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 (...

  A Statement from Mastodon: "We are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief… last night (Wednesday 20th August) Brent Hinds passed away as a result of a tragic accident. We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many. Our hearts are with Brent’s family, friends, and fans. At this time, we please ask that you respect everyone’s privacy during this difficult time. RIP Brent" Statement posted on their social media Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Mastodon

  Ascending British rock rebels, PARADISE SINS, are poised to reveal their explosive new single and video, 'Bad Bad Bad' — which drops on Friday 29th August. Pulling no punches and dripping with swagger, it’s loud, sin-soaked, and grinning with menace. With the band on the rise, we asked them to reveal the tracks that have shaped and influenced their sound the most: Luis (Vocalist) Track choice: Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon: "This is the blueprint for me. The riff is electrifying. Something overlooked is Ozzy's ability to weave vocals in a way that let's the music breathe. Of course there's the searing solo that takes it to another level. These are all elements that I think make for a near perfect rock song." Dan (Guitarist) Track choice: H.E.A.T - One by One: "The song – and the band in fact – that revived my love for writing music. It's gloriously anthemic but attains a rich heaviness which for me integrates perfectly. So much energy, fo...

  Slayer is one of the most iconic thrash metal bands and has defined the genre for over four decades. To celebrate their momentous, long-spanning career, they have announced two massive UK headline shows in Cardiff’s Blackweir Fields on July 3rd and London’s Finsbury Park on July 6th. Not only do these two songs mark their biggest UK shows, but they are also the only headline shows they will play in Europe, and they mark the first time in six years that they have performed in the UK! In anticipation of these massive events, we take a look at some of the biggest tracks and videos from Slayer and their special guests... Starting off with headliners Slayer, here are some of their most iconic songs/videos: 'Raining Blood' -  'Angel Of Death' - 'Repentless' - 'Delusions Of Saviour' - These shows are not to be missed, as they celebrate Slayer's colossal career in style with an impressive stage production. If that weren’t enough, they are bring...

  Beloved by tastemakers and the underground, London metal trio, URNE, have today released a nine minute-plus undulating epic, ‘Harken The Waves’, featuring guest vocals from Mastodon’s Troy Sanders. On it, his and URNE frontman Joe Nally’s voices blend to form a duet cresting the surface of the song. “We feel this is one of the best songs we’ve ever written. On top of that, we were lucky enough to have Grammy-winning metal icon Troy Sanders, from the legendary Mastodon, lend his vocal talents,” explains URNE frontman Joe Nally. “We’ve grown up listening to Troy and watching Troy live, so having someone like him not only appear, but take on such a significant role in the song, elevating it to another level, means a lot.” Watch the video clip for ‘Harken The Waves’, HERE . ‘Harken The Waves’ follows URNE’s recently released double A-side: ‘Throes Of Grief’ plus a spectacular cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘I’. Watch the lyric video for ‘Throes Of Grief’ here: https://yo...

  For more than four decades, SLAYER has defined thrash metal - shaping the genre, inspiring others, destroying stages across the world, and forging an untouchable legacy of unrelenting speed, aggression, and power. Now, as they celebrate more than 40 years of chaos, they're making history once again, announcing two massive headline shows, the biggest they've ever done in the U.K. and the only headline shows SLAYER will play in Europe this year. Set to take place in Cardiff’s Blackweir Fields on July 3rd and London’s Finsbury Park on July 6th, these are more than just concerts - it's a celebration of everything the iconic band and their fans have built together. The unmissable outdoor events will mark the first time in six years that SLAYER has performed in the U.K. A career-spanning set, stage production like you've never seen before, and a night of pure thrash fury that will be remembered forever. These two epic shows bring SLAYER together with not one, not two, but ...

  It’s showtime! In honour of it being Halloween week, BLOODSTOCK was going to treat you to a spooktacular vampire pun. But it sucks. So let’s creep it real with some more bands joining the bill, because we all know that you ghouls just wanna have fun. And in case you missed the fangtastic news about more weekend tickets being released, read on for further details and mark your calendar for 9am, November 5th, for that’s when they go on sale! No tricks! Hot on the heels of the monstrously good news about MASTODON joining the bill last Friday, here’s another 15 bands to bewitch you… BLOODSTOCK is pleased to welcome thrash-lovin’ Norwich metal maestros SHRAPNEL , innovative Canterbury doomsters FAMYNE , and Danish blackened death/doom metal merchants KONVENT to the Ronnie James Dio stage on Friday. Emerging from Germany’s extreme metal void with a fresh take on all things black/death, THE SPIRIT are added to Saturday’s bill. Sunday’s lineup now includes atmospheric, dark symphonic m...

  BLOODSTOCK is thrilled to announce that special guests on the Ronnie James Dio stage on Sunday will be…. wait for it…. none other than highly revered, four-headed metal behemoth MASTODON . The group are just off the road in the USA with festival alumni pals LAMB OF GOD, dropping the collab track ‘ Floods Of Triton ’ to celebrate their co-headline Ashes Of Leviathan tour. You can check out a ‘making of’ interview here . Perhaps you caught MASTODON headlining BLOODSTOCK all the way back in 2016? Investigate the treasure trove of live tracks from that set on BLOODSTOCK’s YouTube at your leisure, including ‘ High Road .’ If you’re extra crushed now you didn’t manage to snap up a weekend ticket before they sold out, read on for good news… Additional weekend tickets Festival HQ saw a lot of social media posts after weekend tickets for next summer’s event sold out, with fans disappointed they missed out on tickets. While a limited number of day tickets will be made available in due cou...

  Mastodon photo by Clay Patrick McBride Mastodon and Lamb of God have just shared their new collaborative single “Floods of Triton,” a high energy rager that effortlessly evokes the spirit of the bands’ respective early works while also harnessing the stylistic expansiveness that has forged them into icons of heavy music. The new song is aptly timed on the heels of the groups’ co-headline arena tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their classic albums Leviathan and Ashes of the Wake, synthesizing the indelible influence of those respective classics while underscoring their enduring relevancy as pivotal figures in the heavy music world. The song was recorded at Mastodon’s own West End Sound in Atlanta and was produced by Mastodon and Tyler Bates, highly regarded in his own right for his scores for Guardians of The Galaxy, John Wick, MaXXXine, and more. This momentous collaboration also serves as a bookend for the bands’ highly successful summer tour, a celebration of two landma...

  Celebrating a landmark body of work, iconic GRAMMY® Award-winning heavy rock band Mastodon proudly presents Crack The Skye (15TH Anniversary) editions out October 4, 2024. The group have carefully assembled the ultimate vision of their groundbreaking 2009 concept album, Crack The Skye. Boasting a bevy of exclusive and essential extras, it will be available in multiple configurations: 2LP & Blu-Ray Deluxe Box, 2CD & Blu-Ray Deluxe Box, 2LP Deluxe Vinyl, 2CD Deluxe, and Digital Deluxe. Pre-order/Pre-save HERE All configurations notably feature a newly remastered version of the original album on Disc 1, while Disc 2 houses Crack The Skye: The Score, which includes instrumentals of every track now available in physical format since its initial limited release in 2009. The deluxe limited editions feature brand-new artwork designed by the band's long-time collaborator, Paul Romano. Additionally, the vinyl and CD deluxe limited editions both have exclusive art. The Blu-Ray showc...

So the new Stencil Mag (Issue 42) is out today and it's huge as always! For this issue I got to interview Joey Z from Life Of Agony - check out the interview here:  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue42/52 My reviews featured include: Life Of Agony - A Place Where There's No More Pain https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue42/203 Bleed Again - Momentum   https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue42/208 You Me At Six - Night People   h ttps://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue42/209 Acceptance - Colliding By Design   https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue42/210 Counterfeit - Together We Are Strong  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue42/211 Mastodon - Emperor Of Sand  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue42/233 Lastly I also done a feature for albums that turn 10 years old this year! My choice was for Paramore's - Riot Album which you can read here:  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue42/238 So be sure to check ...

      The mighty new issue of Stencil Mag has landed featuring as you can see main feature, Rise Against! You can also check out my review of their new album here: http://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue26/173   Also featured is a Reading/Leeds preview including my sections on Paramore, Young Guns, Crossfaith & Of Mice & Men, which can be seen here!  http://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue26/127     In a new VS feature, kicking of with Bring Me The Horizon. I pick their latest album, 'Sempiternal' which goes up agaist their previous album, 'There Is A Hell Believe Me I've Seen It..' - which is your favourite?! http://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue26/143   Also check out my reviews of the following:   Mastodon and Linking Park latest albums: http://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue26/159   And lastly my reviews of Casket Of Cassandra and The Moderates: http://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue26/16...