07/07 Update on the story: at this point, it appears that many of the original claims may not be true. In recent days, troubling allegations have surfaced online involving Rob Barrett, guitarist of the legendary death metal band Cannibal Corpse. The accusations, originally shared via social media, come from a […]
Metal stories
Epic Hangover or Spiritual Awakening? Revisiting Uriah Heep’s ‘July Morning’
Dedicated to the first of July. If you’ve ever wondered what it would sound like if a sunrise had a nervous breakdown, regrouped, and then soared to the heavens in a symphonic blaze of glory, July Morning by Uriah Heep is your answer. This nearly eleven-minute juggernaut of swirling organ, […]
Who’s the Richest in System Of A Down? The Net Worth Smackdown You Didn’t Know You Needed
When System Of A Down aren’t melting your face with chaotic time signatures, politically charged lyrics, and more tempo changes than a caffeinated jazz band, they’re apparently stacking cash in wildly creative ways. The eternal question among fans (and nosy financial bloggers) remains: Who’s the richest member of System of […]
The Guantanamo Greatest Hits Playlist: When Torture Met Stadium Rock, Death Metal, and Barney
When President Obama pledged in 2009 to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, civil rights advocates applauded. But music critics? They might’ve sighed in conflicted relief. You see, beyond the legal black holes and orange jumpsuits, Gitmo became known for something else entirely: its unhinged, dystopian playlist. And yes — […]
Indigenous Metal from the Mapuche Nation: Mawiza’s Acoustic “Mamüll Reke” Echoes Through the Forest
Some bands go acoustic and suddenly sound like a coffeehouse act trying to impress a Tinder date. Not Mawiza. The Chilean Mapuche metal collective have just released an unplugged version of their towering single “Mamüll Reke,” and while the amps may be off, the voltage is still very much on. […]
THE KOVENANT and the Fall of Astennu – When Stage Demons Follow You Home
By now, many fans of industrial black metal have caught wind of the headline-making news: The Kovenant have officially parted ways with longtime guitarist Jamie “Astennu” Stinson, replacing him with Mayhem’s Charles Hedger, aka Ghul. At first glance, it seemed like just another internal shake-up, the kind that happens in […]
Gothic Baby Names: A Dark and Enchanting Guide for the Morbidly Curious
If you’ve ever looked at a birth certificate and thought, “Hmm, why not name the baby after a demon, poisonous plant, or ancient deity of the underworld?”—then you, my friend, may be in the market for a gothic baby name. The following list is both eerie and elegant, a compilation […]
Mourning High to Represent U.S. at 2025 Wacken Open Air
The final round of the 2025 Wacken Metal Battle USA took place on June 21st at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ, where six regional champions competed for the chance to play one of the world’s biggest metal festivals, Wacken Open Air in Germany. Southern California and Arizona-based Mourning High (West Coast Winner) emerged victorious, […]
Wolfgang Van Halen Bows Out of Black Sabbath’s Final Farewell Show
One less star will rise over Birmingham this summer. Wolfgang Van Halen has officially withdrawn from Black Sabbath’s highly anticipated Back to the Beginning farewell show, set for July 5 at Villa Park. The concert, already shaping up to be one of the most epic send-offs in metal history, will […]
The Cons and Pros of Going to Tribute Metal Bands Shows
(Spoiler: You might cry, but it won’t be because of the solos) ❌ CONS: 1. It’s Not the Real Band. You Know It. They Know It. The Bartender Knows It. That dude in spandex pretending to be Bruce Dickinson works in IT during the week. And when he yells “Scream […]