Pride & Joy Music News: Mystery Moon, Hydra u.a.
Today is the release date of the following titles via Pride & Joy Music:
Hydra - DeHydration
Mystery Moon - Way Beyond
Voodoo Highway - The Satan Inqviesta
Domino Drive - Cosmic Theater
Mystery Moon
Way Beyond
18 September 2026
MYSTERY MOON are back with their second album, “Way Beyond,” making a powerful statement in the European melodic hard rock scene. The project features German multi-instrumentalist Markus Pfeffer (Barnabas Sky, Lazarus Dream, Winterland, among others) and exceptional Swedish vocalist Rob Lundgren (Mentalist).
“Way Beyond” is a logical evolution that opens up new horizons both musically and thematically. The metaphorical album cover by Argentine artist Nicolas Oliveros already reflects the essence of the album: storks, symbols of new life and new beginnings, have built their nest in an abandoned boat waiting on the shore of a lake to be set in motion again. Above them, the sky merges between darkness and moonlight—a visual symbol of the album’s central themes. In terms of content, “Way Beyond” explores the contrasts and challenges of life. Songs like “Chaos and Order,” “Lost And Found,” and “Ouroboros” address these tensions and weave them together with an emotional depth that takes the listener on a multi-layered journey—between loss and new beginnings, stillness and movement, light and darkness.
Musically, Pfeffer has deliberately refined MYSTERY MOON’s sound. The album features an even stronger focus on catchy hooks and melodies. Enhanced keyboard accents and deliberately incorporated ’80s elements lend the album an additional sonic dimension. The previously released video tracks “Cycles Of Life” and “Dreamland (Garden Of Eden)” set the stage as early highlights. While “Cycles Of Life” surprises with a tongue-in-cheek homage to the heyday of EUROPE—particularly in its distinctive keyboard melody—“Dreamland” creates an anthemic atmosphere and emotional intensity.
With “Way Beyond,” MYSTERY MOON prove that they are among the most exciting representatives of modern European melodic hard rock. An album that unites opposites, stirs emotions, and looks resolutely forward.
Guest musicians on the album include drummer/percussionist Thomas Rieder and keyboardist Timo Becker. The album was mastered by JK Northrup at Alien Productions Music Studio in Sacramento, USA.
Line-up:
Rob Lundgren: Vocals, Backing Vocals
Markus Pfeffer: Guitars, Bass, Guitar Synths, Synths, Backing Vocals
Guests:
Drums, Percussions: Thomas Rieder; Keyboards: Timo Becker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysterymoonofficial
Voodoo Highway
The Satan Inqviesta
Pride & Joy Music
18 September 2026
Voodoo Highway was formed in Ferrara, Italy, in 2010. In the same year, the band released their self-produced debut album, Broken Uncle’s Inn. The album quickly gained strong feedback from both critics and listeners, selling out its first pressing and receiving warm responses from the specialized rock and metal press. Classic Rock Magazine UK selected the album’s opening track, Till It Bleeds, as Track of the Month.
Only a few months later, Voodoo Highway entered the studio to record the follow-up release, Showdown, working with the production team DysFunction Productions (John Wetton, Fear Factory). The album was released in April 2013 through the German label Dust On The Tracks Records. Once again, the record received strong critical and public acclaim, selling out its first pressing within a few months and ranking among the hottest releases on several online distributors. Craig Gruber, former bassist for Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Gary Moore and Black Sabbath, described the band as “the new Deep Purple.”
The artwork for Showdown was created by Storm Thorgerson, the legendary Hipgnosis designer known for his iconic work with Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and many others. Voodoo Highway remain the only Italian band to have had an album cover created by the late British artist.
Following the release of Showdown, the band toured extensively across Western Europe until 2014. In 2015, Voodoo Highway recorded and released the EP Pervert County. In 2016, they began work on their third full-length album, The Ordeal, again recorded with DysFunction Productions. The album was released in 2017 through the Greek label Sleaszy Rider Records.
After a year of live activity, mainly in Italy and the Netherlands, the band entered an indefinite hiatus for personal reasons.
Between 2018 and 2025, Voodoo Highway performed only occasionally in their hometown. During a 2025 concert in Ferrara, the band decided to record their first live album, Made in Kachot, capturing what has always been their natural environment: the stage. The album was self-released later that same year.
Also in 2025, Voodoo Highway began recording their comeback album, The Satan Inqviesta, at Sonika Studios in Ferrara, once again working with producer Eddy Cavazza, also known as Silent Ghost and formerly of DysFunction Productions.
https://www.facebook.com/WhoDoHighway
Line-up: Federico Di Marco – vocals; Filippo Cavallini – bass, backing vocals; Massimiliano Sabbadini – hammond organ, backing vocals; Filippo Romeo- guitars, backing vocals; Giacomo Bazzani - drums
Hydra
DeHydration
Pride & Joy Music
HYDRA is the brainchild of Swedish songwriter/ musician Henrik Hedström, who has been a songwriter based out of Stockholm for many years and a friend of drummer/ producer Daniel Flores (First Signal, Find Me, The Murder Of My Sweet) for the past 15 years.
After the two album releases „Point Break“ (2022) and „ReHydration“ (2024), the Swedes will return on September 18th, 2026 with their 3rd effort „DeHydration“ via Pride & Joy Music.
Flores plays drums and keyboards on „DeHydration“, while vocals and lead and rhythm guitars are handled by Andi Kravljaca. Henrik takes care of the keyboards, acoustic and clean guitars. The bass is handled by Johnny Trobro.
In his own words, Henrik Hedström was "kind of a musical prodigy and always sang or played piano at the school celebrations." In Stockholm, Henrik started and joined a few bands through the years, serving as a singer, guitar player, and songwriter. He eventually decided to start a solo career and began working with Swedish producer Anders Bagge. After some time with Anders, Henrik started a new band, Hydra. Around the same time, Henrik was signed as a songwriter by Warner/Chappell, writing pop music, but this ultimately wasn't where his heart was and he eventually started a career outside of music.
In 2007, Henrik met Daniel Flores, whom he was introduced to through a mutual friend, Andreas Novak (Mind's Eye, House of Shakira). The two wound up recording some pop music demos for Warner/Chappell, but again, Henrik's heart wasn't really in it and in 2009, he ended his deal with Warner/Chappell. In 2019, Flores reached out to Henrik and asked him to send over some old and newer versions of his songs, particularly the rock ones. Later in 2019, Henrik's song "A Million Miles" was recorded and released by First Signal and in 2020, "Beat Them All" by Angelica.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/henrikhydra
HENRIK HEDSTRÖM: Keyboard, Acoustic & Clean Guitars and Backing Vocals ANDI KRAVLJACA: Lead Vocals - Lead Guitar & Rhythm Guitar
JONNY TROBRO: Bass DANIEL FLORES: Drums, Keyboard and Backing Vocals
Domino Drive
Cosmic Theater
Pride & Joy Music
18 September 2026
By the time of their 2023 debut album release “Smoke and Mirrors”, DOMINO DRIVE had become a dynamically cohesive unit.
As a result, the material for their sophomore 2026 album “Cosmic Theater” reached new heights, showcasing a more powerful and modern-sounding band. This evolution combines their trademark style of melodic, catchy anthems with atmospheric and evocative compositions.
Amidst the recording process, the band found a new lead guitar player in Jonatan Berg (LIPZ), whose technical prowess and musicality added an extra dimension to the album while perfectly matching the band's musical craftsmanship and compositional skill.
“Cosmic Theater” was produced by Jonas Tyskhagen. Executive producer: Jonas Söder. Recorded, mixed and mastered by DOMINO DRIVE at Domino Studios, Uppsala, Sweden. The album also features a guest appearance by Fredrik Folkare (Unleashed).
“Cosmic Theater” takes you on a journey into a sublime world of atmospheric and emotional soundscapes—a time machine transporting you into the future, the past, and everywhere in between.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dominodrivesweden
https://www.prideandjoy.de
Quelle: Germusica PR