Misfits review – schlock-horror kitsch
More metal than punk, this is a different band to the one that recorded their dark early albums in the 80s, but their classics are still lively enough to raise the dead, writes Dave Simpson
Metallica at Glastonbury 2014 review – enough ferocity to silence the naysayers
This may not mark the dawning of a new era for metal at Glastonbury, but the heft of Metallica's sound is enough to win over the sceptics, writes Alexis Petridis
The Soft Pink Truth: Why Do the Heathen Rage? review – fun satire of black metal
Drew Daniel exploits black metal's potential for mickey-taking with this ludicrous set of covers of key tracks from the genre, writes Dave Simpson
Mastodon: Once More ‘Round the Sun – brilliant but familiar metal bluster
One of modern metal's most admired bands return with an album that could edge them closer still to the mainstream, writes Dom Lawson
Download festival review – Aerosmith’s ageless anthems electrify crowd
Steven Tyler brings characteristic unhinged abandon, while metal quintet Avenged Sevenfold prove ready for festival headliner glory, writes Dom Lawson
Linkin Park: The Hunting Party review – former nu-metallers rock out again
Linkin Park (and famous friends) go back to the guitars and shouting, while bringing in some new ideas, too, writes Dave Simpson
Anathema: Distant Satellites review – soaring, supercharged prog masterpiece
Anathema have been making extraordinarily bold, powerful rock music for years, and their tenth album is as good as anything they've done, writes Dom Lawson
Down: Down IV – Part II review – upholding the downbeat Sabbath ethos
Recent lineup changes seem to have produced the Louisiana quintet's strongest material since their revered 1995 debut, writes Dom Lawson
Within Temptation review – ‘Corny potboiler of a band, oddly enjoyable’
The Dutch gothic metal band are complete hokum – and make splendidly overwrought music with razor-sharp, infectious melodies, writes Ian Gittins
Steel Panther review – ‘Explicit come-ons and ill-judged jokes’
Beneath the hair-metal parodists' crass jokes and meathead riffs lies real craftsmanship, writes Graeme Virtue
Architects: Lost Forever//Lost Together review – ‘Complex and brutal album that belies metalcore’s stagnation’
Toughened up in every department, with no sign of compromise in the thudding grooves and polyrhythmic punch
Conan: Blood Eagle review – macabre, Lovecraftian metal from Liverpool
This Liverpool doom trio's new album is an uncompromising onslaught of slow-motion riffs and hellish bellowing, writes Dom Lawson
Dream Theater – review
The band seem to be on a mission to pack in even more twiddly-twiddly bits than their 1970s prog-rock forebears, writes Dave Simpson
Kerrang! tour, featuring Limp Bizkit – review
Nothing, sadly, in Kerrang! magazine's tour leaves you feeling puzzled that metal doesn't have more chart success
Sunn O))) & Ulver: Terrestrials – review
Avant garde US metal heroes Sunn 0))) team up with Norwegian prog outfit Ulver for a wondrously inventive collaboration, writes Jamie Thomson