Genre Histories

The four members of Iron Savior in a studio portrait, Piet Sielck at the front pointing at the camera

The Hamburg Scene: Where European Power Metal Was Built

Julien Vasseur · Mar 15, 2026

The sleeve of Black Metal, Venom, 1982

Venom and the Album That Gave the Genre Its Name

Eirik Solvang · Mar 14, 2026

Two Wishbone Ash guitarists playing at opposite sides of a small stage, the drummer between them behind the kit

Proto-Power Metal: The Records Before the Name

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 14, 2026

Rockfield Studios' farmyard and converted stone farm buildings near Monmouth, Wales

Rockfield Studios and Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke with Curtis Vance · Mar 14, 2026

Jason McMaster and Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower on an open-air stage

Progressive Thrash: Voivod, Toxik, Sieges Even

Declan Rourke · Mar 12, 2026

The four members of Running Wild, Rolf Kasparek among them, posed together in matching studded black leather stage jackets for a studio band portrait Chapter 2

Hamburg, 1985: How Europe Built Its Own Power Metal

Julien Vasseur · Mar 12, 2026

Kerry King of Slayer performing live at Electric Ballroom, Camden, London, 18 June 2024, his tattooed scalp and arms visible under the stage lights

The Heavy Metal Tattoo

Declan Rourke · Mar 11, 2026

Charlie Benante and Frank Bello on stage

S.O.D.: "Speak English or Die" and the Anthrax Connection

Declan Rourke · Mar 10, 2026

Antaeus on stage

French Black Metal

Eirik Solvang · Mar 6, 2026

Jody Turner of Rock Goddess playing bass on stage at Headbangers Open Air in July 2015

The Women of the NWOBHM

Declan Rourke · Mar 6, 2026

The sleeve of the Emperor and Hordanes Land split, 1993

Helvete: The Basement Record Shop

Eirik Solvang · Mar 5, 2026

Iron Maiden's five members, the Paul Di'Anno-era line-up with Steve Harris and Dave Murray, crowded around a pub table, laughing and holding pints, an Iron Maiden backstage laminate on one jacket Chapter 1

What Power Metal Is, and Where It Came From

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 5, 2026

Fleetwood Mac rehearsing at the Royal Albert Hall in 1969, Peter Green at the microphone with his Les Paul

The Blues Roots of Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke · Mar 4, 2026

Sonata Arctica's five members standing together among tall stone monuments in a promotional portrait made for the band's thirtieth anniversary Overview

Swords Raised at Full Speed: The History of Power Metal, from Hamburg to the World

Julien Vasseur · Mar 2, 2026

Sinister in front of a mural

Dutch Death Metal: Pestilence, Asphyx and Gorefest

Andrzej Sawicki · Mar 1, 2026

Megadeth band members posing in a black and white photo from the 1980s

Technical Thrash: Watchtower, Coroner, Mekong Delta

Declan Rourke · Feb 26, 2026

Mark Gallagher of Raven playing a Flying V on stage at Wacken Open Air in August 2024

The NWOBHM Singles and the Independent Labels

Declan Rourke · Feb 24, 2026

Hideki Ishima of Flower Travellin' Band playing his sitarla on stage in Brooklyn in 2008

Proto-Metal: The Records Before the Name

Declan Rourke · Feb 23, 2026