by Steven Miller

Wolfgang Van Halen’s The End, release date is October 24, 2025, via BMG, is a ten-track set that expands the world of Mammoth into focus with songwriting, tone, and an unshakable belief that great rock still lives and breathes through the hands of this determined musician.

Where many guitar-centric albums flaunt technique, The End builds its identity from compositional discipline. Wolfgang again performs every instrument, guitars, bass, drums, keys, vocals, and backing vocals. All recorded at 5150 Studios with longtime collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette. The production hits that elusive mark between clarity and warmth as each [...]

By Shannon Smith

From the opening drum roll, Castle Rat’s “Serpent” coils itself around the listener with the kind of vintage-metal authority that is hard to resist. Recorded under the steady hand of Randall Dunn and mixed by Jonathan Nuñez, the track bears all the marks of a band intent on situating itself within the heavy metal continuum while pushing its theatrical boundaries forward.

The Rat Queen (Riley Pinkerton) anchors the performance with a vocal delivery that channels the urgency of early NWOBHM and the gothic charisma of proto-doom. Her voice is commanding with a full-bodied timbre that is serrated at the edges. The vocals have [...]

Saxon is a British Heavy Metal band that will reward a listener with a keen ear for technical skill, sonic clarity, and the intricate dance between tradition and evolution in music production; let’s delve into a review of Saxon’s Hell, Fire and Damnation. This album has many high points; let’s focus on three key aspects: production and sound engineering, instrumental virtuosity, and the album’s contribution to the evolution of heavy metal. This perspective aims to shed light on the craftsmanship behind the album, appealing to listeners who appreciate the nuances of sound that elevate music from good to [...]