Metal Insider’s Chris Loomis Top 10 Albums of 2025
An enormous amount of great music was released in 2025 across all genres of Rock n Roll and Heavy Metal, which always makes it a challenge when asked, "What is your favorite album released this year?" After scouring my playlists and reminiscing about concerts...
Charting the course to 2026: reflecting on 70000tons of Metal 2025 Artist Spotlight: Painful
Countdown to 2026: 37 Days SOOOOOOON, a word 70000tons of Metal cruisers know all too well, love it or hate it. 70000tons of Metal, The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise, returns for its 2026 edition from January 29 – February 2, 2026, setting sail from...
Metal Insider’s Matt Brown’s Top 10 Albums of 2025
Long ago, I learned that bum-rushing through all the music I haven't listened to yet before list-making time is an ineffective way of composing my top albums of the year. I either don't give the album the chance it deserves, or I knee-jerk decide it's great and then...
Rainbow announce ‘The Temple of the King 1975–1976’ box set
Rainbow will celebrate the earliest and most influential years of their career with The Temple of the King 1975–1976, a comprehensive 9-CD box set arriving March 6, 2026, via Edsel Records. Newly mastered by Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham, the collection marks the first...
Metallica share festive recording of James Hetfield reading “A Visit From St. Nicholas”
Metallica are in the holiday spirit this year with a special seasonal release, a recording of James Hetfield reading the classic poem A Visit From St. Nicholas, widely known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The band dropped the festive track as a light-hearted...
Gluecifer drop “I’m Ready” Video
If you’re American, the easiest way to understand Gluecifer is to imagine what it would feel like if a band like the Ramones, or maybe the MC5, disappeared for two decades and then returned without any interest in explaining themselves. No oral history, no apology...
Milwaukee Metal Festival 2026 adds Suicidal Tendencies & Agalloch
Milwaukee Metal Festival is gearing up for the 2026 edition returning to The Rave/Eagles Club from June 5–7, with a pre-party kicking things off on June 4. Alongside headliners Acid Bath, Killswitch Engage, and Ministry, the festival has expanded its lineup with...
Catch up now: 6 new songs/videos recently released – 12/22/2025
New music continues to pile its way through. Since our chunk last week with 47 new songs, this week brings a festive batch of six new tracks as well as fresh videos from already-existing albums or live performances. Metal Insider has collected songs...
Metal Insider’s Kyle Ostrander’s Top 10 Albums of 2025
With so many amazing bands consistently putting out good music, it’s hard to keep track of everything that came out in 2025, and even harder to pick just 10 favorites. To narrow it down, I asked myself, “out of all the music released this year, what do I keep coming...
Sick of It All’s Lou Koller shares health update on cancer battle: “I’m at a stalemate”
Sick of It All vocalist Lou Koller has shared a new update on his ongoing battle with esophageal cancer, revealing that his current treatment has reached “a stalemate.” In a video message shared on social media, Lou explained that while the tumors are no longer...







