Iron Maiden

Can We Stop Making Up New Metal Subgenres?

Am I the only one who is sick to death of the ever-growing list of metal subgenres? It seems to evolve and pulsate and throw out even more obscure genres on a daily basis. Honestly, if there's one thing metalheads should be able to have faith in when it comes to their music, it's that metal veers ... More >>

Slayer's Jeff Hanneman and 8 Other Metallers Dead Before Their Time

Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman died of cirrhosis on May 2, the same day as the Golden Gods Awards. It was devastating that on a day meant to celebrate the lives of the best musicians in metal, one of those artists was taken from the world of music. It also came as a shock. In fact, by all accounts ... More >>

Original Breakfast House: A.M. Eats and S.O.S. in Northeast Phoenix

When a new spot opens in town, we can't wait to check it out -- and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that have just opened, sampling a few item ... More >>

Anthrax Gets Classic Rock with Anthems

You can't go wrong with a healthy dose of Anthrax in the morning. At least, that's what I thought as I listened to their new EP Anthems, released on Tuesday, March 19. Add that to the fact that these thrash metal legends are coming through town this Sunday on the Metal Alliance tour --alongside Ex ... More >>

Synth Metal Band Element a440 Hoists Its Genre-Defying Freak Flag

It doesn't matter who synth metal band Element a440 is playing with. It could be a punk band, a DJ, or death metal group. The outfit's only concern? To put on a theatrically, entertaining show, visually and audibly. In this week's issue, we profiled the band and delved into the details concerning ... More >>

Down, Marquee Theatre, 1/14/13

Down and Warbeast @ Marquee Theatre|1/14/13So, it turns out there's a reason it's called "stoner metal." I've been to several Down shows before, but two things stuck out at me during last night's Down/Warbeast double-header at Marquee Theatre. My friend (who goes by "Iron Maiden," thank you very mu ... More >>

The Year in Heavy Metal: 2012

The year 2012 brought an array of exciting moments in heavy metal, from album releases by veteran acts like Napalm Death and younger bands like Goatwhore, to some of the biggest ever heavy metal festivals, to a few of my personal favorite interviews with metal legends. Enjoy -- and happy metal fuc ... More >>

Trouble with the Curve: Clint Eastwood's Return Is Decidedly Slow-Pitch

Deep Purple Tribute: Iron Maiden, Metallica, More Salute Keyboardist Jon Lord

See also: Six Desert Metal Bands That You Need to Hear See also: Alice Cooper's Mom Has the Original "School's Out" Panties There aren't many bands that I hold higher than Deep Purple when it comes to putting down the groundwork for heavy metal, driven by British rocker Jonathon Douglas "Jon" Lord ... More >>

Is Heavy Metal Really The Devil's Music?

See also: Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson to Headline KUPD's Desert Uprising See also: Megadeth's Dave Ellefson: "Why I'm Trying to Become a Pastor" Last week, I found myself in an awkward conversation with douchebag with a popped collar and frosted tips. He asked me if I worshipped "the Devil," lo ... More >>

Erick Biez, What Are You Listening To?

Erick Biez The local comedian performs on the Stand Up Live Comedy Gold Showcase featuring Jeff Dye on Wednesday, June 27. For more info, go here. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? No radio, not now, not ever. I'm actually on a huge pod ... More >>

Here's The Heavy Metal Soundtrack to Your Sexcapades You've Been Looking For

We might not all agree on musical taste, I mean, metal, indie rock, jazz, hip-hop, none of it is made for everyone, but I think we can all agree that there's really nothing so appealing as all-out sex appeal. Sex might not be the first thing you think of when you think of heavy rock, but it's in the ... More >>

Corsets and Grindcore; The Dudes Get it Right, the Bitches Own It

Once again I found myself writing a Metal Monday column on a plane with a glass of whiskey. I'm headed to Rock on the Range in Columbus, Ohio, to see Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Five Finger Death Punch, and about 30 other acts (stay tuned for that review next week). Most importantly, I'm sitting nex ... More >>

Landmine Marathon to Perform at Metallica's Orion Festival

See also: Metallica Curates Orion Music and More Festival: Who Picked Which Bands? Lucero's Brian Venable on Metallica Being Dead to Him, ATO Records, and Women & Work When Metallica revealed the lineup for Orion Music and More, the two-day festival curated by the band members themselves, plenty o ... More >>

Metal Mondays: New Music From Pantera Calls for a Home-Made Vulgar Display

Metalhead or not, everybody's got a soft spot for at least one heavy act. Jim Carrey digs Cannibal Corpse; Cameron Diaz reportedly rocks out to Iron Maiden. The writers of the hit show Californication sneak it into scripts -- all three of main character Hank Moody's novels are named after Slayer al ... More >>

Storm of Perception's Brian Herring on The Band's Supernatural Past, and Metallica vs Pantera

I respect Prescott for a handful of things: eclectic art, historic buildings (Prescott has hundreds on the National Historic Registry), and for being host to the world's oldest rodeo. And, of course, Whiskey Row, where a friend and I decided to take a shot of Jameson at every bar before heading to t ... More >>

Al Stewart

Five Holiday Gifts for Your Metal-Loving Uncle

​Alright, slacker. There's no more denying it: the holidays are here, and you need to get on that shopping list. Luckily, Up on the Sun has caught gift guide-fever, and over the course of this week we'll be offering you suggestions for the entire family. It's hard to forget your metal-loving ... More >>

Five Finger Death Punch's Jason Hook on American Capitalist, Playing For the Troops, and Spending the Night in One of Saddam's Palaces

​Most bands aren't used to soldiers moshing with M-16s and spending the night in one Saddam Hussien's palaces. But Five Finger Death Punch isn't like other bands. Up on the Sun spoke with guitarist Jason Hook about his favorite tracks off the new album, a night in one of Saddam Hussein's pal ... More >>

Eric Steven Glomski, What Are You Listening To?

Eric Steven Glomski​Eric Steven Glomski The director of winemaking at Arizona Stronghold Vineyards is helping host a river trip in the Verde Valley Saturday, July 23, complete with lunch and a wine tasting. For more information, call (928) 639-3004. When you put your key in the ignition and turn ... More >>

Aaron May, What Are You Listening To?

Aaron May​Aaron MayThe chef owns Over Easy (additional location here), The Lodge, Mabel's on Main, Iruna and Vitamin T, as well as May's Counter in Tucson. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? The Grateful Dead channel on Sirius. The cla ... More >>

Polkadot Cadaver at The Rogue Bar

Photos by E. Groves​Polkadot Cadaver The Rogue Wednesday, May 17, 2011I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I -- a devout metal head -- had never heard of Polkadot Cadaver before this show. I went to see them because I had about a dozen friends who were going, and for weeks, they've been go ... More >>

The Premier Queensryche Tribute Band Lived the Dream but Is Ready to Put Its Baby to Bed

Fake Kissing: A Tribute to the Long History of Kiss Tribute Bands

Scare City: What To Do and Where To Go on Halloween

Def Leppard and Poison Reside Far Apart on the Hair-Metal Spectrum

Filmmaker Brian Pulido Celebrates the Horror of Phoenix in The Graves

The Green Party

“Angela Ellsworth: Underpinnings” Has Us in Stitches

Persepolis offers a glimpse of Islamic revolution and puberty through animated eyes

Judas Priest singer Rob Halford schedules a meet-and-greet in Phoenix, and gives us some candid Q&A

Shred Cred

You wanted the best? You got the best: Guitar Hero III

Pit Stop

You can mosh, potato

Heavy Metal: A Box Set Review in Three Acts

Offbeat, But Right On

Completely adorkable

Alabama Thunderpussy

Open Fire
(Relapse Records)

Old Wives' Tales

Under the covers with rock's old ladies

Lullabies for the Deranged

Wallow in the mire of the year's best scuzz rock

Encore Performance

Don't fret. Guitar Hero II kills the opening act

Blackheart Metallic

Heartagrams and heavy living with H.I.M.'s Ville Valo

Take Cover

Diving into Metalhead territory

Master Plan

You'll hog these covers

METAL - Balls to the Wall

Grab an athletic supporter and clear the kids from the room as we count down the year's best hard rock and metal albums

Metal Urge

The Zen of heavy metal, and the return of Dan Wexler

Rocanrol Heartburn

The Valley's unstable Latin rock scene leaves a bad taste in local promoters' mouths -- and keeps international acts away

Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural Nörth Daköta

By Chuck Klosterman
(Scribner; 288 pages; $23)

Shout at the Mullet

Call me a heretic, but this follicle fashion is cause for sheer terror

Recordings

Hope You Die Before We Get Old

The reunited Who and Sex Pistols cheat death one more time

Then You Die, She Dies, Everybody Dies