Genre Histories

Nervecell in Dubai, 2018. Photo: courtesy of the band, via Gulf News

Heavy Metal in the Middle East

Declan Rourke · Aug 24, 2026

Blind Guardian posing together on stage at the end of their set, facing a packed crowd, Keep It True Festival, 20 November 2021.

Greek Myth and Arthurian Legend in Metal

Declan Rourke · Aug 23, 2026

Kampfar performing live on stage

Inferno Festival

Eirik Solvang · Aug 22, 2026

The meter bridge of a Studer two inch tape machine with a loaded reel below it, the channel meters lit

The NWOBHM on a Shoestring Budget

Declan Rourke with Curtis Vance · Aug 21, 2026

Loudblast band portrait

French, Italian and Spanish Death Metal

Andrzej Sawicki · Aug 20, 2026

Motörhead at Port Talbot, 1982. Photo: Andrew King

Heavy Metal Moral Panic in Britain

Declan Rourke · Aug 18, 2026

A thrash band playing a community hall

Latin America Beyond Brazil: Kraken, Transmetal, V8, Hermética

Declan Rourke · Aug 17, 2026

Celtic Frost on stage at Tuska in 2006

Celtic Frost and Switzerland: The Neighbour That Went Somewhere Else

Declan Rourke · Aug 16, 2026

James Hetfield of Metallica pointing out into the crowd at Download in June 2023

Lovecraft and Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke · Aug 16, 2026

The sleeves of Witchcraft by Witchcraft, Life Metal by Sunn O))) and Blues for the Red Sun by Kyuss laid side by side

The Doom Metal Album Cover

Ilse Brandt · Aug 15, 2026

Borknagar in a band portrait against a brick wall

The Biggest Black Metal Festivals

Eirik Solvang · Aug 14, 2026

Dark Angel in a band portrait

Metal Blade, Megaforce, Combat: The Labels That Signed the Big Four

Declan Rourke · Aug 14, 2026

The empty control room at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, the desk and monitors facing the glass

The Studios That Shaped Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke with Curtis Vance · Aug 14, 2026

Falls of Rauros performing live on stage

The Split Album Tradition

Eirik Solvang · Aug 13, 2026

Metallica with the San Francisco Symphony at Chase Center, San Francisco, 2019. Photo: David Iskra

Heavy Metal and Classical Music

Declan Rourke · Aug 13, 2026

Devourment performing live at Brutal Assault festival

Texas Death Metal

Rafael Quintero · Aug 11, 2026

Obituary band portrait

Mosh Pits, Circle Pits and the Wall of Death

Rafael Quintero · Aug 11, 2026

The sleeve of Antichrist, Gorgoroth, 1996

The Biggest Black Metal Controversies, Explained

Eirik Solvang · Aug 10, 2026