metal: Last News

Wargasm spoke to NME at Download 2024, and revealed that they have a new collab on the way which will see them launch a new era.The electronic metal duo – comprised of Sam Matlock and Milkie Way – caught up with us at the Donington Park festival, shortly after delivering an explosive set and joining Enter Shikari on the Apex stage. They first made their way onto the main stage back in 2021 when they took on the post-COVID Pilot edition, and have since gone on to reach new heights.“It feels like home,” Matlock said of their return.

BABYMETAL spoke to NME at Download 2024 about collaborating with some of biggest names in metal and their evolution over the past decade.The trio – comprised of founding members Su-Metal and Moametal, and new addition Momometal – caught up with us backstage at the Donington Park festival, shortly before they took to the stage for a huge performance on Saturday (June 15).It came on the heels of the band joining forces with Electric Callboy for the huge single ‘RATATATA’ last month – the latest of their many star-studded collaborations and their first track to make its way onto the US charts.“It’s only been a month since we shot the music video, so, it doesn’t feel real,” Moametal told us about the massive response to the song in America. “I still can’t believe it, but I had so much fun making it.

Avenged Sevenfold have shared that they will “definitely do something to celebrate” the 20th and 15th anniversaries of ‘Nightmare’ and ‘City Of Evil’.The band’s guitarist Zacky Vengeance spoke to NME about their plans to celebrate the 20th and 15th anniversaries of their two biggest albums – 2005’s ‘City Of Evil’ and 2010’s ‘Nightmare’.“I think those albums are really monumental and fans have grown with them. They’ve meant a certain thing to people at a certain place in their life, so I think it’s important that we do something,” he said.He continued: “I never want to be a nostalgia act.

Ghost have released a new song, ‘The Future Is A Foreign Land’ – listen to it below.Today (June 21), the band took to social media to reveal the “newly uncovered 1969-era” track, which is featured in their new narrative-concert hybrid film RITE HERE RITE NOW. In a clip taken from the film, it is revealed that the fictional character Papa Nihil – who also “wrote” the viral hit ‘Mary On A Cross’ and ‘Kiss The Go Goat’ – had written the track but had never released it.[MESSAGE FROM THE CLERGY]We wish to inform you that 3 is the magic number. Listen to a newly uncovered 1969-era Ghost single "The Future Is A Foreign Land" from the original motion picture #RITEHERERITENOWListen here: https://t.co/pgAkUpcu9q pic.twitter.com/hKow4UGFay— Papa Emeritus IV (@thebandGHOST) June 21, 2024Speaking to NME about the film, Ghost creator Tobias Forge explained of the track’s theme: “The message is that there’s a great lesson lost if you look at what is going on in the world now and what took us here… if you’re lucky enough to experience this film in the cinema, you’re pretty well off.

Bambie Thug spoke to NME at Download 2024, telling us about life after Eurovision, using music as a force for change, festivals representing minorities, and their plans for the future.This year marked the Ouija-pop singer’s first time on the main Apex Stage at the Donington Park festival after debuting on the smaller Dogtooth Stage back last year. It also followed them competing in the Eurovision Song Contest earlier this spring, where they represented their native Ireland with the show-stopping track ‘Doomsday Blue’.They came in sixth place – Ireland’s best performance in 25 years – and made headlines for their vocal support of Palestine amid the conflict in Gaza, and for voicing their frustration at Israel being allowed to compete in this year’s competition.“The uptake in fans and support has been incredible,” they told NME of life since Eurovision.

Download 2024 were shut down as “hundreds” of festival goers fell ill with food poisoning.This year’s instalment of the metal and rock festival took place over the past weekend, running between June 14-16, and featured the headliners Queens Of The Stone Age, Fall Out Boy and Avenged Sevenfold.However, as the event unfolded, numerous attendees began reporting symptoms of food poisoning – including nausea, stomach cramps, fever, and general malaise. According to reports from a medical tent on site (via FoodPoisoningNews), as many as 500 people were affected by what they described as a “real food poisoning epidemic”.Speaking to BBC News, a spokesperson for the North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) said medics began to see “a pattern” of fans falling ill, prompting event organiser Live Nation to launch an investigation.Live Nation said that customer safety was its “primary concern” and confirmed that all food traders had been inspected before and during the event.

Metallica frontman James Hetfield has commented on whether the band will ever write another ‘Unforgiven’ song.In 1991, metal icons Metallica released ‘The Unforgiven’ as the second single from their acclaimed self-titled album. Six years later, ‘The Unforgiven II’ arrived as part of the ‘Reload’ album. In 2008, the band dropped the last entry in the ‘Unforgiven’ saga to date with ‘The Unforgiven III’ as part of ‘Death Magnetic’.Fans have been clamouring for a fourth track in the series ever since then.

Ghost frontman Tobias Forge and filmmaker Alex Ross Perry have spoken to NME about the band’s debut feature film, RITE HERE RITE NOW.Out today (June 20), RITE HERE RITE NOW sees the band combine a typical concert film with an intricate narrative surrounding the band’s mysterious lore – one that’s been told since 2018. The film comes at the tail-end of Ghost’s touring cycle behind 2022’s ‘Impera’ as fans are left wondering where the band goes from here.RITE HERE RITE NOW‘s mashing of the band’s fictional backstory and their music is the next step in band’s evolution.

Avenged Sevenfold’s Zacky Vengeance caught up with NME backstage at Download 2024, and recalled how the band were hoping to draw mixed fan responses from their latest album, ‘Life Is But A Dream…’.The guitarist spoke to us shortly before closing out this year’s edition of the Donington Park festival with a mammoth headline slot on the Apex Stage – a decade after they first headlined the ironic rock festival.Having arrived back in June last year, ‘Life Is But A Dream…’ signalled a stark shift from the sound that first established them as one of the most integral metal acts of the ‘00s. The shred-heavy, metalcore aspects that once defined their sound were placed to one side, as a more experimental, avant-garde approach was introduced – incorporating elements of EDM and hip-hop, and undoubtedly marking a new era for the five-piece.Unsurprisingly, the shift was quick to divide fans.

Empire State Bastard will be putting on their own festival in Sheffield next month called Bastard Fest.Fresh from a US tour supporting Sleep Token, the supergroup consisting of Biffy Clyro‘s Simon Neil and Oceansize’s Mike Vennart will top the bill, with Bitch Falcon bassist Naomi Macleod and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo in tow.The event will take place at Sheffield’s Corporation on July 13 and features a host of heavyweights from British metal, including Heriot, Conjurer, Pupil Slicer and Sheffield’s own Hidden Mothers. It comes a day after the band’s performance at 2000trees Festival.Tickets will go on sale tomorrow (June 20) via the venue website and See Tickets.Empire State Bastard released their debut album ‘Rivers Of Heresy’ last year.

While She Sleeps have announced details of a nine-date winter 2024 UK tour – buy your tickets here.The metalcore five-piece have included two dates at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town, as well as stops in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol and their native Sheffield.This weekend saw the band appear at Download Festival, before they embark on a series of European dates across the summer. In the autumn, they’re heading to Australia and Japan, and will round the year off by coming back to Europe and then the UK.Support on the new dates is set to come from Connecticut metallers Current, Swedish metallic hardcore band Thrown, and French metalcore quartet Resolve.While She Sleeps are touring their sixth album, ‘Self Hell’, which came out in March.

Pantera came together this weekend and performed at this year’s edition of Download Festival – marking their first show in the UK in over 20 years.The iconic heavy metal band took over the Opus Stage at the Donington Park festival and played a jam-packed set including tracks such as ‘I’m Broken’, ‘5 Minutes Alone’, ‘This Love’ and more.Their set marked their first live performance on UK shores in two decades, after the band reunited for shows in the US last year. Check out footage of their performance at Download and their full setlist below.‘A New Level’‘Mouth For War’‘Strength Beyond Strength’‘Becoming’‘I’m Broken’‘5 Minutes Alone’‘This Love’‘Floods’‘Walk’‘Domination / Hollow’‘Cowboys From Hell’‘Fucking Hostile’Pantera’s headlining set at the festival comes ahead of their recently announced first UK and Ireland tour in 20 years.

Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds has spoken to NME backstage at Download 2024, and told us how the upcoming general election could be vital in the survival of the UK’s grassroots music venues.The frontman caught up with us while at this year’s edition of the Donington Park Festival, shortly before Enter Shikari kicked off their first performance on the Apex Stage (barring the post-COVID pilot edition).The set came following the hugely positive response to their latest album ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’, and ahead of the band’s upcoming run of UK live shows – which will be a much more intimate affair after their recent arena tour.The band have been vocal champions of grassroots gig spaces and the Music Venue Trust. Last year, various figures from the UK grassroots live music scene told NME about how 2023 was the “worst year for venue closures” – with 125 grassroots venues shutting down.

Slipknot‘s very first tribal ‘S’ design that was designed by the late Joey Jordison has been shared by his family.The tribal symbol was designed by Jordison – the legendary metal band’s original drummer – who also contributed to the creation of the band’s name back in 1995. The logo has remained a big part of the Slipknot identity since then.In an Instagram post shared by the late drummer’s family, the original tribal ‘S’ design is seen drawn on a wooden desk. “The first tribal ‘S’ drawn by Joey on the desk that was handed down to him by his dad,” read the caption of the post.

Serj Tankian has criticised Imagine Dragons for going ahead with their controversial gig in Azerbaijan, stating that he has “zero respect for those guys”.The dispute came over a show that Imagine Dragons had plans for in the country’s capital city, Baku, which some perceived as being an endorsement of Azerbeijan’s authoritarian President Ilham Aliyev.Last summer, the System Of A Down frontman reached out to the band and wrote them a “kind” personal letter, urging them to pull out of the Baku Olympic Stadium show. In the letter, he stated that proceeding with the gig “would help whitewash the dictatorial regime’s image” (via Louder).“I really feel that performing in Azerbaijan would have a negative impact on your brand as well,” his letter added, also making a nod towards a news report which stated that the country was preparing genocide against ethnic Armenians in its Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Black Sabbath‘s Geezer Butler has said Ozzy Osbourne “desperately wants” to play one final show with the band.Last month, Osbourne revealed that he would “jump at the chance” to perform another Sabbath show with co-founder Bill Ward. The drummer backed out of participating in the group’s reunion dates between 2012 and 2017 over an “unreasonable” contract.Butler confirmed later in May that he and Osbourne had “agreed” to play one last concert. It came after the Prince Of Darkness’ wife and manager, Sharon, said Ozzy was planning “two more shows to say goodbye” before he fully retires.

Black Veil Brides and Creeper have announced a co-headline show in London – you can find all the details below.The two rock bands will perform at a one-off gig dubbed ‘Devil’s Night’ at the OVO Arena Wembley on Wednesday October 30. They’ll be joined by some “special guests” who are yet to be confirmed.Tickets go on general sale at 10am BST this Wednesday (June 19) – you’ll be able to buy yours here.In a statement, Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack said: “This is a dream come true!”He continued: “Since our very first UK tour over a decade ago it’s been clear that we have an important connection with our audience in England and over the years our shows in London have always been some of the most significant events in our career.“Today marks the 15 year anniversary of the release of the music video for ‘Knives And Pens’ and back then I was just a teenager filled with dreams and ambitions, all these years later in 2024 for us to have the opportunity to headline Wembley Arena is a testament to the unwavering and incredible support of the BVB Army and to do so with our friends in Creeper makes it all the more special.”Join Creeper this Halloween Season with @blackveilbrides and special guests to be announced soon for Devils Night London at the OVO Arena Wembley! Tickets On Sale This Wednesday at 10am – Darcia pic.twitter.com/8ztebiBaZY— C R E E P E R (@creepercultuk) June 17, 2024Biersack concluded: “This is going to be the best BVB show of our career and we can’t wait to see everyone on Devil’s Night at Wembley!”Black Veil Brides are due to release their new EP, ‘Bleeders’, this Friday (June 21).

Lzzy Hale recently wrapped up her stint fronting Skid Row with a show in Sacramento, but Jon Bon Jovi thinks she should make her role in the band permanent.Hale fronted the glam metal band for a string of four shows in recent weeks, taking over the role after the band’s previous singer Erik Grönwall announced his departure over health concerns.The last of the four shows took place at Hard Rock Live in Sacramento, California on June 1, and Hale, who also fronts the band Halestorm, has shared her thoughts on the “wonderful” experience of taking on the role.Speaking to SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation, she said: “The response has been amazing. And I’m hearing from people that have been seeing Skid Row since 1987 and are just raving about what I bring to the table.“So, for me, it is friends helping out friends, but it’s also this beautiful milestone in my life where I’m literally being challenged to fill in the shoes that I’ve always wanted to fill from being a kid.

Slipknot‘s mystery new member ‘Samples’ has spoken for the first time in a new interview.‘Samples’, who replaced long-time keyboardist Craig Jones after his departure in June last year, has yet to have his identity confirmed by the band. ‘Samples’ can currently be identified by the black cracks over his mask and his mouth that is literally zipped shut.Now, fans can hear his voice for the first time in a new promotional interview the band did with video game Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance.

Enter Shikari have spoken out after Barclays Bank withdrew from sponsoring Download, Latitude and Isle Of Wight festivals following an artist boycott.A number of bands had dropped out of the Donington Park festival in protest at their commercial partnership with Barclays, including Pest Control, Scowl, Speed and Zulu.Pest Control wrote that they “would not take part in an event whose sponsor profits from facilitating a genocide”, while Scowl added they were boycotting due to “Barclays Bank sponsorship of the event and Barclays’ connection to Israel and the genocide Israel is committing in Palestine.”And now, it appears that Barclays have withdrawn their sponsorship of Download, Latitude and Isle of Wight Festivals, with the bank no longer being listed on their official websites.In a response shared with NME, Latitude confirmed the news, saying: “Following discussion with artists, we have agreed with Barclays that they will step back from sponsorship of Latitude Festival.”NME have also contacted Download Festival for comment.Enter Shikari, who are set to play the main stage at Download this weekend, have responded to the news with a lengthy social media post, which read: “There has been mounting pressure for bands to drop out of Download festival due to the involvement of Barclays Bank.”A post shared by enter: shikari (@entershikari)“We have been in talks with Download themselves, expressing our serious objection at Barclays involvement. We have considered all options, and along with other artists have been working tirelessly on this.”“We don’t believe in rushed reactions and always want the best outcome for all involved.

Bring Me The Horizon have spoken about their surprise collaboration with AURORA on ‘Limousine’, revealing it was very nearly another popstar.Frontman Oli Sykes sat down with NME to talk through the Sheffield band’s new record ‘Post Human: Nex Gen‘. There, he explained the choices behind some of his collaborators on the rexord, including AURORA’s surprise appearance on ‘Limousine’.“I know what I wanted on that song and that was someone to bring something that could level it up – someone like a really ethereal, haunting, beautiful, voice,” he told NME.