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The final day of the Maid Of Stone 2026 event continued to dial up the enjoyment, with an embarrassment of riches from down and dirty rock’ n’ roll to the more progressive end, taking in all stops en route. A little bit of magic for everyone.

Maid of Stone Festival – Sunday 19 July 2026

Words: Liz Medhurst – Paul Monkhouse

Photography: Gina Smith

Germany’s Velvet Rush brought some hot and sweaty rollicking hard rock to Maid Of Stone, the Hamburg quartet hungry and ready to make the most of their half-hour slot.

Shake That Thing, Euphonia and Fire Spirit leave everyone shaken and stirred, and new song Nature Of The Beast sees lead singer Sandra Lian exercising her extraordinary range to jaw-dropping effect.

There was a sense that they were holding back a little, but considering that British Airways had lost all of their equipment, meaning that everything had been borrowed from The Almighty and other bands, we will cut them all the slack needed. 

Local band Queen Horizon were due to play on the Firestarter stage last year but had to cancel last minute. The alt rockers started well, with a lively energy, and had some interesting elements like the guest cello. Unfortunately, the sound was not always clear, and the vocals were not strong enough to really make an impact this time around. 

The former Biters frontman is back with a solo band, and Tuk Smith And The Restless Hearts shattered a peaceful Sunday afternoon in the best possible way.

Playing like his life depended on it, Smith delivered an onslaught of rock ‘n’ roll, controlled aggression channelled into his guitar playing. Blues power with a punk attitude and really tasty hooks and unashamedly influenced by Thin Lizzy. For many, he was the find of the festival. 

Following on from LN the previous day, it was Square Wild that captured hearts and minds by bending the rules on Firestarter for Sunday. Kinetic performances from Lucy Shevchuk and the band saw their own brew of prog, Metal and jazz explode in a welter of constantly shifting bodies and riffs from the stage, and the results were nothing short of incendiary.

Hounds, Kill The King and Masquerade have twisted hooks that stay for days and with their debut album due to be released shortly, the future of music is about to become a lot more interesting.

The return of Heavy Pettin is a very welcome one, the veteran Scottish outfit having emerged back onto the scene with a new album that has been taken to hearts in a way that surely brought both reassurance and gladness to Hamie and his bandmates.

A constant fixture of theatres and arenas in the mid ’80s, hearing the outfit smash out big hitters like In And Out Of Love was not just a heady blast of nostalgia but also a reminder of what great songwriters they are. The flame burns as brightly as ever.

Having just secretly signed their first record deal, making the triumphant announcement on stage, Silveroller were on a definite high, their blues-soaked rock blending the best of Bad Company and The Faces.

Unlike others who slavishly copy classic bands, this was a modern take done with style and flare(s) that just felt right, and with lead singer Jonnie Hodson’s Paul Rodgers soulful howl and easy bonhomie, it is not a stretch to see them reach the highs of Rival Sons.

Hip-shaking live rock ‘n’ roll of the finest order.

Over on the VIP Acoustic stage, Parker Barrow, currently on a UK tour with the full six-piece band performing their captivating cocktail of powerhouse southern rock, stripped it right back down to basics.

With only Megan Kane and Alex Bender armed with an acoustic guitar and a tambourine, this punchy and appealing set showed that if you have the songs and stagecraft, then you can rock out in any setting.

Later in the afternoon, Brave Rival took the full band approach and delivered a laid-back set of their live classics, complete with plenty of banter and the personal touch, delighting their many fans in the crowd. 

Times have changed for Glasgow trio Anchor Lane. The commercial pop-rock feel of their debut left long behind them for something much rougher and dirtier, with definite shades of Green Day.

Stuttering and groove-filled new single It’s The End, My Friend has enough heart and bite to make a docker dance, and with a set filled with such fine stuff, they are looking real contenders for Gun’s crown.

One of the most anticipated acts of the day was South Carolina blues rocker Hannah Wicklund, who took to the stage as a barefoot fairy queen and proceeded to knock everyone sideways with her commanding and incendiary guitar playing combined with soulful and gritty vocals.

Playing mainly as a power trio, with Kula Shaker’s Paul Winterhart on drums, the set ranged from full-on rock ‘n’ roll to something more otherworldly but always, always captivating, from one of the best guitarists in the park today.

Bringing on flute player Erin Clare took things into an almost psychedelic dimension, moving into heavy progressive territory. Speaking about the importance of stepping into power and using our voice, the finale of Neil Young’s Ohio made a strong statement.

Hannah has a new album out this August, and she is not holding back. Buckle up. It is going to be a wild ride. 

Ginger Wildheart is a warrior and a man who is built for this. His band The Wildhearts are a force of nature that epitomises all that makes rock music so earthy and thrilling.

Watching the band live is like witnessing a tightrope walker, the threat of everything falling into a glorious chaos at any minute utterly gripping. This latest line-up of the band crackles with danger but without the damaging razor-edge volatility of previous formations.

The Wildhearts these days are a joyous thing and times like these make memories and warm the heart for all welcomed into the family. 

It has been a busy year for Aethoria, the fast-rising quintet becoming a solid feature all over the country, and here, playing their biggest stage so far, they have a lot to prove.

Fiery-haired singer Mecia Jade Holden embodies the spirit of Boudica, leading her warriors into battle and hours spent on the road have certainly paid off, moulding them into a tight outfit.

New guitarist Jamie Gray has added some extra energy to the outfit, and Tamed and Bring Me Home are hook-filled delights that get the crowd gleefully punching the air, while Stepping Stones has turned into one of the most addictive sugar-rush songs of the year. 

Chez Kane may have seemed an odd choice to headline the Firestarter stage, but this really worked. The effervescent Welsh singer has skilfully tapped into the very best of the ’80s Glam and Hair Metal sounds that built FM radio stations, displaying that she has the voice and the emotion to bring back those halcyon days and give them a modern spin.

She is obviously doing something right, as the largest crowd she has played for was lapping up every moment, Too Late For Love and Wreckless displaying hooks so big that they could have trawled the English Channel.

Night Of Passion and Tongue Of Love may have brought a knowing nudge and wink, but you cannot fault the power and control in Kane’s vocals, and they proved that she is a very serious contender, albeit one who loves a bit of spandex.

So good, Chez Kane will bring back Walkmans.

Fresh from their triumphant opening slot at the huge EDDFEST, co-headliners The Almighty made the journey from Knebworth to Mote Park, bringing their muscular, hard driving greasy rock ‘n’ roll to shred the assembled masses.

Following fellow icon Ginger Wildheart, Ricky Warwick is another figure that encapsulates the pure, tattooed punk spirit of rock ‘n’ roll, and along with Floyd London, Stump Munroe and Tantrum, their last gang in town mentality shows a brotherhood bonded by blood and loud Marshall stacks.

With the piledriving intensity of an unstoppable run of numbers like Jonestown Mind, Wrench and Full Force Lovin’ Machine, this was a set full of the very best of their craft, the gentle Jesus Loves You…But I Don’t being the only respite from the exhilarating barrage.

By the time that a full-throttle Free And Easy wiped away any last shreds of resistance, it was game set and match for the Glasgow wrecking crew, and Warwick’s smile said it all. Magnificent.

And so to the final act of the festival with co-headliners Uriah Heep leading us out in style. The show may be billed as The Magician’s Farewell, but the band are not going anywhere. This is not a retirement, only a step back from long tours and globetrotting.

They are not going quietly either, having flown in from Frankfurt today, arriving just in time to take to the stage. 

After 56 years, we know what to expect from a Uriah Heep show, with plenty of hard-rocking pomp, proggy interludes and a liberal sprinkling of mysticism and magic.

Choose any track you like – The Magician’s Birthday, July Morning, Gypsy, Sweet Lorraine, The Wizard. It was wonderful to hear these live, in peerless Heep style. 

A hero’s welcome was given to guitarist and all-round legend Mick Box, who had to sit out the Scandinavian leg of the tour earlier in the year but is fully recovered now.

There is no sign of tiredness from any of the band, with vocalist Bernie Shaw retaining his clarity and enough of his higher range to make sure no song was compromised.

With a rip-roaring Easy Livin’ to see us out, we are already looking forward to next year. ‘Appy days indeed.

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Maid Of Stone: A Festival That Rocks

Now in its fourth year, Maid Of Stone has firmly established itself as a must-attend event for rock fans. With a wide variety of music styles covered, the festival’s reputation continues to grow.

MetalTalk’s 2026 team was Liz Medhurst, Paul Monkhouse with photography by Gina Smith.

Set to be a highlight of Festival Season, MetalTalk will have more news very soon. All our coverage for 2026 will be found MetalTalk.net/maid-of-stone.

Tickets are available now for 2027. For full details and to grab your tickets, visit MaidOfStoneFestival.com.

MetalTalk’s Maid Of Stone 2025 coverage can be found at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/maid-of-stone-festival-2025.

MetalTalk’s Maid Of Stone 2024 coverage can be found at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/maid-of-stone-festival-2024.

For MetalTalk’s Maid Of Stone 2023 coverage, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/maid-of-stone-festival-2023.

The post Magic Until The Final Note: Maid Of Stone Ends Another Memorable Weekend first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.

One audience member's defecation in the pit led to a messy and sickly situation in the moshpit at a recent Devilskin performance. Continue reading…

Krallice release a lot of music. Mick Barr and Colin Marston formed the experimental New York black metal band back in 2007, and their self-titled debut came out a year later. Since then, they have cranked out a ton of records. Today, they announce plans for their first-ever European tour, which is crazy to think about, and they also announce plans to follow 2024’s Inorganic Rites with a new double LP called Scour Order.

The post Krallice Announce New Album <em>Scour Order</em>: Hear “Living Useless Ritual” appeared first on Stereogum.

The Rolling Stones and audio masters Technics have collaborated to release a new set of limited-edition True Wireless earbuds.

The EAH-AZ100E1K in-ear headphones will officially launch on August 28, but with only 5000 units available, you’ll have to be super quick to able to pre-order a pair before they’re snapped up.

The branding is on-point, with the band’s iconic lips logo used on the charging case, with the group’s name scrawled on top of the unit in red. As for the earbuds themselves, they boast a 10mm magnetic fluid driver and aluminium diaphragm which help deliver “high-quality sound full of realism and energy across a wide frequency range.”

You’ll be able to listen to 10 hours of music with ANC activated from a full charge, and they carry an IPX4 water resistance rating.

You can connect up to three Bluetooth devices to the earbuds so you won’t have to through the hassle of re-pairing them when switching between your phone, laptop etc, and you’ll be able to tweak your EQ settings when listening to the new Stones album Foreign Tongues through the Technics app.

The Rolling Stones x Technics EAH-AZ100E1K earbuds are priced at $299/£259 with limited stocks available via Technics and Amazon.

(Andy Synn returns to the darkness with a revitalised Altarage and their new album, out Friday) There’s an excellent question that Sir Michael Caine once asked, and answered… “why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up again.” And, make no mistake about it, there’s certainly a pretty decent (and vocal) number […]

The post ALTARAGE – COGWHEEL appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.

It’s that time of year again where we talk to as many bands as we can who are raring to blow you away at Catton Park! Coventry nu-metalcore monsters Meet Your Maker will be opening the Stowford Press New Blood Stage bright and early on Friday at Bloodstock 2026. We previously reported on their confirmation … Continue reading Road To Bloodstock 2026: Meet Your Maker

Pavement have been working their way across America over the past week and a half, playing a short summer tour that suggests their reunion will continue on a small scale in perpetuity, which rules. That tour coincided with my family vacation, which does not rule, especially since they broke out a treasured rarity at the show closest to my home base.

The post Pavement Play “Greenlander” For The First Time In 34 Years appeared first on Stereogum.

It’s a blisteringly hot day. Streams of sweaty metalheads pour from the humid dark of the U-Bahn into the daylight, flinching like vampires. Berlin may be in the middle of a heatwave, but that hasn’t deterred most of this crowd from arriving at the Olympiastadion in our finest black. This is – by far – … Continue reading Gig Review: System of a Down / Queens of the Stone Age / Acid Bath – Olympiastadion, Berlin (July 8th, 2026)

A couple of months ago, Headsplit Records unleashed the debut album of a Norwegian band called Nedgravd. Promising the most evil of death metal in the vein of Infester, Molested, Imprecation, and such, this will not be an easy listen…

Bellowing riffs erupt into a cavernous onslaught of malevolent evil with thunderous drums and horrific vocals. The meandering sway of sacrilegious savagery is unnerving and has this raw and guttural production that perfectly suits the sound. Some of the vocals remind me of Glen Benton in Deicide’s earliest (and best) moments, but the riffing is far more akin to bands like Infester with their unusual and brutal occult atmosphere. With the low tuning, the guitars, bass, and drums sometimes merge into this destructive singular form of pulverising morbidity to then separate into vengeful entities in their own right. The off-kilter oddities in the drumming are totally killer and add to the disquieting feel of the record while those gargantuan guitars keep this ever-flowing molten essence of pure malice. Mixing higher and lower vocals, the demented and possessed snarls, howls, and growls could not be better suited to the darkened invocations of death they are performed on.

Worshiping at the profane altar of some of the most obscure and wicked death metal, Nedgravd manage to twist this sound into something of their own without tainting it in the slightest. This is an honourable tribute to older bands and yet something refreshing and totally different to most of what the current old-school death metal bands play. This is some putrid sorcery of epic proportions that will certainly leave most wimps buried. Along with the obvious death metal elements, there is an atmosphere that reminds me of certain US black metal such as Von, Demoncy, or Profanatica (along with Finland’s Beherit). Listen to the brief solo in “Paragon of Impiety” – it’s total madness that only an adherent of Trey Azagthoth could come up with! These Norwegian maniacs fully get what death metal should be!

Utilising their longer songs to explore charnel pathways many dare not enter, Nedgravd takes us to a place death metal rarely visits. Sampling of such perfect movies as The Devil Rides Out (1968) further elevates the experience, which is something I am totally engrossed in from the very start and find my attention utterly bewitched and bound by “Ascension” until the end. I remember being a kid, the first time I heard Deicide and Morbid Angel, and being a mixture of excited and scared. Nedgravd perfectly encapsulates that rare feeling many of us chase in death metal that has become so rare thanks to a huge abundance of tamer, safer, and simply less exhilarating material. Nedgravd, conversely, feels truly and profoundly vicious.

Primitive occult evil, this is death metal for those maniacs who preferred the obscurities of the 90s, which were perhaps overlooked next to more technical or groovy bands (or alternatively, they were simply saved for the elite few and never meant for fickle trend-chasers). Either way, Nedgravd pour fuel on the embers of occult death metal and ignite a blazing inferno of evil for the underground dwellers who deserve to hear it. An incredibly strong and impressive debut that embodies everything I want in an obscure, twisted, and suffocating death metal record.

“Do you believe in the power of darkness? The power of darkness is more than just a superstition. It is a living force, which can be tapped at any given moment of the night…”

Andy LaRocque has broken his silence on his shock exit from King Diamond, telling fans the split after more than 40 years was mutual, friendly and respectful — while the man stepping into his shoes, Gus G., has responded to stunned fans with a video message revealing that LaRocque personally reached out to wish him well. The Greek guitar hero also confirmed he’s already working with King Diamond on new music, including the long-awaited “Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920” album.

STREAM THE METAL BREAKDOWN DAILY NOW:

Scott Penfold breaks down the biggest lineup shakeup in metal this year on today’s Metal Breakdown Daily — what Andy LaRocque’s exit really means for King Diamond, why the Gus G. era might arrive faster than you think, and where Lex Legion fits into all of it. Download the free Loaded Radio App on Apple iOS and Google Play and take the show with you.

Andy Speaks: No Drama, Just A New Chapter

When the news dropped Friday that Andy LaRocque and King Diamond were done after four decades, the metal world braced for the messy part. It never came.

On Sunday, the 63-year-old Swedish guitarist — the only musician besides King himself to play on every King Diamond studio album — posted a message to fans confirming what the band’s statement had already suggested. Leaving what he described as a family after 40-plus years of music, friendship and memories wasn’t easy, he said, but the two sides “mutually decided to part ways in a respectful and friendly manner,” with both camps wishing each other the best.

And Andy’s next move is already in motion. His full focus now is Lex Legion — the band that reunites four-fifths of King Diamond’s classic late-’80s lineup, with LaRocque joined by drummer Mikkey Dee, guitarist Pete Blakk and bassist Hal Patino, plus Pagan’s Mind vocalist Nils K. Rue out front. Their self-titled debut is out now through MNRK Music Group, and Andy has been adamant in interviews that Lex Legion material is its own beast — not recycled King Diamond songs from his vault.

Think about what’s actually ending here. Andy co-founded King Diamond with the King out of the ashes of Mercyful Fate in 1985. Abigail. Them. Conspiracy. That melodic, neo-classical lead voice woven through every horror story King ever told on record — that’s LaRocque. Forty years, twelve albums, zero bad blood on the way out. In this business, that’s practically a miracle.

We Also Recommend – King Diamond’s Wildest Stories You Probably Don’t Know

Gus G. Answers The Shock — And Drops A Detail Nobody Expected

Meanwhile, the new guy gets it. In a video message posted Sunday, Gus G. — the Firewind founder and former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist announced Friday as King Diamond’s new full-time guitarist, writer and touring member — addressed the elephant in the room head-on. He acknowledged fans are shocked, called LaRocque a legend whose shoes will be an honor to step into, and thanked King for choosing him, saying “it’s a big, big honor for me.”

Then came the detail that tells you everything about how friendly this split really is: Gus revealed that Andy — who he calls a buddy — sent him a personal message wishing him well in the gig. The outgoing legend texting his own replacement to say good luck. You don’t get that in the messy breakups.

Gus also made it clear he’s not walking in as a hired gun. He says he’ll bring his own vibe while honoring the catalog on stage — and that he’s even more excited about writing new music with King and finally getting the long-gestating album moving. That would be “Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920,” the first chapter of King’s planned horror trilogy, which has been in the works with ten tracks on the board for a while now — and which King has been promising in various forms since before the pandemic derailed everything.

His resume backs the confidence. Born Konstantinos Karamitroudis in Thessaloniki, Greece, Gus has fronted Firewind for over two decades and ten albums, spent 2009 to 2017 as Ozzy’s lead guitarist — playing on the Grammy-nominated “Scream” — and guested with everyone from Bruce Dickinson to Arch Enemy. The man can flat-out play.

Check Out – King Diamond Guitarist Gives Timeline Update on “Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920” Album—And You’re Probably Not Gonna Like It

What Happens Now

So here’s the scoreboard: Andy rides off with Lex Legion and his Sonic Train Studios empire, King Diamond gets a world-class shredder with fresh fuel in the tank, and the album fans have waited years for suddenly has real momentum again. Everybody’s working, nobody’s feuding, and the King remains the most delightfully unbothered man in metal.

The Gus G. era of King Diamond starts now. Strange days. Good ones, though.

Also Check Out – Lex Legion Debut “Sleep Eternally” — King Diamond Icons Finally Reveal Their Sound

TL;DR

• Andy LaRocque confirmed Sunday that his exit from King Diamond after more than 40 years was mutual, friendly and respectful, with both sides wishing each other well.
• LaRocque’s focus is now Lex Legion, featuring fellow King Diamond alumni Mikkey Dee, Pete Blakk and Hal Patino with Pagan’s Mind singer Nils K. Rue — their self-titled debut is out now via MNRK.
• Gus G. (Firewind, ex-Ozzy Osbourne) responded to fan shock in a video message, revealing LaRocque personally messaged him to wish him well.
• Gus joins King Diamond as a full member who will write, record and tour — and says he’s excited to finally get the “Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920” album moving.
• LaRocque co-founded King Diamond in 1985 and is the only musician besides King to appear on all twelve of the band’s studio albums.

FAQ

Metalheads, be honest — can anyone truly fill Andy LaRocque’s shoes in King Diamond, or is Gus G. exactly the right call? Drop your take in the comments, and follow Loaded Radio for daily rock and metal news.

The post Andy LaRocque Breaks His Silence On Leaving King Diamond After 40 Years — And The Private Message He Sent To The Man Replacing Him Says It All. appeared first on Loaded Radio.