The members of Arch Enemy have always set the bar high for themselves and their genre. Then again, let’s be honest: any band labeled Swedish melodic death metal provokes high expectations. It combines the strongest elements of heavy metal, like super heavy riffs and refined melodies, set in an environment…

Long before heavy metal was known for ingredients such as shredding guitars, double bass, “horns up” or black leather, the budding chefs were studying up in the ‘burbs of England. Not far from Birmingham — which eventually spawned Black Sabbath — a young Rob Halford walked to school in Walsall…

November brings the best of both worlds to the Valley of the Sun — temperatures have finally fallen below 90 degrees, and some of our favorite metal band’s touring schedules are still in full swing. It’s that time of year where we can leave those sweaty mosh pits and emerge…

Our society has turned the Halloween season into a time that’s all about embracing your dark and wild side. There’s countless Zombie Walks, masquerade parties, Dia de los Muertos festivals, haunted houses designed to make you fear for your life — after all, the holiday is rooted in dedication to…

Some of the most legendary artists found inspiration from their favorite alcoholic spirits — and unfortunately for several, an untimely death. However, it wasn’t until the past decade or two when artists and the creators and distributors of said brands decided to put their (metal) heads together to create something…

Former Guns N’ Roses manager Alan Niven once told me that rock ‘n’ roll is created because people are subconsciously trying to form the perfect family that they didn’t experience as children. As transparent as that may seem, it’s an easy concept to grasp. Heavy metal lyrics celebrate the underdog…

What if you could donate to your favorite aspect of heavy metal and receive a private drum lesson with Sacred Reich drummer Greg Hall? Or 25-year-old Metallica shirts that were never even for sale, just given to the crew? Or lunch with Veronica from Benedictum, a recording package at a…

Our desert summer is finally winding down; and really, it wasn’t so bad, now was it? It’s probably in part to the awesome parade of metal shows that came through our fair state since the music industry’s touring season was in full swing. Either way, at least the October nights…

The Butcher Babies have been slaughtering their way through the Valley of the Sun as of late. In fact, the heavy metal band’s upcoming September 27 at PubRock Live will mark their third show in Phoenix during the past year and a half. After getting signed to Century Media, the…

Nowadays, the revival of bluesy psychedelic rock and soul from the 1960s and ’70s has found a strong following — maybe it’s the fuzzy twang of the guitar, the vocals that just drip with angst and passion. Either way, Rival Sons, founded in 2009, introduced its brand in the right…

By the end of 2012, Godsmack’s concert album the band released that year,Live and Inspired, was the furthest thing from the band’s mind…

There must be something in the desert water. I’m not talking pesticides or Valley Fever — I’ll leave the exposé side to the news section. I’m talking heavy metal. But I’m okay with it…

Our desert summer is finally winding down; and really, it wasn’t so bad, now was it? It’s probably in part to the awesome parade of metal shows that came through our fair state since the music industry’s touring season was in full swing. Either way, at least the September nights…

Heshers, hard rock fans, and metalheads alike have a lot to look forward to in the weeks and months ahead. Besides much-anticipated upcoming concerts by such living legends as Judas Priest and Slayer, the fall also bring with it the annual Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival, the debut of Rob…

Geoff Tate has always been seen as one rock ‘n’ roll’s archetypal frontmen. As singer of Queensrÿche, he sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and sold out shows in dozens of countries. Tate is ranked in the top 20 on Hit Parader’s 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time,…

Ten years ago this December, a musical icon was taken from the world of heavy metal far too early. When Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott was gunned down performing with his band Damageplan in Ohio, we didn’t just lose a guitar legend. To those who knew him, he was one of the…

Dragonforce is a gateway drug to heavy metal for video game nerds. No, really — I’ve seen it happen. In the British band’s 15-year span, they’ve been able to develop a sound that truly stands a part from any other band within the genres they’re constantly rotated between. It’s as…

When I saw this viral video the other week of the “most metal first dance at a wedding,” I couldn’t help but feel a little warm and fuzzy. The goth couple created a playlist that included song snippets from Grave Digger, Pantera, Devil Drive, Cannibal Corpse, Lamb of God and…

August is filled to the brim with heavy metal shows around Metro Phoenix, thanks to concerts and gigs by locals and major international legends. So check out the 10 best metal and hard rock concerts happening at venues around the Valley next month…

There’s a lot to love within our fiery little corner of the rock and metal industry. We’ve thelped breed some pretty legendary bands, like Sacred Reich, Flotsam and Jetsam, Job for a Cowboy, and Alice Cooper, to name a few. We have dozens of brutally talented underground bands, from melodic…