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  • The Byrds Albums Ranked Worst to Best

    From folk-rock trailblazers to country-rock pioneers, the group helped define the '60s. Continue reading…

  • Tony Iommi Announces “From The Dark”

    Tony Iommi Announces “From The Dark”

    After a week of subtle teasing, Tony Iommi has finally revealed details of the solo album he’s been working on for some time, leaving hints here and there. “From The Dark” – which features Jorn Lande at the microphone – … Continue reading →

    The post Tony Iommi Announces “From The Dark” appeared first on DMME.net.

  • ICONIC – II (Album Review)

    Two times the iconic charm.

    One of the greatest pitfalls of any project falling under the purview of a super-group is an unequally yoked lineup. The list of one-off endeavors featuring a veritable who is who of elite musicians that either managed a mere single studio album or failed to even get beyond a handful of rough drafts that barely qualify as a demo is quite long, owing to clashing egos or chasms in creative goals, but Italian rock and metal label Frontiers Records has proven quite apt in avoiding these snares.

    Among their more recent veteran collectives to show heavy promise is the melodic rock quintet Iconic, built off an impressive union of major names in the genre spanning the glory days of 80s arena exploits through the present, all sharing the same philosophy of crafting technically extravagant yet highly accessible material. Their 2022 debut Second Skin set a high standard of excellence that could rival anything that has passed for rock radio in the past 30 years, and their newly finalized follow-up, simply dubbed II, matches it at every point and builds further upon an impressive yet still nascent legacy.

    At their core, this is a musical collective that understands how to mix flashy fits of virtuosic flair into the auditory brew without sacrificing brevity or general appeal. At the helm is arguably one of the most powerful voices to rise to prominence in the past 15 years, namely Inglorious vocalist Nathan James, though many likely know him for his 2 year contribution to Trans-Siberian Orchestra. His timbre and range consistently exude a level of intensity and ability not commonly heard in modern rock circles, and often resemble the gritty growl of Brainstorm helmsman Andy Franck.

    Then again, the barrage of choir-like guitar harmonies and riveting shred-happy solos unleashed by virtuoso six-string wizard Joel Hoekstra and Stryper’s own Michael Sweet make an equally auspicious showing in the arrangement, to speak nothing of the rock-solid riff work filling out the body of each song. Likewise, a band rarely goes far without a correspondingly tight and able rhythm section, and between Thin Lizzy’s Marco Mendoza handling the bass and former Ozzy Osbourne drummer Tommy Aldridge making a mighty racket behind the kit, no weak link in this impressive chain is to be found.

    From start to finish, II is an album that defies the trope of a single-based LP loaded with filler and offers up a consistently potent and spellbinding experience. Banger entries like the promotional single and opening foray “Cry No More”, and other similarly upbeat and guitar-oriented crushers like “Open My Eyes” and “Take Me To The Place” match earworm melodies with mesmerizing feats of guitar gymnastics, all the while relying upon conventional songwriting methods that make it all flow seamlessly.

    By the same token, more slow-to-mid-paced entries like “Tears Keep On Falling” and “Nothing Left For Me” keep the rock element hard and heavy while striking a more somber tone, James’ powerhouse vocals bobbing and weaving with the shifting dynamics while Hoekstra’s and Sweet’s guitar work shifts brilliantly between tasteful wails and shredding intrigue.

    Sometimes the vibe leans into a bluesy shuffle comparable to early 90s Whitesnake as heard on “S.O.S.”, while at others the flashy guitar high-jinks and 80s glam tropes go into overdrive via “Valley Of Lost Souls” and “Written In The Stars”, but whichever song in the rotation has its say, the energy and spirit factor is unabated, even in the case of the laid back power ballad and closer “Heart Of Stone”, which also sees Mendoza’s bass talents get some time in the sun.

    Among the many bands out there keeping the classic rock end up and bucking the trend of rap and EDM/pop completely ruling the 2020s, Iconic is a name that should and most likely will increase its reach with the onset of the latter half of the current decade. It largely reaffirms ideas that have been present in hard rock since the mid to late 80s when Stryper and Whitesnake were at their commercial peak, and also when the influence of earlier strides made by Thin Lizzy were still heavily present in popular consciousness, yet it embraces the more grounded and gritty production character of a band that can communicate it all to the current generation without sounding like a mere nostalgia act.

    In a time when many of the elder greats have either shed their mortal coil like John “Ozzy” Osbourne or retired from the scene as the legendary David Coverdale has, this the sort of union of elder statesmen and prime aged talent that acts as a bridge so that the torch of rock ‘n’ roll can be passed on without so much as a flicker of its flame, and II is certainly not an album to be missed.

    Release Date: July 31st, 2026
    Record Label: Frontiers Music SLR
    Genre: Melodic Hard Rock

    Musicians:

    • Nathan James / Vocals
    • Joel Hoekstra / Guitars
    • Michael Sweet / Guitars
    • Marco Mendoza / Bass
    • Tommy Aldridge / Drums

    II Tracklist:

    1. Cry No More
    2. All I Want 
    3. Open My Eyes 
    4. Tears Keep On Falling 
    5. S.O.S. 
    6. Nothing Left For Me 
    7. Far Away 
    8. Valley Of Lost Souls 
    9. Written In The Stars 
    10. Heart Of Stone

    Order the album here.

    The post ICONIC – II (Album Review) appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

  • Smoking Snakes – Bass Player Andy Delarge

    Bass player Andy Delarge – Smoking Snakes Interviewed by: Anders Sandavll Thanks to Suzan Kverh at Playground Music for setting up the interview Thanks to […]

    The post Smoking Snakes – Bass Player Andy Delarge appeared first on Metal-Rules.com.

  • High-Octane Riffs and High-Stakes Thrills: How Heavy Metal Mobile Gaming Is Revolutionizing Entertainment

    mobile-gambling-metal

    LAS VEGAS, NV — When you are tearing down the highway between summer festival grounds, waiting backstage before a crushing headlining set, or just chilling after a night of pure headbanging, finding mobile entertainment that matches the high-energy intensity of heavy music can be a brutal challenge, but heavy metal mobile gaming is officially taking over to bridge that gap.

    Engineered for total speed and maximum performance without forcing tedious app store downloads, this platform brings the raw adrenaline of high-stakes casino action, live dealer tables, and global sports betting directly to your smartphone. Whether you need a quick thrill between sets or want to crank up the energy on the road, having a fast, reliable, and rock-ready digital arena changes the entire ride.

    Loud Action and Lightning Speed Without the Clutter

    Heavy metal culture is all about raw power, zero compromise, and relentless drive—and your mobile gaming experience shouldn’t feel any different. Nobody wants to waste phone storage on bloated apps or suffer through frustrating lag right when the action peaks. The team behind the platform recognized that modern rock and metal fans demand instant access and uncompromising performance wherever they happen to be. By leveraging responsive web technology, players can dive headfirst into the action directly through any browser on Android or iOS.

    Loading in under three seconds on mobile networks, the interface strips away the useless fluff that slows down old-school sites. Navigation is clean, responsive, and built for quick touch control, letting you seamlessly shift between roaring slot themes, live table action, and sports betting lines without missing a beat. Everything from registering an account to securing your payout is designed to keep your focus locked entirely on high-octane fun.

    A Massive Arsenal Powered by Heavyweight Developers

    Beneath the sleek, fast-loading design sits a monster catalog of thousands of games provided by world-renowned gaming studios like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Evolution, and BGaming. Instead of watering down the content for mobile devices, every single game feature—from crushing soundtracks to high-definition visuals—is fully supported on your mobile phone or tablet.

    • High-Volatility Riff-Fueled Slots: Play feature-packed video slots featuring aggressive mechanics, Hold & Win bonus rounds, massive progressive jackpots, and dark, energetic aesthetic themes.
    • Authentic Live Dealer Arenas: High-definition live streams bringing European Roulette, Baccarat Pro, Blackjack, and interactive game shows directly to your phone screen with professional real-time hosts.
    • Global In-Play Sportsbook: Live sports wagering covering everything from Premier League football and Formula 1 races to major esports showdowns in real time.

    The end result is an explosive, constantly updated gaming portal where heavy visuals and pulse-pounding sound effects combine to deliver a casino experience that feels right at home alongside your favorite heavy metal playlist.

    heavy-metal-gaming

    Secure, Fast-Paced Banking Built for the Road

    Fast gaming demands equally fast transaction options when managing your digital balance on the road. Utilizing top-tier SSL encryption and robust security protocols, players get complete peace of mind with every transaction. The system accommodates flexible banking choices, ranging from traditional cards to modern e-wallets, mobile pay, and major cryptocurrencies for lightning-fast cashouts.

    For fans of heavy music and fast-paced gaming looking for a top-tier mobile experience, checking out Golden Mister offers a premier look at how modern online gaming platforms ought to function. Delivering rock-solid reliability, ongoing rewards, and round-the-clock support, it stands out as a prime destination for mobile players everywhere.

    The post High-Octane Riffs and High-Stakes Thrills: How Heavy Metal Mobile Gaming Is Revolutionizing Entertainment appeared first on Loaded Radio.

  • Nerf Herder To Release “IV” On Vinyl For The First Time

    Nearly two decades after its original release, Nerf Herder‘s IV is finally getting the vinyl treatment it has long deserved. On August

  • The Best Metal Album + Song of Each Year of the 1980s

    Revisiting metal's glorious '80s era by naming the best album and best song of each year. Continue reading…

  • Glen Hansard Dead At 56

    Glen Hansard, the Oscar-winning Irish singer-songwriter and actor who rose to fame fronting the Frames and starring in The Commitments, then gained greater notoriety through the movie Once and the related musical project the Swell Season, has died. Hansard died in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in the west of Dublin, which was reported to emergency services shortly before 4:30 a.m. local time, the BBC reports. He was 56.

    The post Glen Hansard Dead At 56 appeared first on Stereogum.

  • Bloodstock Bound: Thrash Mob

    Bloodstock Bound: Thrash Mob

    As Bloodstock gets closer, we delve deep into the line up to find out more about some of the bands playing the New Blood and EMP stages at this years event.

    Today we chat with Thrash Mob

    Please introduce yourselves.

    Hi! We’re Thrash Mob. We consist of Ruaraidh on vocals. Thai on the drums. Karol on bass and finally Alfie and Charlie on guitar.

    How would you describe your sound?

    Our style of metal blends old school thrash with a dash of modern influences. If you love the sound of the LA, Bay Area Thrash alongside hints of more modern sounds then we will be your cup of tea.

    How did you land your spot on the Bloodstock bill?

    We won Nuneatons M2TM

    How tough was this years competition?

    The competition was fierce this year. There was a range of genres battling it out for the crown. It was a nailbitting experience as all the bands were fantastic!

    What does playing at Bloodstock mean to you?

    Playing at this year’s Bloodstock is a dream come true. Charlie’s first ever gig was to see Lamb Of God so to be playing on the same day as them is surreal! A few of us attend Bloodstock each year so we are honoured to be taking to The New Blood Stage on the 25th anniversary.

    For people who’ve never seen you live, what can they expect at Bloodstock?

    HIGH ENERGY, OLD SCHOOL THRASH
    Enough said

    What day are you performing?

    Friday

    What other bands are you looking forward to watching at Bloodstock this year?

    We’ve been lucky to play/watch some epic bands across the UK who are also appearing at Bloodstock this year. Shadow Company, Meet Your Maker, Soulride and Martyr Saints are all on our schedule. You can catch us in the pits cheering them on.

    Playing the New Blood Stage is just the first steppingstone in a bands journey. What’s next in your plans for world domination?

    We’ve got some exciting gigs on the horizon for after Bloodstock. We’ll be hitting the road with King Parrot for two dates as well as some top secret appearances yet to be announced. Keep your eyes peeled on the @thashmobuk instagram for details. Merch and our debut EP will also be arriving around October time.

    Are you camping with the fans? Which campsite are you heading for?

    You can find us in the Artist Campsite but we’ll be in and around the arena everyday. Come say hi if you see us!

    You’ve gotta keep hydrated at Bloodstock, what is your drink of choice for the weekend?

    We’ll all be well hydrated on water but for the odd taste of luxury the answer varies….

    Ruaraidh: Pepsi Max
    Charlie: Hoping for Guinness
    Karol: Heineken – like the good ol’ days
    Thai: Kraken and Lemonade
    Alfie: Pepsi Max

    See you at Bloodstock in a few weeks!

    For all the latest news, reviews, interviews across the heavy metal spectrum follow THE RAZORS’S EDGE on facebook, twitter and instagram.

    The post Bloodstock Bound: Thrash Mob appeared first on The Razor's Edge.

  • Bloodstock Preview 2026

    Bloodstock Festival 2026 Preview



    We here at Musipedia Of Metal have been covering Bloodstock Festival for around 15 years now (probably with one or two gaps) and as we’re also one of the sponsors of M2TM South Wales it seems apt that we’ll be covering the 25th Anniversary of Bloodstock Festival once again from Catton Hall.

    So we thought we’d map out a few things you may want to check out when you’re on site as this year has one of the most eclectic line ups for a long while including some metal legends (and original headliners from when it first started), some modern metal heaviness and a few high profile returns and of course glut of bands making their debut at the festival.

    Four days, across four stages, let’s get to it then!

    Thursday

    Usually Thursday is party day the Sophie Lancaster stage opens for around five bands to get the festivities up and running, however as this year is special the Ronnie James Dio stage will also be open and will welcome The Mighty Saxon as headliners of Thursday night, as the headliners of the inaugural Bloodstock (when it was still indoors), expect the Wheels Of Steel to be in full motion for the first day of metal.

    Before that though Evil Scarecrow will be once again getting an entire field of people to make perfect robot squares and scuttle as they return with their unique brand of horror adjacent silliness, expect a workout and plenty of laughs.

    Over on the Sophie stage there’s some excellent music to be involved in, opened by former Birmingham M2TM winners Mantis Defeats Jaguar, the Black Country collective will make sure to get the crowd going early with their crossover/hip-hop/metal hybrid. 

    While from their it’s pure rock n roll from Black Spiders who will bring the spirit of Lemmy (and accusations against Kiss) to the Sophie for the rockers in the audience preparing for Saxon. 

    If of course you want something different to the RJD headliner, the Thursday Sophie is headlined by the tech death devastation of Crytopsy making for a brutal end to the first day of the mammoth Bloodstock.

    Friday

    On Friday it’s the first ‘full day’ and the RJD stage will be taken to the motorbike cyber fantasy of Battlesnake who’ll roar on to the mainstage with some mad as hell stage outfits and fist full of speed/power/trad/something metal

    From there it’s something with a bit more legacy behind it as Life Of Agony will be bringing the grunge/alt rock to the RJD, prefect for all the 90’s babys to throw themselves about to.

    Speaking of throwing yourself about, expect nothing but constant pits and stage dives when NYHC legends Biohazard and crossover nutters Municipal Waste hit the RJD with plenty of razor sharp riffs and chugging grooves, our advice is avoid the dudes in the camo but get down the front and get involved.

    Carrying on with the thrash assault will be Brazil’s most famous metal band Sepultura who will be saying goodbye to the UK stages at Bloodstock, so you will want to be part of their final assault as they will be showing exactly why they will be missed by metal fans around the world.

    Then it’s time for the main event as Richmond, Virginia’s heaviest sons Lamb Of God again take the headline spot at Bloodstock, with ten studio albums and countless shows under their belts, it’s fair to say they’ve got enough bangers to get all of Bloodstock going wild.

    With the indomitable Randy Blythe as the ringleader, get ready to Walk With Them In Hell all the way through Catton Hall’s hallowed ground.

    That’s just the mainstage though as over on The Sophie Stage there’s absolutely loads to get your heads banging, with the noise coming early from the Countess Bathory inspired Blood Countess who will bring the tremolos and blast beats early.

    Gurt however are more Transylvanian Chunder as their party sludge, will insist that you have an adult beverage in hand as they will pour crushing heaviness on you, any hangovers you have will be destroyed by Hammer as the Scottish extreme metal crew show no mercy no matter how bleary eyes you are, this is the start of your headache.

    In our opinion there’s no better way to shake off extremely heavy metal than with a good old shout along to songs about trebuchets. Happily this is pretty much what Sellsword do and the Saxon (the people not the band) metal crew return to Bloodstock armed with hymns from their upcoming thirds album as well as their sword waiving classics.

    The Sophie Stage closes on Friday with Shining, the Norwegian one, not the Swedish one, which you know immediately when you approach the tent and hear those saxophones. There’s is a weird and wonderful world as Jørgen Munkeby’s creative vision will draw you in with impressive experimental metal.

    Elsewhere on the New Blood Stage get over for some prog/alt rock from Temples On Mars and thrashing from Bristol M2TM winners MartyrsSaint while over on the EMP stage you need to catch Vanitas, it’s prog/power/death categorised by powerful vocals and technical accumen.

    Saturday

    Whew Saturday offers perhaps the least for us a collective howerer, there one band we will NOT be missing no matter what.

    So the RJD stage offers slimmer pickings but an opening slot from Inhuman Nature will do just fine to get the blood pumping after two days of “excitement”.

    Crossover thrash that will bring the pits early as the epic heaviness will increase for the mighty Urne, who are steadily climbing up the Bloodstock bill on the back of their incredible second album, it’ll be progressive and dynamic so you won’t want to miss these future headliners.

    Speaking of headliners Vended have a lot of familial headliner pedigree behind them but they are very much their own band, although with their outright intensity they do have a lot in common with the 36 limbed extreme machine from Iowa so let’s hope you’ll be Surfacing for this group of talented youngsters.

    Then for us what is the main event on the RJD stage as it’s the return of Nevermore for their first UK show since the untimely death of the much missed Warrell Dane. Jeff Loomis was wasted in Arch Enemy let’s not beat around the bush, he was just too good to play melodeath.

    Thankfully he felt the same and along with longtime drummer Van Williams has reactivated the American prog metal masters. With a new bassist and co- guitarist it’s vocalist Berzan Önen who has stolen the headlines with his uncanny similarity to Dane.

    There will be tears, none morseo than from a certain Mr Hall as Nevermore will be majestic.

    On the Sophie Stage its more riffs as those amphibian doomers Froglord take to the BOA stage once again, with low end fuzz and swamp dwelling riffs to get a heavy start to the tent

    The pace will pick up considerably though from there with the crushing blackened death metal of the cinematic Outergods followed by the modern thrash aggression of Imperium which brings us neatly into thrash veterans Death Angel another long time visitor of BOA and another band who will get the pits moving.

    If this trio are the pace then the headliner are the heart, the incredible live show that is Leprous pulls into the Sophie for soemthing a bit different to the breakdown driven main bands on the RJD stage, wrapped in brilliant visuals, melodic and anthemic songs and Einar Solberg’s crystalline vocals, this will be much needed emotional catharsis after a heavy as hell day.

    Over to the other stages and you CANNOT miss for the New Blood Stage are M2TM South Wales winners INSCAPE who will storm the stage with their electronic driven modern metal sound, clashing and contrasting but delivered with intensity, they wowed everyone this year so get down early if the likes of Don Broco and Enter Shikari are your thing.

    Continuing the Welsh theme on the EMP stage make sure to catch up with stoner doom trio Goat Major who’ll be slinging riffs all the way from Wild West Wales, then Caerphilly rockers Cancel The Transmission will be getting you bouncing in between the mainstage acts, while the always incredible Dosed will be injecting some hardcore into your veins right in time for that Bleed From Within/Slaughter To Prevail closing duo.

    Sunday

    Breathless, tired, hungover, it’s into the last day and there’s some serious treats for you here, again starting with the RJD mainstage and fantasy metal crew Castle Rat, a band who have been on a huge upward trajectory will be kicking off Sunday with some sword waiving battle metal.

    From there it’s time for some nu metal originators now as the much lauded return of Kittie hits the Bloodstock stage, since reforming in 2024 and releasing their first new music in 13 years Morgan Lander and co look to fill the RJD stage with massive grooves.

    Speaking of grooves, Orbit Culture, and their Swedish mechanised metal will be looking to steamroll you with riffs straight from the Gothenburg scene and beyond, perfect soundtrack of anyone who still has the energy to pit.

    As the day progresses things get a bit more old school with thrashers Testament, ready to see you go Over The Wall as they roll into Bloodstock with over 40 years of thrashing behind them expect wall to wall thrash classics.

    Body Count, will be turning BOA into warzone with their aggressive, politically charged, crossover metal. One of the first bands to meld metal and rap, you can expect confrontational classics like There Goes The Neighborhood, Cop Killer and maybe even their cover of Comfortably Numb.

    To close out the Ronnie James Dio stage on the last day of the UKs premier metal festival, you need something a bit special and Bloodstock deliver with the Metal Gods themselves Judas Priest.

    Packing 50 years of British Steel into two hours means that you may not get every single brilliant track you want but we can guarantee you, their set will feature some of the best heavy metal anthems ever and also some deep cuts from their huge back catalogue.

    A celebration of heavy metal music to close out the weekend.

    However there still loads going on the other stages to as the with New Blood Stage hosting some crossover violence from Bristol ragers Overpower.

    The Sophie Lancaster stage plays host to some massive doom riffs courtesy of Acid Throne and Alunah, fuzz and distortion are the order of the day here getting your morning/early afternoon tinnitus juuuust right after three days of heavy music.

    Trivax then increase the stakes with blistering exile black metal, this Iranian, by way of the UK band combine black metal assault with themes of Middle Eastern heritage and a continuing fight against the oppression of the Iranian state. It will be brutal and uncompromising.

    Speaking of brutal masked madness from Mushroomhead as the revamped line up, now featuring three vocalists, will be spitting venom from their latest record Call Of The Devil along with some other prim cuts of industrial/alt metal from their chart topping career.

    Going down the weirder path Noisepicker take to the Sophie Stage with some D.I.Y doom blues punk, Harry Armstrong (ex-Orange Goblin) and Kieran Murphy have been delivering the experimental sound of Noisepicker since just before Lockdown and from there it’s only gotten weirder. Get down to get your noise picked.

    Back to a band who are a bit more conventional but always deliver, as Welsh alternative rockers Dream State will make sure to display just why there deserve such a high billing on the Sophie Stage, headliners in their own right, this will be a set field with modern anthems.

    Closing out the Sophie Stage will be the apocalyptic race that is Carpenter Brut. Thumping satanic synthwave with the best visuals you’ll get all weekend, Brut is part of the new wave of metal where the riffs and attitude of our denim and leather tribe combine with the processed beats and wonos of electronic dance music.

    If you’ve still got the energy, then be sure to throw some illicit shapes as the French producer/alchemist welcomed you to his Leather Temple.

    A full four days of this music we love so much, if you don’t like our suggestions then that’s fine seek out the bands that appeal to you, read through the bios on the Bloodstock page, use this week to do some pre-listening, but most of all enjoy the best celebration of heavy metal in the country!