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

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

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

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

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, “

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

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”

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

Featuring legendary bassist Billy Sheehan, the modern rock outfit are heading to Britain this November for ten dates, including two festival appearances. THE FELL are back with a new single, “The Way I Love You”, released on 15 October alongside an official music video. Built around driving bass, explosive drums, soaring melodies and big guitar hooks, the track offers another taste of the band's modern approach to melodic hard rock. The four-piece boasts some serious musical

Special guest: Dark Funeral Date: 17 October 2026 | O2 Brixton Academy Words & photography: Jose Crespo Photo Credit: Jose Crespo THE AFTERSHOCK Dark Funeral brought the darkness, Dimmu Borgir gave it orchestral grandeur, and Behemoth turned Brixton into a full-scale ritual. With both co-headliners in commanding form and a shared tribute to Cronos giving the evening an emotional centre, this was a major gathering for the black metal faithful. THE FULL REVIEW Brixton wore its

Release date: 23 October 2026 Record label: Century Media Records The Riff Doctor's Score: (9/10) RRRRRRRRRR Diagnosis Almost three decades into their career, Insomnium have turned melancholy into an art form. Netherworlds is a breathtaking collision of crushing riffs, haunting melodies and emotional depth, proving that even after ten albums, Finland's masters of melodic death metal still have new worlds to explore. Best Tracks: Gleam in the Black, The Hour Grows Late, Shadow

Special Guest: Rexoria + Liv Sin Date: 14 October 2026 | The Brook, Southampton Photography & Review: José Crespo ELEINE. Photo credit: Jose Crespo THE AFTERSHOCK With a production that seemed almost too ambitious for Southampton's intimate The Brook, Eleine delivered a captivating performance led by Madeleine Liljestam's hypnotic presence. Add two energetic support acts, three formidable female vocalists and a surprisingly impressive sound, and Wednesday night turned into s

The symphonic metal giants announce an unexpected split with their longtime vocalist, bringing one of the band's most celebrated chapters to an end. Nightwish have officially parted ways with vocalist Floor Jansen after 14 years together, bringing an unexpected end to one of the most successful eras in the Finnish symphonic metal band's history. The announcement came on Thursday, 15 October, with both parties confirming that the decision was made by mutual agreement. In their

Special Guest: Finn Forster 11 October 2026 | The Garage, London Photo credit: Jose Crespo THE AFTERSHOCK Armed with monstrous riffs, a remarkable voice and enough energy to power half of North London, Des Rocs turned an intimate venue into something much bigger. And judging by the young crowd hanging on his every word, the next generation of rock fans has already found one of its heroes. THE FULL REVIEW Earlier this year, New York's Danny Rocco unleashed To Hell and Back, hi