Category: Music

Yes, no Squire (LouderSound)

Saturday Night Live will also celebrate half century with Lady Gaga, Post Malone, Arcade Fire, Devo and The B-52s (LouderSound)

Musicians across the globe have paid tribute to Marianne Faithfull, who has passed away in London (LouderSound)

Jered Threatin has released a new single, Die Young, with a video that chronicles his fight against life-threatening illness (LouderSound)

The death of singer, actress, author and icon Marianne Faithfull has been confirmed by her spokesperson (LouderSound)

Black Country, New Road will release their new album Forever Howlong in April (LouderSound)

Inspired by a passion for Bond movies, she investigates movie glamour, fake mediums, teenage drinking and her smutty partner in her third solo album – the first one she’s made at home (LouderSound)

I’ve written about Sleep Token, Metallica and Bring Me The Horizon many, many times, but this is the first time I’ve done a list with a time-travelling slug on it (LouderSound)

Here’s why I think Tango In The Night is Fleetwood Mac’s greatest record (LouderSound)

Roger Waters’ The Dark Side Of The Moon Redux Super Deluxe box set features the original album on gold vinyl, a live version and more (LouderSound)

No-one tell Liam Gallagher that Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy aren’t real, the poor lamb is still getting over the shock of learning that Spinal Tap aren’t who he thought they were (LouderSound)

Nick Cave nominates the “amazing work of art” that he’d like played to soundtrack his passing into the afterlife (LouderSound)

Welsh metal band’s drummer Arya Goggin hails the Genesis icon and reveals some of his secrets (LouderSound)

In 2008, just days before he was sacked by Velvet Revolver, Scott Weiland told the uncensored story of his deteriorating relationship with the band (LouderSound)

SNL’s first night: Drugs, obscenity, and a fight for the soul of America (LouderSound)

The best songs by Bad Company, the supergroup who took blues rock to the stadiums of America (LouderSound)

From greedy politicians to male mental health, Massive Wagons stuck their necks out on 2024’s Earth To Grace album (LouderSound)

Your Move / I’ve Seen All Good People comes from the upcoming live album Live – Perpetual Change (LouderSound)

Wishbone Ash – At The BBC 1970-1988 features eleven discs of BBC sessions and a live DVD of Old Grey Whistle Test performances (LouderSound)

The world’s premier Irish language hip-hop trio announce fall tour plans (LouderSound)

Eddie Van Halen was the master of shredding, but he was capable of so much more as well, says Testament’s longtime guitarist (LouderSound)

The year 2000 gave us massive releases from Deftones, Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit, but these 10 albums flew under the radar (LouderSound)

Listen to Bring Me The Horizon put a metal spin on a Britpop classic here (LouderSound)

“Come out, cut a rug, sweat with us” (LouderSound)

Formed of sisters Nyrobi and Chaya Beckett-Messam, Alt Blk Era are spinning metal, hip hop and EDM into irresistibly fun new shapes (LouderSound)

America, the Sex Pistols are coming for you, again (LouderSound)

Sleep Token headlining Download! A long-awaited Mastodon album! Polyphia x Babymetal?! This is why forward-thinking metal will have a banner year in 2025 (LouderSound)

How Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp wound up featuring on Oasis’ first blues song (LouderSound)

All the evidence you need to be convinced the hard-living singer-songwriter was as progressive as they come (LouderSound)

In 1969 an exciting new supergroup was born – but the story of Humble Pie is one of frustration and crushing disappointment (LouderSound)

Steve Lukather on the band’s younger audience, the continued success of Africa, and that weird art installation in the Namibian desert (LouderSound)

Would you like fries with that? (LouderSound)

Vivian Campbell missed Def Leppard’s recent show in Leon, Mexico, as he recuperated from a bone marrow transplant (LouderSound)

Rush 50 celebrates the band’s half-century in a variety of formats featuring seven previously unreleased tracks, out in March (LouderSound)

Burdened with debt, ignored by their label and used as a sweetener in a hush-hush deal, the band delivered one of the most progressive records of all time to no avail – but always believed it was an artistic success (LouderSound)

Want to get into Australian psych-wizards King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard but intimidated by their 26 album-strong catalogue? Fear not, we’ve whittled down the lot to their finest five for your listening pleasure in this definitive list (LouderSound)

Listen to Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap’s H.O.O.D. re-imagined for 2025 in even more intense, hard-hitting fashion (LouderSound)

Peal Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready covered a Bob Dylan classic at one of the most star-studded concerts ever staged in New York, then headed out for beers with the folk-rock legend (LouderSound)

UK prog rockers IQ will release their twelfth studio album Dominion in March (LouderSound)

“British music fans have a special place in the world of music, and I’m privileged that my songs are a part of that,” Haywards says as he announces October dates (LouderSound)

Incensed by the band having a song cut from their set last-minute, Tim Commerford marched into the dressing room of guest host Steve Forbes and drew the ire of the Secret Service (LouderSound)

Alice Cooper’s new dates come in addition to his already-announced European tour schedule (LouderSound)

Fuelled by jazz, socialism and an absurdist slant on the world around him, the retired Canterbury icon’s instincts served him well during a remarkable career (LouderSound)

Led Zeppelin may be the greatest rock band of all time, but they weren’t perfect – and here’s the proof (LouderSound)

Nick Cave chose eight favourite songs on the long-running BBC Radio show (LouderSound)

For Luck And Strange David Gilmour assembled a team that produced “the best album I’ve made since The Dark Side Of The Moon” (LouderSound)

Orianthi was originally brought in to replace Nita Strauss on Alice Cooper’s upcoming tour (LouderSound)

Rating the storied career of one of modern metal’s most important bands as they head out on tour to celebrate 20 years of Ascendancy (LouderSound)

Steven Wilson will release The Overview, a concept album featuring two long-form pieces of music, on March 14 (LouderSound)

The California blackgaze darlings will release Lonely People With Power, their first album in four years, on March 28 (LouderSound)

Including Larkin Poe, Ricky Warwick, the Doobie Brothers and five other rockin’ rebels, rampagers and rioters (LouderSound)

Pick up a 2LP version of Wardruna’s shamanic new album, along with a signed memento you won’t find anywhere else (LouderSound)

Carlos Alomar and George Murray to undertake the D.A.M. Trilogy – Back To Berlin Tour in November and December (LouderSound)

The design also references Brazilian culture and Slipknot’s late founding drummer, Joey Jordison (LouderSound)

The annual Teenage Cancer Trust shows will take place at the Royal Albert Hall in March (LouderSound)

Released in between Pink Floyd’s Animals and The Wall, David Gilmour’s self-titled solo album laid the groundwork for future releases (LouderSound)

Bizarre instrumentation and avant-garde construction made Mike Patton and co’s second album a curveball of epic proportions (LouderSound)

Children Of Bodom did as much as HIM and Nightwish to put Finnish metal on the map (LouderSound)

Watch all the action unfold in Worcestershire’s rowdiest kitchen (LouderSound)

Timothée Chalamet has been widely praised and Oscar-nominated for his portrayal of the young Bob Dylan (LouderSound)

Rock And Roll Party Cowboy comes from The Darkness’s upcoming eighth studio album Dreams On Toast (LouderSound)

Lead vocalist Kobi Farhi explains why 2018 album Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs echoes the ancient message: “dictators live forever – only the good die young“ (LouderSound)

They started the 80s in drug-addled disarray and ended it bigger than ever (LouderSound)

The alt-metal classic that came out of nowhere and changed everything (LouderSound)

The award-winning Shameless, Silk and The Village actress finds inspiration in the genre’s theatrics – and explains why she feels it’s a summertime experience (LouderSound)

They ended the 1960s opening for Led Zeppelin in the US and ended the 70s headlining multiple nights at Madison Square Garden (LouderSound)

Had he not seen the light, we would’ve been deprived of one of the synth-rock titans’ all-time great songs (LouderSound)

The story of the second coming of Celtic Frost (LouderSound)

John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells – Blues Brothers and former SNL icon Dan Aykroyd knows his blues (LouderSound)

There were revelations galore about Steve Hackett’s twenty-fifth studio album At The Edge Of Light (LouderSound)

Jesse Leach tried to write “words of wisdom” for Killswitch Engage’s next album, but it ended up containing the angriest songs of their career (LouderSound)

The story of Scott Weiland’s final Stone Temple Pilots album (LouderSound)

Oli Sykes pulled himself of the darkness for BMTH’s 2015 album That’s The Spirit (LouderSound)

The Machina standout, which turns 25 next month, marked the beginning of the end for the alt-rock heroes’ first phase (LouderSound)

Playing with Bowie and Sabbath,. boozing with Keith Moon, hanging out with Lennon – Rick Wakeman has done it all (LouderSound)

The album that kicked Motley Crue to the next level – and nearly killed them (LouderSound)

Listen to Roger Taylor’s isolated drum tracks from three different versions of Queen’s first album highlight Liar (LouderSound)

After a four year investigation, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman says sexual assault charges levelled at Marilyn Manson could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt (LouderSound)

World, meet the Red Hot Chili Peppers, you’ll be seeing quite a lot of them in the future, like it or not (LouderSound)

Dark Nordic folk collective’s sixth album takes the listener into hibernation and on to the new spring (LouderSound)

Burned out in 2021, Big Brave’s Robin Wattie looked to accounts of “women, people of colour and queers” to draw strength and inspiration to keep going (LouderSound)

The nu metal titans have released the footage to promote an a cappella version of latest album From Zero (LouderSound)

Dream Theater, Killswitch Engage and Electric Callboy lead a stacked week of brilliant new metal singles. Plus, vote for your favourite! (LouderSound)

The now-Suicidal Tendencies drummer played two Slipknot songs during a recent clinic in Paris (LouderSound)

Pennyghael House, a nine-room mansion on the Isle of Mull once owned by Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, is up for sale:, and in need of some love and attention (LouderSound)

Despite picking up awards at film festivals all over the world in 2024, Kneecap’s biopic hasn’t made the Oscars setlist (LouderSound)

In 1999, longtime Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain threatened to leave the band over the prospect of an extra guitarist (LouderSound)

Great new prog to enjoy from Penelope Trappes, Mission Jupiter, Liquid Bear and more… (LouderSound)

As one of the leading figures behind the Nordic folk renaissance, Einar Selvik returns to claim the crown with Birna (LouderSound)

His 13th album, self-performed except for drums, is another example of his fathomless imagination and instrumental prowess (LouderSound)

Love Linkin Park but hate the music? This is the album for you! (LouderSound)

Julie Christmas explains the weird and wonderful processes behind Ridiculous And Full Of Blood (LouderSound)

The film tells the story of Sly & The Family Stone’s rise and fall, and examines the difficulties facing successful Black artists in America (LouderSound)

11th album, which follows No.1 hit As The Love Continues, is a confident and competent helping of their curiously uplifting dourness (LouderSound)

Boston legends Aerosmith will play at a charity event early next month (LouderSound)

In 1980 Stevie Nicks stepped out of Fleetwood Mac with a hit-laden debut solo album that showed she could fly just as high on her own (LouderSound)

Nashville siblings return with an album as earthy as the dust blown up by a Tennessee gale (LouderSound)

Acoustic Sessions features original vocal parts from Lynott paired with brand-new pieces from founding guitarist Eric Bell (LouderSound)

10cc’s new single also features the first new song from Graham Gouldman and Kevin Godley in nearly 20 years (LouderSound)

The weather in the UK at the moment is awful – but with EMP offering up to 60% off clothing, it’s the perfect time to get wrapped up (LouderSound)

Vocalist with a one-off voice talked writing hits, co-founding Streetwalkers, going solo and overseeing the emotional reunion as he marked the launch of his most recent album (LouderSound)

Body Count frontman and self-professed Slayer superfan Ice-T talks the return of the Big Four’s most notorious band (LouderSound)

“Everything that I always say about this can be related to sex in some way,” the legendary guitarist admits (LouderSound)

“These hues are our grunge heroes with a sexy AF personality.” Of course they are hun (LouderSound)

Influenced by the confusion and hostility that followed 9/11, Kreator wrote an anarchic thrasher that continued their 2000s comeback (LouderSound)

As Musk denies throwing a Nazi salute at the inauguration of President Donald Trump on Monday, the singer of Lamb Of God puts the “complete ***hole” on blast (LouderSound)

When Chicago founder Terry Kath accidentally killed himself, the world was robbed of one of its greatest guitarists (LouderSound)

“This band can save rock”, At The Drive-In’s record company boldly declared as the Texan post-hardcore band prepared to release their third album, Relationship of Command. But six months later, the band fell apart. Now we know why (LouderSound)

Listen to the previously unheard Hot For You Baby, which comes from the 40th anniversary edition of Tina Turner’s classic Private Dancer album (LouderSound)

From ska-punk/metalcore crossovers to industrial threesomes, these team-ups showed metal is more collaborative than ever (LouderSound)

They’ve got a ballsy singer and catchy songs. Sharon Osbourne was their manager, Guns N’ Roses were their mates. So why aren’t The Quireboys living in mansions? (LouderSound)

Iron Maiden have written songs about dinosaurs, the Second World War and many, many things in between. So, here’s the history of Planet Earth as told through the metal legends’ lyrics. (LouderSound)

Dream Theater’s will release Parasomnia, their first new album with Mike Portnoy for 16 years, in February (LouderSound)

Beck’s touring Stratocaster also sold for over £1 million – and the money will all go to help baby animals (LouderSound)

The tour will feature guest appearances from Steve Winwood, Buddy Guy, Little Feat, Duane Betts and more (LouderSound)

Coldplay share 44-minute “multimedia tapestry” A Film For The Future (LouderSound)

“This band had at its very core a contradiction…” (LouderSound)

Will Ramos of Lorna Shore can be seen screaming his guts up and, in a real rarity, singing his heart out in the video for Employed To Serve’s excellent new single, Atonement (LouderSound)

One Metal Hammer writer looks back on the scarring effects of the video for Metallica’s One, released on January 22, 1989 (LouderSound)

New version of post-rock legends Talk Talk’s Best Of has been re-ordered to run chronologically (LouderSound)

Original bassist Mark Andes embraces what they achieved – but regrets they weren’t able to offer the support that “keystone” member Randy California needed (LouderSound)

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have confirmed they’ll be trotting across the globe from June to September (LouderSound)

Pure punkoid speed: Bad Nerves at London’s Electric Ballroom (LouderSound)

A superlative slab of CD-slinging convenience – with a soft sting in the tail (LouderSound)

Toto guitarist Steve Lukather shares what he thinks of Weezer’s take on their 1982 classic Africa, says that he tried to reach out to Rivers Cuomo but “it just got weird” (LouderSound)

The London metal crew will play in Europe and the US in spring and summer, and then… that’s all, folks! (LouderSound)

The original lineup of Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward will join just 50 others in being recognised as Freemen by the City Of Birmingham (LouderSound)

“It’s not a movie, it’s a cultural movement.” The story behind Ice Nine Kills’ ultra-gory Terrifier 3 tie-in A Work Of Art (LouderSound)

Leading lights of the UK’s psychedelic revolution, Hawkwind’s early days were a fug of good trips, bad trips, free-form chaos and dancing gazelles (LouderSound)

Five prog musicians explain the lasting impact of Andy Latimer’s band (LouderSound)

From wowing audiences at Eurovision to selling out dates of her headline tour, 2024 was a massive year for Bambie Thug – and they’re just getting started (LouderSound)

A rare interview with the late John Sykes, who died this week at the age of 65 – and some personal memories from Myles Kennedy (LouderSound)

The Let’s Do It Again tour will be Peter Frampton’s third since his supposed final dates in 2020 (LouderSound)

Faith No More haven’t played live since 2015 and co-founder Bill Gould admits that he’s as clueless as anyone else as to whether the band have a future (LouderSound)

Keyboard player Garth Hudson, who also played with Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Roger Waters and more, has died aged 87 (LouderSound)

Kraftwerk will release a new Dolby Atmos mix of Autobahn on Blu-ray and digitally, as well as their first official vinyl picture disc in March (LouderSound)

It’s a new era for ‘old’ tech, as evidenced by these forward-thinking portable CD players from FiiO, Lenco, Philips and more (LouderSound)

When their acclaimed third record became difficult to escape, guitarist and vocalist Asger Mygind knew what its follow-up needed to be – but had no idea how to make it happen (LouderSound)

Former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley fell down many, many times…and once even almost died on stage (LouderSound)

The Iron Maiden singer faced off against a three-time Olympic medallist and concluded, “He’s not bad.” (LouderSound)

Mikael Åkerfeldt looks back on the time he was starstruck after meeting fellow Swedish legend, Agnetha Fältskog from ABBA (LouderSound)

We’ve all had rough days at work, but walking up to your shop’s window and seeing it covered in faeces is a new level of nightmarish (LouderSound)

“‘Do you see them in 10 years being the greatest thing since sliced bread?’ No, not a chance!” (LouderSound)

Southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd have also announced a Canadian tour with The Outlaws (LouderSound)

When the Sex Pistols re-formed with three original members plus singer Frank Carter, they hadn’t sounded so vital in years. And there’s more to come (LouderSound)

System Of A Down have a storied career, and Serj has spoken on one of the most challenging support slots the band experienced in their early days (LouderSound)

Twists of fate prevented him from following his original ambitions – but his band still use Robert Fripp’s music at sound checks (LouderSound)

Life isn’t always easy leading the yellow and black attack (LouderSound)

With over 2.2 billion views on YouTube, Guns N’ Roses’ epic video for November Rain is one of the most-watched rock videos in history. Guitarist Slash has vivid memories of the shoot, not least because he thought that it might be his last day on earth (LouderSound)

The death of John Sykes, whose contributions to Whitesnake spurred them to become one of the biggest-selling bands of the eighties, has been confirmed (LouderSound)

Katatonia’s upbeat, up-tempo Sky Void Of Stars was born from the need for adrenaline at a time when the stage felt very far away…. (LouderSound)

From Joni Mitchell to David Bowie via Billy Bragg, Led Zeppelin and Frank Zappa, here are eight songs that made Du Blonde the bold and brilliant artist that she is (LouderSound)

During an appearance on BBC News ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, Kid Rock couldn’t quite contain himself over hearing the sound of a female journalist’s voice and invites said professional skiing (LouderSound)

Including Skunk Anansie, Billy F Gibbons, Thundermother and five other storm bringers and lightning riders (LouderSound)

We catch up with Ukrainian metallers Jinjer ahead of new album Duél (LouderSound)

R.E.M frontman Michael Stipe is calling for a boycott of all Meta-owned social media platforms due to policies allegedly enabling a rise of far-right content across America (LouderSound)

Nightwish might not have been on the road in 2024, but they still put out one of the year’s best albums (LouderSound)

Mick Jones steered Foreigner to instant success, but with a self-confessed “bit of a control freak” at the helm it was often far from plain sailing (LouderSound)

The best albums from producer Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange, unparalleled audio perfectionist and man with the Midas touch, whose sonics sent the careers of AC/DC and Def Leppard soaring (LouderSound)

Return To Ommadawn was a fresh exploration of the ideas on his third album – complete with a vinyl gatefold sleeve offering “hours of enjoyment” (LouderSound)

Blonde On Blonde is the album that saw Bob Dylan complete the transition from folk to rock artist (LouderSound)

Vivian Campbell has missed both shows Def Leppard have played since the finish of last year’s Summer Stadium Tour (LouderSound)

How a sci-fi obsessed British rock group influenced a key track on Trivium’s breakthrough Ascendancy album (LouderSound)

The birth of American rock’s original Crazy Gang (LouderSound)

“The producer was saying, ‘You guys suck! You can’t play!’ I don’t know if that was a tactic to get us to perform better!”: How Cathedral reinvented doom metal for a new generation (LouderSound)

Lzzy Hale grew up watching 80s rock stars on TV. In 2024, she got to be one, playing with a beloved childhood band (LouderSound)

Launching his career in middle-age, he found a huge range of kindred spirits like John Hackett, Sally Minnear and Oliver Wakeman – who understand he doesn’t need to make money, but doesn’t want to lose it either (LouderSound)

It’s 30 years since the Athens, Georgia legends began a huge tour to support Monster and frontman Stipe had no choice but to up the flamboyance in his frontman game (LouderSound)

Sober for 14 years, Lamb Of God frontman says he of all people can’t complain about drunkards getting on his nerves (LouderSound)

Tool’s Fear Inoculum won praise from just about everyone –but Hatebreed singer Jasta was not a fan (LouderSound)

And no, it’s not by Metallica, Slayer or Mercyful Fate (LouderSound)

A 2013 audience with an unexpectedly calm and approachable Dave Mustaine (LouderSound)

Grand Magus’s JB Christoffersson, Wardruna’s Einar Selvik and mediaeval history lecturer Simon Trafford explain why heavy music can’t get enough of Viking culture (LouderSound)

Bowie, Bolan, Thin Lizzy – producer Tony Visconti has worked with them all (LouderSound)

Thom Yorke first performed the band’s much-loved 1995 single with his previous group Headless Chickens, and there’s video evidence (LouderSound)

“We were weeping like little babies, trying to figure out whether to continue, and if so how”: How HIM pulled back from the brink to make their final album Tears On Tape (LouderSound)

If I Could Only Remember My Name, created during a challenging time in the folk rock icon’s life, demonstrated joy in artistic freedom as he pushed boundaries to prove his uniqueness (LouderSound)

The band brought together members of Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Screaming Trees and they emerged with one of the most underrated rock records of the 90s (LouderSound)

Scorpions were due to commence their Planet Hollywood residency next month (LouderSound)

Drugged up, boozed up and almost washed up, Mötley Crüe went into rehab, came out and recorded a classic of the late-80s LA metal scene: Nikki Sixx takes us back (LouderSound)

Architects, Alien Weaponry and Whitechapel are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite! (LouderSound)

They achieve the feat in the video for disorienting new single Lexington Delirium, which features spoken-word narration from Meshuggah’s Tomas Haake (LouderSound)

Trent Reznor testifies to the mind-expanding wonders of his teenage record collection (LouderSound)

New year – new prog, from Tiberius, Rendezvous Point, Seventh Station, Teramaze and more… (LouderSound)

Haken’s Charlie Griffiths will release his second solo album Gods Of Pangea under the Tiktaalika banner in March (LouderSound)

Classics by Judas Priest, Metallica, Black Sabbath and more all make the cut (LouderSound)

Released in 1971, the African-tinged record pioneered what would become world music, and took prog into fresh new waters too. (LouderSound)

The announcement of The Dust Coda’s new frontman comes ahead of a UK tour in March (LouderSound)

A shiny gold vinyl release as Frank Black’s crowning solo glory hits 30 (LouderSound)

Canadian maverick Devin Townsend names his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance, and reveals the music he listens to while mowing the lawn (LouderSound)

The Red Rocker is ready for residencies (LouderSound)

FireAid will raise money for those affected by Californian wildfires and efforts to prevent future disasters (LouderSound)

On 1988’s Document album, ‘the thinking person’s rock band’ ditched the jangling guitars for distortion, power chords and arena rock singles (LouderSound)

A drunken fist-fight, childhood tragedy and an all-star producer all helped Mastodon channel their melodic tendencies on Oblivion (LouderSound)

From Eyehategod and A Day To Remember to 50 Cent and Dave Matthews Band, these songs have shaped Brat vocalist Liz Selfish (LouderSound)

Billie Joe Armstrong’s side-band pay tribute to the bands and anthems that shaped their lives (LouderSound)

Alex Lifeson reveals he and Geddy Lee have weekly jam session – and they record the results (LouderSound)

The brief encounter wasn’t what anyone could have predicted – but it was enough to give the younger singer a tantalising idea. (LouderSound)

‘The Metal Factory’ at Summa College in Eindhoven lets pupils study heavy metal vocals, as well as the guitar, bass, drums and keyboard (LouderSound)

The Doors were stars but their Sunset Strip peers Love deserved to be equally famous (LouderSound)

James Mangold’s excellent Bob Dylan biopic will introduce a whole new generation to the icon’s rough and rowdy ways (LouderSound)

The cult movie director started composing his own soundtracks out of necessity. Eventually he returned to his first love of music to create the Lost Themes album series, and began touring too (LouderSound)

Peter Forrest, a founding member of acclaimed funk-metal band 24-7 Spyz, killed in the Bronx on January 13 (LouderSound)

The show will raise funds for those impacted by the wildfires still ravaging parts of Los Angeles (LouderSound)

News of Te Rā’s release comes as Alien Weaponry embark on a North American tour with Kerry King (LouderSound)

Forever Is A Feeling, the follow-up to 2021’s Home Video, is coming soon (LouderSound)

Brought up with Pink Floyd and Gentle Giant, the American guitarist discovered The Snow Goose live and never looked back – and Andy Latimer’s band inspired a musical ambition in him (LouderSound)

“Taylor, I’m really sorry, I totally ruined your song!” (LouderSound)

From the post-hardcore squall of Hidden Mothers to Lutharo’s invigorating mix of power metal and melodeath, to one-woman black metaller Hulder and Saudi Arabian tech-prog-metallers Ana.n7n, these are the bands you need to hear in January 2025 (LouderSound)

New version of Close To The Edge features Steven Wilson mixes and entire London Rainbow show from December 1972 (LouderSound)

Brant Bjork sharies his stories of desert rock, generator parties and why he never wanted Kyuss to be Metallica (LouderSound)

No Surrender comes from Those Damn Crows’ upcoming fourth album God Shaped Hole (LouderSound)

How The Dream Syndicate built a career on self-sabotage (LouderSound)

Band founder Michael Amott spills the secrets of Arch Enemy’s highly anticipated new album (LouderSound)

Scottish singer met Don Van Vliet a number of times, and the eccentric American’s influence extended through his own career (LouderSound)

Jimmy Page dug up several unheard gems for his deluxe Led Zeppelin reissues. But there’s one song that still remains unreleased (LouderSound)

Without the man who raised pop lyrics to the level of poetry, we might still be waiting for the concept of album-oriented music (LouderSound)

Ghost’s concert-film-and-much-more Rite Here Rite Now fully immerses fans in what has helped turn them into today’s greatest theatrical rockers (LouderSound)

“Maybe just stop and see who needs help” (LouderSound)

Elephant safaris! Camel trekking! White water rafting! Wine drinking! Anything is possible at House Of Mustaine (LouderSound)

U2 may have emerged in the post-punk era, but the Dubliners looked deeper into the past for inspiration (LouderSound)

Founding member, singer and saxophonist of Afro-beat prog rockers Osbisa Tedy Osei has died, aged 88 (LouderSound)

The World’s Fair EP was partially produced by hugely popular YouTube personality and Swervedriver nut Rick Beato (LouderSound)

“I want people to see how it felt when things were real,” says Rusty Williams, ahead of the release of his debut album Grand Man (LouderSound)

Itching for more top grade punk rock from Rocket From The Crypt / Hot Snakes / Drive Like Jehu leader John Reis? We have good news friends (LouderSound)

“If World War Three was declared tomorrow I’m sure we’d get the blame,” Beastie Boys’ Mike D once said. His mum Hester told parents not to panic (LouderSound)

Canadian/American art rock quartet Envy Of None will release their new album Stygian Wavz in March (LouderSound)

Stream it on Apple TV, Google Play, Youtube or Amazon Prime ahead of the power metal battalion’s European tour later this year (LouderSound)

Blood Incantation talk all night raves, psychedelics and being mistaken for Depeche Mode (LouderSound)

The build-up to impending album The Sky, The Earth & All Between continues… (LouderSound)

On the cusp of her three-part documentary about Manson’s career and abuse allegations airing, Karen McGann voices her gratitude to those who’ve spoken out (LouderSound)

“We got a new album,” the percussionist and Slipknot co-founder declares (LouderSound)

PowerNerd, the first of three autobiographical albums, was transformed into something unexpected as he began feeling like a liar, and wound up facing his 15-year-old self (LouderSound)

Nine Inch Nails confirm they’ll announce 2025 tour soon (LouderSound)

He says his natural negativity didn’t top him presenting a positive take on Amelia Earhart’s final adventure on latest album The Last Flight, as he considers where the emotional power of his band’s output comes from (LouderSound)

In October 1979 Classic Rock’s Geoff Barton watched Iron Maiden play a heavy metal disco in North West London. He took notes (LouderSound)

57 years on from their first show, Sweet lynchpin Andy Scott is looking forward to a busy 2025 despite ongoing health battles (LouderSound)

“Delete the world. Seriously time for the asteroid to hit. Time for a reboot.” (LouderSound)

After the “soul-crushing” slog of Hemispheres, Permanent Waves returned Rush to the peak of their powers and put them in a different league (LouderSound)

Elton John remembers his appearance at 1975’s Midsummer Music festival at London’s Wembley Stadium being “terrifying”: his mum and Ringo Starr were part of the problem (LouderSound)

An Artist Is An Artist arrives ahead of Skunk Anansie’s European tour, which kicks off next month (LouderSound)

If you have an opinion on last month’s Nudedragons show in Seattle, Shaina Shepherd doesn’t want to hear it, thanks (LouderSound)

Oops (LouderSound)

English Teacher, Du Blonde, Nadine Shah and more join Iggy Pop, Manic Street Preachers and Sisters of Mercy on Bearded Theory festival bill (LouderSound)

The Nintendo Switch 2 might be on its way, but all I really want this year is the newly announced Lego Game Boy (LouderSound)

Tom Morello thanks “those who love it, those who hate it, and those that have enjoyed it without understanding it” in a celebratory statement (LouderSound)

Ghost, Judas Priest, Babymetal, Gojira, Knocked Loose… 2024 was a massive year for metal songs. But which song did you vote as the very best? (LouderSound)

“I hear some punk rock in there, but then I hear some insane prog and I hear the heaviest version of ourselves poking its head out again” (LouderSound)

Trivium’s Ascendancy, Bullet For My Valentine’s The Poison and Avenged Sevenfold’s City Of Evil are 20 years old now, and your knees aren’t what they used to be (LouderSound)

Knocked Loose were arguably THE heavy band of 2024 – and their singer is excited to “keep pushing it into the mainstream” (LouderSound)

Kalandra are not a heavy metal band, and yet they’ve bewitched the underground metal scene all the same (LouderSound)

Rachael Yamagata knows a thing or two about music being a journey – which is why her collaboration with TESSAN is a match made in heaven (LouderSound)

Harsh but understandable (LouderSound)

Sold on their older brothers’ counterculture dream of living in outer space listening to the Beatles, Coyne and bandmate Steven Drozd very nearly became full-time drug dealers instead of musicians (LouderSound)

In which Talking Heads seamlessly merged funk, afrobeat and early hip-hop rhythms with their more abrasive art-rock ideas (LouderSound)

Including Bob Mould, The Cold Stares, The Hellacopters and five other warriors on the edge of prime-time (LouderSound)

Cradle of Filth guitarist and keyboardist tied the knot in Tucson, Arizona (LouderSound)

Over the course of 32 studio albums, Elvis Costello has explored terrains that include country music, jazz, soundtrack work and even opera (LouderSound)

One spring day in 2023, Jesse Malin suddenly fell to the floor, and his life effectively fell apart (LouderSound)

Bruce Dickinson reveals the solo album that should’ve been better and the song Iron Maiden play while he enjoys a cup of tea (LouderSound)

Adrian Smith is among tens of thousands affected by the wildfires currently bringing destruction to Los Angeles (LouderSound)

When Dutch prog rock legends Kayak released album number Seventeen, longstanding keyboard player Ton Scherpenzeel looked back and pondered what might have been (LouderSound)

Haters gonna hate – but with 1997’s Reload album, Metallica just didn’t care (LouderSound)

The ex-Velvet Underground leader got into the habit of throwing house parties in West London, and always made sure one man was invited (LouderSound)

It was a short tenure – but they recorded at least one track together (LouderSound)

Jarvis & co. headed all the way down to New Orleans for a show, and then wished they hadn’t (LouderSound)

“We demonise the concept of being angry. But it needs to be used as a tool”: The game-changing 2015 album that reinvented metalcore (LouderSound)

He discovered Canterbury bands in his teens before moving on to Frank Zappa, Opeth, Genesis, obscure Dutch trio Three Dwarves Make War – oh, and Kiss (LouderSound)

Beatle goes country (LouderSound)

Primus man just one rock star impacted by devastating fires – with Anthrax, Rage Against the Machine and Smashing Pumpkins members affected (LouderSound)

The rise of the of the 21st century’s most unexpected metal sensations (LouderSound)

Aerosmith were huge in the 70s and 80s – but the 1990s was their most successful decade ever (LouderSound)

Heaven And Hell was the start of Black Sabbath’s short but glorious second chapter (LouderSound)

It’s 40 years ago this weekend that the veteran bluesman took action against the rock icons for borrowing his song… (LouderSound)

Knowing some people would never get over the novelty, Billy Sherwood decided to go for broke with Ponder The Mystery, featuring Steve Vai, Rick Wakeman, Nik Turner, Edgar Froese and others (LouderSound)

“Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to talk to me. They thought I would be right for the part of The Terminator”: WASP frontman Blackie Lawless’ wild tales of Lemmy, Gene Simmons and The Village People (LouderSound)

The guitarist has a new record out now, and next on his schedule is another Alter Bridge album before returning to Creed duties (LouderSound)

Wait, there’s an unreleased Rob Lowe/Toto collaboration out there somewhere? Colour us intrigued! (LouderSound)

“Wow, unexpected!” (LouderSound)

“Please don’t use our song on your reels and pictures of this horrifying natural disaster.” (LouderSound)

My Bloody Valentine’s infamous live white noise freak-out could have strange effects on those subjected to it (LouderSound)

Toronto punks PUP announce UK tour dates, share video for Paranoid, not a Black Sabbath cover (LouderSound)

Based in the UK? Get exclusive merch and a fresh piece of ink before seeing Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine play their 2005 albums in full (LouderSound)

In November 1973, a US rock band visited London for the second time and helped spark a punk rock revolution (LouderSound)

You know about Myles Kennedy’s work with Alter Bridge and Slash. You probably don’t know about his love for quaint UK TV programmes, though. (LouderSound)

Young Canadian prog heavyweights Voidchaser have just released their new EP Trust (LouderSound)

Prog/psych/kraut outfit Weite feature members of Elder, Delving and more… (LouderSound)

Hailing from Charlotte, NC, The Hourglass Effect have one excellent album under their belts and are only getting better with Inner Ocean (LouderSound)

An introduction to the music of the Israeli prog metal powerhouse and their mission to promote peace and wipe out war (LouderSound)

Arizonan death metallers Gatecreeper put out one of 2024’s best albums – and they’re just getting started (LouderSound)

Jethro Tull will release their 24th studio album Curious Ruminant in March (LouderSound)

“The biggest show I ever booked was August Burns Red and The Devil Wears Prada” (LouderSound)

It’s the latest cut to be unveiled from the Welsh trio’s forthcoming 15th album Critical Thinking (LouderSound)

The Metallica man discusses all things lyric-writing during the latest Metallica Report podcast (LouderSound)

Shavo Odadjian hadn’t released an album in almost 20 years, but a chance encounter at a party gave birth to his heaviest project yet (LouderSound)

Inspired by Tool, the Australian bassist got her big break from Jeff Beck and went on to play with Prince, The Who and Brian Wilson – and her solo work is equally impressive (LouderSound)

Slash released an album of blues and soul standards that no one was expecting, then took the show on the road to support community causes (LouderSound)

Not-one-hit-wonders Cutting Crew are about to celebrate their 40th anniversary (LouderSound)

Amyl And The Sniffers have really started something. And thank f*** for that (LouderSound)

Sarcasm and actual tunes as one of rock’s true one-offs resurfaces (LouderSound)

The End Will Show Us How is the sixth album from Creed/Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti’s side-project (LouderSound)

David Bowie didn’t get a huge amount of respect from Johnny Rotten when the two musical icons first met (LouderSound)

The Italian goth metal maestros release new album Sleepless Empire next month (LouderSound)

Ride guitarist Andy Bell will release his third solo album pinball wanderer in February (LouderSound)

The Slayer guitarist reveals he’ll spend 20 minutes with Dave Mustaine but then “bolt just before anything gets uncomfortable” (LouderSound)

Get the newest Metal Hammer with an exclusive cover and brand-new t-shirt, just in time for Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine’s mammoth Poisoned Ascendancy world tour (LouderSound)

Israeli prog metallers Orphaned Land honour friends they have sadly lost in the war with re-recording of their very first song, The Beloved’s Cry (LouderSound)

Jim Steinman wrote Bonnie Tyler’s smash power ballad Total Eclipse Of The Heart – once titled Vampires In Love – for an abandoned Nosferatu musical, before it once again found its home in another fang-toothed Broadway show (LouderSound)

Ice-T reflects on the rage behind Cop Killer, the best rap and metal albums and dream collabs as he answers your questions (LouderSound)

Steve Hackett will release his latest live album, Live Magic At Trading Boundaries, in January (LouderSound)

“It was the 1960s, man.” (LouderSound)

“I honestly think it is the best song Jinjer have ever written,” adds bassist Eugene Abdukhanov (LouderSound)

The mini-Slayer reunion is taken from To Cross Or To Burn, the second album by the Lombardos’ project Venamoris (LouderSound)

Steven Wilson will release The Overview, a concept album featuring two long-form pieces of music, on March 14 (LouderSound)

Squid share second taste of forthcoming third album Cowards (LouderSound)

“Perverts might be the twisted sonic exorcism you’ve been waiting for” (LouderSound)

From Judas Priest to Opeth, Poppy to Bring Me The Horizon, these are the metal albums you said defined metal in 2024 (LouderSound)

It was all going right until it went very, very wrong (LouderSound)

He’s worked with Steve Howe, Wire and Gandalf’s Fist, and even on a metal magazine – but it’s the quirkiness and curiosity of his own band that makes the singer and percussionist most proud (LouderSound)

Praised by Brian May, feted by Eric Clapton and Dolly Parton, Grace Bowers is on the road to stardom – and she’s still only 18 (LouderSound)

Touring with Trivium, Bullet For My Valentine will be “throwing the kitchen sink at making the show look fantastic” (LouderSound)

“We were scandalised, and we walked away.” (LouderSound)

Legendary rock photographer Neal Preston tells stories of his time with Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, the Allman Brothers and more (LouderSound)

Liam Gallagher: quite partial to a bit of Bollocks (LouderSound)

Actor Jeremy Strong plays Bruce Springsteen’s long-time manager Jon Landau in Deliver Me From Nowhere, and says “It’s been one of the greatest working experiences I’ve ever had” (LouderSound)

Big Big Train recently announced US tour dates for April 2025 (LouderSound)

Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks extend their Yes Epics, Classics and More tour throughout Spring (LouderSound)

“That period had a lot of people cavorting around using their manhood as the main weapon to sell records” (LouderSound)

Watch the video for Here We Go Crazy, the title track of Bob Mould’s first new album for four years (LouderSound)

Former Nightwish bassist and singer Marko Hietala will release new album Roses From The Deep in February (LouderSound)

The former Mushroomhead man’s daughter has started a fundraiser, saying treatment may force him to stop working (LouderSound)

The It, Saturday Night Live and Superbad actor also reveals he grew up listening to hair metal in a new interview with Amoeba Music (LouderSound)

Mantra Of The Cosmos and Noel Gallagher team up for new single described as “Free Bird for Mods” (LouderSound)

Unable to decide on who should leave, the band of friends broke up in 2016. To their own surprise and delight, they’re back with new album Songs For Beating Hearts – and loving their work more than ever (LouderSound)

Talking exclusively to Metal Hammer, Dani Filth reveals the name of Cradle Of Filth’s next studio album and when it’s due out. He also says that their long-anticipated Ed Sheeran team-up won’t be on it. (LouderSound)

Mimi Barks on her recent UK tour, the strangest shows she’s played and serving “super-rich” people coffee in fetish gear (LouderSound)

Former Kraftwerk member Wolfgang Flür to release new album Times in March (LouderSound)

Fit For A King and Boundaries will support the New England heavyweights during their four dates together in May (LouderSound)

Prompted by a disagreement that spilled into the public domain, co-founders Keith Emerson and Lee Jackson once visited the Prog office to set things straight (LouderSound)

Van Halen albums have it all: One of the most innovative guitarists of all time, your choice of rock star frontmen, and great tunes (LouderSound)

A late-career starburst in his drugs-hastened twilight years, formerOnly Ones frontman Peter Perrett’s latest solo album is the best he’s ever made (LouderSound)

A quiet word with Body Count’s Ice-T (LouderSound)

Country rockers Brothers Osborne play UK and Ireland shows in January (LouderSound)

Watch Justin Hawkins as you’ve never seen him before (LouderSound)

What a way to start 2025 (LouderSound)

Public Service Announcement: don’t get caught stealing from Public Enemy (LouderSound)

Matt Berry will release his California psych-inspired new album Heard Noises in January (LouderSound)

With a Chris Isaak track acting as an ode to Type O Negative, the Texans found inspiration for new concept album Where Gods Fear To Speak in America’s current environment of uncertainty (LouderSound)

Polish prog rock quartet Riverside will release new live album, Live ID., in January (LouderSound)

Skolnick played one concert with The Prince Of Darkness in June 1995 before being ushered out the door by management (LouderSound)

Scottish post-rock quartet Mogwai will release their brand new studio album The Bad Fire in January (LouderSound)

The now-five-day Czech rock fest will be headlined by Avenged Sevenfold, Slipknot, Linkin Park and new additions Sex Pistols and Guns ’N’ Roses in June (LouderSound)

After seeing Ramones play in New Jersey in 1979, Bruce Springsteen wrote a song for the New York punks, but was advised not to give it away (LouderSound)

Onstage at the Golden Globes, it was jokingly stated that the legendary actress once manned the stool for one of nu metal’s biggest bands (LouderSound)

Produced by country connoisseur Dave Cobb, Halestorm’s sixth album will be sometimes eclectic, always energetic (LouderSound)

Prog veteran recalls connecting with Sandy Denny, his band’s attempt to fire him, being loved by Led Zeppelin, why they’ve never had a Steven Wilson remix, the “albatross” of Part Of The Union and the unreleased, more political version (LouderSound)

Whoops! (LouderSound)

A personal look back at the music, life and times of Neil Peart, the Rush drummer/lyricist and cornerstone who died on January 7, 2020 (LouderSound)

Never mind the width, feel the quality: With five albums in 46 years, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour isn’t the most prolific of solo acts, but the standard is high (LouderSound)

Brighton duo Lambrini Girls deliver 2025’s first essential album with their debut Who Let The Dogs Out (LouderSound)

Life is tough on drummers (LouderSound)

SAS Rogue Heroes is back with a bang. Hundreds and thousands of bangs, actually (LouderSound)

Watch the trailer for a new documentary charting Brian Warner’s rise to stardom, as well as the abuse allegations against the singer (LouderSound)

Tremonti’s latest album mixes his well documented love of metal with the post-grunge and balladry he made his name with (LouderSound)

US prog rock quartet Pattern-Seeking Animals will release their fifth album, Friend Of All Creatures, in February (LouderSound)

Former In Flames men unite once more to create another blistering set of classic-sounding melodeath anthems (LouderSound)

Life, Death and Dennis Hopper by The Waterboys is due in April, with a star-studded cast (LouderSound)

NIN duo scoop yet another industry award for their work on Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers (LouderSound)

Alice In Chains’ Jerry Cantrell has discussed the possibility of collaborating with James Hetfield (LouderSound)

UK prog duo Amplifier will release their brand new album, Gargantuan on April 4 (LouderSound)

The ultra-talented metal guitarist says her addictions became “insidious” (LouderSound)

Featuring members of Yes, ELP and King Crimson, Asia were billed as a prog rock supergroup but kept it concise, to enormous success (LouderSound)

The folk icon – who never planned on being one – recalls hilarious haircuts, playing musical bedrooms, boxing clever with label execs and becoming a heavy metal fan (LouderSound)

Including Bonnie Tyler, Thundermother, Mary Spender and five other resolute New Year rockers (LouderSound)

Fans have claimed the statue looks like several different female musicians, and criticised it for showing Gallagher playing a Telecaster instead of his trademark Strat (LouderSound)

News of Oceanside Countryside’s release arrives in the wake of Neil Young’s off-on Glastonbury confusion (LouderSound)

The BMW R1200GS comes with a pair of used Neil Peart drumsticks (LouderSound)

The U2 frontman received the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the White House (LouderSound)

Exclusive: Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are interviewed in the new issue of Classic Rock, out now (LouderSound)

The tale of how the Welsh trio’s last Number One single, which was released 25 years ago next week, came together. (LouderSound)

Spectacular live disaster hasn’t killed guitarist Jim Morris’ passion for Pictures At An Exhibition (LouderSound)

Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill says the band need to remain relevant –because their OG fans won’t be around forever (LouderSound)

Jane’s Addiction bassist says he’s working with band’s drummer Stephen Perkins and guitarist Dave Navarro (LouderSound)

Joe Satriani knows a thing or two about great guitarists –and he says the Nirvana frontman was one of them (LouderSound)

No band did more than Saxon to put the NWOBHM on the map (LouderSound)

Living with Hendrix? Jamming with Dylan? Giving Axl relationship advice? Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has done it all (LouderSound)

Thirty years ago, Eddie Vedder & co. aired a live radio show and delivered a cult classic featuring guest slots from their heavyweight grunge pals (LouderSound)

From Six. By Seven to Clinic and The Delgados to …Trail Of Dead, here’s ten albums released in 2000 worthy of a revisit 25 years later (LouderSound)

Surrounded by genre-breakers from an early age, the Mahivshnu Orchestra mastermind learned quickly about ignoring critics – but never stops reminding himself of his own incapabilities and ignorance (LouderSound)

A Slipknot fan account on Instagram posts rare footage of The Nine unmasked on New Year’s Day 2000 (LouderSound)

Swap that hot dog-flavoured water for something a bit more palatable (LouderSound)

Bassist Tony Levin has played with John Lennon, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie and more, but one studio session was more significant than the others (LouderSound)

Returning members Jeff Loomis and Van Williams are also defending the comeback following criticism from founding bassist Jim Sheppard (LouderSound)

We speak to Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium about 20 years of The Poison and Ascendency (LouderSound)

Having learned of “an error in the information received”, Neil Young has reversed his decision to pull out of Glastonbury 2025 (LouderSound)

The UK metalcore bruisers have pulled influence from Gothenburg metal for their hotly anticipated fifth album (LouderSound)

The Cure’s new album Songs Of A Lost World took 16 years to come out. Their next one may take just a few months. (LouderSound)

The idiosyncratic English art-rockers’ history is detailed in a pleasingly DIY limited-edition chunky read. (LouderSound)

“That’s not a great ballad. We’ve had much better ballads.” (LouderSound)

A Multitude Of One, aka Nova Cascade guitarist Colin Powell, will release new concept album A Templars Tale in February (LouderSound)

Mainman Jacob Holm-Lupo took his band in a new direction with 2004 release, but the material shows its age in latest update (LouderSound)

Also in this issue: Styx, Joe Satriani, The Doors, DeWolff, Sweet, Mark Tremonti, Metallica, Andy Fairweather Low, Tom Morello, Brothers Osborne, The Struts and more (LouderSound)

Nearly 100 years ago, Jimmie Rodgers wired a connection between the blues and country music with a guitar, some jokes and a yodel (LouderSound)

Former Take That star Robbie Williams has confirmed the unlikely collaboration (LouderSound)

Bruce Dickinson wants us to expect big things from Iron Maiden’s Run For Your Lives tour this year (LouderSound)

The Scorpions/ex-Motörhead man is at home recovering after a series of surgeries, but is expected to appear at all of his current band’s planned live dates (LouderSound)

This is what happens when one of rock’s greatest drummers hears a nu metal standard for the first time (LouderSound)

One-time Iron Maiden and Cutting Crew keyboard player Tony Moore will tour his recent Awake album in January (LouderSound)

That time Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Run DMC’s Daryl McDaniels fronted the ultimate rock supergroup (LouderSound)

Often called ‘the man who shot the 70s,’ the photographer experienced unforgettable moments with Pink Floyd, Kevin Ayers, Arthur Brown, Genesis and more (LouderSound)

Tinyfish/Shineback man Simon Godfrey plans to reissue his entire back catalogue through his new record label (LouderSound)

The now-Suicidal Tendencies member says he’s been working on his own music since his early 20s (LouderSound)

The end of the world? That was just inspiration for In Flames’ ninth album, A Sense Of Purpose (LouderSound)

UK prog sextet Ghost Of The Machine will release second album Empires Must Fall in March (LouderSound)

One of the 80s hitmaker’s early bands covered two of their songs – but it took him years to realise their genius, and he still doesn’t truly understand it (LouderSound)

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, and we’re feeling good – and here’s 25 reasons why (LouderSound)

Tabloid fascination with the romance between Pete Doherty and Kate Moss put added pressure on their mid-2000s relationship (LouderSound)

The 80s also saw the blues transform like never before, with Stevie Ray Vaughan drawing in hard rockers and purists alike and Robert Cray taking it to the masses (LouderSound)

Smashing Pumpkins provided the entertainment at this year’s hockey Winter Classic (LouderSound)

Neil Young headlined Glastonbury in 2009, but it looks like he won’t be back anytime soon (LouderSound)

The story of the exhilarating early ’60s birth of the Rolling Stones (LouderSound)

Let’s hope 2025 continues as it started (LouderSound)

Evan Dando was already using hard drugs before The Lemonheads ever existed, but his appetite for self-destruction went into overdrive when his band were tipped to become ‘The Next Nirvana’ (LouderSound)

Forced to rebuild from scratch, Jason Aalon Butler is finding ways to harness the storm – and find his peace – on Fever 333’s Darker White (LouderSound)

From its historic and unique location to its incredible lineup, Mystic needs to be on your festival shortlist for 2025 (LouderSound)

After a long illness and the admission that his promise of writing an album about each State of the US had been a gimmick, he wobbled then reset with 2010 album that’s a prog-tinged curio (LouderSound)

Michael Jackson wanted the pair to team up on a huge hit but the Purple One wasn’t having it (LouderSound)

From a Slipknot buried treasure to the long-overlooked Korn rarity, these are the overlooked classics in the nu metal canon (LouderSound)

The Blur frontman and Oasis leader spent the 90s at loggerheads but a chance meeting paved the way to a blossoming friendship (LouderSound)

After abandoning a fully-written solo album in 2021, former frontman looks forward to a life without a leather jacket – and possibly without a guitar – with his debut EP We Ascend leading the way (LouderSound)

Cult movie The Blues Brothers exposed a generation to the brilliance of blues and soul legends like John Lee Hooker and Aretha Franklin (LouderSound)

Jimmy Page talks absent friends, superstar fans, bad reviews and the next best thing to playing with Led Zeppelin (LouderSound)

Welcome to 1984: it was the album that would see Van Halen straddle theplanet like a rock colossus, but it would also mark the end of the originalline-up (LouderSound)

The death of Johnnie Walker has been announced by his BBC Radio colleague Bob Harris (LouderSound)

Bruce Dickinson ends the year with a special message for fans (LouderSound)

AC/DC played their very first gig on New Year’s Eve 1973 – 51 years ago today (LouderSound)

From Judas Priest’s Invincible Shield to Nightwish’s Yesterwynde and Opeth’s return to extremity, these are the metal albums that ruled 2024 (LouderSound)

From defecating in Steve Vai‘s guitar case to puppet-based concept albums, Devin Townsend is out there on his own (LouderSound)

Plus Marillion, Clannad, Pavlov’s Dog, Klone, Swallow The Sun, Dilemma and more (LouderSound)

The pair roped in the Scottish rockers for some football-style chanting when they found themselves working in the studio next door (LouderSound)

There was more to Bradfield’s searing guitar part on this classic Manics cut than flashy playing, the singer and guitarist explains (LouderSound)

The self-described “Chief Audience Abuser” with Tinyfish and Shineback explored the idea that he might be a musician on 2017 release – but also expounded his theories on the nature of reality (LouderSound)

Happy New Year! (LouderSound)

Jack Moore’s In My Shoes is inspired by the relationship between parents and their sons (LouderSound)

Musicians who died in 2024 include Paul Di’Anno, Wayne Kramer, Dickey Betts, Steve Harley, Duane Eddy, Steve Albini and more (LouderSound)

When Ronnie Wood, the Stones and some A-list mates holed up at his house to help with his solo album, it sparked a days-long party and a Rolling Stones hit (LouderSound)

Did the world miss out on a Black Sabbath/Led Zeppelin supergroup? (LouderSound)

Amon Amarth’s 2008 album Twilight Of The Thunder God transformed them from death metal hopefuls into all-conquering Viking metal chieftains (LouderSound)

The bassist has co-written only a handful of Metallica tracks since joining the metal titans in 2003 (LouderSound)

The Slayer man makes the claim while listing his five favourite players of all time (LouderSound)

80s outfit never had a record deal or management – instead they“got good at being poor” to avoid compromising their musical values, and it’s kept them going through the decades (LouderSound)

UK dark proggers Antimatter celebrate their 25th anniversary next year with the release of Parallel Matter (LouderSound)

The American band’s ranks have included Jeff Loomis (ex-Arch Enemy), Chris Broderick (In Flames/ex-Megadeth), Pat O’Brien (ex-Cannibal Corpse) and late singer Warrel Dane (LouderSound)

A Deeper Cut was the last album The Temperance Movement made before parting ways with now-returned frontman Phil Campbell (LouderSound)

Mick Abrahams, Clive Bunker, Jeffrey Hammond, Peter John Vettese and Tony Iommi recall what they learned from – or what they did to – band leader Ian Anderson (LouderSound)

Former US President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100 (LouderSound)

The fire at the Morrison Hotel in downtown Los Angeles was attended by firefighters from 17 different companies (LouderSound)

“We were pot-smoking hippies and Rick Wakeman was a pub guy. The angle twisted and we went off in a new direction”: The epic story of Yes and the three albums that changed the course of music (LouderSound)

With help from an ex Yes member and a new engineer, 1981 release marked a significant update without a loss of their musical values. But is it a concept album? (LouderSound)

The Offspring’s Noodles says Rock Hall should be inclusive – but he doesn’t think his band will ever be inducted (LouderSound)

The inside track on Appetite For Destruction from one of the men who played on it (LouderSound)

Lamb of God guitarist is loving life without booze or drugs – and he wants everyone to know recovery is possible (LouderSound)

Porcupine Tree’s 2010 album The Incident capped their rise from cult psychedelicists to prog metal giants (LouderSound)

Cannibal Corpse kept the deathly flag flying during the nu metal era (LouderSound)

From Johnny Cash and John Denver to Manowar and Henry Kissinger, former Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider has mixed with them all (LouderSound)

The recently-released live record from 2023 shows how much has changed in 50 years, as John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest look forward to the “progtastic” double album they’ve nearly finished (LouderSound)

Plucked from obscurity in 1975 to be in David Bowie’s band, then unceremoniously dumped five years later, bassist George Murray looks back on his time with the Thin White Duke (LouderSound)

The trip-hop pioneers have been sitting on new songs for four years due to a “dispute at the label” (LouderSound)

Didn’t see much of Anthrax on MTV during the mid-1980s? Their founding guitarist explains why (LouderSound)

Could Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett and The Mamas & The Papa’s Cass Elliot be getting the big screen treatment? (LouderSound)

Gentle Giant will release Playing The Fool: The Complete Live Experience in the Spring (LouderSound)

Hot off releasing blues album Orgy Of The Damned this year, Slash is diving back into his work with Alter Bridge man Myles Kennedy (LouderSound)

How Sepultura made their most important album – and how it tore them apart (LouderSound)

Sounds like Dave Mustaine’s thrash icons won’t take another six years to release their next album… (LouderSound)

Charting a different course from their Scandinavian contemporaries, new version of their debut album confirms they were right to record without a click track – or indeed brakes (LouderSound)

Triple-disc set captures the space rock veterans’ sonic destruction at celebratory event, which shows how well their latest music sits with their early work – and inspires thoughts of music yet to come (LouderSound)

When ABBA-mad Opeth leader Mikael Åkerfeldt met one of their singers, he “lost it”. She didn’t sing on their new concept album, but some other, perhaps unlikely, big names did (LouderSound)

After being let go by Anthrax in 1992, Joey Belladonna made a living working at a horse barn (LouderSound)

Icons and a-listers, retro bangers and psychedelic party-starters, firebrands, punks and alt.rockers – they’re all here (LouderSound)

Kirk Hammett knows his horror – and these are his ultimate movie villains (LouderSound)

It paid off by giving Mötley Crüe their biggest ever single (LouderSound)

Vended feature two spawns of Slipknot, but they’re attempting to build their own legacy through their own terms. We head to LA to find out more (LouderSound)

Leader Jem Godfrey, who took a financial hit to spend five months focusing on the band’s double-length concept album, explains why doing something connected with their past equals doing something entirely new (LouderSound)

Inspired in part by recurring nightmares and visions of heaven, Higher cemented Creed as one of the most successul rock bands of the new millennium (LouderSound)

Thirty years after being blindsided by fame, Pearl Jam were still doing things on their own terms (LouderSound)

Mikael Åkerfeldt and guitarist Fredrik Åkesson regret that people focus so much on one element of their sound, when there’s so much more to The Last Will And Testament (LouderSound)

Lamb Of God’s New American Gospel ushered in the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal a couple of years early (LouderSound)

From touring with Korn and meeting pop stars to barely selling 200 tickets and almost getting dropped from their label, Papa Roach endured to prove themselves the ultimate rock survivors (LouderSound)

Kate Bush has something to say (LouderSound)

An unexpected festive gift arrives as David Lee Roth releases a standalone version of a song he originally attached to some Taylor Swift audio (LouderSound)

Jinjer’s Tatiana and Eugene dig into their discography (LouderSound)

The countdown, the comeback, the controversy – Linkin Park’s return was one of the biggest stories of 2024 (LouderSound)

Inside the biggest (and most over the top) power metal tour of 2024 (LouderSound)

“We had a clunky old vinyl player and people would bring in odd records…” Minds open to limitless music helped build a legacy leading up to Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (LouderSound)

Sir Brian May talks us through a series of previously unseen photographs from Queen’s early days as featured in the new Queen I Collector’s Edition (LouderSound)

John Corabi says being let go by Motley Crue was a bummer – but it also came with huge relief (LouderSound)

L7 have always walked the line between metal, punk and grunge (LouderSound)

Along with Sabbath and Zeppelin, Deep Purple helped craft the primordial goop that spawned metal (LouderSound)

The seasonal theme was unintentional, and so was their focus on rock operas, but that didn’t stop “the world’s most famous unknown band” starting out with a 10-date, one-truck tour before selling a million tickets per road trip 15 years later (LouderSound)

Young UK prog rocker Dominic Sanderson will release his second album, Blazing Revelations, in February (LouderSound)