The Magazine

The long reads. Genre histories told chapter by chapter, band biographies, the essential albums, the label stories and the portraits, written by the KaosMetal editors.

Narrowed to Heavy Metal. The whole magazine →

Manowar's Eric Adams singing live, flanked by the band on the Kings of Metal MMXIV tour, 2019

Is Heavy Metal Bad for You?

Declan Rourke · Jun 2, 2026

Steeler, the Los Angeles Sunset Strip metal band featuring Ron Keel and Yngwie Malmsteen, in a 1983 promotional portrait

The Sunset Strip Scene

Declan Rourke · Jun 1, 2026

King Diamond of Mercyful Fate singing at Bloodstock Open Air in August 2022, in crown and corpse paint

Misheard Metal Lyrics: Why the Words Go Missing

Declan Rourke · May 31, 2026

Michael Schenker playing his signature yellow Gibson Flying V beside singer Erik Gronwall on the My Years With UFO 50th-anniversary tour, Maid of Stone festival, Mote Park, Maidstone, 20 July 2025

The Metal Scales

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · May 30, 2026

Underoath at O2 Institute Birmingham, 2024. Photo: Andy Shaw/MetalTalk

Heavy Metal vs Screamo

Declan Rourke · May 28, 2026

Fans in band T-shirts cheering at the barrier, Bloodstock Open Air, Catton Park, 2026

Heavy Metal Band Shirts

Declan Rourke · May 27, 2026

Korpiklaani, 2022. Photo: courtesy of the band

The Weirdest Metal Subgenres

Declan Rourke · May 26, 2026

Zak Stevens of Savatage singing at the Shepherds Bush Empire in June 2025, the drum kit carrying the band name behind him

The Hardest Heavy Metal Songs to Play

Declan Rourke · May 25, 2026

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard pointing out into a packed arena on the Hysteria tour in 1987

Is Def Leppard Hair Metal?

Declan Rourke with Saint Sylveszter · May 23, 2026

Helloween's Pumpkins United lineup, featuring Michael Kiske (front left), 2025

The Best Heavy Metal Vocal Performances

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · May 21, 2026

Venom in a black and white press portrait, Newcastle, 2010. Photo: Sean Wright

Is Heavy Metal Satanic?

Declan Rourke · May 20, 2026

Bob Catley of Magnum performing live at the Liverpool Arts Club, 6 February 2015, black and white photograph

Birmingham, Where Heavy Metal Began

Declan Rourke · May 19, 2026

Battlelore, the Finnish Tolkien-themed metal band, in a 2022 promotional group portrait

Tolkien and Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke · May 18, 2026

Iced Earth, with founding guitarist Jon Schaffer, second from right

The Gallop Rhythm

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · May 17, 2026

A Fender Bassman combo with two microphones on stands set in front of it in a studio live room

Double-Tracked Guitars

Declan Rourke with Curtis Vance · May 16, 2026

Enforcer on stage at Stonedead Festival in August 2025, between two banners reading heavy and metal

Heavy Metal vs Metal

Declan Rourke · May 15, 2026

Saxon frontman Biff Byford and guitarist Doug Scarratt performing live on the main stage at Bloodstock Festival 2026.

The Heavy Metal Festivals

Declan Rourke · May 14, 2026

Darkthrone, Fenriz and Nocturno Culto, 2024. Photo: Peer Olav Kittilsen

The Metal Subgenres Tier List

Declan Rourke · May 13, 2026

Accept on stage at Stonedead Festival in August 2026, two guitarists behind a lit stage sign carrying the band name

Heavy Metal Workout Songs

Declan Rourke · May 12, 2026

The five members of Sortilege photographed together in leather jackets against a white background

The French Heavy Metal Bands

Declan Rourke · May 11, 2026

Van Halen on stage in 2015, David Lee Roth at the microphone with Eddie Van Halen to his left and Wolfgang Van Halen on bass

Is Van Halen Hair Metal?

Declan Rourke with Saint Sylveszter · May 10, 2026

Scorpions on stage at the Manchester Apollo in February 1980, the whole stage in fog with walls of Marshall cabinets behind the band

Donington 1980: The First Monsters of Rock

Declan Rourke · May 9, 2026

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple singing live at The O2, London, 6 November 2024

The Greatest Heavy Metal Singers

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · May 8, 2026

Rob Halford of Judas Priest singing live on stage in studded leather, arms outstretched, bassist and drummer behind him under yellow stage lights

The Judas Priest Subliminal Message Trial

Declan Rourke · May 7, 2026