PRIDE & JOY MUSIC News: Osukaru, Kindred North u.a.
Pride & Joy Music releases the following titles today on CD & digitally:
Osukaru - Tall Tales
Kindred North - Kindred North
First Light - Gravity 2.0
Burning Sun - Power To Survive
Kindred North
Kindred North
Pride & Joy Music
21 August 2026
Two lifers. No safety net. Pure ‘80s fire for the modern age.
Kindred North is the result of two lifers from opposite sides of the border, bound by something deeper than music. Formed by Swedish vocalist / guitarist Andi Kravljaca and Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Andreas Nergård, the band’s mission is clear: to lead with melody, to play with conviction, and to let skill, songwriting, and performance speak. No presets. No shortcuts, just real amplifiers, real practice, and real stakes. This isn’t nostalgia - it’s a response to the challenge our heroes posed.
Kravljaca (Seventh Wonder, Hydra, Find Me, Thaurorod) and Nergård (Nergard) have spent more than a decade collaborating across stages and studio sessions. With Kindred North, the two pursue a modern hard-rock sound rooted in the studio craftsmanship of the late 1980s.
Named for their kindred bond (Kravljaca/Nergard) and their Nordic roots, Kindred North is a partnership built on a shared obsession with musical excellence. Influences trace back to bands like Winger, Dokken, and Europe, but the goal is not nostalgia. With aggressive guitar solos, downtuned seven-string riffs, soaring vocal lines, dense harmonies, and unapologetically big choruses, the band aims to realize “the future the 1980s promised but never happened”.
This philosophy defines the band’s self titled debut album. The record is a manifesto of execution, where technical competence, emotional songwriting, and raw performance coexist without irony or retro posturing. The result is a tight, focused, brazen record that refuses to phone it in - a conscious rejection of hyper-quantized production in favor of human urgency and momentum.
Tracks like the explosive opener “A Guiding Heart,” and the infectious and high-energy “Natural High,” showcase the band’s range: from driving hard rock to synth-infused melody, always anchored by strong musicianship.
The album, produced by Kravljaca and Nergård, with vocal sessions engineered by Daniel Flores at Sound vs Science Studios in Stockholm, guitars tracked at Finnthorpe Studios, and remaining instruments recorded in Norway. Mixing and mastering were handled by Simone Mularoni (DGM).
Kindred North exists not to recreate a bygone era, but to honor the discipline, ambition, and emotional honesty that once defined it.
This isn’t a tribute. It’s a response. A dare to the ghosts of the past and a wake-up call to today’s music scene. Kindred North isn’t here to remind you of the past. They’re here to make you miss the future.
Kindred North is: Andi Kravljaca - Vocals, rhythm and lead guitars; Andreas Nergård - Keyboards, bass guitar, drums
Osukaru
Tall Tales
Pride & Joy Music
21 August 2026
Osukaru didn’t start as a band - it started as a vision.
Formed in early 2010 in Gothenburg, Sweden, guitarist Oz Hawe Petersson (then known as Oz Osukaru) set out to bring something to life that didn’t quite exist yet. It would take a couple of years of shaping that idea - through early EPs and relentless refinement - before the debut album "Salvation" finally arrived in 2012. At that point, Osukaru wasn’t just a project anymore. It was starting to become something real.
With "Transition" in 2015, the pieces began to fall into place. Line-up changes and growing experience turned the vision into a fully formed entity - something the band themselves has pointed to as a first real milestone, and when Osukaru truly began to find its identity.
Rooted in classic stadium rock, the early releases leaned more heavily into a solid AOR sound. But even then, there were signs of something more beneath the surface. Over time, little by little, that edge became sharper. The melodies stayed strong, but the sound gained weight, attitude and a harder punch.
By the time "House of Mirrors" arrived in 2018, Osukaru had fully stepped into a world of their own - melodic, yet heavier and more driven. That momentum carried into "Starbound" in 2021, which took the band to new heights, multi-million streams on Spotify alone and set the stage for what would come next.
Enter "Tall Tales" - the band’s seventh album, and the clearest statement yet of how far that original vision has come. It was produced by Oz Hawe Petersson together with long-time singer and band partner Fredrik Werner (Daytona, Air Raid), mixed by Svein Jensen (Alicate, Sister Sin) and mastered by Mats Eriksson (Degreed).
The cover and booklet artwork was created by Oz Hawe Petersson alongside actress/model Eliza Sica and carries a subtle sense of both unease and wonder that mirrors the album’s mysterious lyrical themes.
Discography:
2010: “GBG2LA” (EP); 2011: “Never Too Late” (MAXI CD); 2012: “Salvation” (album); 2013: “Triumphant” (album); 2015: “Transition” (album), 2016: “Rock It Up” (MAXI CD); 2017: “The Labyrinth” (album); 2018: “Last Call: The EP Recordings” (ltd. comp. album); 2018: “House of Mirrors” (album); 2021: “Starbound” (album); 2026: “Tall Tales” (album)
OSUKARU is: Fredrik Werner - lead vocals, guitar;Oz Hawe Petersson - guitar, background vocals; Marcus Zerath - bass, background vocals; C.D - drums, percussion
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/osukarumusic
First Light
Gravity 2.0
Pride & Joy Music
21 August 2026
Following the success of their critically acclaimed album “Elemental”, melodic rockers First Light are proud to announce the release of “GRAVITY 2.0” - a powerful reimagining of their previously digital-only album “Gravity”, now finally arriving on CD for the first time.
Originally released three years ago, “Gravity” quickly became a standout record among fans, despite never receiving a physical release. With demand growing and fans calling for a CD edition, the band have gone far beyond expectations — delivering not just a reissue, but a complete reinvention.
Driving this evolution are the creative forces at the heart of First Light, Carl Sharples and Dave Hardman, the architects of the band’s sound and vision. Their relentless passion for melodic rock excellence fuels “GRAVITY 2.0” from start to finish, combining classic influences with a modern, high-energy edge that defines the band’s identity.
“GRAVITY 2.0” features fully re-recorded guitars, bass, and vocals, injecting new life, energy, and depth into every track. The album has been fully remixed and remastered by renowned rock royalty - Pete Newdeck and Harry Hess, bringing a richer, more dynamic sound that elevates the record to new heights.
Adding to the album’s impact is a powerhouse lineup delivering performances full of character and intensity. Andy Jakeman brings precision and punch behind the drum kit, laying down a driving rhythmic foundation that propels the album forward. The one and only Didge Digital layers the record with rich, atmospheric keys, adding texture and depth that elevate every chorus and bridge. At the forefront, Warren Passaro delivers a commanding vocal performance - soulful, powerful, and packed with emotion, breathing new life into every lyric and melody.
In addition to the refreshed core album, “GRAVITY 2.0” includes two new songs "catch me when I'm falling" and "what if?", along with an acoustic version of “Leave A Light On”, a fan-favourite from *Elemental. This reimagined version highlights the band’s versatility and offers a fresh, intimate take on one of their most loved tracks.
Building on the momentum of Elemental - praised for its “soaring melodies,” “anthemic choruses,” and “modern melodic rock edge”, First Light continue to push forward with a release that captures both their evolution and their signature sound. “GRAVITY 2.0” embodies the same uplifting, hook-driven songwriting that earned widespread praise, now delivered with even greater impact.
“This is more than a re-release,” the band explain. “We’ve completely rebuilt Gravity from the ground up. The response to the original album and to “Elemental” inspired us to take these songs further to give them the sound and energy they always deserved.”
“GRAVITY 2.0” stands as both a celebration of the band’s journey and a bold step forward. It’s a release shaped by fan demand, creative growth, and a commitment to delivering music at the highest level. The wait is over. The songs are reborn.
“FIRST LIGHT - GRAVITY 2.0”
"Reimagined. Remixed. Reignited."
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066826565739
Burning Sun
Power To Survive
Pride & Joy Music
21 August 2026
Founded in 2022 in Hungary by bassist Zoltán Papi, BURNING SUN is a rising force in the underground Power Metal scene. He was then joined by singer/guitarist Pancho Ireland (also known from Merciless Law). Inspired by the ’90s golden era of European Power Metal and taking its name from a Helloween song, the project channels soaring melodies, driving rhythms, and heroic storytelling.
The duo's debut album, Wake of Ashes, was released in 2023 via Stormspell Records. The album featured international collaborators and introduced listeners to the character of Emaly, who plays a major role in the band's identity as she appears on all artworks. Although the first record was partly inspired by the popular video game, World of Warcraft, the band decided to abandon this influence to tell their own stories. 2025 saw the release of Retribution via Metalizer Records, a full story concept album focused on revenge and salvation. The fantasy-driven narrative was told with a combination of classic riffing and anthemic choruses.
In early 2026, the band announced the arrival of singer and guitarist Nicolas Peter (Tyran, Invictus) and drummer Edmond Kulcsár (Gift Of Grave). Nicolas took over lead vocals, while Pancho decided to focus on his role as lead guitarist. The arrival of the new members brought a new era for Burning Sun, not only because of the expanded lineup but also in the form of their third album, “Power To Survive”. Written by Nicolas Peter and Zoltán Papi, this high-energy album features 10 songs that are meant to help you get through hard times through its uplifting music which features Herbie Langhans (Firewind) as guest on “Emaly’s Hymn” and Alexandra Lioness (Jenner, Frozen Crown) as guest on “Over And Beyond”.
Burning Sun delivers the kind of metal that is rare nowadays, the kind of music that is rooted in Helloween, Gamma Ray, Edguy, Hammerfall and ’90s power metal in general. No compromises, only pure dedication and passion.
Line-up:
Nicolas Peter – vocals, guitars
Pancho Ireland – guitars
Zoltán Papi – bass
Edmond Kulcsár – drums
Quelle: GerMusica PR