Metal
Here you'll find album histories, birthdays, and anniversaries connected to the artists who built metal and its branches, along with vinyl reissue news as titles reappear. Metal has a particularly active underground pressing culture: independent labels regularly issue small runs in colored or splatter vinyl, and older catalog titles get reworked into box sets and remasters aimed at longtime fans rather than casual listeners. The stories here follow how specific records came together — band lineups, studio choices, the scenes around them — and note when a reissue gives an older album a reason to be discussed again.
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Symphony X: The Album Michael Romeo Didn't Want to Break Apart
Symphony X founder Michael Romeo fought against releasing singles from 'Underworld'. He built the album to be experienced as a single, unbroken wave.
· 5 min read
The Day Pantera's Glam Died a Texas Death
In late 1989, Pantera entered Pantego Sound Studio to record 'Cowboys from Hell', a deliberate, violent departure from the glam metal of their early years.
· 5 min read
Slipknot's Antennas to Hell and the End of an Era
Slipknot released Antennas to Hell on July 23, 2012. The greatest hits compilation became an unintended memorial for bassist Paul Gray and the final document of the classic lineup.
· 4 min read
Slash at 61: The Guns N' Roses Icon's Enduring Guitar Legacy
From a black top hat to blues-inflected solos, Slash built a six-decade career that redefined hard rock guitar. His Gibson Les Paul became one of the most recognisable sounds in music.
· 3 min read
A Cigarette, a Nickname, and 61 Years of Slash
Born Saul Hudson in London’s Hampstead on July 23, 1965, the guitarist known as Slash turned a childhood nickname into a 61-year career. His work reshaped hard rock with Guns N’ Roses and beyond.
· 5 min read
Ozzy Osbourne: The Prince of Darkness Who Redefined Heavy Metal
Ozzy Osbourne, the self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness who co-founded Black Sabbath, passed away on July 22, 2025. He left behind a legacy that shaped the sound of heavy music for generations.
· 3 min read
Ron Asheton: From Classical Violin to Stooges' Proto-Punk Revolution
Ron Asheton, a classically trained child prodigy who co-founded The Stooges, redefined guitar noise and became the architect of proto-punk's rawest sounds.
· 3 min read
Shades of Deep Purple: The Debut That Defined a Legend
In the summer of 1968, Deep Purple released their debut album Shades of Deep Purple. It failed to chart in the UK but reached number 24 on the Billboard 200 in the US.
· 3 min read
David Hasselhoff: From Knight Rider to German Rock Stardom
David Hasselhoff, born July 17, 1952 in Baltimore, became America's unlikely European rock sensation while simultaneously dominating 1980s television.
· 3 min read
Kyle Gass: From 7UP Ads to Tenacious D Stardom
Kyle Gass's path to Tenacious D ran through a 7UP commercial, UCLA theatre school, and The Actors' Gang, where he met Jack Black and taught him guitar.
· 4 min read