LODE STAR UNLEASH NEW ALBUM DARKSTAR, PUSHING THEIR MELODIC HEAVY SOUND INTO NEW TERRITORY
International Alternative Metal Project Expands Its Sound With Heavier Guitars, Extreme Vocals, and Emotionally Charged Melodies
Album Out Now | October 23, 2026
International alternative metal and hard rock project LODE STAR have released their new full-length album, DARKSTAR, available now as of October 23, 2026. Bringing together heavier guitar work, extreme vocals, modern production, and the memorable melodic hooks that have defined the project from the beginning, the album captures a band continuing to evolve while staying true to its songwriting roots.
Built across continents, Lode Star features Kate Glock (vocals, keys), based in Ireland, and Jensen Rodolfo (guitar, bass), based in Canada. The two musicians began collaborating during the pandemic, developing their sound remotely and building a creative partnership that has continued to grow with each release.
With DARKSTAR, that partnership takes center stage. The album represents a more collaborative approach to songwriting, arrangements, and production, allowing both musicians to bring their individual influences into a unified musical vision. The result is a heavier, more expansive record that explores new sonic territory without sacrificing the strong melodies, emotional depth, and accessible songwriting that have always been central to Lode Star's identity.
Drawing inspiration from early 2000s heavy music while embracing a contemporary production approach, Lode Star combine the atmospheric intensity of doom metal with the hooks and drive of alternative metal and hard rock. Fans of Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, and Breaking Benjamin will find plenty to connect with in the project's balance of powerful vocals, memorable riffs, and emotionally charged arrangements.
Rather than chasing trends, Lode Star build their music around the fundamentals of effective heavy songwriting: compelling melodies, riffs that leave an impression, and songs that connect beyond the surface. On DARKSTAR, those foundations remain firmly in place even as the band experiments with more aggressive vocal approaches, heavier guitars, and new sounds.
The album's extended creative process reflects that ambition. As the musicians' partnership developed, so did their vision for the record. Instead of rushing toward a finish line, they allowed the material to evolve until it represented where they stood as artists.
"DARKSTAR represents how much we've grown together, both as musicians and as a band. This time around, the entire creative process became a truly collaborative effort, with both of us shaping the songwriting, arrangements and production. We brought our different musical influences together, experimenting with heavier guitars, extreme vocals and new sounds while keeping the catchy melodies and emotion that have always been at the heart of Lode Star. The album took longer than we originally planned because our vision kept evolving alongside our partnership, but we didn't want to rush or settle. Ultimately, DARKSTAR is a reflection of who we are as artists today, and we're incredibly excited to finally share it with everyone."
The release follows an established body of work that includes three full-length albums and an EP. Lode Star also attracted unexpected viral attention with their cover of Cryoshell's "Creeping in My Soul," introducing their music to a wider audience. Their work has received coverage from publications including Powerplay Magazine, Metallurg, and Odyssey, and has also been featured in Rocksmith 2014.
Mixed and mastered by Riccardo Pasini at Studio 73, DARKSTAR brings the project's evolving musical vision into focus, delivering a record built around the meeting point of melody, atmosphere, heaviness, and emotional expression.
With a transatlantic creative partnership and a growing catalog behind them, Lode Star continue to carve out their own space in modern heavy music, proving that strong songwriting and memorable melodies still have plenty of room to thrive alongside a heavier, more aggressive edge.
DARKSTAR is out now.
LISTEN TO DARKSTAR
Full Album YouTube Premiere:
[jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="qkK-fsq0Xns"]
Stream and Discover Lode Star:
Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/lodestar.band
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0O5jipJoLd1KoV4XDtIquA
https://lodestar1.bandcamp.com/music
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lode-star/1848518035
https://www.youtube.com/@LodeStarband/featured
https://www.youtube.com/@LodeStarband/featured
ABOUT LODE STAR
Lode Star is an international studio-based heavy music project featuring Kate Glock on vocals and keyboards in Ireland and Jensen Rodolfo on guitar and bass in Canada. Formed through remote collaboration during the pandemic, the project blends doom metal, alternative metal, and hard rock with a strong melodic foundation.
Influenced by early 2000s metal and driven by memorable riffs, powerful vocal hooks, and emotionally resonant songwriting, Lode Star favor a melody-first approach while continuing to explore heavier sounds and modern production techniques. With three full-length albums and an EP released to date, a viral cover of Cryoshell's "Creeping in My Soul," and features in Rocksmith 2014 and multiple music publications, the band continues to expand its reach while developing its distinctive sound.
CONNECT WITH LODE STAR
Official Website:
https://lodestarmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lodestar.officialband
https://www.instagram.com/lode.star.band
https://x.com/lodestarband1
https://www.tiktok.com/@lode_starband
https://www.youtube.com/@LodeStarband/featured
https://www.youtube.com/@LodeStarband/featured
https://www.lodestarmusic.store/
PRESS CONTACT
Jensen Rodolfo
Email: contact@lodestarmusic.com
https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/29523/lode-star-unleash-new-album-darkstar-pushing-their-melodic-heavy-sound-into-new-territory?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger
