Mad About Rock

  VISHNU'S REST, the dynamic duo of vocalist Don Wade and guitarist Chrys Johnson, are thrilled to announce the release of their debut concept EP, Fours of Nature. Originally launched on Bandcamp on 4th December, the album is now live on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Fours of Nature is a 14:44-minute exploration of cosmic cycles, symbolism and paradox, drawing inspiration from the myth and lore of Sri Vishnu and Hindu cosmology—filtered through a Western metal lens. The four tracks weave intricate tales of nature’s forces, complemented by a diverse and talented lineup of guest musicians, including Jesse Zuretti (DAATH) on drums and the incredible Devin Townsend on bass, the latter also mixing and mastering the EP. “‘Fours of Nature’ is an apex project for us,” shares Johnson. “We’re not full-time musicians, just two lifelong hobbyists with day jobs who were fortunate enough to bring this vision to life. This project is deeply personal, and we’re ...

  Get ready to turn up the volume! Download Festival is thrilled to announce the launch of The Download, an all-new radio show coming to Kerrang! Radio starting January 2025. Hosted by the one and only Alex Baker, this electrifying new show will celebrate the world’s most legendary rock and metal festival, bringing fans closer than ever to the Download experience. Tune in every Saturday from 5PM to 7PM to dive deep into the sounds, stories, and excitement of Download Festival. From exclusive interviews with rock icons and up-and-coming bands, to the latest news, lineup updates, fan memories and exclusive insider scoops, The Download will be the ultimate destination for rock and metal fans around the globe. Alex Baker, is set to take listeners on a journey through the past, present, and future of Download “I’m SO STOKED to be doing this show! I have never missed a Download in its history, and having the opportunity to create something that helps amplify the community, the humans o...

  FOZZY is Excited to Announce Their Most Anticipated Tour to Date: The "2025th Anniversary Tour”! Set to kick off in Springfield, MO on April 17 while concluding in Wyandotte, MI on May 12. FOZZY will hit the road on a cross country journey to 20 of the nations most epic venues, bringing their electrifying live performances for fans in every city. Featuring Superstar showman Chris Jericho on vocals tagging with the iconic signature riffs of maven guitarist Rich Ward, Fozzy is set to launch the next phase of their 25th Anniversary tour with guitarist Billy Grey, bassist P.J. Farley, and drummer Grant Brooks rounding out the band. Living up to their unabashed and uncaged reputation, FOZZY truly delivers the ultimate arena rock experience to every show - a sonic assault of head banging, energy, attitude and most importantly, songs. With Eight albums under their belt, a Certified RIAA Gold single with "Judas", Seven Straight Top 10 Radio Singles, Over 300 MILLION US Streams...

  Ascending UK alt-rockers SAINTS AMONG US charge forward with the release of their massively captivating new single, Hunger. The band have just detailed a superb lyric video for the track, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEBiZmjUjy8 Featuring Maddy (vocals), Rahmaal (bass), Tom (guitar), and brothers Brad (guitar) and Adam (drums), SAINTS AMONG US were born in Doncaster, England, and for the past six years, the powerful alternative crew have been crafting anthems and shaping a live set of hearty earworms that are ram-packed with colossal riffs, captivating synth lines and hooky refrains. In addition to delivering a slew of scorching cuts, the Yorkshire quintet are also big advocates of mental health, and their lyrical themes touch on everything from self-identity, self-worth, and the belief that brokenness can be beautiful. Momentum is certainly building for the Brit alt-rockers, and a constant flow of well-received singles has aided in their growth, as well as widespread ...

  Legendary rock band The Used have announced their 25th Anniversary Tour kicking off in Spring ‘25. Full details can be found here: https://conta.cc/41sfqn0 In celebration of the unforgetting fan experience of 3 nights in each city with full album play throughs of their first three records: their self-titled record The Used (2002), In Love And Death (2004) and Lies For The Liars (2007), the band have released limited edition vinyls with reimagined artwork for each album. The limited supply will be available Thursday, December 19 for purchase at www.TheUsed.net . Self Titled Artwork by Cam Rackam In Love And Death artwork by Alex Pardee Lies for the Liars artwork by Craola The reconceptualised visions of the cover art from artists Cam Rackam , Alex Pardee and Craola will bring visual dimension to these beloved records, making this special edition a must-have for fans of both the band and the genre. More on each artist below. First released in 2002, their platinum-certified sel...

  Fresh from a sold out show in London at the Electric Ballroom and a headlining appearance at Planet Rockstock, globally renowned rock icon and founding member of Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe, returns to the UK in May 2025 for a series of headline shows. In addition to headlining BEL-AOR Rocks in Belfast on May 24th and The Call of The Wild Festival in Lincoln on June 1st, Michael will also be playing seven UK club shows. The dates are as follows: May 22 - Newcastle, University 23 - Glasgow, Slay 24 - BEL-AOR Rocks, Belfast 26 - Southampton, The 1865 27 - Brighton, Concorde 2 28 - Bristol, Thekla 30 - Swansea, Sin City 31 - Buckley, Tivoli June 1 - Call of The Wild Festival, Lincoln As always Michael will be joined by his incredible band - Sami Yaffa (bass), Rich Jones (Guitar), Steve Conte (Guitar) and Karl Rockfist (drums). The show will feature songs from throughout Michael’s career including Hanoi Rocks, Demolition 23 as well as his solo career. Tickets are on sale now a...

  British singer/songwriter Toby Jepson has premiered a new animated video for the lead track from his 'Look Out!' mini-album trilogy. Titled 'Alone With You', it's the first of 20 brand new songs by the Wayward Sons and former Little Angels frontman that are being released under his solo moniker, Toby and the Whole Truth. Watch 'Alone With You' (official music video): https://youtu.be/b7x0l5fbTFA 'Alone With You' is an energetic, full-throttle rock anthem that delves into the challenges of men's mental health, drawing from Toby's personal experiences. This theme is vividly brought to life in the new psychedelic animated video, which offers a captivating journey through the intricate corridors of his mind. The visuals poignantly depict the vulnerability and fragility one can feel amidst the chaotic and often overwhelming nature of the modern digital world. "My intention with the videos associated with my new Look Out! song collection w...

  Cult Of Alcaeus has signed with Nova Era Records and joined forces with Necro Algorithm to present "Doomed Algorithms", the split album by Cult Of Alcaeus and Necro Algorithm , released through Nova Era Records. "Doomed Algorithms" is a sonic apocalypse, blending "Doomed Cycles" by Cult of Alcaeus and "Synthetic Souls" by Necro Algorithm, renowned for their crushing soundscapes and futuristic aesthetic. More than just an album, this is a manifesto against humanity's obsolescence under machine dominance, a celebration of chaos where societal collapse meets the algorithm. What to Expect? Devastating riffs, ferocious vocals, and profound lyrics tackling human violence, apocalyptic visions, technological dominance, and the clash between man and machine—all delivered through top-tier production. This album promises to be a milestone in the extreme Death, Thrash, and Groove Metal scene.  Follow Nova Era Records, Cult Of Alcaeus and Necro Algorith...

  There’s a brand-new date that needs to be added to the festival calendar. NOVACAINE FESTIVAL 2025 makes its debut in Sheffield, England, on Saturday 4th October. The event promises to be an electrifying day of music, creativity, and community. NOVACAINE’s goal is to support and showcase new music and foster a sense of community and discovery, making it the perfect destination for music lovers looking to explore new sounds in an intimate setting. Debuting at the legendary Corporation in Sheffield, NOVACAINE FESTIVAL 2025 will feature a curated line-up spanning from cutting edge rock to engrossing metal. Novacaine Festival 2025 Line Up Includes: The Five Hundred (Headliner) Bleed Again (Sub-headliner) Night Thieves Fates Hollow Reanimate Ocean Thieves Saints Among Us Broken Empire Our City Fires Dead Demons. Novacaine have a Spotify playlist that includes tracks from all artists playing at the festival. Check it out, here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6pWwHqMa1UX16XmzA4VtLr ...

  Following its premiere with Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2 last night, The Darkness have today (December 10th) released their explosive new single ‘I Hate Myself’. It’s the second track to be taken from their forthcoming eighth studio album Dreams On Toast which is out on March 28th via Cooking Vinyl. Pre-order the album now here . The punk rock glam stomp of ‘I Hate Myself’ features Justin Hawkins in self-deprecating mode, as he chronicles the breakdown of a relationship while pointing the finger squarely at himself. Falsetto soars, riffs swagger, choruses trumpet and solos ignite as though you’ve walked into an end-of-year party where Status Quo, Slade, Cheap Trick and Motorhead have all come on the jukebox… at the same time! It’s quite simply magnificent. Regarding the single Justin Hawkins says, “At last, a joyous, raucous celebration of self-loathing. I think without regrets we stand to learn less from our experiences – to deny them and compartmentalise them is to deny ourselv...

  Acclaimed Mongolian rock band, The HU, have announced a brand new European tour for 2025, INCARNATION, across June/July 2025. These shows include many new cities for The HU, performing for fans there for the very first time. This tour also includes dates where they will perform as special guests for Heilung. Ticket presale begins 10am CET tomorrow, Wednesday 11 December, with General Sale at 10am CET on Friday 13 December - for tickets visit this link . Across 26 dates The HU will perform in Germany, France, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Hungary, Denmark, Poland, Belgium and Czech Republic, as well as starting the tour in Maastricht, Netherlands on 6 June, and closing out in Istanbul, Turkey, on 16 July. Full dates and venues below. Band leader Gala says: “We’re really excited about our 2025 shows, to visit some brand new places where we’ve never played before, and reach a whole new audience. We will also be releasing new music next year, so fans will get to hear some of...

  London, 10th December 2024: Two of rock’s most iconic acts, Judas Priest and Alice Cooper, are set to deliver an unforgettable performance at The O2 Arena, London, on Friday, 25 July 2025. Promising a night of unparalleled metal and theatrical rock. Hailing from Birmingham, England—the birthplace of heavy metal—Judas Priest has defined the genre for over 50 years. Known for their groundbreaking albums like “British Steel” and the 35-year anniversary of “Painkiller”, the band’s influence is unrivalled, shaping the very fabric of rock music. Their explosive performances, leather-and-studs aesthetic, and iconic hits like “Breaking the Law” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming’” have earned them global acclaim, a Grammy Award, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their latest album, Invincible Shield, continues to storm the charts and gained a Grammy nomination for ‘Best Metal Performance for ‘Crown Of Thorns’. Joining them is the Godfather of Shock Rock, Alice Coope...

  Ho ho ho! Let’s get the festive season into full swing with some more festival news. The weather might be getting colder, but BLOODSTOCK fever is hotting up, with day tickets now available plus today’s latest band announcement revealing the final bands joining the Sophie Lancaster stage in August 2025. Fourteen more bands are lined up to make your festival weekend go with a bang. Handling Thursday’s opening night party duties with aplomb, will be high intensity deathcore beasts DEADFLESH from Hertfordshire, original BLOODSTOCK indoor alumnus FOURWAYKILL , and Belgium’s power trio GNOME . Treat your Friday bangover to a hefty dose of Welsh black metalheads OFNUS , non-conforming tech/deathcorel extremists TURIN , Belfast’s prog metal underdogs LOCK HORNS , and UKHC bruisers ROUGH JUSTICE from Sheffield. Livening up the Sophie tent on Saturday will be prog metal experimentalists IREOSIS from Leeds, post metal soundscape crafters VNDER A CRVMBLING MOON , Sheffield’s blackened pos...

  Ferocious UK extreme metallers KILLERKORP kick on with the release of their brutal new EP, Vices, which arrives on Friday 13th December. The fiery five piece have also now released the EP’s namesake as a single and lyric video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMCtp12wx6s Listen to the band at: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3xD7iRoxdyjL7y59UjdZ5X Despatching an uncompromising sound that rattles your bones, KILLERKORP were originally formed in 2018, and feature Ben Lyddiatt (vocals), Jakey Day (lead guitar), Jon-Luke Bloomfield (rhythm guitar), Daniel Lyddiatt (bass), and Sonny Wright (drums). Their formidable debut EP, Pain, landed in 2019 and received notable acclaim for its savage riffery and potent lyrics. As the band’s following increased, so too did their songwriting prowess as evidenced by 2020’s compelling single, The End, and 2021’s follow up track, Death Day. Both singles cemented the Brit bruisers’ growing reputation as one of the emerging heavyweights on the UK sce...

  Today, Guns N’ Roses announced they will return to the road on a massive 2025 European and Middle East Tour, headlining stadiums and festivals throughout the summer with special guests Public Enemy, Rival Sons and Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter on select dates. Kicking off on 23rd May, the 24 date tour will see the LA legends perform in Saudi Arabia, Georgia, Lithuania and Luxembourg for the first time. The 2025 dates also see the powerhouse rock band return to familiar stages in Bulgaria, Serbia, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Hungary and Austria. For full tour schedule see below. TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting Tuesday, December 10 at 9am local time with the band’s Nightrain Presale. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning Friday, December 13 at 9am local time on gunsnroses.com . Mastercard cardholders have special access to presale tickets in...

  Rock icons The Used have announced their nationwide US 25th Anniversary Tour creating an unforgettable experience for fans with 3 nights in each city (US and Australia), featuring a full album playthrough of the music they created that shaped the sound of early 2000s alternative rock. The celebration will highlight their first three albums performed in full: their self-titled record The Used (2002), In Love And Death (2004) and Lies For The Liars (2007). As the band reaches a quarter-century milestone, these records are largely regarded as highly influential. It is no wonder each of them has been certified either platinum or gold by the RIAA and sold over 10 million albums worldwide. The US tour will be kicking off on April 3 in Detroit, MI, making stops throughout the United States in cities like Boston, Chicago, New York, NJ, Salt Lake City, Denver and LA before wrapping up on May 17th in San Diego. The band will then head to the UK to bring these special performances with an...

  THE HALO EFFECT have unveiled the stunning video for the third single from the highly anticipated album March Of The Unheard, set for release on January 10, 2025, via Nuclear Blast. The new single is an anthemic masterpiece, driven by soaring melodic guitars and THE HALO EFFECT’s unmistakable signature sound. Capturing the very essence of Gothenburg’s melodic death metal legacy, the track delivers a powerful blend of haunting melodies and crushing intensity, cementing the band’s place as modern torchbearers of the genre. The accompanying video takes fans on an immersive journey through the streets of their hometown, Gothenburg. With sweeping visuals and a raw, heartfelt connection to their roots, the video is both a tribute to the city that shaped them and a striking visual complement to the single’s energy and emotion. Guitar wizard and main songwriter Niclas Engelin comments: "'Cruel Perception' is packed with guitar harmonies and melodies that sprung from my noodling...

  SALT Brewery is thrilled to unveil a groundbreaking collaboration with legendary bands BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and TRIVIUM. Together, they’re celebrating the 20th anniversaries of their iconic debut albums—The Poison and Ascendancy—with three limited-edition beers launching this December and January. This electrifying partnership coincides with the bands’ highly anticipated Poisoned Ascendancy World Tour kicking off in January 2025. Three Bold Brews Inspired by Metal Masterpieces: Each beer is a tribute to the groundbreaking energy and artistry of these seminal albums, crafted to resonate with the raw power of Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium’s music. ‘The Poison’ – 6.66% IPA A fierce homage to The Poison. This bold, hop-forward IPA delivers a devilishly delicious 6.66% ABV, with explosive tropical fruit notes and a dry, crisp finish. ‘Ascendancy’ – 4% Rice Lager Inspired by Ascendancy, this smooth, refreshing rice lager balances subtle bitterness with a clean, invigorating fi...