North Star Union has released "Echoes of decay", a slice of melodic heavy metal that feels less like a standard studio tracking and more like something dug out of the permafrost. There is a curious quality to Icelandic composer Myrmann’s work here; because he handles all the instrumentation and composition himself at Midgard Studio, the track possesses a singular, frighteningly cohesive nervous system. It...

British singer Ferdinand Rennie gives a theatre character's final bow the kind of emotional punch that feels ready for playlists and late-night replays. Some songs walk in wearing a tuxedo and still manage to look a little shaken. That is the pull of "Why Do We Try?", Ferdinand Rennie's 2026 pop ballad with its heart fixed on closing night, fading applause, and the awkward quiet...