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, […]
Metal stories
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 Wolfgang Van Halen has officially withdrawn from Black Sabbath’s highly anticipated Back to the Beginning farewell show, set for July 5 at Villa Park.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 […]
145 people reportedly ‘pricked’ in syringe attack at music festival in France
Police in France say that 14 people have been arrested after 145 people reported being ‘pricked’, possibly by syringes, at a nationwide music festival on Saturday. Most of the victims were women and the attacks happened during France’s annual “Festival of Music” — Fête de la Musique — which is […]
Blood, Glam, and Guillotines: 10 Well-Known and Unknown Facts About Lizzy Borden (62 Today and Still Raising Hell)
The stage may be soaked in fake blood, but the legacy is real. Lizzy Borden, the man, the band, the legend, turns 62 today. Known for his glam-heavy image, horror-themed theatrics, and catchy metal anthems, he’s carved out a career that’s as flashy as it is surprisingly enduring. Whether you […]
25 Rules for Going to a Metal Concert
What are yours, bro?.. 1. Wear the band’s shirt that you’re there to seeYes, everyone already knows you’re here for Cannibal Corpse. But unless your shirt says it in blood, how will they really know? Bonus points if you bought it at their 2006 tour and haven’t washed it since. […]
MUGSHOT Roar Back with Long-Awaited Sophomore Album, All The Devils Are Here
San Jose’s heaviest export doesn’t hold back—again. It took nearly a decade, but MUGSHOT has officially clawed their way back into the metalcore/hardcore spotlight with the release of All The Devils Are Here, out now via Pure Noise Records. Yes, the wait has been long—but judging by the sound of […]
SADIST in Hot Water After Secret Russian Gigs Leak – Fans Erupt in Backlash
Well, that escalated quickly. Italian progressive death metal band SADIST, known for their technical prowess and longevity in the scene, has found themselves in a very non-musical maelstrom after it emerged that they plan to play two shows in Russia this autumn—a fact they didn’t exactly shout from the rooftops. […]
Cryptopsy Premiere ‘An Insatiable Violence’: Brutality Reforged, Legacy Untarnished
Canada’s most depraved death metal institution, Cryptopsy, are back — and no, they haven’t mellowed out with age. In fact, An Insatiable Violence, their ninth full-length album, might be the most savage and strangely catchy thing they’ve unleashed yet. Out officially on June 20 via Season of Mist, the album […]
“The Turning”: BASK Announce Heavy Psychedelic New Album
Swirling Sci-Fi Meets Southern Roots in the Band’s Most Ambitious Record Yet Ever since they rumbled out of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bask have stood apart from the typical Southern heavy crowd. Gritty but cosmic, rooted but forward-thinking — the Asheville-based band has always carved their own trail. “It’s really […]