Mad About Rock

  We’re excited to announce 22 new band additions and a venue update for Mangata Festival 2026, taking place on Saturday 5 September 2026 in Nottingham. With five stages spread across three city-centre venues, this is shaping up to be the biggest edition of Mangata Festival yet. We’re pleased to confirm that Mangata Festival 2026 will once again feature five stages, working closely with Rescue Rooms, Rock City, and The Tap & Tumbler. Rescue Rooms will host the Main Stage, with the Red Room stage upstairs, located at Masonic Place, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham (NG1 5LB). Just a few minutes away, Rock City on Talbot Street (NG1 5GG) will host the Beta stage and the Black Cherry Lounge stage. Around the corner, the Tap & Tumbler at 33 Wollaton Street (NG1 5FW) will host our fifth stage, which will be free entry with no ticket required. On the Rescue Rooms Main Stage, joining previously announced Raised By Owls, Red Method, and In Search of Sun, we’re thrilled to welcome our ...

  We exclusively caught up with Edinburgh’s masked metalcore outlier OBELISK who releases his debut album, 'Brushed By Darkness', on Friday 12th December. Check out the below track by track breakdown: Slifer the Executive Producer "An instrumental track which shows the beautiful components that can then turn ugly." Where do you end? "This is a song at its core that’s about people that pick and choose. Whether that’s a narcissistic person who can’t admit they’re wrong, or a religious person who likes to pick and choose their morals when they see fit. Lots of energy in this one." Karameleon "This one is about good old karma. I worked in an industry that was full of cliques, and this is what it’s written about. People throw stones in glass houses, talking from a throne when they have no idea others are doing the same. The fitness industry is a callous and cold place." Working Class Zero "Written quite clearly about the disparity of wealth, and ...

  Much-acclaimed Celtic punk artist NO MURDER NO MOUSTACHE (Owen Crawford) returns with his most personal and powerful work yet. His new album, As Everything Else Decays, arrives Friday 27th February, led by the gripping new single and video, 'A Demon In The Dark', out now. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_t6yCi2Ubo Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0OnpSg0QUzp3ZB4AJDNT4N . Blending energetic rhythms, intricate instrumentation, and heartfelt punk authenticity, NO MURDER NO MOUSTACHE delivers a sound that’s both serious and fun. Expect gripping anthems tackling corrupt governments, anti-fascism, mental health struggles, loss, and bad decisions — all infused with hope — alongside songs about everyday absurdities: being intimidated by teenagers at the skate park, politicians’ bedroom habits, and trying not to be a poser (with a beer in hand, of course). A true DIY punk powerhouse, NO MURDER NO MOUSTACHE handles every aspect of his craft — from...

  The Darkness merrily announce their new single ‘Mistletoe and Wine’ out now via Cooking Vinyl. Arriving on this 5th day of Advent, the beloved British rock band peel open the door to reveal a delicious new take on Cliff Richard’s yuletide song. Listen here / watch the video here . As the cracker pops, synths dance to the unmistakable melody, heavy strung-out riffs plough through as bells ring, and a powerful rhythmic stomp explodes as Justin Hawkins’s passionate vocal performance rings out, all bolstered by delightful choral harmony. Regarding the single Justin says, “Season’s greetings! Children, roasting on an open fire, their eyeballs all aglow, are weeping in awe of our latest seasonal offering. ‘Mistletoe and Wine’ represents a musical departure for The Darkness as we reimagine Richie Clifton’s timeless classic and add a few sprinkles of shoegaze and drone. Jack Frost staring at his toes? You will be too. In a good way.” The release closes out yet another triumphant yea...

  #1 Global Power Metal Band and one of Sweden’s most successful bands SABATON today release their latest video, 'Crossing The Rubicon'. It’s taken from their brand new studio album LEGENDS, out now via Better Noise Music, marking the band’s label debut. SABATON released a special version of 'Crossing The Rubicon' to radio in September featuring singer Jonny Hawkins and guitarist Mark Vollelunga of Nothing More. The track is currently positioned at #17 on the Billboard “Mainstream Rock Airplay” chart and #18 on the Mediabase Active Rock chart. Listen to the album version of 'Crossing The Rubicon' here and watch its corresponding truly epic video here . As bassist Pär Sundström says, it was filmed at a historic location in Italy. “This was one of the most enjoyable music videos we’ve ever made. Everything flowed smoothly thanks to the amazing energy of the actors and the unique charm of the location. We spent two days filming in Sabbioneta, Italy, at the Tea...

  SCRATCH ONE GRUB emerge from the valleys with their debut album One, arriving Friday 27 February. Blending progressive ambition, alt-metal grit, and raw emotion, the Welsh six-piece stake their claim as one of the UK’s most exciting new heavy acts. Their new single, #1, out now, delivers biting rhythms, big hooks, and intricate musicianship — a bold introduction to their sound. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uGqee_0lAY Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3FET2hG6ku5SehywtEQ2NX Formed in Aberdare, South Wales, SCRATCH ONE GRUB comprises Aled Trigg (Vocals), Lewis Griffiths (Drums/Vocals), Sean ‘The Grub Man’ Barry (Samples/Vocals), Evan Cook (Lead Guitar), Alex Lewis (Rhythm Guitar), and Zac Cross (Bass). Since their formation, the band have quickly earned a reputation for their genre-defying sound and visceral live energy — blending the expansive scope of modern progressive metal with the urgency and heart of the alt scene. Sharing stages with th...

  Legendary metal titans MEGADETH have teamed with Trafalgar Releasing for MEGADETH: BEHIND THE MASK, a cinematic legacy event that will debut on screens worldwide Thursday, January 22—on the eve of the release of the band’s final studio album out January 23. The film will screen in over 1,000 cinemas across 35+ countries. Tickets go on sale Thursday, December 11 at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm GMT / 3pm CET with a trailer available for viewing on the same day. For more information and to sign up for updates, fans can visit megadethfilm.com. In MEGADETH: BEHIND THE MASK, Dave Mustaine pulls back the curtain on 40 years of MEGADETH, sharing untold stories of the band’s past and the creative fire that drives them. Interwoven throughout, audiences will get to experience the world premiere of MEGADETH'S new self-titled album in full, brought to life with a 40-year retrospective career-spanning interview and Mustaine’s own track-by-track reflections about the band’s final studio album. This o...