Hard rock band Nerve Star has revealed details of their new single 'Black Ice', set for release on January 16, along with the upcoming album White Hot due in February 2026. The single features a high-energy reinterpretation of a classic track, backed by a groove-heavy B-side. This marks the band's return with a blend of 1970s hard rock and 1980s heavy metal influences.
Nerve Star, a hard rock and heavy metal outfit formed in 2021, is gearing up for a significant release in early 2026. The band, known for unrelenting riffs, big drums, thumping bass lines, and loud guitars, draws from 1970s hard rock, 1980s heavy metal, New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), and punk elements.
The single 'Black Ice' will drop on January 16 as the A-side, offering a 100mph reinterpretation of an NWOBHM-era classic originally by Aragorn, powered by rapid-fire riffs and blistering lead guitar. The B-side, 'The Harder The Better', shifts to raunchy Texas-style riffing with wah effects and a heavy, groove-focused vibe throughout.
This release paves the way for the band's album White Hot, scheduled for February 27, 2026. The album will be available on vinyl LP with eight tracks, and on CD and digital/streaming formats with 13 tracks. Distribution in the UK is handled by RSK Entertainment via Proper Distribution, with live dates and European festival appearances planned.
Nerve Star's lineup solidified over recent years. Bassist Joss Thorley from Manchester and lead guitarist Chris Billinghurst from Maidenhead started the project remotely during restrictions, demoing ten songs. Vocalist Matt Oakman joined in 2023, followed by Swedish guitarist and producer Janne Stark, bringing experience from metal, prog, and NWOBHM projects since the 1980s. Stark's dual-lead approach echoes bands like Thin Lizzy. Drummer Peter 'Trumpeter' Svensson, a colleague of Stark's from Karlshamn, Sweden, completed the group.
Recording began in spring 2024, with Stark and Svensson working from Swedish studios, while the others used Raw Studios in England with engineer Rasmus Bom Andersen. Sessions extended into 2025, yielding 13 tracks. Producer Mike Dixon, known for work with Thin Lizzy and Sensational Alex Harvey Band, oversaw the project. Mastering was done by Andy 'Hippy' Baldwin at Metropolis in London.
A highlight is the closing track 'Richard III', where Welsh guitarist Tony Bourge of heavy metal pioneers Budgie contributed parts. Bourge, famed for riffs in songs like 'Breadfan' and 'In For The Kill', originally wrote the track in the 1980s with Tredegar and recorded his contribution from Wales.
The band consists of Janne Stark and Chris Billinghurst on lead and rhythm guitars, Joss Thorley on bass, Matt Oakman on vocals, and Peter 'Trumpeter' Svensson on drums and percussion.
