Powerload |

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – June 12, 2026

POWERLÖAD Drops Music Video “Drunk in a Taxi Cab” For New Album “In The Pocket” Out End of June 2026

+ Tour Dates ANVIL (BC/AB)

L-R: Hell Hammered (Drums/Vocals), Shel Shock (Bass/Vocals), Brett Michaels (Guitar)

Photo Credit – STUDIO VON PHOTOGRAPHY

Canadian sleaze‑rock troublemakers POWERLÖAD have released their brand‑new music video for “Drunk in a Taxi Cab”, the latest single from their upcoming album “In The Pocket,” due out on June 26, 2026, from Luv Machine Records (Vinyl), Night Strike Records (Cassette) and Nice Load Records & Marital Aid (CD).

The video is a hilariously literal, grimy, one‑location ride through the life of a drunk trying to get home, shot entirely in the back of a car. The concept came straight from bassist/vocalist Shel Shock, who adds:

“One night I was in a car coming home from the bar & in the midst of all the spinning, some lyrics appeared. Anyone who’s listening to POWERLÖAD has been there, you drunks. Can’t get more literal or bonehead than that.”

A slower, swagger‑heavy rocker, “Drunk in a Taxi Cab” captures the bleary, reflective moment between the chaos of the night and the consequences of the morning, all wrapped in the band’s signature maximum-voltage street rock attack attitude.

Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnoG43vlJy0

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/artist/6r7vD3wBNn5j6qdqvKdpVk?si=qqnV1ZABQhe6IBZwtMRVrA

POWERLÖAD’s new album is eight tracks of unapologetic, high‑octane sleaze rock that chronicle a full night of the band’s self‑proclaimed lifestyle.

“We wanted this album to be almost conceptual of the POWERLÖAD lifestyle. People compare it to Tommy or The Wall, mostly because of the musicianship & lyrical themes, which are superior on In The Pocket,” adds Shel Shock.

Lyrically and musically, the band sums the album up in three words: sex, drugs, and rock’n’ roll. The record is a full‑throttle plunge into that chaos, ripping through eight filthy, high‑energy chapters that kick off with the AC/DC charged opener “Tons of Tail”, a song that sounds like it’s about lots of chicks, but it’s actually about lots of cocktails. Rolling into “Bad Girls,” a tribute to the strong, street‑owning women the band admires. “The Ballad of Shit Faced Tony” follows Toronto’s most persistent blow‑seeker, while “Chains of Rock n’ Roll” channels the reckless spirit of the Sunset Strip. The stakes rise, literally and chemically, with “Stakes Are High (& So Am I),” a gambling‑fueled Motörhead homage, before the weed‑worshipping “Defenders of the Eighth” lights up the room. “Lapdog Deluxe” dives into glam‑trash absurdity inspired by ZZ Top confusion, and the night finally collapses into “Drunk in a Taxi Cab,” a bleary, stumbling ride home that closes the album with hungover honesty.

Following the album release, POWERLÖAD will hit the road with ANVIL for three Western Canadian shows, including a hometown blowout in Edmonton, AB.

Tour Dates:
June 25 – Kelowna, BC – Unleashed Brewing Co. w/ Corpus Upir, Charlie Handsome & the Brats
June 26 – Chilliwack, BC – The Chillhouse Tour w/ Anvil
June 27 – Vancouver, BC – Astoria Tour w/ Anvil
July 2 – Edmonton, AB – Divebar Tour w/ Anvil

POWERLÖAD formed as a reaction to safe, sanitized rock, choosing instead to deliver raw, dirty, high‑energy sleaze rock built for people who want to feel “sexy as hell” when they hit play. The trio features Shel Shock (Bass + Vocals), Hell Hammered (Drums), and Brett Michaels (Guitar).

Recommended for fans of G.B.H., Motorhead, AC/DC, and Mötley Crüe, “In The Pocket”, out on June 26th from Luv Machine Records (Vinyl), Night Strike Records (Cassette), and Nice Load Records & Marital Aid (CD) is available for pre-order (CD/ Vinyl/ Cassette) at https://powerload.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-pocket

Previous Videos:

Defenders of the Eighth – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at0E5z-_7vw

Bad Girls – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls_2za63Sdg

Track Listing:
1. Tons Of Tail (2:36)
2. Bad Girls (3:02)
3. The Ballad Of Shit Faced Tony (2:58)
4. Chains Of Rock n’ Roll (2:51)
5. Stakes Are High (So Am I) (3:21)
6. Defenders Of The Eighth (2:42)
7. Lapdog Deluxe (2:20)
8. Drunk In A Taxi Cab (3:25)

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Powerload
• All songs written by: Powerload
• Produced by: Powerload & Rob Lawless
• Mixed by: Rob Lawless
• Mastered by: Rob Lawless
• Album Artwork by: Adan Vazquez
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Band Line Up Album + Live
Shel Shock – Bass, Vocals (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6)
Brett Michaels – Guitar
Hell Hammered – Drums, Vocals (Tracks 2, 5, 7, 8)

More info:

https://www.facebook.com/POWERLOADYEG

https://instagram.com/POWERLOAD.YEG

-30-

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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EPK – Powerload – In The Pocket (2026)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

For fans of G.B.H., Motorhead, AC/DC, Motley Crue

Band: Powerload
Album: In The Pocket
Release Date: June 26th, 2026
Label: Luv Machine Records (Vinyl), Night Strike Records (Cassette), Nice Load Records & Marital Aid (CD)
Genre: Hard Rock, Metal-Punk, Rock n’ Roll
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada

“We wanted this album to be almost conceptual of the POWERLÖAD lifestyle. You start the party drinking (Tons Of Tail), maybe you hook up with a chick (Bad Girls), some guy bugs you for blow (The Ballad Of Shit Faced Tony), you go play the gig & rock the night (Chains of Rock n’ Roll), you spend your hard earned gig money gambling after (Stakes Are High), you smoke some weed to even out (Defenders Of The Eighth), you meet another chick (Lapdog Deluxe), time to go home (Drunk In A Taxi Cab). While this isn’t a concept album in actuality, people who’ve heard it typically compare it to The Who’s Tommy or Pink Floyd’s The Wall, mostly because of the musicianship & lyrical themes, which are superior on “In The Pocket”” – Powerload

Facebook.com/POWERLOADYEG | Instagram.com/POWERLOAD.YEG | Youtube.com/@POWERLOADYEG

Powerload.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

Track Listing:
1. Tons Of Tail (2:36)
2. Bad Girls (3:02)
3. The Ballad Of Shit Faced Tony (2:58)
4. Chains Of Rock n’ Roll (2:51)
5. Stakes Are High (So Am I) (3:21)
6. Defenders Of The Eighth (2:42)
7. Lapdog Deluxe (2:20)
8. Drunk In A Taxi Cab (3:25)

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Powerload
• All songs written by: Powerload
• Produced by: Powerload & Rob Lawless
• Mixed by: Rob Lawless
• Mastered by: Rob Lawless
• Album Artwork by: Adan Vazquez
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Band Line Up Album + Live
Shel Shock – Bass, Vocals (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6)
Brett Michaels – Guitar
Hell Hammered – Drums, Vocals (Tracks 2, 5, 7, 8)

===========================================

About The Album Artwork:

Some company refused to print the artwork on hoodies for us, & they described it this way: “a nude robot in an explicit position. The robot is receiving a ball in her buttocks while she is bent down.”

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

SEX, DRUGS, ROCK N’ ROLL.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Tons of Tail – sounds like it’s about lots of chicks, but it’s actually about lots of cocktails. Sounds like ACDC if they sucked.

2. Bad Girls – Song dedicated to all the badass, strong, independent women we know. Chicks are way cooler than dudes. Sounds kinda like Celtic Frost… if they sucked.

3. The Ballad Of Shit Faced Tony – We wrote this song about this guy that wouldn’t stop asking people for blow in Toronto, & they called him “Shit Face Tony,” but he was just this little dude in a button-up that looked like he just finished the late class at the college. He got in a motorcycle accident a few months ago & is regrowing his organs. Guy rules. Sounds like Powerload to me, baby!

4. Chains Of Rock n’ Roll – This song is about rockin’ & livin’ the life of rock n’ roll like how the best in the biz – the Sunset Strip bands of the 80s did it. Sounds like those bands if they had a singer who couldn’t sing & a guitar player who just started playing a few months ago.

5. Stakes Are High (& So Am I) – This song was a tribute to Motorhead lyrically, with the title lifted from the lyrics of an Uncle Ted song. Kinda just once again sounds like Powerload, we throw all the shit we love into a big ‘ol blender & this is what you get.

6. Defenders Of The Eighth – This song is about smoking weed. I think. Sounds like Inepsy/Motorhead if they sucked.

7. Lapdog Deluxe – This song was inspired by the line in ZZ Top’s “Under Pressure,” “Flippin’ Out With Great Danes,” because, like, what the fuck does that even mean? & why is this chick flipping out with them? Song sounds like we took a dump in the glam rock junk shop & we mean that in the very best way possible.

8. Drunk In A Taxi Cab – this song was inspired by that really shitty time you had too much to drink & had to get in a car to go home. When you do this nightly, you have a lot of time to reflect on it. Sounds like Powerload if Powerload sucked!

===========================================

Fun Facts – Story Angles:

1. We opened up for Sebastian Bach & he got really mad at us for writing “Sebastian Cock” on our set lists. He later apologized & hung out with us for a bit. Baz rules. The full story is on our Instagram.

2. Shel Shock sings Defenders Of The Eighth but is the only band member who doesn’t smoke weed.

3. All 3 members have a third leg.

4. People think the album cover for In The Pocket is AI, but it’s actually an acrylic painting, & we get some really interesting virgins calling us out online.

5. We built a bar in our jam space & it’s called the “Powerlöad Bar & Grill” where we serve booze & hot dogs.

===========================================

L-R: Hell Hammered (Drums/Vocals), Shel Shock (Bass/Vocals), Brett Michaels (Guitar)

Photo Credit – STUDIO VON PHOTOGRAPHY

Straight out of their daddy’s dick, Powerlöad are real-deal rock’n’ rollers. No rules, no wimps, just pure, unadulterated slut rock. Combining elements of all their favourite punk, heavy metal & porno movies, they bring a fresh load to a tired & cookie-cutter scene. EST. 2024.

DISCOGRAPHY:
2026 – IN THE POCKET – LP/TAPE/CD
2025 – SPREAD YOUR LEGS – DIGITAL SINGLE
2025 – 1-900-HOT-LÖAD – 7 INCH SINGLE
2024 – DEMO ‘24 – TAPE

Shared Stage with:
Sebastian Bach, Anvil, The Accused AD, Villain, Toy Tiger, MDOP, Mrsa, Cemetery Girl, Midnite Hellion, Divine Apprehension, Lover, Bottom Line, Revelator, Chinese Medicine, Miesha & the Spanks, Fishlips, Lewd Antics, Kurt Dimer, Qualia, Vargouille, Ol’ Baldy Garret Dale, 2 Shadows, Repugnant Scum, Accidents Happen, Wolfenstein, Nervous Aggression, Sick Ritual, Disaster Relief, Plagued By Fire, Sycatrys, Frenesi, Abuse, Dead Shit Earth, Phrozen, Slug Rust, Bigg Egg, Spike Pit, Butcher’s Dog, World Eaters, Vicious Intent, Blind Tyrant.

Tour and Festivals:
2026 – Weekend Warranty Tour – Western Canada
2026 – Winterruption Festival – Edmonton, AB
2025 – The Hunt For Ogopogo – Western Canada
2025 – Loads Allover Yousa – USA Rust Belt + Toronto, ON
2024 – Rock n’ Roll Safari – Canadian Prairies

Category: Powerload

0 Edmonton’s POWERLÖAD Drops Music Video “Drunk in a Taxi Cab” For New Album “In The Pocket” Out End of June 2026 + Tour Dates ANVIL

0 EPK – Powerload – In The Pocket (2026)