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Rattlesnakes – Shadows in the Night (Album Review)
Release date: 30 October 2026 Record label: Listenable Records The Riff Doctor's Score: (09/10) RRRRRRRRRR Diagnosis Shadows in the Night is a blistering debut that drags the spirit of '80s heavy metal into the present with razor-sharp riffs, soaring vocals and enough speed to leave the competition choking on dust. Best Tracks: Spellbound, Shadows in the Night, Where the River Meets the Sea. The Full Review Few emerging bands have made such an immediate impact on the heavy me
Blind Channel – Painstream (Album Review)
Release date: 30 October 2026 Record label: Century Media Records The Riff Doctor's Score: (08/10) RRRRRRRRRR Diagnosis Painstream sees Blind Channel combining massive hooks, crushing riffs and raw emotion into a bold, infectious and polished modern metal comeback. The choruses remain enormous, but this time there’s a little more weight behind the noise. Best Tracks: “Messiah”, “Stars We See”, “Into The Void”, “Diana”, “No Encores In A Swan Song” Deep Cuts: “Types Of Killing”
Beyond Extinction – Three Swords (EP Review)
Release date: 23 October 2026 Record label: Self-Released The Riff Doctor's Score: (8/10) RRRRRRRRRR Diagnosis Beyond Extinction unearth the darkest chapters of Essex’s history, transforming centuries of witch hunts, plague and violence into four suffocating tracks of crushing deathcore. Guttural vocals, dissonant guitars and an overwhelming sense of dread turn the past into something that feels disturbingly alive. Best Tracks: Witchfinder, The Estuary The Full Review There i
Tony Iommi – From The Dark (Album Review)
Release date: 23 October 2026 Record label: BMG The Riff Doctor's Score: (10/10) RRRRRRRRRR Diagnosis The godfather of heavy metal returns after two decades with a masterclass in monstrous riffs, sinister atmosphere and old-school metal brilliance. Best Tracks: World Alone, Black Times, Over The Violent Sun, Legacy, Stormwatcher. Deep Cuts: Return Of The Arbalist, Beyond The Dead, Death Wake. The Full Review More than half a century after those first terrifying Black Sabbath
Entheos – Empty on the Inside (Album Review)
Release date: 23 October 2026 Record label: Metal Blade Records The Riff Doctor's Score: (8/10) RRRRRRRRRR Diagnosis Entheos have traded surgical precision for something rawer, heavier and more human. With a formidable new line-up and a renewed sense of purpose, Empty on the Inside proves that sometimes the best way forward is to strip everything back. Best Tracks: The Earth Will Move, Hell Is a Part of Me, Pale Faith Deep Cuts: Hollow, Call My Name, Never Let Me Go The Full
The Riffs of the Week (30/10/2026)
Some weeks, choosing the music is the easy part. Knowing where to stop is the problem. This Friday brings two albums we’ve already been spending plenty of time with, a promising solo debut, the return of gothic rock royalty and another encounter with heavy metal’s most unmistakable voice. From Ozzy’s final bow to a Nottingham band revealing an unexpected side of themselves, here are six tracks worth making room for this week. Ozzy Osbourne – “Mr. Crowley” (Live at Back to the
6 hours ago
The Best New Riffs – 23 October 2026
Seven tracks, one absolutely massive week for rock and metal. From Tony Iommi proving that legends never fade to Polyphia rewriting the rulebook, this Friday is overflowing with new music. Throw in Floor Jansen, Machine Head, some rising talent and a healthy dose of British brutality, and limiting ourselves to six tracks was never going to happen. Some weeks, you just have to turn everything up. Tony Iommi – Over the Violent Sun The godfather of heavy metal is back. Today mar
Oct 23
The Best New Riffs of the Week – 9 October 2026
Another Friday, another six reasons to turn the volume up. And this week, there's plenty going on beyond the music itself. Trivium lead the charge with a fresh dose of modern metal, ELEINE prepare to bring their dark symphonic sound to UK stages, and The Dead Daisies introduce a familiar voice in a brand-new role. Meanwhile, Parkway Drive go orchestral, Orbit Culture add a little cinematic drama, and Sons of Silver make sure good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll gets its say. Six
Oct 8
Interview with GEOFF TATE: Returning to OPERATION MINDCRIME with DOCTOR X at the centre of the story
"Money isn’t worth the frustration… or the emotional toll."
VEXED - Interview at Takedown festival
Brutal, relentless and built the hard way
DeVere:“Louder than everything else — and just getting started”
We caught up with DeVere just an hour before they stepped on stage at Takedown Festival
The Riffs of the Week (30/10/2026)
Some weeks, choosing the music is the easy part. Knowing where to stop is the problem. This Friday brings two albums we’ve already been spending plenty of time with, a promising solo debut, the return of gothic rock royalty and another encounter with heavy metal’s most unmistakable voice. From Ozzy’s final bow to a Nottingham band revealing an unexpected side of themselves, here are six tracks worth making room for this week. Ozzy Osbourne – “Mr. Crowley” (Live at Back to the
JOSE CRESPO
Rattlesnakes – Shadows in the Night (Album Review)
Release date: 30 October 2026 Record label: Listenable Records The Riff Doctor's Score: (09/10) RRRRRRRRRR Diagnosis Shadows in the Night is a blistering debut that drags the spirit of '80s heavy metal into the present with razor-sharp riffs, soaring vocals and enough speed to leave the competition choking on dust. Best Tracks: Spellbound, Shadows in the Night, Where the River Meets the Sea. The Full Review Few emerging bands have made such an immediate impact on the heavy me
Jaime Gómez
Bryan Adams Takes Aim at Political Chaos in New Single ‘Lake Ontario’
Bryan Adams delivers a sharp dose of political satire in his new single ‘Lake Ontario’, tackling political distractions, national identity and the madness of modern politics ahead of his forthcoming album How’s It Goin’, out November 6 via BAD Records. Bryan Adams has never needed much more than a guitar and a good story to make his point. This time, however, the Canadian rock legend has politics firmly in his sights. Released today (28th October), his new single ‘Lake Ontari
The Riff Collective
HAWXX – The Star Inn, Guildford (Live Review)
Special Guests: Augmentia & Take Flight Date: Sunday, 25 October 2026 Photo Credit: Jose Crespo The Aftershock On a rain-soaked Sunday in Guildford, HAWXX turned The Star Inn into a room full of riffs, resistance and raised hands. Led by the unstoppable Annouli, the band moved from Greek folk melodies to ferocious metal without losing sight of what brought everyone together. Fierce, fearless and often beautiful, this was a band performing with purpose and refusing to be silen
JOSE CRESPO
Saxon Unleash New Single “Medusa” and Announce 2027 European Tour Dates
British heavy metal legends Saxon have released “Medusa”, the second single from their upcoming studio album Gods of Thunder, arriving on 22 January 2027 via Silver Lining Music. The band have also announced a new run of European dates for 2027 and revealed that Armored Saint will join them as special guests on the previously announced UK and Ireland leg of their Gods of Thunder – World Tour. Inspired by the Gorgon of Greek mythology, whose gaze could turn mortals to stone, “
The Riff Collective
Bruce Dickinson Announces PsychoGod Tour 2027 With UK and European Dates
Bruce Dickinson will return to the stage with his solo band in 2027, bringing the PsychoGod Tour to venues and festivals across Europe, including seven UK headline shows. Photo credit Leo Liberti The tour will take place across two legs in the summer and autumn, with Swedish progressive metal band Evergrey joining as special guests for the November and December dates. The performances will mark Dickinson’s first solo shows since The Mandrake Project Tour concluded in Brazil i
The Riff Collective
Blind Channel – Painstream (Album Review)
Release date: 30 October 2026 Record label: Century Media Records The Riff Doctor's Score: (08/10) RRRRRRRRRR Diagnosis Painstream sees Blind Channel combining massive hooks, crushing riffs and raw emotion into a bold, infectious and polished modern metal comeback. The choruses remain enormous, but this time there’s a little more weight behind the noise. Best Tracks: “Messiah”, “Stars We See”, “Into The Void”, “Diana”, “No Encores In A Swan Song” Deep Cuts: “Types Of Killing”
Jack Merry
Mammoth to Film London Headline Show as Final Tickets Released
London, you might want to make some noise for this one. Mammoth will film their headline show at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Tuesday 24 November, giving an already highly anticipated night an extra reason to raise the roof. Photo Credit: Travis Shinn The show had previously sold out, but a final allocation of production hold tickets has now been released. For fans who missed out the first time, this is one last opportunity to get through the doors — and potentially into the
The Riff Collective
MESSA Gear Up for European and UK Tour with The Night Eternal as London Show Sells Out
The Italian doom metal innovators return to European stages this October, bringing The Spin to life alongside special guests The Night Eternal, with five UK shows scheduled for November with London already Sold Out. Italian doom metal outfit MESSA are just days away from kicking off their European headline tour, bringing their distinctive blend of crushing riffs, haunting melodies and dark atmospheres to stages across the continent. Joining them will be fellow Metal Blade Rec
The Riff Collective
The Best New Riffs – 23 October 2026
Seven tracks, one absolutely massive week for rock and metal. From Tony Iommi proving that legends never fade to Polyphia rewriting the rulebook, this Friday is overflowing with new music. Throw in Floor Jansen, Machine Head, some rising talent and a healthy dose of British brutality, and limiting ourselves to six tracks was never going to happen. Some weeks, you just have to turn everything up. Tony Iommi – Over the Violent Sun The godfather of heavy metal is back. Today mar
JOSE CRESPO
Floor Jansen Releases New Single “Everything Is Moving On” Ahead of Hytress Album and Exclusive London Show
The symphonic metal powerhouse continues her new solo chapter with a powerful message about embracing change, ahead of her new album arriving on 15 January 2027. Photo Credit: Tobias Andersson Floor Jansen has unveiled her brand-new single and official video, “Everything Is Moving On”, the third track to be released from her forthcoming solo album, Hytress, due on 15 January 2027 via REVAMP Music / Warner Music. Following the previously released singles “RUN” and “Bring Me Si
The Riff Collective
Beyond Extinction – Three Swords (EP Review)
Release date: 23 October 2026 Record label: Self-Released The Riff Doctor's Score: (8/10) RRRRRRRRRR Diagnosis Beyond Extinction unearth the darkest chapters of Essex’s history, transforming centuries of witch hunts, plague and violence into four suffocating tracks of crushing deathcore. Guttural vocals, dissonant guitars and an overwhelming sense of dread turn the past into something that feels disturbingly alive. Best Tracks: Witchfinder, The Estuary The Full Review There i
JOSE CRESPO
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