up: New music from Mother Mother, Joe Bonamassa and Jerry Cantrell

Mother Mother proclaims their commitment to interrogating gender roles and double standards and hits a precisely pointed new high with their delightfully shocking new single, ‘FINGER’.

The thought-provoking track gleefully takes on a series of societal absurdities over an off-kilter, distinctly Mother Mother brand of post-glam, alt-rock. The song also arrives with an appropriately surreal music video that pokes fun at domestic expectation. Listen HERE via Parlophone Records, and watch the video HERE.

The globally celebrated five-piece teased the arrival of the well-placed ‘FINGER’ on social media, prompting thousands of fan comments. One well-received clip responds to the frequent fan request, “You should make Verbatim II,” referring to Mother Mother’s beloved 2005 track, ‘Verbatim’, which memorably asked, “What defines a straight man’s straight?” ‘FINGER’ taps into a similar inquisition, while exploring new sonic territory.

The bold new song opens on whirring synths, stuttering drums, and acoustic pluck as frontman Ryan Guldemond wastes no time stating his head-turning message: “Oh, you shouldn’t feel ashamed if the feeling is great / If the feeling is great, you shouldn’t feel ashamed.” His bandmates respond with eerie harmonies, jarring ad libs, and, at one point, what sounds like bird calls as he continues to drop captivatingly quotable lines that are — in fact — common sense observations about the weird, unjust world we live in.

“This track may very well be the long-lost sibling of ‘Verbatim,’” says Ryan about ‘FINGER’. “The song addresses several societal double standards: the stigma surrounding female promiscuity compared to the celebration of male conquest, the absurdity of the animal class system — why are some creatures considered food while others are viewed as pets? — and the feelings of shame that heterosexual men may experience when exploring sensual pleasures that are not traditionally considered masculine.”

Directed by long-time collaborator Sterling Larose (Snotty Nose Rez Kids, SonReal, Claire Rosinkranz), the ‘FINGER’ video transports us to a disturbing slice of suburbia where a couple with plastered-on smiles move through a series of mundane scenarios that get increasingly odd. The band is seen playing in paintings on the wall that come to life, while the poultry get violently stuffed, the man of the house roasts in the sun, and a strapping milkman arrives at the door. The clip is full of easter eggs that Mother Mother’s devoted fans will surely catalogue in the comments, including the art from their 2005 debut album, Mother.

The new single is the latest taste of the band’s 10th album, Nostalgia, out June 6th, which celebrates Mother Mother’s 20th anniversary with a set of songs that dive deep into the group’s familiar themes — alienation, existentialism, self-love, self-hate, gender roles, spirituality — while intentionally returning to the creative verve and fearlessness that guided their earliest work. They’ve previously shared the long-awaited, fan favourite ‘Love to Death’ and ‘Make Believe’, a spirited sonic rollercoaster ride that celebrates outside-the-box thinking and, naturally, unicorns.

‘Make Believe’ has already amassed over 2 million Spotify streams and 350K YouTube views. WHEN THE HORN BLOWS professed, “This track is a bold first taste of the expansive and cohesive creative palette Mother Mother has crafted for their upcoming album.” Melodic Magazine marvelled at how, “Mother Mother continues to push boundaries musically and aesthetically, nodding to what the next two decades will hold.” Billboard raved, “The song is an energetic ode to fantasy and divinity, with a slightly sinister edge. It wouldn’t sound out of place on the soundtrack for a TV drama like Yellowjackets.”

Nostalgia delivers a creative palate as simultaneously expansive and cohesive as Mother Mother has ever offered. Arriving on the heels of 2024’s acclaimed Grief Chapter, the new album fosters the spirit of total originality that fans know and love, while also pushing their musicality, lyricism, and aesthetics to new peaks. The dozen songs contained within are heartfelt, brazen, dark, and wild, funnelling and fractaling intense themes through the vibrant imagery of otherworldly landscapes and mythical creatures.

In making their 10th studio album, Mother Mother have achieved something few established acts can pull off: total creative freedom, resulting in a record that feels both true to their legacy and gesturing toward their next two decades. Stay tuned as the group dives into Nostalgia and the journey ahead.

Guitar slinger and blues-rock powerhouse Joe Bonamassa has released his latest single, “Drive By The Exit Sign,” a gritty, up-tempo standout from his upcoming studio album Breakthrough, out July 18th via J&R Adventures. Fuelled by a crunchy slide guitar riff, Southern-rock energy, and a full-throttle vocal performance, “Drive By The Exit Sign” finds Bonamassa leaning into the dirtier, road-tested side of his songwriting. It’s a breakup song disguised as a highway burner—fast-paced and hook-heavy, with lyrics that evoke missed chances, wrong turns, and the emotional wreckage we leave behind.

Produced by Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, The Black Crowes, Journey), the single captures the raw, unfiltered side of Breakthrough, a record that spans genres and continents. Recorded across Greece, Nashville, and Los Angeles, Breakthrough reflects Bonamassa’s most expansive vision yet—a record that taps into swampy funk, acoustic introspection, arena-ready blues rock, and more.

Co-written by Bonamassa, James House, and producer Kevin Shirley, “Drive By The Exit Sign” follows the release of the album’s title track, “Breakthrough,” an anthemic, soul-stirring call to transformation that quickly became a fan favourite. That single, co-written with long-time collaborator Tom Hambridge, showcased Bonamassa’s growth as a storyteller and emotional interpreter, marking a new chapter in a career already defined by evolution.

The album also features previously released tracks “Still Walking With Me” and “Shake This Ground,” which introduced listeners to the wide-ranging soundscape Bonamassa has built on Breakthrough—from the introspective and moody to the celebratory and uplifting. Each single adds a new layer to an album that celebrates risk, reinvention, and deep musical roots.

The new music arrives as Bonamassa wraps his Spring 2025 European Tour, which brought sold-out crowds across the UK, Germany, and Central Europe. Next, he’ll hit the road with his supergroup Black Country Communion—featuring Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian—for a highly anticipated European run in June. A U.S. summer amphitheater tour follows, including stops at The Greek Theatre, Red Rocks, and more, with a full Fall U.S. Tour on the horizon.

With more than 50 albums, 28 #1 Billboard Blues albums, and a reputation as one of the hardest-working performers in music, Bonamassa continues to break new ground while staying deeply rooted in the blues-rock tradition. Breakthrough is his most ambitious effort yet—a celebration of craft, character, and sheer musical force.

For more information on Breakthrough, tour dates, and exclusive pre-order packages, visit jbonamassa.com.

The title track from Jerry Cantrell’s recently released album, I Want Blood, comes to life in the newly unveiled video for the song – featuring a live performance from Cantrell with Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan and Faith No More’s Mike Bordin.

Director Bill Yukich shares: “’I Want Blood’ explores our struggle against time – a force we can’t escape and the only thing we truly possess… until we don’t. Watching Jerry, Duff, and Bordin bring this song to life on set was unforgettable – raw, real, and absolutely legendary.”

The video arrives ahead of Jerry Cantrell’s European tour starting at the end of this month. The legendary guitarist, and founder of US rock giants Alice In Chains, will be performing at Download Festival on the Opus Stage on Sunday June 15th. He will also be headlining the Kentish Town Forum in London on Tuesday June 17th, supported by Vowws.

Additionally a huge new round of U.S. tour dates are on-sale this morning at 10 a.m. local time. VIP and upgraded ticket bundles are also available via jerrycantrell.com/tour.

I Want Blood showcases the legendary guitarist and vocalist at his most raw and resolute, blending brooding melodies with searing guitar work and introspective lyricism. The album has received widespread acclaim ,with the Los Angeles Times praising its “heavy, nuanced songs,” while Kerrang! calls it a “thunderous solo album that you can file alongside his best work.” Revolver, in their cover story on the iconic musician, says the collection “delivers weighty, slippery riff and the kind of memorable rock hooks he’s been creating since the earliest days of Alice in Chains.”

The album is available on CD, digitally, and in multiple 2LP vinyl variants: https://bio.to/JerryCantrell. A deluxe spoken-word edition featuring narration by Cantrell and contributions from producer Joe Barresi, engineer Maxwell Urasky, Greg Puciato, Roy Mayorga, Gil Sharone, Rani Sharone, George Adrian, Vincent Jones, and Michael Rozon is also available both on vinyl and digital platforms.