Mad About Rock

  Metal titans Mastodon return to Europe in Summer 2026 for an extensive run of festival appearances and headline shows, cementing their status as one of the most influential and uncompromising bands in modern metal. Mastodon have spent over two decades redefining heavy music with a sound that is both technically fearless and emotionally massive. With multiple GRAMMY® Award nominations, critically acclaimed albums such as Leviathan, Crack the Skye, The Hunter, Emperor of Sand, and Hushed and Grim, and a reputation as one of the most powerful live bands on the planet, Mastodon continues to push creative and sonic boundaries as only they can. The Summer 2026 European tour will see the band performing on iconic festival stages and their own headline shows across Europe and the UK. Be sure to catch Mastodon at one of the following dates: JUNE / JULY Wed 3 Jun – Prague, CZ – O2 Universum (Headline Show) Fri 5 Jun – Nürburg, DE – Rock am Ring Sat 6 Jun – Gdansk, PL – Mystic Festival (...

  Fiery British slayers CARTOONS CAN’T DIE unleash their explosive new album, Rebirth, on Friday 6th February. Ahead of the release, the diverse metal crew have revealed their vicious new single and video, 'Bodysnatchers', out now. Hit up the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rGx-6lzrHo Listen to the band via https://open.spotify.com/artist/5cEIMcDNZTLuZ41eZoYJ9S Already drawing warm comparisons to Lamb of God, Whitechapel, Periphery, Devin Townsend, and Rammstein, CARTOONS CAN’T DIE are as diverse as they are refreshing. Now operating with a fully committed lineup consisting of Mac Gaisford (vocals), Maria Megally (vocals), Dan “Danny 5” Berber (guitar), and Ryan Shepherd (drums), the band are united by a clear manifesto: to break musical boundaries, push modern heavy music into new territory, and create a sound that truly challenges the norm. One of the band’s defining trademarks is their dual-vocal dynamic, Mac’s raw, abrasive fury colliding with Maria’s soaring, ...

  BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's epochal debut album The Poison truly solidified the band's status as modern British metal frontrunners. But, the scene was set and foundations were laid by their exploratory early recordings, unearthed publicly in 2004's EP Hand Of Blood. An unparalleled and enduring career has since followed and, in doing so, the group changed the landscape and supercharged the trajectory of alternative music. Today, the band have revealed that the Hand Of Blood EP will be reissued as a standalone release, paying homage to the early spark in their career that has now become a roaring flame. “I honestly can't believe it's been twenty years since the release of The Poison and Hand Of Blood, and what an incredible twenty years its been,” says frontman Matt Tuck. “I feel so proud of what we've achieved as a band in the last two decades and it all started with those recordings.” Their meteoric rise saw The Poison hit #21 in the UK album charts, becoming a...

  Towering Polish heavy rockers MISSCORE are back with their breath-taking new single and video, 'Domino', out now, via DarkTunes Music Group. Watch the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsVcDZYS0ec Listen to the band at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6VpeB27vn2cN46LESFuiof . Hailing from Lubrza, Poland, MISSCORE have been steadily building momentum since solidifying their lineup in 2023. Fronted by the commanding vocals of Natalia Rygiel, the band also features Mateusz Dźwigała (bass, keyboards), Maciej Przybylski (guitars), and Jarek Bielecki (drums). Drawing influence from modern heavyweights such as Bring Me The Horizon, Slipknot, and Linkin Park, MISSCORE deliver a powerful modern rock sound infused with electronic textures, crushing riffs, and emotionally charged melodic hooks. The band’s upward trajectory accelerated with the release of their debut full-length album, DRᛜWN, in early 2024. A rapidly growing reputation as a formidable live act has since fuelle...

  The annual ‘Night Before UPRISING’ returns to the Firebug on Friday 22nd May 2026. The night will be hosted by the DJs of TotalRock with guest DJ slots. For those who are unfamiliar, TotalRock — the station was launched in 2000 by Tommy Vance and a group of rock music visionaries, including Programme Director Tony Wilson and Managing Editor Malcolm Dome. TotalRock pioneered the concept of a dedicated rock radio station in the UK, building an enviable reputation for launching the careers of bands and DJs alike. So… who will be bringing the party to ‘The Night Before…’? Headlining the evening is none other than Corby’s finest, VIKING SKULL, originally formed in 2002 with Raging Speedhorn members Frank Regan, Darren Smith and Gordon Morrison. The alcohol-fuelled, rock and roll heavyweights like to party and will deliver a set which will span their 23-year career. Check out their single ‘Blackened Sunrise’, taken from their 2007 album ‘Chapter II’, directed by Bam Margera of Jack...

  SCRATCH ONE GRUB hail from the valleys of South Wales and are set to deliver their debut album 'One', arriving 27 February. The record blends progressive ambition, with alt-metal grit. We exclusively caught up with Lewis Griffiths (Drums/Vocals) and Sean Barry aka The Grub Man (Samples/Vocals) from the band, and asked them to talk about five songs that have greatly influenced their sound: Slipknot - Eyeless "The chaotic nature of this song captures everything that we love about metal. The musical technicality especially the drums and blood curdling vocals, sonically projects an unfathomable level of hatred and aggression. The random lyrics in the chorus are unorthodox yet very catchy, which ensures us that it's possible to go down a similar path creatively, as it has worked well for others." Children Of Bodom - Living Dead Beat "Alexi Laiho was a creative and technical genius, especially when it comes to the music theory he applied to his endless catalo...

  Belfast heavy rock outfit FOREIGNWOLF are back with new music, announcing their stunning new EP, Merely Mortal, due out on Friday 3rd April. The band have just released their superb new single and video, 'Imposter Syndrome'. Watch the video here: Listen to the band at - https://open.spotify.com/artist/7l7RZ5zg0uqfvmay1Adin0 Formed in 2019, FOREIGNWOLF have been steadily building momentum with their huge riffs, honest lyrics, and powerful vocal delivery. Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the band’s sound pulls from influences like Alexisonfire, Alter Bridge, and Deftones, blending true substance and melody into something that feels both heavy and deeply personal. The four-piece, which features: Gerard McCann (vocals, guitar), Dave Brady (lead guitar, backing vocals), Conor Forbes (bass, backing vocals), and Max Couhig (drums), are a close-knit group brought together by a shared love of rock and metal. Since forming, they’ve played shows across the UK and picked up support ...