Contributions
Megadeth's Dave Mustaine on the beefs that made 'Rust In Peace' iconic
Megadeth’s Rust In Peace is probably the gnarliest guitar album in the history of heavy metal. Released in 1990, the platinum plaque was the group’s definitive statement from the golden age of thrash metal. It’s a megablast that spanned from the mid-’80s to the early ’90s, when Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax—collectively known as The […]
Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness on 40 years of living the punk life.
With one classic punk album under his belt, Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness seemed like a safe bet to die before he turned 25. Instead, he cleaned up and kept the band going through its 40th birthday. At 57, he’s still in fighting shape—literally—and his band have no end in sight. Social Distortion will celebrate […]
Korn still feel the old pain on ‘The Nothing’—review
It’s a condition, not a phase. Kilted, bearded and occasionally bagpiping, Jonathan Davis has now spent a full 26 years as frontman of Korn, using a monster-shaped, H.R. Giger-designed microphone stand to report from his therapist’s couch. Before “emo” became a widespread, reductive shorthand, we described that dynamic with terms such as “primal pain.” Davis […]
Metal pioneer Jonny Z recounts 40 years of Megaforce Records with book
Before Megaforce Records co-founder Jon “Jonny Z” Zazula got in the game, the term “heavy metal” usually referred to long-haired radio rock from the ’70s. Once Z quit his day job and invested in Metallica, he did as much as anybody to harvest modern metal. Working on a shoestring budget, Z and his partners grew […]
Wage War are bringing brutality and balance on ‘Pressure’
Every band says the same vague, contradictory things about their new record: “It’s heavier,” they say. “But it’s more melodic, too.” But the latest from Wage War, Pressure, actually pulls it off, with surprising new elements from inside the band and out. Producer Drew Fulk (Motionless In White, Lil Peep) keeps metal at the core […]
Cro-Mags’ Harley Flanagan remembers Anthony Bourdain a year later
June 8 marks a year since the shocking death of culinary icon Anthony Bourdain. Cro-Mags bassist/founder Harley Flanagan was the first of Bourdain’s friends to be interviewed after the devastating news broke. He was later featured on the final episode of Parts Unknown, Bourdain’s latest beloved, long-running TV show about travel, food, culture and the […]